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Global warming is a phenomenon that makes us increasingly aware of the importance of protecting nature. One of the biggest problems is water scarcity in the world and the gradual drying up of water resources. This is the main reason why we are trying to return greenery to our cities, saving water and appreciating rainwater much more. Drinking water and rainwater storage tanks, as well as sludge tanks for wastewater treatment and recycling to technical water are becoming increasingly important. For built-up areas, ...

Greenery is an indispensable element of the urban structure, which brings not only ecological but also economic and social benefits. The regulation of urban greenery is an essential part of spatial planning. In addition to regulating the proportion of a green area, a so-called Green space factor, taking the environmental benefits of urban greenery into account is becoming increasingly important. This tool is usually used for regulation of urban structure at a zonal level. Nowadays, when special attention is paid t...

The contribution deals with the energy performance of variants of the building with the glazed cladding. Nowadays, glass facades on commercial buildings are a big fashion hit. Correct adjustment of the glazed surfaces helps us to warm the interior in the cold months, but in the summer months, the interior space becomes overheated. These buildings then look truly original, modern and architecturally interesting. The paper offers possibilities of the structural design of facade shielding and compares the results of ...

Great emphasis has been placed on the issue of ecology and human impact on the environment in recent years as clear evidence of global warming and greenhouse effect due to human activity has been perceived. Air, water and soil are being polluted by pollutants, which subsequently negatively affect the environment and human health as a result of construction production. The aim of the research described in this article is to analyse the environmental aspects of construction production, identify their sources and car...

This topic presents methodology and selected results of indirect differential measurements of discharge pressure, flow rates and pressure losses, which has been obtained during testing of specific high capacity pumping module (HCPM, prototype MCS-25-330-K), developed by Sigma Lutin, ltd., and Hydraulic Research Center in 2016. For long range transportation of water (1 km, 2 km and 3 km) in this case, classical rubber hoses with DN150 has been used, although the research team did know, that it wasn?t the optimal ch...

The assessment of underground behaviour below buildings will become more and more relevant because of increasing awareness to energy efficiency and renewable energy topics. Real information on ground temperatures is important for many thermal calculations, which include, among others, the calculation of heat losses of buildings to the ground or the design of subsoil heat exchanger. This paper presents the results of six-year period in situ experiment designed to monitor the ground temperature profile below a passi...

Daylight in buildings is evaluated using the daylight factor DF [%], which is defined as the ratio of the light level inside a structure (Ei = illuminance due to daylight at a point on the indoors working plane) to the light level outside the structure (Eo = simultaneous outdoor illuminance on a horizontal plane from an unobstructed hemisphere of overcast sky). The illuminance values are calculated for the overcast winter sky with Eo=5000 lx. In the Czech republic (and many other European countries), the daylight ...

The Prague housing fund consists of houses built by heavy prefabrication system between the years 1950 and 1990. This method of construction was characterized by considerable heat losses which, in the context of current trends, appear to be unacceptable. Ageing houses are currently being renovated. The primary goal of the reconstruction is to reduce heat losses with minimal reconstruction costs. The aesthetic value of the facades and the exterior appearance of residential buildings are neglected. The article exami...

In recent years, the development of infrastructure in the Russian Federation has become relevant. This will increase the level of economic development of the country. However, infrastructure projects require significant investments and often have a long payback period. The state is not able to fully finance infrastructure projects at the expense of budget funds, which increases the relevance of the use of new sources of funds. The purpose of the study: to determine the potential for financing infrastructure projec...

The urban area has noticeably higher temperatures than other areas located in the undeveloped area. This is due to the overlapping of large areas of the original vegetation with the construction of buildings and roads. Concrete and asphalt surfaces absorb a large amount of heat from the sun that radiates back into the environment. The impact of ever-expanding urban arrest increases the intensity of so-called thermal islands, and life in some cities becomes difficult in the summer months. Due to the absence of gree...

In this research project, a biodegradable composite material is made from hemp fiber and polylactide (polymerized corn starch). Thermoset treated polylactide and hemp fiber bio-composites have high mechanical properties, which allow to reduce the amount of materials in the product. The developed bio-composite can be used both as a slab material and for molded parts of furniture, etc. Obtained material is biodegradable during the composting process, which improves the ecological assessment (Life Cycle Assessment) o...

Actually progressive technology can be helpful for sustainability achievements. Sustainability it?s not only trend, but an unnecessary need in every field. Correctly planning and designing are first steps and main aspects to achieve sustainable development, economic, social and environmental in construction industry. Building Information Modelling presents tool which meets the information requirement for sustainability design. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is one of the most progressive technology in constr...

The influence of the quality of life of urbanized areas in Slovakia is directly dependent on the development of transport. Both sites transport - transport infrastructure and transport services - are not only assessed in terms of the levels of traffic volumes or traffic flows on the urban road network. Recently, mobility and accessibility have been at the forefront as the main quality service of land use. On the other side, there is no uniform principle of their parameterization to determine the procedure for asse...

All the recent studies about green buildings agree upon the importance of their envi-ronmental sustainability. This goal finds confirmation also through the recent green building assessment tools, which give higher rating points to environmental aspects of sustainability. Certainly the increase of buildings performances, thanks to an efficient use of energy, water and materials, or waste and CO2 emission reduction, is a tangible way to reduce environmental impact, but it couldn?t be enough in high-density urban ar...

There are many studies focusing on indoor air quality in primary and secondary schools. Nevertheless, studies in nursery schools are still few. Concentrations of indoor air pollutants are typically 2-5 times higher, and occasionally 100 times higher than outdoors. Children spend more time in nursery and preschools than in any other indoor microenvironment besides home. It is generally assumed that preschool students are more susceptible to the adverse effects of poor indoor air quality (IAQ) than elementary or mid...

The buildings sector currently consumes between 30% and 40% of the total energy produced in the developed countries while contributing over 35% of the total carbon emissions, most of them being built without taking into account passive strategies as well as the integration of renewable energy resources RRE. Given that the technology of solar energy is constantly increasing, adapting continuously to existing solutions is necessary. In this paper we approach the implementation of solar technologies, taking into acco...

The suburban zone has become the site of new functionally and stylistically varied development in recent years. It is the result of the search for an alternative form of housing and employment in an attractive environment far away from the inconvenience of the city, yet in its immediate vicinity. The goal of the article is to present new development structures in selected fragments of the suburban zones of Polish cities in terms of their relationships with the core city and their immediate surroundings and how wel...

Egypt is characterized by a hot desert climate. Most of the residential building occupants suffering from indoor environment because of the high indoor Temperature and the majority of buildings have poor design related to the climate. This paper investigates different passive design strategies to enhance energy efficient design and increase the performance of thermal comfort in a typical residential building in New Minia, Egypt. The approaches are conducted by computational IDA ICE 4.7.1 program to simulate differ...

The aim of this article is to present the possibility of incorporating the existing railway network into the transportation service system of the Krakow Metropolitan Area. The author discusses the problems and opportunities related to adapting the existing railway network to the emerging functional and spatial structure and the options of using it to make this area more accessible. Research done by the author focuses on the current condition of the railway infrastructure in the aspect of its functional and spatial...

This paper aims to provide an overview of the technologies for the use and implementation of phase change materials, with the purpose of identifying possible applications in energy efficiency, reducing energy losses and reducing carbon dioxide emissions, while bringing a contribution in identifying the applications in the design of passive houses regarding the reduction of the overheating phenomenon. A passive house can be defined as an energy efficient construction, which ensures an optimal indoor microclimate bo...

The purpose of this work is the rehabilitation of a plot of land located on Circumvala?iunii Street in Timisoara, which at present has no functionality, by arranging a space dedicated to quadrupeds, but also to their owners. The main motivation of this project was the desire to set up a dog park in the true sense of the word and to make this concept known in Romania, because in most cities in the country, these spaces dedicated to dogs are either non-existent or too small for their needs. The area also helps expan...

Traffic volumes in road traffic show growth, especially in developed countries. Where necessary and depending on space, financial possibilities and other aspects, increasingly more capacity roads (multi-lane highways, complex grade-separated interchange, etc.) are being built. The places, where the roads meet (i.e. at the intersections), are the most problematic (traffic accidents, capacity problems, etc.). Standard intersections (i.e. level intersections, roundabouts, intersections with traffic lights or grade-se...

In a world faced with the twin challenges of increasing urbanization and climate change, it is paramount to re-think cities so that they are able to face the pressures these changes will bring. Smart Green City goes one step beyond smart cities and is committed to caring for the environment. The Smart City, undoubtedly, has many advantages, and the implementation of all the technology associated with it is almost immediate. However, there is another emerging concept that, although it has less relevance, is also ve...

For the construction of alternative and sustainable cities of the future, due attention should be paid to the study of the socio-economic and political issues that result from the development of globalization processes. On the other hand, smart and sustainable cities of the future are the challenge of the 21st century faced by the local authorities of the cities and regions of the European Union, as regional imbalances must be reduced by discussing cohesion issues. The process of building and managing alternative ...

Among the restoration works in Northeast Romania, one can distinguish architect Ioana Grigorescu (1914 ? 2006). She was employed at Department for Historical Monuments and she designed inside existing buildings, spaces dedicated for the museum purposes as interpretation centers. Her work team used experience acquired during previous exhibitions spaces where the expressiveness of folk architecture forms where implemented. This creative architect conducted the restoration works of 17th and 18th century buildings, am...

Vertical gardens are a new method for setting up inside or outside private or public buildings, providing a great aesthetic impact due to the impressive structure and the way it harmoniously combines architecture with nature, providing a balance between the two and, at the same time, modern. The purpose of this project is to embellish the facade of the BUASVMT building by introducing a novelty element that can offer a friendlier and more modern look to the edifice and a potential emblem of the university as plants...

The paper deals with the effective management of rainwater. Given the current climate change, which is currently faster than anticipated, environmental issues are very timely. These sudden changes are mainly caused by human activity. The most noticeable climate change is the increase in temperature and changes in the rainfall regime. These two changes are closely linked. The average consumption of drinking water per capita is over 100 liters of water per day in civilized advanced nations. But about 50% of this con...

The civil engineers have a responsibility to society to offer best possible solutions in order to design more sustainable buildings. A way to incorporate sustainability concepts by the structural engineers is the attempt to reduce both material consumption requirements and energy use during all phases of design. In a sustainability focused society, the amount of the matter resulted from a structural design according to the norms, may be of key importance. Nowadays, structural engineers are trained to design for me...

In recent years we see a growing interest in renewable and green energy sources. Particularly noteworthy are photovoltaic system PV which can provide us with energy from solar radiation. The most important factor for such an installations is solar insolation. Concentrator technology allows to focus solar light on the surface area of the solar panels which allow us to increase the electricity production. There are many solutions which grant us the possibility to increase the performance of PV installation, for exam...

Buildings produce about 30 % of all greenhouse gases and consume about 40 % of globally produced energy. Construction industry significantly contributes to climate changes. An approach to limit production of greenhouse gas is construction and operation of buildings according to the principles of sustainability. There are 186 certified (green) buildings in the Czech Republic. 48% of them are office building. After them, 29% are industrial areas. The LEED and BREEAM global certification programs and one local certif...

Neighborhoods of standardized concrete block buildings form a significant part of the post-socialist build heritage. It is very important to renovate the houses to suit the needs of the current user. The reconstructions typically affect the apartment layout (e. q. uniting the kitchen with the living room, bathroom renovation) and also the indoor environment (thermal insulation, window replacement, installing air conditioning units). One of the alterations that has a major impact on both the apartment layout and th...

The problem of global warming is currently very actual. In a recent year, some constructions projects have caused a rapid and, in many cases, ill-considered building boom. Many buildings were not being built with the greatest possible adaptation to the environment. People who lives in these locations can feel uncomfortable because of noise of construction machines, air pollution or reducing green areas. One consequence is the overheating of parts of the towns. Many of them are located in concrete places, where is ...

The dynamics of the development of modern society dictates new requirements for the creation of a sustainable workspace or eco-friendly office. The functional state of the human body is an indicator of environmental friendliness of the working space. Therefore, a Green office is not only the creation of a comfortable, ecological space, ergonomic workplace, but also taking into account the whole complex of factors that can negatively affect the functional state of the organism. In modern society, a person has to li...

Tiny houses and buildings, as well as their associated lifestyles, have become a global phenomenon which is receiving a significant amount of media attention, in addition to being quite popular on the Internet. While living in a tiny house may seem attractive to and is even celebrated by some, the usable floor areas offered by most such buildings are far below what would currently be considered a proper housing standard and therefore can be considered as having a detrimental impact on quality of life. In the artic...

There are a number of traffic calming measures that can be employed to protect vulnerable road users (VRU). Traffic calming is of critical importance in small towns and villages crossed by regional roads where it is necessary to resolve a number of conflicting traffic-related interests on stretch of a road that is just 500 m to 1,200 m long. Pedestrian refuges are one of the most common measures used to protect vulnerable road users. Considering the statutory speed limit of 50 km/h applying in daytime to all roads...

Very large trees are considered as key green structures in an urban green infrastructure. Due to the general focus on old and very large trees (with high aesthetic values in green urban areas), there is a significant knowledge gap related to the role of young trees in cities. This study is based on results of field mapping of cultural important trees in the urban area of the famous European historical city of Prague. We have investigated both very large and young trees ? just only trees with function of living sym...

Buildings are responsible from 25% to 30% of greenhouse gases production, contributing significantly to global warming. One approach to limiting greenhouse gas production is construction and operation of buildings according to the principles of sustainable construction. There are 113 certified buildings in the Czech Republic. 57% of the total consists of an office building. For this purpose, the LEED and BREEAM global certification programs and one local certification program, SB TOOL CZ, are used in the Czech Rep...

Daylight is very important at work. Natural daylight is a vital element in our daily life. Providing natural daylight into the working environment is of fundamental importance for the comfort, efficiency and safety for the people in that environment. This paper deals with visual comfort evaluation in administrative building, in office spaces. The human eye is able to perceive light at the moment it occurs. It cannot accumulate or move it in the human body for future use. Light perception is a complex process that ...

A long term EU effort is to reduce CO2 emissions in order to stabilize climatic changes. Reducing buildings energy consumption is a necessary step to achieve this goal. Since 2020 all new buildings in Czech Republic must be designed as nearly zero energy. It sets low energy consumption requirements as well as requirements on indoor environment quality. However one third of residential buildings in Czech Republic was built before the year 1945 and does not meet these demands. Refurbishments of these buildings shoul...

The Prague Housing Fund has consisted of houses built by heavy prefabrication system between 1950 and 1990 to a large extent. These houses are being continuously renovated. The refurbishment emphasizes the reduction of energy losses and neglects other factors of the indoor environment (air exchange, humidity, overheating, etc.). The article deals with the above-mentioned problems of interior overheating in terms of the effect of shading elements on the appearance of facades. It assesses several types of shading wi...

St. Petersburg is one of the most northern world megapolises. Climate changing, increasing of anthropogenic pressure, diseases and insect pests invasions determine the necessity of trees and shrubs assortment revision. St. Petersburg is known as one of the major centers of introduction works and landscape design development both in Russia and in the world. These work is devoted to estimation of trees and shrubs composition in St. Petersburg greening. The approaches to sustainable assortment development in modern c...

In research are used objective and subjective sound features on the development of noise annoyance assessment model in urbanized environment. They represent a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the acoustic signal. The relation of objective features in subjective features is the direction of research on the development of noise annoyance evaluation model developed for several years. The carrier of information about the characteristics of sound in the environment is an acoustic signal coming from noise sour...

The current legislative standards require as much as possible energy efficient construction. Airtightness is a key component of energy-efficient buildings. Airtightness is characterized by air leakage through the building envelopes. Untightness leads to uncontrolled air exchange and increased heat loss. Using the exploratory analysis of variables is analyzed the state of the airtightness of energy-efficient buildings in the United Kingdoms in recent years. The source of data sample set on the airtightness of UK en...

Sustainability of energy sources and environmental protection play an increasingly important role in civil engineering design. Due to global warming, people are well aware of the importance of protecting nature, as extreme weather events are occurring more frequently. The lack of water becomes a serious problem in still larger and larger areas all over the world. For this reason, drinking and rain water reservoirs as well as wastewater treatment plants have been presently popular and frequently used structures. Fr...

The paper deals with the analysis of the design elements of the road at the crossing point of the railway line. For the analysis were selected existing level crossings in the Czech Republic, where problems were found during the traffic. These were mainly problems of repeated disorder road pavement in contact with the construction of the level crossing. In addition, there are problems with the crossing of motor road transport or freight traffic. Particularly in the case of longer vehicles (heavy goods vehicles, pub...

A quick development of motoring poses, particularly in cities, a number of transportation challenges involving traffic flow and maintaining its safety. To ensure road safety in streets facing transportation challenges, different systems of traffic calming have been successively introduced aiming at improvement of living and safety conditions. Suburban districts and housing estates are having their traffic arrangement plans changed. Traffic calming zones (e.g. Woonerven, stille veje, zones 30, home zones) are intro...

The European Directive 31/2010 for the energy performance of buildings imposed two distinct deadlines for the new buildings stock, one being that all public buildings must be nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) starting with 31 December 2018 and the other is that all new buildings must be nZEB starting from 31 December 2020. Thus, a thoroughly design must be considered in obtaining such low energy consumptions at buildings. In the design stage, a time consuming activity is that of modeling and simulating thermal w...

The design of a social housing complex that is accessible to all population groups including disabled people, elderly people and families with children can be achieved only with application of architectural and gerontological principles. The gerontological direction in designing is connected with a comprehensive account of the dynamic changes in a person's life, his physiological and social characteristics, changing during the life of the population's needs for the organization of living space. The paper confirms ...

Public transport is a key component of sustainable mobility in cities. One way to increase attractiveness of public transport to citizens is to offer shorter travel time compared to other transport modes. Ensuring faster and smoother transit of road-based public transport vehicles (buses, trolleybuses, etc.) is possible by active prioritizing of these vehicles at signalized intersections. The article describes technologies and principles of decentralized GPS-based priority system operation with two-way real-time d...

Computer Aided Design (CAD) is the reality of today?s architecture. Building Information Modelling (BIM) technique is a great opportunity for communication and data management in virtual space. Theoretically BIM has a sophisticated database, where the resulting software can simultaneously create the data and generate ?reports? about it, in the form of drawings. BIM cloud-based collaboration provides up-to-date information, where project data is at the centre of the process and delivered to the point of work, makes...