In recent years, the application of computational/artificial intelligence (CI/AI) in concrete structures and materials has gained popularity as evident in the search in the SCOPUS database using these keywords. The integration of CI/AI in concrete structures marks a significant advancement in civil engineering, offering innovative solutions across various stages of infrastructure development. From analysis and design to construction, monitoring, and maintenance, CI/AI technologies revolutionize traditional practices, enabling engineers to optimize concrete structures for enhanced performance, durability, and sustainability. Material design and optimization in concrete have also been propelled forward by CI/AI technologies. Traditional methods rely on trial-and-error, but CI/AI models analyze vast datasets to identify optimal mixtures with superior properties and resistance to environmental factors. Utilization of supplementary cementitious materials and industrial wastes introduces complexities, addressed by CI/AI's predictive capabilities for short- and long-term concrete properties. By minimizing waste and energy consumption, CI/AI-driven design fosters environmentally friendly formulations while ensuring structural integrity. Overall, CI/AI enhances prediction, optimization, and monitoring, ushering in a new era of resilient and sustainable concrete materials. These advancements also contribute to sustainable development by optimizing material usage, reducing waste, and improving energy efficiency, underscoring CI/AI's transformative potential in shaping the future of concrete structures and materials.

Trip generation plays a crucial role in transportation planning, and the choice of an appropriate model is essential for predicting future travel patterns. This study focuses on comparing the suitability and performance of CatBoost and ANN for trip generation (production and attraction) modelling of Ilorin City. By incorporating Ilorin household and trip characteristics, population data, and maps, this study evaluates the performance of the models. The two models demonstrated high accuracy and performance. In terms of trip production, the CatBoost model displayed exceptional accuracy, attaining an R-squared value of 0.99999992016446, accompanied by an impressively low mean squared error (MSE) of 3.93870930136429e-05. In contrast, the neural network exhibited a slightly lower accuracy of 0.999873850524181, with an error value of 0.0581313408911228. Similarly, for trip attraction, the CatBoost model showcased remarkable accuracy and precision, achieving an accuracy score of 0.9999999999999994 and an extremely low error value of 2.26762031965784e-13. The neural network model demonstrated an accuracy of 0.99999999990335 and a negligible error value of 0.000000041994. These findings underscore the strong predictive capabilities of both models for trip production and attraction, with the CatBoost model notably excelling in achieving nearly flawless accuracy and minimal error values across both aspects in Ilorin. Further research can explore the application of other advanced machine-learning techniques and combine their strengths to enhance the accuracy and robustness of trip-generation models.

Properties of underlying soils and borrowed soil samples are some of the key factors that determine the performance rate of roads. Most of the underlying soils possess some characteristics that make them unsuitable for use. There are available agricultural waste products in most rural settlements which can be used to treat unsuitable soils. This research examined the use of corn cob ash (CCA) as an admixture to cement on some selected geotechnical properties of laterite soil. The choice of the A-7-5 class of laterite soil is due to its general rating as poor material for subgrade and other layers of road pavement by the classification system of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Cement was gradually added to the soil sample in steps of 2% from 0% to 10% by weight of the soil sample and its effect on the plasticity of the sample was examined. The addition of cement performed optimally on the soil’s plasticity at 4% which was used to form different mixtures of cement and CCA having a total sum not exceeding 4%. The additives were added to the soil sample which was subjected to laboratory tests such as compaction, California bearing ratio (CBR) and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) compacted with the efforts of 596kN/m2 and 1192kN/m2. The combination of 2% cement and 2% CCA on the soil sample improved the plasticity index and UCS properties of the soil to its optimal level while 3-1 and 4-0 cement-CCA performed optimally for CBR and compaction respectively. Thus, it was concluded that CCA performed optimally with cement at a ratio varying between 4:0 to 3:1 total percentage not exceeding 4% of the weight of the soil sample.

When released into the environment as solid waste, the by-product of coal called fly ash (FA) produced by coal-based electric power plants is detrimental. A further 8% to 10% of the worldwide anthropogenic emissions are produced by cement manufacturers. These issues may be resolved with high-volume fly ash (HVFA) concrete. HVFA concrete technology refers to employing fly ash instead of cement in the concrete mix to reduce the manufacturing of cement. But when the amount of fly ash in the concrete mix increases, the concrete’s compressive strength gradually decreases. The objective of this research is to determine the mechanical properties such as the compressive strength of HVFA concrete and compare it to the strength of the control concrete by adding Calcium Oxide (CaO) as an activator. Besides this, this research has another objective to reduce the use of cement in construction by replacing it with fly ash and making an environmentally friendly form of emission of CO2 while producing cement for the cement industry. In this research, different percentages of FA such as 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 percent are adopted replacing cement in concrete mixes with and without CaO. For this, cylindrical molds with dimensions of 100 mm × 200 mm were used for preparing concrete specimens. For each percentage of HVFA concrete mixtures, 3 (three) molds were cast without the activator and the same with the activator (2% of the binding material). A total of 117 concrete specimens were cast for the compressive strength test. These molds were cured using the water-curing technique. For determining mechanical properties, the compressive strength tests after 7, 28 and 56 days were conducted. Comparisons were made between the compressive strengths of HVFA concrete with and without the activator. These outcomes were contrasted with the compressive strength of the molds of conventional concrete. The early results for the compressive strength of HVFA concrete are extremely poor. The HVFA concrete’s 28-day compressive strength test results demonstrate a much higher compressive strength than the 7-day strength. However, the HVFA concret’s 56-day compressive strength test results were more satisfactory. According to this research, long-term water curing effectively boosts the compressive strength of HVFA concrete. Additionally, the use of CaO as an activator in HVFA concrete results in a minimum of 2 MPa higher compressive strength compared to HVFA concrete without the use of an activator. This result was therefore satisfactory for concrete with the activator content for up to 60% HVFA.

The study aimed to assess the suitability of ceramic waste aggregate and recycled asphalt pavement aggregate as an alternative for base course material. An experimental research design method and Non-Probability sampling techniques were used. The comparative analysis of ceramic waste aggregate and recycled asphalt pavement aggregate were blended with crushed stone aggregate at different proportions by weight and their laboratory result was compared with standard specifications. The study results shown that the aggregate crushing value (ACV) for neat Crushed stone aggregate (CSA) and Recycle asphalt pavement (RAP) are 19.20% and 8.20% respectively and the blended CSA with 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% of RAP were 18.20%, 16.4%, 15.90%, 14.40%, and 13.10% respectively. Similarly, a 24.32% - 12.06% for Los Angeles abrasion (LAA) and 18.50% - 12.60% for aggregate impact value (AIV) were found to the lower and higher value in the range of the test result. The CBR test for a different proportion of RAP (10% - 50%) blended with CSA was also conducted and an economically acceptable result of 104.20% was found at 30% RAP mix at 98% maximum dry density (MDD). Additionally, the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test result for 100%RAP at 98%MDD was 49.10%. On the other hand, the experimental tests were conducted on different proportions of Ceramic West aggregate (CWA) (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%) which satisfy the principal mechanical properties of aggregate materials. The ACV result for neat CWA is 26.70% while the blended CWA- CSA aggregate was tested with 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% of CWA with its complement of CSA as indicated and at 20% CWA replacement of CSA test results were (21.60%, for ACV), (26.31% for LAA), (106.9 for CBR) and (20.60 for AIV). For this investigation an economically acceptable results were achieved by satisfying the Ethiopian road authority (ERA) standard specification limit at 20% CWA and 30% RAP blended with CSA for base course construction material.

Geocellular plastic units or stormwater modules are popular to replace conventional drainage systems due to land limitations of urbanization. Most research focuses on stormwater management rather than its mechanical properties. Several cases were discovered where the failure was not due to material or manufacturing quality. As there is a lack on information of structural behaviour, this paper presents an experimental study of performance for stormwater modules under uniaxial load. There are four specimens for vertical load test and one for lateral load test. The vertical and lateral loads are applied separately to the specimens and the deflections are measured. From the obtained results, it is found that the module is able to resist 87.3486 kN and exhibits 12.3551 mm in vertical load direction. The column buckling is the failure mode of these specimens, and it is within the design limit of ASSTHO HS20 unfactored traffic load design. For lateral load, it can go up to 19 kN resistance, which is equivalent to a 3-meter depth design for the worst scenario with wet clay. The specimen is found to have failed in the excessive deflection which leads to the facture of the side cover. Further consultation is required in the detailed design using these stormwater modules underneath roads, buildings or car parks in order to obtain a more reliable stormwater management system.

Water flowing over a spillway has a very high kinetic energy because of the conversion of the entire potential energy to kinetic energy. This circumstance results in damage or significant erosion at the toes of the spillways, weir bed, and downstream of a river. To solve this problem, the water flow velocity must be minimised. Physical modelling was implemented to this conundrum in order to modify the current energy dissipating structure, the stilling basin, to enhance energy dissipation as much as achievable by downstream velocity reduction. Baffle blocks were adopted as the modification in this study because these are widely used to stabilize the jumps, shorten its length, and maximize energy dissipation. A selection of baffle arrangements was evaluated by positioning them in the stilling basin’s mid-span to identify the most effective outcome in minimizing downstream velocity. From the findings, it was clearly shown the arrangement of baffles blocks at the stilling basin impacts velocity reduction in various discharge cases. The formation of cross-waves was also assessed at the discharge channel at every discharge value with its relative distance from the sump and the width of the channel prior to the site. For discharge situations of 70.0 L/s and 100.0 L/s, modifications to the Type II stilling basin were recommended. Furthermore, constriction, expansion, or curvature should be avoided in chute spillways identical to the dam spillway to limit cross-wave generation and other unfavourable flow behaviours

Understanding the behavior of expansive soil and adopting the appropriate control measures should be great for civil engineers. Extensive research has been going on to find the solutions associated with problems of expansive soils. There have been many methods available to control the expansiveness of these soils. The removal of expansive soils and replacement with suitable material has been widely practiced worldwide. Reasonable material is available within economic distances; however, suitable materials is not readily an available in urban areas for borrowing, which has to be hauled from a long distance. Instead of borrowing suitable soil from a long distance away, after stabilization with cost effective and readily available industrial and agricultural waste materials, it is economical to use locally available plastic soil. Such wastage products are also used to minimize environmental hazards such as CO2 in the atmosphere to minimize the percentage of industrial products used for stabilization, such as cement. Marble dust (MD), an industrial waste product, Rice husk ash (RHA), agricultural waste products, and cement are industrial products in this present study. The general objective of study was to examine the effects of poor subgrade soil stabilization using the mixture of MD, RHA and cement to enhance sub-standard soil engineering properties to be used as subgrade materials. Moisture content, Atterberg limits, grain size analysis, soil classification, free swell index, basic gravity, compaction (maximum dry density, optimum moisture content) and CBR value test have been calculated in this analysis. The design of the analysis followed by the experimental method of study were adopted, which started with sample selection. A disturbed samples was collected from the pit at a depth of 1.5 m to 2m from ground level in order to avoid the inclusion of organic matter by considering the free swell index value and observation was considered. The chemical analysis of MD and RHA was conducted in laboratory and the main oxides are (SiO2+Al2O3+Fe2O3) were 70.13% for RHA and 42.43% for MD. The RHA chemical properties satisfy the requirement, while MD did not meet the requirement of ASTM C 618. The Gomata Teachers’ Condominium (GTC) soil sample laboratory result have 42.72% plastic index (PI), 85% free swell index and its CBR value of 2.265%. The Millennium Secondary school (MSS) soil sample has a 48.79% PI, 87% free swell index and 2.121% CBR value. Therefore this soil samples are highly expansive were checked before any stabilizations process based on their plasticity index and CBR value based on standard specification requirement , then stabilization was achieved by stabilization by proposed (0,8MD,6MD+2C,4MD+4C,2MD+6C,8C,6MD+2RHA, 4MD+4RHA, 2MD+6RHA,8RHA,6RHA+2C,4RHA+4C,2RHA+6C,2MD+2RHA+4C,4MD+2RHA+2C, 2MD+4RHA+2C) proportion. Then LL, PI, OMC, and CBR decreased as the cement ratio increased, while PL, MDD and CBR value increases instead of MD and RHA increases, however, as MD and RHA increase, the quantity of cement decreases. The laboratory outcome was compared with the requirement of Ethiopian road authority standard, ASTM and AASHTO. Based on this study all mixing stabilizers (MD-cement, RHA-cement, MD-RHA, MD-RHA-cement) and 8% of RHA and cement fulfill the ERA standard specification requirements for its CBR swell value. However, 8% of marble dust alone does not fulfill the Ethiopia road authority requirements for CBR swell. The MD and RHA standalone does not improving some of the engineering properties of soil samples used for subgrade construction. However, they mixed with different percentages of cement can effectively stabilizer for this expansive soil for road sub-grade construction.

This paper focuses on delineation of ecological viability due to changes of household energy consumption behavior. Then the research also explored the factors (Environmental resources) behind growing ecological footprint. For having a lot of natural elements and high residential characteristics ward-4 of Khulna city was selected as study area. The research followed a three step approaches. At first, geographical and topographical data are analyzed in geo-spatial environment. Which helped to draw the Environmental Performance framework. Geographical Information system (GIS) helps to evaluate the current scenario and past scenario of the resource compatibility of some existing assets. The second phase is all about assessing the residents’ behavior towards energy consumption practice and the influencing factors behind this. The third part showed the environmental performance index (EPI) that include both the socio-economic problems and environmental circumstances using NSA method under the explanatory variables of environmental impact assessment (EIA). Essential natural assets especially water body and the vegetation has decreased at tremendous rate in recent time in Ward-4 with the enhancement of buildup area. This research is totally based on stakeholder perception towards energy consumption pattern and all the further assessment depend on this concept. To assess the behavioral changing factors, it seems that the correlation between income range and energy consumption is positive and linear. It represents that people want to switch high energy consumption appliances with growing wealth. Third phase assess environmental health (measure threat to human health) and ecological vitality (measures ecosystem service and natural resources) under environmental performance index. As the study is mostly involved local residents of study area so the method of neighborhood sustainability Assessment (NSA) is combined with EPI method for scoring the indicators. The approximate score of Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is around 53 percent demarcating the areas existing situation is in moderate rate and diverted from the standard value. This research draw attention to find out environment viability of ward-4 by measuring environmental stress to human health and ecosystem for providing practical guidance to government that aspire to move towards sustainable future.

The subjective aspect of assessing Road Traffic Noise (RTN) in urban agglomerations is crucial, as it takes into consideration the sensitivity and specific reactions of residents to Road Traffic noise (RTN) in their living environments. This paper aims to present a detailed sociological study initiated to measure the level of public awareness regarding RTN and estimate the impact of RTN disturbance on RTN disturbance their daily activities. For this purpose, an attitudinal survey was conducted using a predesigned questionnaire with limited noise measurements. The questioners were distributed to the neighboring residents of one of the most congested arterial roads in Amman, Jordan’s capital. The questioner firstly focused on evaluating the awareness of respondents of the problem magnitude and its environmental and health impacts, and secondly, assessing the effects of RTN as perceived by the respondents on different daily activities. The analysis of the collected data found that around 50% of respondents believe that RTN impacts the environment, and 60% believe that RTN affects human health, while 38% consider changing their place of residence and moving to a quieter place. The main results of the study showed that RTN causes annoyance to people while performing their daily activities, especially while studying and resting. Further main reported impacts included causing fatigue (64%), anxiety (75%), nervousness (87%), focus reduction (89%), and discomfort (90%).