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A special issue of Infrastructures (ISSN 2412-3811).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 37039

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sakdirat Kaewunruen

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Guest Editor

Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston B152TT, UK
Interests: railway infrastructure; circular economy; resilience; sustainability; digitalisation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Erol Tutumluer

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Guest Editor

Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
Interests: artificial intelligence; transportation infrastructure; subgrade soils; geosynthetics; pavements; geo-materials; transportation geotechnics

Prof. Dr. Alex M. Remennikov

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Guest Editor

University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
Interests: blast; physical threats; extreme loading; impact engineering; structural engineering; buildings; infrastructure design
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Road and rail infrastructure are critical systems that can instigate significant changes in social and economic growth, security, safety, and sustainable development in any country. At present, some of these critical infrastructure networks are aging and on the verge of failing due to exposure to extreme weather conditions. This is likely exacerbated by multiple hazards and climate change over their lifecycle. Emerging risks and their significant consequences, with no sign of early warnings, have been evidenced by many extreme events, such as the Nepal earthquakes, the Madrid train bombing, the Brussels metro attack, etc. The majority of past research emphasized the robustness of the critical infrastructure systems. Insights into infrastructure vulnerability and resilience are desperately needed to improve and modernize road and rail infrastructures from a fundamental design principle viewpoint. Many critical issues, such as choice of materials, durability, capacity and vulnerability, engineering properties, functionality requirements, and design concepts, remain unknown or unchanged. This causes uncertainties and safety risks within the infrastructure systems.

This Special Issue will address some of the most essential issues currently affecting the safety, resilience, and vulnerability of road and rail infrastructure systems. Rebuilding and enhancing urban infrastructure systems faces problems, beyond the search for engineering solutions. It is vital to instigate infrastructure adaptation actions to: (i) reduce exposure to hazards (e.g., by providing more robust and/or better designed structures); (ii) reduce the consequences of the hazard (e.g., using the affected resource more prudently, by reducing other pressures, and through preparation and readiness); and (iii) improve recovery from the hazard impact (by investing in effective recovery procedures). Thus, this Special Issue will accept various novel and original research topics related to road and rail infrastructure systems, including, but not limited to:

Fundamental engineering design
Safety, risks, and uncertainty
Smart infrastructure
Novel materials such as composites, metamaterials, etc.
Transportation geotechniques
Road and rail transportation
Mechanics, prognostics, and diagnostics
Health monitoring, inspection, NDT&E (non-destructive testing and evaluation), and signal processing
Data science and artificial intelligence
Multi-hazards and climate change adaptation
New technologies such as digital twins, BIM, decarbonization technologies, advanced sensors, etc.

Dr. Sakdirat Kaewunruen
Prof. Erol Tutumluer
Prof. Alex M. Remennikov
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Infrastructures is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

road
rail
infrastructure
transportation
multi-hazards
critical infrastructures

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

30 pages, 2673 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Correlation Analysis between Roadway Networks and Economic Ranking—Case Study: Municipalities and Departments of Colombia

by Carlos Felipe Urazán-Bonells, Maria Alejandra Caicedo-Londoño and Hugo Alexander Rondón-Quintana

Infrastructures 2022, 7(9), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures7090118 - 07 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1554

Abstract

It is generally assumed that there is a statistically valid correlation between the length of a roadway network, in addition to other factors such as its classification and/or average travel speed, and economic indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the Municipal Relative Weight (MRW), considering that the roadway network and transport development generate economic development in a region. This study reports the results of correlating several variables which are economic indicators of roadway networks, both at a municipal and a departmental level, in Colombia; it was concluded that at the level of municipalities, there is no valid correlation between MRW, as a dependent variable, and the average travel speed and the sum of the length (in kilometers) of the roadways that connect villages, as independent variables. There was a correlation with neither the MRW as an independent variable nor the traveling distance and time for each municipality concerning the capital city of each respective department. Finally, it was found that the department agribusiness GDP was associated with the length of the tertiary roadway network and with the primary network, with an R2 of 0.7. This study concludes that activities in rural zones are the ones that generate the greatest impact on roadway investment within a region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road and Rail Infrastructures)

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16 pages, 3489 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Growing Infrastructure Crisis: The Challenge of Scour Risk Assessment and the Development of a New Sensing System

by Panagiotis Michalis and Elizabeth Vintzileou

Infrastructures 2022, 7(5), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures7050068 - 05 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2602

Abstract

Scour action is one of the main factors that add significant stress to the growing infrastructure crisis as it is considered one of the most destructive flood-related hazards occurring around underwater foundation elements. Recent cases of bridge failures have highlighted the need for a reliable scour monitoring and early warning system to assess flood and geo-hazards in real-time, providing advanced key info for repair and maintenance actions. Despite the past efforts to provide such a system for scour assessment, most of the developed instruments were not able to offer a reliable solution for scour monitoring, due to technical and cost issues. As a result, there currently exists a gap in the knowledge and understanding of scour mechanism during flood incidents. This study presents the development of a new sensing system to assess hydro-hazards at bridge infrastructure. It initially focuses on factors contributing to the growing infrastructure crisis and provides an overview of the current practices and assessment procedures to assess scour processes and a summary of advantages and limitations of existing monitoring efforts. A new monitoring concept for assessing scour and sediment deposition processes is then presented focusing on modelling the geometric components of a new sensor which is evaluated in simulations under different environments that represent prospective field conditions. Main results are analysed and presented focusing on key criteria that maximize sensitivity of the sensor to scour and sedimentation processes. The obtained results indicate that the sensor has the potential to provide a new monitoring device for scour and sediment deposition monitoring, and it is proposed to be further developed and assessed in laboratory and field conditions. This study aspires to contribute to the ongoing discourse on the use of sensing techniques to monitor, assess, and manage scour action effectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road and Rail Infrastructures)

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18 pages, 80058 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Rainfall-Induced Landslide Susceptibility Risk on Mountain Roadside in Northern Thailand

by Chotirot Dechkamfoo, Sitthikorn Sitthikankun, Thidarat Kridakorn Na Ayutthaya, Sattaya Manokeaw, Warut Timprae, Sarote Tepweerakun, Naruephorn Tengtrairat, Chuchoke Aryupong, Peerapong Jitsangiam and Damrongsak Rinchumphu

Infrastructures 2022, 7(2), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures7020017 - 26 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4964

Abstract

Landslide incidents frequently occur in the upper northern region of Thailand due to its topography, which is mostly mountainous with high slopes. In the past, when landslides happened in this area, they affected traffic accessibility for rescue and evacuation. For this reason, if the risk of landslides could be evaluated, it would help in the planning of preventive measures to mitigate the damage. This study was carried out to create and develop a risk estimation model using the artificial neural network (ANN) technique for landslides at the edge of the roadside, by collecting field data on past landslides in the study areas in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai Provinces. A total of 9602 data points were collected. The variables for forecasting were: (1) land cover, (2) physiographic features, (3) slope angle, and (4) five-day cumulative rainfall. Two hidden layers were used to create the model. The number of nodes in the first and second hidden layers were five and one, respectively, which were derived from a total of 25 trials, and the highest accuracy achieved was 96.74%. When applying the model, a graph demonstrating the relationship between the landslide risk, rainfall, and the slopes of the road areas was obtained. The results show that high slopes result in more landslides than low slopes, and that rainfall is a major trigger for landslides on roads. The outcomes of the study could be used to create risk maps and provide information for developing warnings for high-slope mountain roads in the upper northern region of Thailand. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road and Rail Infrastructures)

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14 pages, 2111 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Pedestrians’ Perceptions about the Design Aspects of Crossing Facilities: A Case in Nizwa, Oman

by Muhammad Ashraf Javid, Mashood Khalid, Nazam Ali, Tiziana Campisi, Antonino Canale and Suniti Suparp

Infrastructures 2021, 6(12), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6120175 - 09 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2781

Abstract

This study aims to identify the key factors in pedestrians’ intentions when using crossing facilities. For this purpose, a comprehensive questionnaire was designed and conducted at selected locations in Nizwa city. The main investigated variables are linked to personal characteristics, opinions on the main reasons for accidents, and how hard it is for pedestrians to cross roads at different locations in Nizwa city. Statements were also designed on the safety and health aspects of pedestrian crossings, as well as the physical and design aspects of pedestrian crossing facilities. Suitable locations were selected for the survey to assess the main concerns of pedestrian facilities. A total of 280 usable samples were collected from the selected locations. The analysis results revealed that young pedestrians do not find it difficult to use pedestrian bridges and underpasses when crossing roads. Pedestrians’ prioritization of safety when crossing, pedestrians’ health conditions, the proper cleaning and lighting of facilities, and the good design of facilities are significant determinants of pedestrians’ intentions when using crossing facilities. Crossing facilities need to be maintained properly, for example, through the cleaning and lighting of facilities. Proper awareness among pedestrians and vehicle drivers is required for the safety of pedestrians. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road and Rail Infrastructures)

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11 pages, 1465 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Socioeconomic Benefits of the Shinkansen Network

by Panrawee Rungskunroch, Anson Jack and Sakdirat Kaewunruen

Infrastructures 2021, 6(5), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6050068 - 30 Apr 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5912

Abstract

High speed rail (HSR) networks have been an essential catalyst in stimulating and balancing regional economic growth that ultimately benefits the society as a whole. Previous studies have revealed that HSR services sustainably yield superior social values for people, especially for adults and those of working age. This has become an advantage of HSR networks over other forms of public transportation. The Shinkansen network in Japan is one of most successful HSR models. Its services bring significant social advantages to the communities it serves, such as shorter travel times and increased job opportunities. Nevertheless, the societal impact of HSR networks depends on many factors, and the benefits of HSR could also be overrated. The goal of this research is to measure the socioeconomic impacts of HSR on people of all genders and age groups. The outcomes could lead to more suitable development of HSR projects and policies. This study investigates data sets for Japanese social factors over 55 years in order to determine the impacts of HSR. The assessment model has been established using Python. It applies Pearson’s correlation (PCC) technique as its main methodology. This study broadly assesses social impacts on population dynamics, education, age dependency, job opportunities, and mortality rate using an unparalleled dataset spanning 55 years of social factors. The results exhibit that younger generations have the most benefits in terms of equal educational accessibility. However, the growth of the HSR network does not influence an increase in the employment rate or labour force numbers, resulting in little benefit to the workforce. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road and Rail Infrastructures)

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23 pages, 9036 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Validated Train-Track-Bridge Model with Nonlinear Support Conditions at Bridge Approaches

by Wenting Hou, Erol Tutumluer and Wenjing Li

Infrastructures 2021, 6(4), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6040059 - 16 Apr 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2316

Abstract

A bridge approach, an essential component connecting a relatively rigid bridge and a more flexible track on subgrade soil, is one of the most common types of track transition zones. The tracks on a bridge deck often undergo significantly lower deformations under loading compared to the approach tracks. Even though there have been numerous efforts to understand and remediate performance deficiencies emerging from the differences in stiffness between the bridge deck and the approach, issues such as differential settlement and unsupported hanging crossties often exist. It is often difficult and expensive to try different combinations of mitigation methods in the field. Therefore, computational modeling becomes of vital importance to study dynamic responses of railroad bridge approaches. In this study, field instrumentation data were collected from the track substructure of US Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor railroad track bridge approaches. After analyses and model implementation of such comprehensive field data, an advanced train-track-bridge model is introduced and validated in this paper. Nonlinear relative displacements under varying contact forces observed between crosstie and ballast are adequately considered in the dynamic track model. The validated model is then used to simulate an Amtrak passenger train entering an open deck bridge to generate typical track transient responses and better understand dynamic behavior trends in bridge approaches. The simulated results show that near bridge location experiences much larger transient deformations, impact forces, vibration velocities and vibration accelerations. The validated track model is an analysis tool to evaluate transient responses at bridge approaches with nonlinear support; it is intended to eventually aid in developing improved track design and maintenance practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road and Rail Infrastructures)

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20 pages, 6695 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Recycled Aggregates Concrete Compressive Strength Prediction Using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs)

by Mohamad Ali Ridho B K A, Chayut Ngamkhanong, Yubin Wu and Sakdirat Kaewunruen

Infrastructures 2021, 6(2), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6020017 - 23 Jan 2021

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 3832

Abstract

The recycled aggregate is an alternative with great potential to replace the conventional concrete alongside with other benefits such as minimising the usage of natural resources in exploitation to produce new conventional concrete. Eventually, this will lead to reducing the construction waste, carbon footprints and energy consumption. This paper aims to study the recycled aggregate concrete compressive strength using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) which has been proven to be a powerful tool for use in predicting the mechanical properties of concrete. Three different ANN models where 1 hidden layer with 50 number of neurons, 2 hidden layers with (50 10) number of neurons and 2 hidden layers (modified activation function) with (60 3) number of neurons are constructed with the aid of Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) algorithm, trained and tested using 1030 datasets collected from related literature. The 8 input parameters such as cement, blast furnace slag, fly ash, water, superplasticizer, coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, and age are used in training the ANN models. The number of hidden layers, number of neurons and type of algorithm affect the prediction accuracy. The predicted recycled aggregates compressive strength shows the compositions of the admixtures such as binders, water–cement ratio and blast furnace–fly ash ratio greatly affect the recycled aggregates mechanical properties. The results show that the compressive strength prediction of the recycled aggregate concrete is predictable with a very high accuracy using the proposed ANN-based model. The proposed ANN-based model can be used further for optimising the proportion of waste material and other ingredients for different targets of concrete compressive strength. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road and Rail Infrastructures)

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18 pages, 4138 KiB

Open AccessArticle

BIM-Based Design for Road Infrastructure: A Critical Focus on Modeling Guardrails and Retaining Walls

by Salvatore Antonio Biancardo, Nunzio Viscione, Antonio Cerbone and Enzo Dessì, Jr.

Infrastructures 2020, 5(7), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures5070059 - 13 Jul 2020

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 7018

Abstract

Although building information modeling (BIM) has been widely adopted in the building industry for several decades, the use of BIM in the context of transportation infrastructure has been slow in terms of both adoption and application. Industry and academia are increasingly making efforts to adopt BIM for other non-building civil infrastructure but, so far, there has not been a comprehensive review of these efforts specifically regarding transportation. This paper explores BIM implementation in an infrastructure design project. An Autodesk ^® BIM-based tool, Civil 3D, is proposed as a potential BIM tool platform. This paper also focuses on modeling specific road elements not editable from the standard library, such as guardrails and retaining walls, as well as proposing different solutions using Revit and Subassembly Composer and analyzing the interoperability among BIM-based tools. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road and Rail Infrastructures)

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18 pages, 6462 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Damage Detection in Fiber-Reinforced Foamed Urethane Composite Railway Bearers Using Acoustic Emissions

by Pasakorn Sengsri, Chayut Ngamkhanong, Andre Luis Oliveira de Melo, Mayorkinos Papaelias and Sakdirat Kaewunruen

Infrastructures 2020, 5(6), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures5060050 - 21 Jun 2020

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4567

Abstract

To a certain degree, composite railway sleepers and bearers have been recently employed as a replacement for conventional timber sleepers. Importantly, attributed to the rise in traffic demand, structural health monitoring of track structural members is essential to improve the maintenance regime and reduce risks imposed by any structural damage. A potential modern technique for detecting damage in railway components by using energy waves is called acoustic emission (AE). This technique has been widely used for concrete structures in other engineering applications, but the application for composites is relatively limited. Recently, fiber-reinforced foamed urethane (FFU) composites have been utilized as railway sleepers and bearers for applications in the railway industry. Neither does a design standard exist, nor have the inspection and monitoring criteria been properly established. In this study, three-point bending tests were performed together with using the AE method to detect crack growth in FFU composite beams. The ultimate state behaviors are considered to obtain the failure modes. This paper is thus the world’s first to focus on damage detection approaches for FFU composite beams using AE technology, additionally identifying the load-deflection curves of the beams. According to the experimental results, it is apparent that the failure modes of FFU composite beams are likely to be in brittle modes. Through finite element method, the results were in good agreement with less than 0.14% discrepancy between the experimental and numerical data. The attractive insights into an alternative technique for damage assessment of the composite components will help railway engineers to establish structural monitoring guidelines for railway composite sleepers and bearers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road and Rail Infrastructures)

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