#Amazon #UPS #DHL Logistics emissions data Logistics are regarded as a key determinant of a company’s performance, through the efficiency of supply chain systems and the calculation of the profitability of product sales. The calculation of profitability in the majority of logistics history has included only economic performance (McKinnon, et al., 2015), however, in recent years due to globalization and digitalization, wider environmental and social impacts are of large importance for green marketing and future strategy of supply chain providers. Green logistics are now regarded as good business practice as it provides a lot of opportunities for having a positive impact on financial and operational metrics without the need to trade off economic costs against environmental benefits. As stated in the SFC Annual report (SFC, 2020), freight transportation generates 8% of global CO2e emission and as much as 11% if logistics sites are also considered. Sustainable reforms of the sector are required as between now and 2050 the world will see a doubling in freight emissions, according to the International Transport Forum. Different modes of transport of freights are used based on the distance and time of the delivery requirement. Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the data of CO2e emissions of UK and the logistics provider DHL which both suggest that air transportation accounts for the majority of the emissions also justified due to usage of jet fuel and damping of greenhouse gases (GHG) emission at high altitudes which increases the quantity of the global warming potential (GWP) impact in the atmosphere (Sathaye, 2006). Mitigation of logistics systems environmental impact A four-step roadmap developed by the SFC as outlined in Figure 3 identifies the importance of calculating emissions across the multi-modal supply chain as well as setting targets on emissions reduction and the requirement of implementing new technological solutions as well as the need for collaboration across the industry. Collaboration of businesses, governments, research, and civil society should be achieved for a sector transformation to be realized. As defined by (Sathaye, 2006) and shown in Table 1 teaching, four solution types were identified of impact reduction, emissions reduction, changing operations, and economic and societal development considerations for making supply chains greener. Impact reduction To achieve greener supply chains and a substantial reduction of environmental impact, the focus should be given to the reduction of the environmental externalities impact associated with freight operations rather than the cause of the exhaust emissions level. An example of focusing on the effect rather than the cause could be illustrated by the introduction of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in areas of central London, which reduces the car movements on roads including high emission freight vehicles (London, 2019). A reduction of 31% (200 tCO2e) harmful NOx emissions from road transport in the central zone have been recorded, improving the welfare of its citizens and subsequently challenging supply chains to adapt to these government regulations. To achieve emissions reductions of logistics systems valid quantification measures of impacts are required such as the intake fraction (Marshall, et al., 2005), which calculates the ratio of the quantity of pollutant intake by people over the total emissions. Aligned with the sustainable logistics roadmap of SFC (see Figure 3), reporting emissions will help supply chain providers such as UPS, DHL, Amazon, etc. to modify the mode of transport for the last and first mile delivery by implementing the use of electric cargo bicycles, drones or delivery by foot, hence reducing urban emissions. DHL has proved the concept by replacing conventional vans with using 27,000 bicycles of electric and cargo type in their Germany division, which saved up to 8 tCO2e per year (DHL, 2019). Also, Amazon has expanded to cargo bikes connected to trailers that can carry up to 45 packages as well as introduced electric three-wheelers and compressed natural gas vehicles in their delivery operations in Europe and India as well as the use of Prime air drones which will make deliveries faster, more automated and efficient and reduce the requirement of van delivery subsequently reducing traffic and pollution (Amazon, 2019). Emissions reduction Reducing emissions through technology innovations and achieving a high standard of equipment performance can substantially reduce emissions of supply chain logistic operations. An initial and effective step of supply providers to reduce emissions is through training and educating employees of the impacts the company’s logistics carbon footprint has on a global scale as well as teach methods for reducing fuel consumption. Drivers can reduce fuel consumption through acceleration and shifting techniques, and by limiting average speeds, idling time, accessory usage, and the number of stops made (Sathaye, 2006). DHL goes a step further and implementing companywide guidance where they define targets and measures their sub-contractors, which employees have to follow to achieve their environmental targets (DHL, 2019). Furthermore, DHL is aiming at certifying 80% of their employees as GoGreen specialists, where training is provided for all employees to achieve fundamental environmental awareness (DHL, 2019). Furthermore, technology options on logistics freight such as roof deflectors, wide-base tires, etc. as seen in Table 2 that reduce the drive train friction, aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance, operation of vehicle accessories, and inertial forces for acceleration can be of logical use as they reduce emissions and cost. Examples of Amazon using skirts (panels attached to the lower side edges of a truck to make it aerodynamic) and automatic tire inflation systems to maximize fuel efficiency as well as mud flaps which are designed to allow water and airflow through them have been seen to minimize drag and save 454L of diesel fuel per vehicle annually (Amazon, 2019). On the other hand, DHL has implemented photovoltaic mats fitted on trailers which can save up to 4.5tCO2e per vehicle annually and reduce fuel consumption by up to 5% (DHL, 2019). EV technology being extremely advanced in the past years, with primary targeted short distance deliveries, with Tesla currently developing an electric truck with a promised range of 300 miles will heavily influence the logistics market (Tesla, 2021). Amazon, having ordered 100,000 electric vehicles has also implemented a ‘’shipment zero-order’’ where zero-emissions 100% battery-electric or hydrogen-fuelled vehicles deliver the products. They also heavily invest in EV charging station infrastructure for their partners to use, hence accelerating the global use of EV’s in the logistics industry (Amazon, 2019). On the other side, DHL is focusing on upgrading fleets of cargo aircraft to new more fuel-efficient aircraft, which saw a reduction of emissions of 18% (DHL, 2019). Additionally, studies conducted by Ang-Olson and Ostria (2005), as indicated in Table 3, found that alternative fuels such as emulsified diesel, biodiesel, propane, and more, have lower emissions of toxic GHG such as PM and NOx. Post-combustion solutions such as NOx catalyst can also reduce the toxic gases exiting the exhaust of vehicle hence could be perceived as another viable solution. Recommended Circular Economy in the Construction Industry In addition to changes made to fuel type, innovations are done in combustion processes such as cooled exhaust gas recirculation, combustion optimization, improved fuel injection, variable geometry turbocharges, and onboard diagnostics that can reduce emissions. Not directly associated to supply chain providers, however, if these features and alternatives are enquired, automotive manufactures will follow the trend and comply (Sathaye, 2006). Furthermore, supply chain providers also own warehouses where the products are stored hence a further carbon footprint is present in their businesses. To minimize their environmental impact warehouses of companies such as Amazon, DHL and Prologis use solar panels, with Amazon having up to 80% of the energy used is renewable in a facility center (Amazon, 2019) (Prologis, 2019) (DHL, 2019). Furthermore, Amazon as a business invested heavily into the wind and solar projects, in this way offsetting their operational carbon. Changing operations Technologies based on reducing vehicle miles traveled can be both of economic and environmental benefit to companies. As found by Sathaye (2006) and displayed in Table 4, which includes vehicle routing tracking, real-time traffic updates, and facilitation of business-to-business communication and collaboration. Tesco supermarket delivery service estimated to reduce emissions by 23,000tCO2e over five years by applying techniques of logistics systems analysis and optimization (Sathaye, 2006). Moreover, DHL through increased recording of data via sensors, intelligent network, and route planning, and the use of alternative modes of transport achieved to optimize processes and connect logistics chains across continents. Also, by the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, predictive analytics, and algorithms, potential incidents in the supply chain are identified and managed in real-time, further improving efficiency and reducing delays which ultimately account for emissions (DHL, 2019). Amazon, due to the evidently large number of products shipped daily had to use data and algorithms to consolidate as many shipments as possible onto one vehicle or plane. This ensured the efficient transportation and use of space on freights hence maximizing the capacity and reducing unused space to be wasted (Amazon, 2019). Reverse logistics And finally, a more radical measure for environmental protection that may have economic and societal consequences extends further from the logistics of supply chains. A broader framework of life-cycle assessment (LCA) associated with reverse logistics and circular economy principles could be used by companies to improve their environmental burden. Reverse logistics, which focus on waste management and return flow of products back along the chain could be an important study for the supply chain and its partners to minimize their waste (McKinnon, et al., 2015). As Amazon's free packaging program suggests, the packaging of products has been certified to be shipped with their original packaging without the need of the amazon extra protective box. This policy and design initiative will increase the volume of goods transported and massively reduce the waste of cardboard boxes. Also, by encouraging the use of 100% recyclable packages, Amazon has eliminated 33% of packaging material (Amazon, 2019). REFERENCES References U.S. Federal Highway Administration, 2005. The Freight Technology Story: Intelligent Freight Technologies and Their Benefits. Office of Freight Management and Operations. Amazon, 2019. Goals and Strategies & Climate pledge, s.l.: https://sustainability.aboutamazon.com/?energyType=true&workerCount=true&engagementProgram=true&productCategory=true. Ang-Olson, Jeffrey & Ostria, S., 2005. Assessing the Effects of Freight Movement on Air Quality at the National and Regional Level: Final Report. Ang-Olson, Schroeer, J. & Schroeer, W., 2002. 'Energy Efficiency Strategies for Freight Trucking: Potential Impacts of Fuel Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, s.l.: Transportation Research Record 1815. DHL, 2019. DHL Sustainability Report, s.l.: s.n. Tesla, 2021. Semi. [Online] Available at: https://www.tesla.com/semi London, M. o., 2019. CENTRAL LONDON ULTRA LOW EMISSION ZONE – SIX MONTH REPORT, London: Greater London Authority. Sathaye, N. L. Y. H. A., 2006. The Environmental Impacts of Logistics Systems and Options for Mitigation. UC Berkeley Recent Work. SFC, 2020. Leading the way to efficient and zero emission freight and logistics, s.l.: Smart Freight Centre Annual Report . Prologis, 2019. 2019 Prologis ESG Impact Report. McKinnon, A., Browne, M., Whiteing, A. & Piecyk, M., 2015. Green Logistics : Improving the Environmental Sustainability of Logistics. s.l.:Kogan Page. Marshall, D., J., Teoh, S.-K. & Nazaroff, W., 2005. Intake fraction of nonreactive vehicle emissions in U.S. urban areas, s.l.: Atmospheric Environment 39 (7).

Stress and Strain are fundamentals of the Civil Engineering discipline and are not to be confused Solid Mechanics look into various material's motion and deformation under the action of forces. STRESS Stress is the ratio of applied force F to a cross-section area - defined as "force per unit area". The idea of stress could be used to describe the state of affairs at any point inside a solid in a much more general way. Also, stress could be used to predict when the material will break. "Stress tells us how hard- that is, with how much force - the atoms at any point in a solid are being pulled apart" Essential Books for Civil Engineering Students Amazon's Choice Different types/names of stress exist such as normal tensile stress which acts perpendicular to the surface and shear stress which acts in a parallel to the surface. Stress units are usually MN/m2 ( MEGANEWTONS PER SQUARE METRE) in SI units and p.s.i ( POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH) which is mostly used in America. STRAIN Strain which is not to be confused with stress is a completely different thing. Strain tells us how far the atoms at any point in a solid are being pulled apart. Strain is a ratio of the extended length divided by the original length therefore, does have units and hence it is expressed as a percentage. Strain in association with stress is used to analyse and better understand material properties such as stiffness, strength and much more concepts are based on these two basic and principle concepts. Read more: Concrete variable radius arch dam explained The 5 Greatest Engineers of All Times What's the most impressive ancient structure in the world?

How to Determine the Financial Strength of Contractors Contracting organisation financial strength is important to be determined within the tendering and selection stage to ensure the appointment of the appropriate contractor with limiting the risk of bankruptcy and project incompletion. The financial information of tenderers could be assessed through the collection of financial reports from the PQQ as indicated in PAS91. Short term and long-term financial stability of the companies could be found by assessing their solvency and calculating the current ratio and acid test ratio as indicated in Equation 1 and Equation 2 respectively. A current ratio of 1 suggests a financially stable company but a trend over the last few years should be looked into to see the fluctuation of the ratio (Council, North Hertfordshire District, n.d.). Moreover, an acid test ratio may provide a measurement of liquidity and the readily convertible into cash assets of the company with a ratio of 1.0 suggest a financially healthy contractor. Furthermore, assessment of how efficiently the company’s management is utilising the resources at their disposal to generate revenue and drive profits up, as well as the comparison of significant debt is an important criterion for assessment. The managerial aspect of a business could be assessed through the ROCE ratio and revenue/total assets as shown in Equation 3 and Equation 4 where higher ratio values indicate an effective contract winning strategy suggested to be important ratios by (Singh & Tiong, 2005) and (Council, North Hertfordshire District, n.d.). Furthermore, a multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique as used by (Singh & Tiong, 2005) could be implemented to get an overall grade on the financial performance of tenderers with a focus given on ratios deemed more important to the client. Nevertheless, it should be pointed out that a downturn in the construction industry or of the global economy could put a financially strong company into financial difficulties such as the currently unseen COVID-19 pandemic. Financial Protection As recently seen when economy recovers from recession the pressure on contractors increases as material, labour and financial resources become stretched (Wakeford, 2015). Thereafter, risk is increased on the client where the project is required to be delivered on time and within budget limits. The major client risk is the insolvency of the contractor during construction period which could be financially limited by applying measures within the contracts signed as secondary options such as performance bonds and parent company guarantees (NEC4, 2017). Parent/Holding Company Guarantees A parent company guarantees are used to give the contractor recourse to a more substantial corporate entity that will underwrite the employer’s payment obligations under the contract which provides essential financial and legal assurance for the client if the subsidiary contractor is to go into insolvency (Meakin R, 2006). Credit checks and financial evaluation of the parent company can be examined through the PQQ (PAS 91:2013, 2017), which could reveal the suitability of the capital and assets of the holding parent company to act as guarantee as well as legality of the guarantee contract. The parent company is obliged to either complete the works in accordance with the contractors’ original obligations on behalf of its subsidiary company or fund the completion of the contract by others (K. Hughes , 2019), hence an advantage of guaranteed completion is present. Secondary option X4 could be used from the NEC4 contract options as where a holding company guarantee is required with the contractor obligated to agree on the guarantee scope of works (NEC4, 2017) (Rowlinson, 2018). Performance bonds Furthermore, a performance bond could be used in the contractual agreement as a form of financial security generally offered by a third party such as banks or insurance companies which give the client a binding enforceable payment guarantee up to a fixed amount of money in the situation of poor performance or project incompletion by the contractor. Performance bond doesn’t guarantee project completion but a maximum sum payable for the damages by the contractor to the client for the breach of contract. Bond insurance rates vary depending on the creditworthiness of the contractor, with premiums often range between 2% and 3% of the amount guaranteed which is normally 10% of the contract price. Contractors would normally pass on this premium to the client as part of their tender price submissions for the project. NEC4 secondary option X13 can be used as a condition precedent to the execution of the contract. Specified circumstances defined by the client that will be used to recall the sum of money from the bond should be clearly stated in the scope when contractors agree to the contract terms (Rowlinson, 2018) (NEC4, 2017). You may also find useful : Procurement systems advantages, disadvantages and risks for the construction client: The procurement options mentioned provide satisfactory performance in the objectives of the golden triangle with both advantages and disadvantages to the construction client based on the project size and client priorities. Procurement strategies to deliver better value for clients: The continuing search for maximum value for money in construction work has, in recent years, increasingly focused attention upon the procurement process. Effective delivery of a project requires that the supply chain clearly understands the client’s needs and specific business case to deliver an economical and efficient end product. Cost, Time and Quality | The Golden Triangle in Construction: Recent research into major projects by (Dalton, 2008) as shown in Table 1 found that 75-80% of the causes of projects failing were due to procurement, the definition of project requirements, and the client’s management capabilities. Esurance of timely cash flow payments to contracting organisations Negative cash flow means a company is doomed to fail. To ensure timely payment of both the main tier 1 contractor and supply chain sub-contractors under the NEC4-2017 contracts, option Y(UK) 1 could be used by setting up a project bank account (PBA). Through this bank account all the payments of the work done on the project will be made (Rowlinson, 2018). A PBA ensures visibility and transparency of supply chain cash flow payments made by the main contractor and it has enabled the condensation of the payment cycle as Highways England managed to achieve a condensed payment period of average 18/19 days from the usual 30 to 60 days. The client and project manager should ensure the trust deed forms for the PBA are included in the contract and are outlined in tender documentation and when the project is commissioned the contractor is responsible for opening and running the bank account. Also, due to that cash flow performance depends on the project managers cash flow management, additional training or competent managers would be effective on improving the overall performance of cashflow payments (Investopedia, 2020). Useful References Council, North Hertfordshire District, n.d. CRITERIA USED FOR FINANCIAL EVALUATION OF CANDIDATES IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. [Online] Available at: https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/ Singh, D. & Tiong, R. L. K., 2005. Evaluating the financial health of construction contractors D. Singh and R. L. K. Tiong Economic slowdown and fierce competition in the construction industry in recent years has led many construction companies to pull out of projects due to deep financial. [Online] Available at: https://www-icevirtuallibrary-com. Wakeford, M., 2015. Construction Client Protection – Managing financial risks outside the contract. [Online] Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/construction-client-protection-managing-financial-risks-mark-wakeford/ Meakin R, C. W. C. L., 2006. Clyde & Co Firm Foundations: bonds and guarantee, s.l.: Firm Foundations Seminar. PAS 91:2013, 2017. Construction prequalification questionnaires, s.l.: BSI. K. Hughes , 2019. Understanding the NEC4 ECC Contract – a practical handbook, s.l.: Routledge. Rowlinson, M., 2018. A Practical Guide to the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract, s.l.: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.

The construction industry which embraces the sectors of buildings and civil engineering had a 1.9 trillion euros turnover in Europe from 2011 to 2018 and a value of new work of 118,977 million pounds in the UK in 2019 which makes the industry an important contributor to the function of economies globally. Inevitably, the industry attracts a wide variety of clients all of whom will have their own objectives and priorities for their particular different projects of dramatically different types, sizes, and complexity (Cooke & Williams, 2010) (Morledge & Smith, 2013). When a client decides to pursue a project a number of important strategic decisions need to be made before the commissioning of the project works to ensure an efficient and successful final product. In accordance with the code of practice of CIOB, procurement should be considered to be the process of identification, selection, and commissioning of the contributions required for the construction phase of the project (CIOB, 2014). Therefore, procurement systems play an important role in project success as they establish the roles, relationships, responsibilities, and risks carried by the parties that form the overall organization and communication structure for the management, administration, and control of a project. Used books: Appropriate selection of the procurement system is an important strategic decision that with the guidance of the project manager and a good understanding of the procurement criteria the client must take in the early stages. Provided in the Construction Round Table (1995) in their publication “Thinking about Building” as well as Cooke & Williams, 2010 and Morledge & Smith, 2013 suggest the criteria that must be considered when selecting the appropriate procurement system as listed in (Morledge & Smith, 2013)Table 1. Complex technically advanced design and highly serviced construction requirements of certain projects play a major importance in selecting the most suitable procurement system with the division of responsibility are solely based on client decisions on the management style of consultants and contractors. Furthermore, different procurement options provide different levels of risk and control allocation to and by the client with time, cost and quality, being the main categories of consideration as well as providing the range of competition given in projects and the ability to make changes. You may also find useful : Procurement systems advantages, disadvantages and risks for the construction client: The procurement options mentioned provide satisfactory performance in the objectives of the golden triangle with both advantages and disadvantages to the construction client based on the project size and client priorities. Procurement strategies to deliver better value for clients: The continuing search for maximum value for money in construction work has, in recent years, increasingly focused attention upon the procurement process. Effective delivery of a project requires that the supply chain clearly understands the client’s needs and specific business case to deliver an economical and efficient end product. Cost, Time and Quality | The Golden Triangle in Construction: Recent research into major projects by (Dalton, 2008) as shown in Table 1 found that 75-80% of the causes of projects failing were due to procurement, the definition of project requirements, and the client’s management capabilities.

by Brian Hval Frost protected shallow foundations (FPSF) are used in cold climates because they are a cost-effective alternative to conventional deep foundations. Over 1 million homes have used this technique worldwide. It is accepted as the standard foundation design method in Scandinavian countries. FPSF homes are often cheaper to build as they eliminate deep excavations and use less foundation material. Heated homes and other structures are protected against frost heave by insulating the outside of the foundation below grade. A short wing of foam insulation stretches out from the foundation to make a frost barrier like this: Expanded PolyStyrene foam sheets are usually used. The thickness and extent of foam required are determined by historical climatology data like this: Some building design approval jurisdictions may require a professional engineer to review the calculations and stamp the foundation drawings. But the calculations are simple to do. There is also a wide range of foam installation options to give the required insulation R-value. If you live in a cold climate, FPSF is well worth looking into. It applies to both renovations and new construction. I have used it in Canada on two projects. One was to install a patio door in an existing basement foundation to make a basement walk-out like this: Foam wings on a gravel bed extend outwards and just below the threshold of the door. FPSF dramatically lowered the cost of making this renovation. The second project was for a new oceanfront home where it was essential to minimize disturbance to the soil. FPSF foam wings around the wall perimeter provided the needed frost protection. Soil integrity and stability was maintained and the overall cost was much less than a traditional foundation. Further links for curious readers: Frost-Protected Shallow Foundation Design - Green Building Solutions Frost Protected Shallow Foundations

What is a Circular economy? A circular economy is an industrial system that is restorative or regenerative by intention and design. A circular economy replaces the linear economy, and its ‘end-of-life’ concept with restoration and regeneration, shifts towards the use of renewable energy, eliminates the use of toxic chemicals and aims for the elimination of waste through the design of materials, products and systems that can be repaired and reused. The circular economy concept shown in the bottom part of the Figures below illustrates an evolution of the current Linear Economy (top part) to the Circular Economy (bottom part) which is achieved through the application of principles: maintain, repair, reuse, remanufacture and recycle, as well as leasing and servicing. definition by LETI Trying to achieve the carbon targets cannot be realised without stretching the idea of incorporating a fully circular economy. To reach a zero-carbon national economy, the consideration of design and construction of infrastructure and buildings should be thought not in a separate manner however thought of as a circular cycle of things being reused and put back into the system as it is the core principles of a circular economy. Circular economy principles could be achieved only by redeveloping the entire value chain to generate an alternative approach to developments. Circular Economy/net-zero The core pillar for achieving a circular development of the construction sector will be to extremely emphasise the need for interdisciplinary collaboration of all the stakeholders associated with the pipeline of project delivery. Contractors, designers, suppliers, facility managers and investors should all work from an early stage of the projects to deliver projects of a circular manner achieved by having a system-thinking approach with considerations of the social, financial, natural, built environment and human frameworks in which businesses operate. To achieve the full potential of a circular way of thinking a life cycle thinking should be established as a standard work of assessment. Assessments developed in the industry such as life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle cost (LCC) should be consistent to succeed in a modern circular economy. What is LCA? The life cycle approach way of thinking is dating back to the 1960s where it was first introduced by Harry Teasley at Coca-Cola Company in 1969, where he used LCA for purposes of quantifying the energy, material and environmental burden from the packages of the product (DU, 2015). Sustainability is very difficult to measure and quantify, however, there is a solution that is based on life cycle thinking (LCT). Various standards introduced such as the BS EN ISO 14040-2016, BS EN 15804-2012 and BS EN 15978 outline the fundamental techniques and principles of LCA assessment and quantification methodology in general and specifically for the build environment industry. Furthermore, the sustainability performance of an asset is not only related to environmental but also aspects of social and economic performance is assessed from a whole-life standpoint (BS15978, 2011). The use of LCA can assist to identify opportunities to improve the environmental performance of products at various stages of their life cycle, by enlightening decision-makers in the industry with real data, with the purpose to revaluate strategies and planning based on a holistic cycle approach to projects (ISO14040, 2006). LCA measuring techniques provide results based on scientific data analysis that help to set a benchmark on the environmental burden of processes and assets and help to spot environmentally inefficient components of systems with the aim of re-think and redesign for improving environmental performance (ISO14040, 2006). When LCA is adopted from an early stage of a bridge project a quantitative comparison of the environmental performance of different design options could be achieved. For this study, LCA methodology is applied in accordance with ISO standards and other recognised approaches with the aim of analysing the global warming potential by calculating the carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (tCO2e) of bridges for stages from Cradle to Practical completion (Modules A1-A5). Download full Report here:

By: Lochan Yadav BLACK COTTON SOIL Black cotton soil has a tendency to shrink and swell excessively. It is basically due to the presence of a compound named montmorillonite. When these type of soil come in contact with water, they swell and when becomes dry, it shrinks. This alternate process of swelling and shrinking results in the differential settlement of the foundation which in turn causes cracks in the building. The cracks thus formed are sometimes 15 to 20 cm wide and 2.5 to 4.5 m deep. Therefore necessary precautions need to be taken during construction to avoid any damage to building foundation. PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN Construction should be done in the dry season. Under reamed pile foundation is also a good choice of foundation in black cotton soil. In the case of important structures, raft foundation should be provided. For less important structures (such as boundary wall construction), the foundation should preferably be taken at least 15 cm below the depth at which cracks in soil cease to occur. The maximum load on black cotton soil should be limited to 5 tonnes/m2. If there is a chance for water to come in contact with the foundation, then the load should be limited to 4.9 tonnes/m2. Foundation should be placed at a depth where the cracks cease to extend. The minimum depth of the foundation should be at least 1.5 m. The main wall of the building must be provided with all-round reinforced concrete ties or bands. Reinforced concrete ties or bands having 10 to 15 cm deep should be placed at plinth level, lintel level and eaves level. In case the depth of black cotton soil is only 1 m to 1.5 m, then completely remove the entire black cotton soil and place the foundation below that depth. 10. Try to avoid direct contact of black cotton soil with a foundation material. This can be achieved by making wider trenches for foundation and filling spaces on either side of the foundation masonry with sand or morroum. 11. Ram the bed of the foundation trench to make it farm and hard. On this rammed bed, spread a thick layer of morroum (i.e. 30 cm) in two layers, each layer being 15 cm. each layer should be water and rammed properly to get the highest possible density. On this compacted layer of morroum, place either sand or stone up to the desired height where concrete foundation bed has to be made. 12. For main walls or for load-bearing walls, the width of the trench should be dug 40 cm wider than the width of the foundation. Then fill the space on either side of the trench (i.e. 20 cm in each side) with coarse sand. This is done to separate the foundation masonry from direct contact with black cotton soil. In the case of a compound wall, this width of sand filling can be reduced to 15 cm on each side. Useful Documentation EN 1997-1 Eurocode 7 - How to design Spread Foundations

by Brian Hval Wildfires destroy homes and memories! Here is what you can do to minimize the risk! Lots of tips for the fire protection of both new and existing homes! The homes that are spared a wildfire disaster have one or more of the following firewise features in common: Location - the building site is located away from a forested slope. Wildfires tend to rush upwards. Hot air rises, right? Yes, the view is great peering over an edge but that makes your house a great target for fire rushing up the slope! Building Construction - here are some of the things you can do to improve fire resistance of your home: Roof - should be made from metal or tile. Something that cannot burn. Houses with those attractive wood shakes are sure to burn when they trap all those sparks and embers from the fire! Exterior Walls - use metal, concrete, stucco, tile or cement board. It is hard to destroy if it cannot burn! Forget fire-resistant vinyl siding! It just sags and melts into a blazing puddle of goo! New homes should be built using steel studs in the exterior walls instead of wood 2x4s or 2x6's. Windows - are double-paned glass. Forget fibreglass skylights or deck coverings! Plastic just go, poof! Window Trim - metal of course! Why put PVC around that expensive glass? The heat is just going to melt the vinyl trim! Then the glass window falls out … and lets the fire inside! Decks and Patios - are always made from concrete pavers, tiles or stamped concrete. Never wood! Fencing - use chain link, iron or rock. Those tall cedar fences and nice-looking wood trellis make the perfect “fire ladders” bringing fire directly to your house! Landscaping - flammable shrubs, flowers are kept well away from the house! Fire Break - clear vegetation from the immediate vicinity of your home. This may stop a slow-moving fire or at least provide room for firefighters to defend your home! Tall Trees - they may look great and provide shade … but will the flaming branches blow onto your house? Or will the blazing trunk crash onto your roof? Keep the trees well away! Trash the Tinder - savvy owners keep roof gutters and other areas free of flammable tree needles and dried leaves. Why feed the fire? Propane Tanks - should be secured in their own metal building or fireproof enclosure. Vehicles - are never left parked near the house if there is an imminent wildfire event. If you insist, why not just place some jerry cans of gasoline on your front doorstep? Same effect on a fire! The vehicle tires become torches and the gas tank just adds to the drama of your house burning down! Firewater Tanks - should always be metal like this: A swimming pool is a good alternate source of water. Or a nearby pond or lake. Hoses and Sprinklers - install roof sprinklers so they are ready to go when needed. Supply lines should be inside the house with metal outlets placed in strategic locations on the roof. Test your sprinkler system BEFORE it is needed! Firewater Pump Power - should be independent. You cannot rely on grid electric power to keep sprinklers going! Evacuation Preparations - have all your key documents, medications, etc. ready to go in a bag by the door. Fireproof safes are NOT dependable in a major fire. Move it or lose it! Evacuate when instructed to do so. Have at least two escape routes. Don't stay behind to defend your home unless you have a secure path of retreat, i.e. boat on a lake! Release penned animals that you cannot take with you! Remember … all that stuff perishable in a fire can be replaced! You and your loved ones come first! Wildfire survival? It is possible if you are prepared! Further links for curious readers: How to become part of a Firewise Community: by Brian Hval

The global casino market is approximated to have gross of 450 billion U.S dollars Over 100 million professional poker players worldwide are winning big money everyday 👉 Visit Structures Insider's homepage for more stories.👈 5.Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Average night stay price: £387 rate per night with a 9.1/10 rating per kayak Size of property: The resort includes a 2,561-room hotel, a 120,000-square-metre (1,300,000 sq ft) convention-exhibition centre, a 74,000-square-metre (800,000 sq ft) and the world's largest atrium casino with 500 tables and 1,600 slot machines. The complex is topped by a 340-metre-long (1,120 ft) SkyPark with a capacity of 3,900 people and a 150 m (490 ft) infinity swimming pool, set on top of the world's largest public cantilevered platform, which overhangs the north tower by 67 m (220 ft). The 20-hectare resort was designed by Moshe Safdie architects. 4.Caesars Palace Las Vegas Average night stay price: £308 rate per night with a 9.0/10 rating per kayak Size of property: The hotel has 3,976 rooms and suites in six towers and a convention facility of over 300,000 square feet (28,000 m2). The casino also features a 4,500-square-foot (420 m2) 24-hour poker room. 3.The Bellagio, Las Vegas Average night stay price: £223 rate per night with an 8.7/10 rating per kayak Size of property: Inside Bellagio, Dale Chihuly's Fiori di Como, composed of over 2,000 hand-blown glass flowers, covers 2,000 sq ft (190 m2) of the lobby ceiling. The main (original) tower of Bellagio, with 3,015 rooms, has 36 floors and a height of 508 ft (151 m). The Spa Tower, which opened on December 23, 2004, and stands to the south of the main tower, has 33 floors, a height of 392 ft (119 m) and contains 935 rooms. 2.Venetian Macao, Macao, China Average night stay price: £144 rate per night with an 8.9/10 rating per kayak Size of property: The resort has 3,000 suites, 1,200,000 sq ft (110,000 m2) of convention space, 1,600,000 sq ft (150,000 m2) of retail, 550,000 square feet (51,000 m2) of casino space – with 3,400 slot machines and 800 gambling tables and the 15,000-seat Cotai Arena for entertainment and sports events. 1. Wynn Las Vegas Average night stay price: £231 rate per night with a 9.3/10 rating per kayak Size of property: The 614-foot (187 m)-high hotel has 45 floors, with the 2,716 rooms ranging in size from 640 sq ft (59 m2) to villas at 8,900 sq ft (830 m2). The complex also includes a 189,000 sq ft (17,600 m2) casino, a convention center with 290,000 sq ft (27,000 m2) of space and 76,000 sq ft (7,100 m2) of retail space. Together with the adjacent Encore, the entire Wynn resort complex has a total of 4,750 rooms, making it the world's seventh-largest hotel. Source: Wikipedia | KAYAK

if he were to give his 25-year-old self advice, Carlos Slim, the founder of Grupo Carso, would say to be practical and have clear and attainable goals. Slim was born on 28 January 1940, in Mexico City to Maronite Catholics from Lebanon. He went on to study civil engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, where he also concurrently taught algebra and linear programming. 👉 Visit Structures Insider's homepage for more stories.👈 In 2010, Carlos Slim Helú grabbed the title of world’s richest man from Microsoft founder Bill Gates. The first and so far only person from a developing nation to top Forbes’ World Billionaires list. Quotes from Slim book " Richest Man: Carlos Slim In His Own Words Buy at Amazon 👉 https://amzn.to/2WgWZhs Though Slim was a civil engineering major, he also displayed an interest in economics. He took economics courses in Chile once he finished his engineering degree. Graduating as a civil engineering major, Slim has stated that his mathematical ability and his background of linear programming was a key factor in helping him gain an edge in the business world, especially when reading financial statements. Top Quotes of Carlos Slim Be optimistic, and not guided by your fears. Everything you do in your business must have a purpose to improve the business. You can only see that through the numbers. Make sure that you can measure the impact of your decisions. Don’t try to be and do everything yourself; rather, create alliances and partnerships with others. Read more: 5 books you NEED to own if you are a 1st-year civil engineering student Top 5 engineering consulting firms 2019 What's the most impressive ancient structure in the world? Early life 👶 Slim was born on 28 January 1940, in Mexico City, to parents both Maronite Christians from Lebanon. Slim always knew he wanted to be a businessman and began to develop his business and investment acumen at a young age. He received business lessons from his father Julián, who taught him finance, management and accounting, teaching him how to read financial statements as well as the importance of keeping accurate financial records, a practice that Slim carries on to this day. Essential Books for Civil Engineering Students Amazon's Choice At the age of 11, Slim invested in a government savings bond that taught him about the concept of compound interest. He eventually saved every financial and business transaction he made into a personal ledger book which he keeps to this day. At the age of 12, he made his first stock purchase, by purchasing shares in a Mexican bank. By the age of 15, Slim had become a shareholder in Mexico's largest bank. At the age of 17, he earned 200 pesos a week working for his father's company. He went on to study civil engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, where he also concurrently taught algebra and linear programming.

Introduction Construction projects can vary from very small local magnitude to large national dimensions with inherent features that make them complicated enterprises to run (e.g.HS2) characterised by high levels of complexity, uniqueness of works, uncertainty and extensive planning. Hereafter comes the role of the project manager which is responsible for the development and delivery of a project to the client’s requirements and specifications. As an established discipline, management of whole projects from client’s idea to funding coordination, project managers (PM) have the responsibility of control and delivery of the procurement, production, administration, design, construction and personnel management of projects. As defined by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) the primary purpose of project management is to add significant and specific value to the process of delivering construction projects (CIOB, 2014). London Heathrow Terminal 5, UK The BAA Heathrow Terminal 5 (T5) was designed to add 50% to the capacity of Heathrow and has been described as a complex multidisciplinary project with a peak monthly spend of £80 million. Completed in 2008, T5 used an innovative legal contract, the ‘T5 Agreement’ which in essence was a cost-reimbursable form of contract in which suppliers’ profits were ring-fenced and the client retains all the risk (Potts, 2008). By moving away from a lump-sum contract, BAA payments to contractors were based on meeting milestones set in that agreement as well as financial rewards of success due to project finishing on time and within budget was shared. Furthermore, by prioritising time and quality over cost, BAA decided to cover the costs when contractors made mistakes with the aim that they would be much more likely to own up quickly to the mistake and hence save money and time since all the risk was on the client’s side. The philosophy of this project was found successful since T5 finished on time and under the agreed budget (Potts, 2008). Further Reading High Speed 2, UK On the other hand, High Speed 2 has a less successful story. From an original budget of £32.7 billion set in 2012, current speculations of the Oakervee review expects the cost to be around £106 billion as shown in Figure below (Pratley, 2020). The Oakervee review stresses the need for altering the procurement and contracting model used to cut cost as well as reflect on ways to improve cost estimates at early stages where a better evaluation of cost and time should be considered (Oakervee, 2019).

by Khalad Bin Introduction Trusses are widely used in bridges, buildings, and other infrastructures. The function of a truss is to provide turgidity to the skeleton. A truss is an assembly of metallic elements (bars, rods, pipes, etc). The elements of a truss are interdependent and exert force on one another, to survive the external load and burden. A truss is used instead of RCC and concrete beams. Trusses are of different types with regard to their designs and shapes. Elements of Truss Almost all the trusses are made up of three fundamental components. The chord, the bottom, and the members. 1. Upper stringer in a truss is called the chord. 2. The lower stringer of the truss is called the bottom. 3. Members, also called struts are the bars, rods, and strips that connect the chord and bottom of the truss. Types of Trusses Basically, there are two types of truss on the basis of their design and working mechanism. Pitched Truss Parallel Chord Truss Pitched Truss: In a pitched truss, the chord (upper stringer) and bottom (the lower stringer) are not parallel. The chord of the truss is extended outward like an arch or a cone. The extended chord of the truss provides extra strength to the truss. The pitched trusses are used in constructing roofs of the buildings, especially in the area of snowfall. The cone-shaped roofs do not allow the snowfall to dump on the roof while making the snowfall slip down from the edges of the roof. Parallel Truss: A parallel truss is made up of the parallel chord and bottom. The chord and bottom run straight in a parallel path. Both the stringers (chord and bottom) are interconnected by means of struts (the connecting rods). If compared, the pitched trusses are stronger than the parallel truss. A parallel truss is generally used instead of girders and beams. Mixing both of the types the truss are further classified into the following types: Warren Truss Octet Truss Prat Truss Bowstring Truss King post Truss Lenticular Truss Town’s Lattice Truss Vierendeel Truss (1). Warren Truss: It is a very simple type of trusses, in which the truss members form a series of equilateral triangles. These are included in the category of the parallel truss. (2). Octet Truss: In this type of trusses, the truss members are made up of all equivalent equilateral triangles. This is a very complicated truss, in which each triangle is associated with the other in multi-dimensions. This type of truss is strongest as compared to the rest of the types. This type of trusses is designed with very high skill and is very difficult to understand. (3). Pratt Truss: In 1844, the engineers of the Boston railway track designed it. Two types of members are used in this truss. One is vertical and the other is a diagonal member. The two types of members consecutively, follow one another. The vertical members are for compression and the diagonal members are for responding tension. (4). Bowstring Truss: Bowing Strings are used in this type of trusses. The bowstrings act as an arch. These strings give extra turgidity to the truss. These were, first used in World War II. The need for such types of trusses was felt, the curved roof of aircraft was to be designed. (5). King post Truss: In this type of trusses, two angled members/struts support a vertical strut. It is very simple to design but frequently used truss. In this design, the vertical member/strut is called Kingpost. (6). Lenticular Truss: Lenticular Truss was, first time used in the Gaunless Railway bridge of Stockholm and Darlington in 1823. In this type, the chord and the bottom, are arched and connect with each other at both ends. (7). Town’s Lattice Truss: In these trusses, the inclined members are used which cross over one another at frequent points. An American architect “Itheal Town” designed it, this is why is known after his name.