The Experts below are selected from a list of 312 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

Carlo Vandecasteele - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • improving the environmental performance of an Earthwork project using cleaner production strategies
    Journal of Cleaner Production, 2013
    Co-Authors: Juan Jose Cabello Eras, Alexis Sagastume Gutierrez, Danny Hernandez Capote, Luc Hens, Carlo Vandecasteele
    Abstract:

    Abstract A quantitative assessment of the environmental impact of construction activities is useful to identify the main environmental impacts and to improve their environmental footprint. This study presents the life cycle assessment of an Earthwork project. The results show that Earthwork activities entail important environmental impacts; mainly energy consumption, global warming and human toxicity. This study proposes and implements cleaner production strategies, based on the hierarchy of waste management, to improve the environmental performance of the Earthwork project. The approach allows reducing the amount of soil to be used by the Earthwork project. Moreover both the diesel consumption and the greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by about 41%. This coincides with a saving of about 1.76 million dollars.

Yves Lucet - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • models and algorithms to improve Earthwork operations in road design using mixed integer linear programming
    European Journal of Operational Research, 2011
    Co-Authors: Warren Hare, Valentin R Koch, Yves Lucet
    Abstract:

    In road construction, Earthwork operations account for about 25% of the construction costs. Existing linear programming models for Earthwork optimization are designed to minimize the hauling costs and to balance the earth across the construction site. However, these models do not consider the removal of physical blocks that may influence the Earthwork process. As such, current models may result in inaccurate estimates of optimal Earthwork costs, leading to poor choices in road design. In this research, we extend the classical linear program model of Earthwork operations to a mixed integer linear program model that accounts for blocks. We examine the economic impact of incorporating blocks via mixed integer linear programming, and find significant savings for most road designs in our test-set. However, the resulting model is considerably harder to solve than the original linear program. Based on structural observations, we introduce a set of algorithms that theoretically reduce the solving time of the model. We confirm this reduction in solve time with numerical experiments.

Ahmad A Moreb - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • linear programming model for finding optimal roadway grades that minimize Earthwork cost
    European Journal of Operational Research, 1996
    Co-Authors: Ahmad A Moreb
    Abstract:

    Abstract The cost of Earthwork involved in road construction can vary widely based on the roadway grades chosen by the designer. There is almost an infinite number of feasible grades available to the designer to choose from, all of which satisfy the geometric specification of the road. For every feasible grade selected, a transportation problem must be solved, which is a very tedious task. The roadway grade selection is usually considered as a stage and the Earthwork (transportation) is another stage. These two stages have always been treated separately in the literature. The model presented here combines the roadway grade selection stage and the Earthwork transportation stage in a single linear programming problem, thus guaranteeing global optimality.

Juan Jose Cabello Eras - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • improving the environmental performance of an Earthwork project using cleaner production strategies
    Journal of Cleaner Production, 2013
    Co-Authors: Juan Jose Cabello Eras, Alexis Sagastume Gutierrez, Danny Hernandez Capote, Luc Hens, Carlo Vandecasteele
    Abstract:

    Abstract A quantitative assessment of the environmental impact of construction activities is useful to identify the main environmental impacts and to improve their environmental footprint. This study presents the life cycle assessment of an Earthwork project. The results show that Earthwork activities entail important environmental impacts; mainly energy consumption, global warming and human toxicity. This study proposes and implements cleaner production strategies, based on the hierarchy of waste management, to improve the environmental performance of the Earthwork project. The approach allows reducing the amount of soil to be used by the Earthwork project. Moreover both the diesel consumption and the greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by about 41%. This coincides with a saving of about 1.76 million dollars.

A.j. Moffat - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • effects of short rotation forestry on earthworm community development in the uk
    Forest Ecology and Management, 2013
    Co-Authors: Nalika S. Rajapaksha, E.i. Vanguelova, Kevin R. Butt, A.j. Moffat
    Abstract:

    Short Rotation Forestry (SRF) has been introduced to the UK as a method to increase woody biomass production. However, some SRF species have raised concerns about potential impacts on the environment. A largely unknown aspect of SRF is the quality and quantity of leaf litter, and its impact on soil fauna, of which the earthworm community is a major component. Earthworms have direct impacts on soil biogeochemistry of SRF systems, and the tree species can impact on the associated earthworm community. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of SRF species on earthworm diversity and population growth. Earthworm surveys and a litter mass loss study were conducted at a range of SRF trial sites. Associated laboratory experiments were also carried out to examine the direct effect of SRF litter on earthworm growth and reproduction. Overall survey results suggested that SRF affects earthworm community development depending on tree species, soil type and land-use history. Six years of Eucalyptus nitens development on a former arable loamy soil significantly (p < 0.05) increased earthworm density (152 m−2) compared with similarly derived Eucalyptus gunnii (47 m−2) and an arable control (51 m−2). However, 5 years of similar Eucalyptus development on a reclaimed site supported earthworm community development similar to the adjacent pasture control. A leaf litter mass loss (litterbag) study at an ex-arable site with high earthworm density (298 m−2) and species richness (n = 6) suggested that leaf litter removal was 100% for Fraxinus excelsior after 9 months whilst Acer pseudoplatanus, Betula pendula, Castanea sativa and E. nitens lost more than 85% mass over 12 months. Laboratory feeding experiments with hatchling and mature Lumbricus terrestris, a deep burrowing earthworm species, showed that the litter of non-native E. nitens supported earthworm production rates similar to those of some native SRF species such as B. pendula, and F. excelsior. Alnus glutinosa yielded the highest earthworm production whilst C. sativa had the lowest compared with other selected SRF species. In terms of development and maintenance of earthworm populations, this work suggests use of rapid-growing native tree species such as A. glutinosa, B. pendula, F. excelsior and non-native E. nitens for SRF production.

  • Effects of Short Rotation Forestry on earthworm community development in the UK
    Forest Ecology and Management, 2013
    Co-Authors: Nalika S. Rajapaksha, E.i. Vanguelova, Kevin R. Butt, A.j. Moffat
    Abstract:

    Short Rotation Forestry (SRF) has been introduced to the UK as a method to increase woody biomass production. However, some SRF species have raised concerns about potential impacts on the environment. A largely unknown aspect of SRF is the quality and quantity of leaf litter, and its impact on soil fauna, of which the earthworm community is a major component. Earthworms have direct impacts on soil biogeochemistry of SRF systems, and the tree species can impact on the associated earthworm community. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of SRF species on earthworm diversity and population growth. Earthworm surveys and a litter mass loss study were conducted at a range of SRF trial sites. Associated laboratory experiments were also carried out to examine the direct effect of SRF litter on earthworm growth and reproduction. Overall survey results suggested that SRF affects earthworm community development depending on tree species, soil type and land-use history. Six years of Eucalyptus nitens development on a former arable loamy soil significantly (p