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LSBU - IOA Diploma student best final project NTI-Audio award
Full text linkAward competition and ceremony for the Institute of Acoustics IOA Diploma best final research project 2022-23 at London South Bank University to receive NTI-Audio award
A study of bacteria producing carbonic anhydrase enzyme for CaCO3 precipitation and soil biocementation
Full text linkWe study the carbonic anhydrase (CA) pathway using autochthonous CA-producing bacteria as a means of inducing calcite precipitation, which acts as a biocement to improve the engineering soil properties. Forty different microbial strains producing CA were isolated from the foundation soil of a railway embankment in Prickwillow, UK. Three of the best CA-producing strains were selected and identified by DNA sequencing as Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus toyonensis and Bacillus pumilus with CA activity values respectively of 1.79 U/ml, 1.42 U/ml and 1.55 U/ml. To optimise the treatments, we investigated the effect of pH, temperature, zinc co-factor and cementation solution molarity on the growth and CA activity and bioprecipitates, with CO2 added in the form of bicarbonate. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis of the bioprecipitates showed that these had characteristic morphologies of calcite and vaterite crystals. The formation of calcite was further corroborated by FT-IR and Raman analysis of bioprecipitates. The precultured bacteria were injected into the fine-grained soil together with cementation solution. Unconfined compressive strength in treated soil increased up to 1MPa and its calcium carbonate content increased by 2.78%. This, as well as the stability of the treated soil upon water immersion, proved the biocementation of the fine-grained soil. These findings suggest the potential of employing the CA biocementation route for soil stabilisation pending further development of the technique
Commercial, professional and domestic refrigeration equipment efficiency in the UK: current and future trends
Full text linkIn the UK food cold-chain refrigeration accounted for 28.6 TWh/a of electrical energy consumption in 2019, of which 24.4 TWh was from commercial, professional and household refrigeration. Using the most recent UK projections of energy consumption for domestic, professional and commercial refrigeration, this work found that UK Government projections for domestic refrigeration are not realistic and should be adjusted to reflect that current UK sales of domestic refrigerators have higher energy consumptions than currently assumed. To drive energy improvements in professional refrigeration will require removing the 3 worst performing classes from energy labelling. Banning open fronted supermarket cabinets and/or removing the last 3 tiers of the energy label, would bring supermarket commercial refrigeration in line with current projections, but only if it happened immediately. For other commercial refrigeration equipment (beverage coolers and ice cream freezers) a more gradual approach of removing labels is suggested to be appropriate
Exploring User Experience and Effectiveness of an Innovative Leanbuild UK Software: Usability Study Post Development Stage
Full text linkThis paper explores the usability and efficiency of the LeanBuild project management software; an innovative solution rooted in Lean Construction 4.0 principles. Through
collaboration with the University of Wolverhampton UK, Kingston University UK, and London South Bank University UK, the LeanBuild Limited project presents a promising
innovation in the construction industry.
The integration of usability evaluations and user recommendations in software development is limited, despite the importance of usability testing. Even with limited
adoption of construction project management software, Target Value Delivery principles are often overlooked. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, incorporating focus groups,
questionnaires, and interviews to assess the software's usability. Recommendations gathered from industry practitioners, academics, and IT professionals emphasize the need for improvements such as financial reporting, critical path display, resource assignment features, simultaneous file uploads, BIM integration, enhanced security, and E-Tendering and Marketplace integration.
The paper concludes that despite requiring further enhancements from its minimum viable product, LeanBuild is an effective solution, endorsed by users as a viable and scalable innovation with global applicability for efficient project delivery. This study highlights the importance of post-development usability checks and positions LeanBuild as a significant breakthrough in the construction software landscape
Evaluating the Impact of COVID-19 Mitigation Measures on Quality Assurance of Cross-border Construction Logistics and Supply Chain
Full text linkPurpose: While COVID-19 mitigation measures (CMMs) aided in steady recovery during the pandemic, they also impeded movement across economies/borders, affecting quality assurance (QA) of Cross-border Construction Logistics and Supply Chain (Cb-CLSC). However, prior studies on the pandemic in the construction project industry have not revealed how CMMs have impacted QA. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the impact of the CMMs on the QA of Cb-CLSC. Design/methodology/approach (limit 100 words) This is achieved by adopting an embedded mixed-method approach involving a desk literature review and engaging 150 experts from different economies across the globe using expert surveys, and results verified via semi-structured expert interviews. Structural equation modelling-based multiple regression analysis (SEM-MRA) was integrated to examine the impact of the CMMs on the QA, along with descriptive and content analysis. Findings (limit 100 words) The study confirmed that CMMs have not only impacted the QA negatively but also influenced the positioning of the QA for the post-pandemic era and probably to survive the risks of future pandemics. Among all the identified CMMs, the top three critical measures include “lockdown (CMM2)”, “use of personal protective equipment, such as nose masks, disinfects, etc. (CMM5)”, and “electronic/virtual meetings (CMM7)”. However, CMM5 possesses the highest contributory power to form CMM in impacting the QA, and this can be regarded as largely positive by strengthening health and safety management systems. Its negative impact lies with the project cost increment and the inconveniences of using nose and face masks. Practical implications (limit 100 words) This study provides a better understanding to construction practitioners and policy makers on how the pandemic policies, i.e., CMMs, have impacted QA and can aid in formulating planning and operational decisions to adequately position the QA for the post-pandemic era and to endure the risks of future pandemics. Originality/value (limit 100 words) The study contributes to knowledge in that it provides a better understanding of how the pandemic policies, such as CMMs, have impacted QA and can aid in formulating planning and operational decisions to adequately position the QA for the post-pandemic era and to endure the risks of future pandemics. This area of study has been given limited attention among prior studies during the pandemic
Algorithms for Efficient, Resilient, and Economic Operation of Pre-Emptively Reinforced Reconfigurable Distribution Substations
Full text linkStochasticity of demand profiles at electricity distribution substations is increasing due to the proliferation of low carbon technologies; in particular mobile, bi-directional, or intermittent loads such as electric vehicles and heat pumps. The decarbonisation of heat and transport will cause a long-term increase in overall connected load, making substation reinforcement necessary, whilst planning of upgrade locations and capacities remains challenging. This project will investigate pre-emptive substation reinforcement with algorithmic topology control, to utilise the additional installed substation capacity only when required.
Distribution Substation Dynamic Reconfiguration (DSDR) proposes the installation of additional transformers in parallel with the existing transformer in each substation, removing the need to scrap and replace these. Telematics-controlled switches are installed on the high- and low-voltage side of each transformer in the substation, with local agent algorithms deployed to control in real-time when each parallel transformer is brought into or taken out of service. Substation reconfiguration is thus controlled to optimise for maximum operating efficiency. The threshold algorithm most recently trialled in medium voltage parallel transformer substations is implemented as a baseline, and a novel model-based reconfiguration algorithm is proposed, implemented, and evaluated in software and hardware.
This work led to a 1.34% improvement in algorithm performance on substation efficiency, over a yearly demand profile including residential and new electric vehicle load for the year 2050, equivalent to a potential saving of 2.68 TWh annually if deployed UK-wide. This approach unlocks several opportunities to operate existing substations in the smart, flexible, resilient, and efficient manner that will be required to reach the net zero target by 2050
Enhancing piezocatalysis for chemical transformations using cocatalysed ferroelectrics
Full text linkThis thesis presents a comprehensive investigation into the piezocatalytic capabilities of barium titanate (BTO), both as a bare material and in combination with metal and metal oxide cocatalysts, for renewable energy production and environmental remediation. The research emphasises the degradation of organic dye pollutants and the enhancement of water splitting for hydrogen production. The degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) using BTO nanoparticles is explored with the efficiency of the process depending on variables such as calcination temperature, structural properties, and the influence of atmosphere and agitation. The findings reveal the crucial role of oxygen in the degradation process and identify optimal conditions for catalyst loading and stirring parameters, positioning BTO as a viable candidate for environmental remediation. The application of BTO is extended to hydrogen production by mixing it with metallic Pt nanoparticles through a simple solid-state synthesis method. The interaction between BTO and Pt highlights a significant enhancement in hydrogen evolution rate, marking a substantial increase compared to pristine BTO. The research highlights the importance of BTO's ferroelectric properties and their contribution to improved catalytic activity. The formation of hydrogen peroxide as a byproduct presents both a challenge and an opportunity for future research aimed at optimising the selectivity and efficiency of piezocatalytic reactions. Furthermore, the investigation delves into BTO-metal oxide composites and their piezocatalytic application for dye degradation. The structural properties of various BTOmetal oxide heterostructures are analysed, with BTO-CuO and BTO-NiO heterojunctions leading to an enhanced piezocatalytic activity compared to the other composites examined. The potential for generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) is discussed in relation to energy band theory, which is useful for understanding the mechanisms occurring at heterojunction interfaces. Collectively, the thesis demonstrates the comprehensive understanding of BTO as a piezocatalyst, and it confirms the role of cocatalysts in increasing BTO's piezocatalytic activity for dye degradation and hydrogen production, whether for environmental or in renewable energy applications. Overall, the insights and methodologies offered in this work have significant implications for designing and optimising materials for environmental and energy applications in pollution reduction, and the harnessing of renewable energy. This detailed abstract encapsulates the core advancements of the thesis, bridging multiple investigations that showcases both the challenges and breakthroughs encountered throughout the research journey. It offers a comprehensive view of the scholarly contributions made in the domain of piezocatalysis, paving the way for future innovations in the emerging field
Investigations into impacts of fenestration and shading variation on ventilation and energy performance of an office in cooling and heating seasons
Full text linkConsideration of reducing energy consumption and improving occupant comfort are crucial in sustainable building designs and retrofitting. In the built environment, fenestration and shading device (F&SD) installations are common strategies applied in buildings to minimize solar heat gains towards reducing cooling and overall energy. The influence of F&SD strategies on building performance is contingent upon their designs; however, existing research does not provide performance trends and distributions of F&SD with different configurations. This study investigated the influence of varied F&SD configurations on the ventilation and energy performance of an office unit in a building in Shanghai using brute-force parametric analysis and Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis. The evaluated strategies included window-facing orientation, window-to-wall ratio, shading device types, number of shadings, shading device depths, and shading tilt angles. The results show that changes in F&SD configurations resulted in reductions in solar gains, winter natural ventilation loss, and summer natural ventilation gains by up to 93.8 %, 80.2 %, and 75.6 %, respectively. For all F&SD configurations investigated, the difference between the maximum and minimum zone temperatures for summer was 1.39 °C and for winter, 1.21 °C. Heating energy demands increased up to 0.75 %; besides, cooling energy reductions were 3.03 % and 2.7 % for horizontal and vertical shading devices respectively. This study’s findings can aid building designers in comprehending the energy and ventilation performance of varied F&SD configurations and provide insights and references for sustainable design processes
Critical drivers for the adoption of wearable sensing technologies (WSTs) for construction safety monitoring in Ghana: A Fuzzy Synthetic Analysis
Full text linkPurpose: The construction industry is one of the most hazardous working environments globally. Studies reveal that wearable sensing technologies (WSTs) have practical applications in construction occupational health and safety management. In the global south, the adoption of WSTs in construction has been slow with few studies investigating the critical drivers for its adoption. The study therefore bridges this gap by investigating the factors driving WSTs adoption in Ghana where investments in such technologies can massively enhance health and safety through effective safety monitoring.
Design/Methodology: To meet the objectives of this study, research data was drawn from 210 construction professionals. Purposive sampling technique was used to select construction professionals in Ghana and data was collected with the use of well-structured questionnaires. The study adopted the Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation Model (FSEM) to determine the significance of the critical drivers for the adoption of WSTs.
Findings: According to the findings, perceived value, technical know-how, security, top management support, competitive pressure, and trading partner readiness obtained a high model index of 4.154, 4.079, 3.895, 3.953, 3.971, and 3.969, respectively, as critical drivers for WSTs adoption in Ghana. Among the three broad factors, technological factors recorded the highest index of 3.971, followed by environmental factors and organizational factors with a model index of 3.938 and 3.916 respectively.
Implications: Theoretically, findings are consistent with studies conducted in developed countries, particularly with regard to the perceived value of WSTs as a key driver in its adoption in the construction industry. This study also contributes to the subject of WSTs adoption and, in the case of emerging countries. Practically, findings from the study can be useful to technology developers in planning strategies to promote WSTs in the global south. To enhance construction health and safety in Ghana, policymakers can draw from the findings to create conducive conditions for worker acceptance of WSTs.
Originality/Value: Studies investigating the driving factors for WSTs adoption have mainly centered on developed countries. This study addresses this subject in Ghana where studies on WSTs application in construction process is uncommon. It also uniquely explores the critical drivers for WSTs adoption using the Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation Model
Off-Site Technologies: Can Panelised Off-Site Construction Be The Solution To London's Housing Crisis?
Full text linkHouse prices in the UK have risen in the last ten years, yet house construction is at its lowest level since 1924. According to estimates, Britain will face a housing shortage of roughly a million homes by 2025 in a nation where up to 70% of adults are accustomed to owning their own home. The UK is known to have the highest rates of homeownership in Europe, but it is getting more difficult due to lack of affordable housing due to low wages and high standard of living increases. LSBU's Centre for the Integrated Delivery of the Built Environment (IDoBE) is at the forefront of this research looking at developing solutions for sustainable living.
The aim of this study is to investigate how the use of Panelised systems and materials can increase the current housing shortage. The housing industry is generally dominated by traditional method of construction which has a limited range of products to resolve this housing crisis. The methodology adopted will be the use of both qualitative and quantitative data which includes carrying out extensive literature review and case study analysis.
The findings suggest that the housing shortage in London is a crisis that stems from affordability/availability and subsequently suggests the adoption of Panelised Offsite Construction as a smart and affordable solution to the problem. However, it is necessary to implement new policies that would effectively support, stimulate, and maintain housing growth. This outcome will be used to understand how best to implement modern methods of construction