Mobile phone distraction has emerged as a major social and road safety issue, contributing to rising rates of traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Understanding how phone use influences driver behavior is therefore essential. This study investigates drivers’ attitudes and behaviors regarding mobile phone use while driving through a questionnaire survey of 613 participants across multiple regions of Anbar Governorate, Iraq. Results reveal that 68% of drivers admit to using their phones while driving, most frequently on urban roads. Notably, 51.4% reported never switching their phones to silent mode, despite having access to modern vehicles and higher education. Logistic regression analysis identified behavioral factors—particularly responding to calls while driving (p < 0.001) and a history of phone-related accidents (p < 0.001)—as significant predictors of phone use, whereas demographic factors showed no significant association. These findings highlight the prevalence of risky driving behaviors linked to mobile phone distraction and underscore the need for targeted interventions to enhance road safety. Keywords: Mobile phone distraction, Driving behavior, Road safety, Traffic accidents
Schoolchildren face heightened vulnerability to traffic accidents due to inadequate infrastructure and poor pedestrian consideration in urban planning. This study investigates risk factors associated with school commuting routes and peri-school environments to inform strategies for mitigating student exposure to traffic-related dangers. Data was collected via a questionnaire administered to 1,074 children aged 911 years (50.9% boys, 49.1% girls) across twelve Algerian primary schools. The methodology combined road safety assessments using the Star Rating for Schools (SR4S) tool around school vicinities with a participatory approach, capturing children's firsthand commuting experiences. Findings show that over 75% of surveyed children walk to school, with 85% unaccompanied by adults. Spatial analysis reveals that gender-based behavioral differences emerged, with female students demonstrating greater caution during road crossings. Infrastructure evaluations identify critical deficiencies-including absent pedestrian facilities, inadequate signage, and substandard road conditions-as primary contributors to elevated risk levels. The SR4S assessment classified school zones into distinct safety categories, ranging from highrisk (1-star) to optimal safety (5-star). This hybrid approach allowed both risk classification near schools and geospatial mapping of danger zones along routes based on children's experiences, extending hazard analysis beyond school perimeters. The findings support planning safer, inclusive school environments and more resilient urban development.
Jordan continues to face a serious public health challenge due to pedestrian-related traffic accidents, which contribute significantly to human and economic losses. This study aims to investigate the historical characteristics of pedestrian accidents in Jordan and to develop predictive models using both classical regression techniques and artificial neural networks (ANNs). Pedestrian accident data was collected from official annual reports published by the Jordan Traffic Institute (JTI), spanning the years from 1984 to 2022. Descriptive analysis focused on the period from 2013 to 2022, while model development utilized data from 1984 to 2022. The analysis revealed that although the fatality risk has decreased over the years from 13 to 6 deaths per 100,000 populations between 2013 and 2022, it remains relatively high compared to global standards. Children aged 3-5 years and elderly individuals over 60 years of age were identified as the most vulnerable age groups. Pedestrian accidents were most frequent during peak evening hours and at low-speed limits of 40- 60 km/h, often due to driver negligence or inadequate pedestrian infrastructure. Three classical regression models were developed: linear, logarithmic, and power, with R2 values of 0.937, 0.913, and 0.928, respectively. The linear model showed the best fit among the traditional approaches. Additionally, an ANN model with two hidden layers was trained using registered vehicle data as input, achieving an R2 value of 0.981, indicating superior predictive performance and the ability to capture complex non-linear trends. These findings highlight the critical role of advanced machine learning techniques in enhancing traffic safety planning and policy formulation. The study recommends integrating AI-driven models into national traffic monitoring systems and adopting urban planning strategies that prioritize pedestrian safety to reduce accidents and their severe consequences.
Construction of civil engineering infrastructure in regions with significant deposits of expansive clay is generally challenging due to the volumetric changes of the soil's behavior. Moisture variations can cause expansive soils to become volumetrically unstable, which results in structural damage. Physical alteration and cushion techniques were the promising techniques for controlling the problems triggered by these soils. In the present study, barite powder, which is processed from barite mineral, was used as an additive to alter the behavior of expansive clay. The use of barite powder in the treatment of expansive clay is seldom explored. To assess the efficacy of barite powder as a stabilizer, free swell index (FSI), consistency limits, compaction parameters, unconfined compressive strength, hydraulic conductivity, California bearing ratio (CBR), heave and stress-settlement characteristics were determined on the unblended and blended samples. In all the tests, barite powder was added to expansive clay up to 30% in increments of 5%. As the amount of the barite powder increased, FSI, plasticity, and heave decreased, while the strength, CBR, and stress-settlement characteristics were improved. Further, CBR (soaked) tests were conducted on the untreated and treated clay beds cushioned with barite powder of 50-mm thickness. The CBR of the untreated and treated clay beds provided with barite powder cushion enhanced significantly. The test results revealed that the use of barite powder as a blended and cushion material can be a viable alternative for low-volume pavement sub-grades.
In recent years, global concern over climate change has intensified, particularly in Iraq. Forecasting hydrological data remains a significant challenge, making general trend analysis of time series critically important. This study employed two complementary methods, Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA) and Innovative Polygon Trend Analysis (IPTA), to comprehensively assess rainfall trends across Iraq using monthly rainfall data spanning 34 years (1990-2023) from 16 meteorological stations distributed throughout Iraq. ITA results revealed significant negative trends at 81.25% of the stations, with the most pronounced decreases occurring in the northern regions. Only two stations, Al-Hay and Baghdad, exhibited positive trends; Karbala did not show any apparent change in direction. The IPTA approach provided enhanced temporal resolution, uncovering distinct seasonal redistribution patterns: winter rainfall (December-February) declined at 87.5 % of the stations, whereas rainfall in late spring (May) and autumn (November) increased at 87.5 % and 68.75 % of the stations, respectively. This shift from traditional winter dominated rainfall toward transitional seasons represents a fundamental alteration in Iraq's rainfall regime. Analyses further highlighted geographic variability, with uniform negative trends in the north, complex mixed patterns in central Iraq, and predominantly negative trends in the south. The irregular polygon shapes observed in IPTA diagrams show a complex and unstable climatic environment across most study stations. These findings demonstrate the value of ITA and IPTA for detecting rainfall trends and contribute to a deeper understanding of rainfall variability and its implications for agriculture and water-resource management in Iraq.
In this study, seismic responses of dam-reservoir-foundation coupled systems have been determined with inclined reservoir bed. The bed slope of the reservoir changes due to scouring or siltation and may affect the responses of the coupled system. In the present study, the variation of hydrodynamic pressure adjacent to the gravity dam and stresses at the heel of the dam have been observed for the change of bed slope of the reservoir in anti-clockwise and clockwise directions by applying seismic excitation including fluid-structure and soil-structure interaction. The stresses of foundation near the heel of the dam have been observed for earthquake excitation. The geometry of the coupled system is discretized using finite element and dynamic analysis of the system carried out by the direct coupling approach. Significant changes have been observed in seismic responses of the dam, reservoir and foundation for the variation of reservoir bed slope.
This study examines the mechanical behavior of clayey soil treated with terrazyme, with concentration on how it affects soil characteristics. It assesses how different terrazyme dosages affect important geotechnical and environmental properties, such as Atterberg limits, compaction characteristics (OMC, MDD), strength (UCS, CBR), leaching potential (TCLP), and micro-structure. Terrazyme raised MDD from 19.71 kN/m2 to 24.02 kN/m3 and reduced OMC from 13.45% to 9.45% at a dose with a dilution factor of 1.6. It also enhanced soil plasticity, lowering the LL from 52% to 40% and the PI from 23% to 8%, while increasing the PL from 29% to 32%. At a dilution factor of 1.7, UCS raised from 150 kPa to 156.2 kPa, and after 28 days, it raised even more to 300.5 kPa. CBR values rose from 3% to 14% after 7 days and from 5% to 25% after 28 days due to the enhanced soil micro-structure. Terrazyme was relatively successful in bringing the concentrations of Hg, Ba, and Pb down to EPA standards; the most effective results were obtained at a dilution factor of 1.8. Analysis using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the treated samples had a denser particle packing. In order to comprehend more about soil-enzyme interactions for geotechnical applications, this work emphasizes the necessity of conducting systematic research on enzyme-based soil stabilization.
In the construction industry, health and environmental considerations have been growing. This industry has developed several technologies and a variety of admixtures to reduce the temperature at which asphalt mixtures are manufactured, resulting in a truly innovative type of mix known as warm mix asphalt (WMA). In recent years, warm mix asphalt (WMA) has become an alternative to hot mix asphalt (HMA). Sasobit is a synthetic hard wax that is mixed with bitumen to be used in road construction. Sasobit additive can minimize WMA development temperatures. This study investigates the effect of Sasobit with variation in mixing and compaction temperatures on the properties of warm mixes. The present study is divided into four stages. In stage I, the physical properties of aggregates and bitumen were discussed. In stage II, the optimum binder content for the conventional DBM mix was determined. In stage III, the physical properties of Sasobit modified binder and the effect of Sasobit modified binders on properties of WMA at different mixing temperatures (165, 135, 125, 110oC) and compaction temperatures (140, 120, 110, 95oC) were determined. The optimum bitumen contents at all temperature ranges were determined and compared. In stage IV, the durability aspect of standard/control and modified mixes was determined. The moisture susceptibility using the Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) of all the trial mixes was determined and compared. Based on test results, it has been observed that Sasobit resulted in improved physical properties of bitumen. Sasobit resulted in a reduction in the viscosity of bitumen. 2% Sasobit addition showed a reduction in the mixing temperature by 40 degrees C and compaction temperature by 30 degrees C. It will result in a reduction of fuel consumption in the production of bitumen mixes, which ultimately will protect the environment.
This paper investigates concrete slab cracking induced by embedded composite batter piles within structural slabs. Utilizing finite-element analysis and concrete plastic damage theory, a computational model of the concrete slab-pile interaction was developed. The results showed that the tensile damage of the concrete slab concrete exhibits a spatial distribution characteristic, with early and high damage near the top and bottom surfaces and lower damage in the middle. Vertical cross-sections reveal damage concentration on the pile hole sidewalls adjacent to the top surface. Plan views demonstrate that damage initiates first at the slab top surface adjacent to the pile hole perimeter. Subsequent load increases intensify damage along the hole walls, ultimately leading to brittle cracking. Severe damage in the form of an arc occurs on the bottom surface of the slab on both sides of the hole. Although the waterproof steel plate effectively inhibits vertical tensile damage progression along the hole walls, it does not prevent damage development on the top and bottom surfaces of the slab. These findings hold a significant value for engineering practice.
This study investigates the changes in land use/land cover (LULC) and their impact on ecosystem carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas (GHG) dynamics, and environmental sustainability in the Gandak River Basin (GRB), India, focusing on the period between 2014 and 2024. LULC changes significantly influence ecosystem functions, including carbon storage potential, biodiversity, and air quality regulation. Using Google Earth Engine (GEE)-based machine learning (ML) algorithms for LULC classification, the study identified substantial transformations in land cover patterns. In 2014, the basin was predominantly covered by agricultural land, followed by forests, water bodies, and urban areas. By 2024, rapid urbanization and infrastructural expansion caused a corresponding decline in farming and the forested regions. Using the InVEST model, carbon storage estimates revealed a net increase of 23,415,542.10 Mg of carbon (C) over the decade, primarily attributed to improved agricultural management, afforestation initiatives, and soil carbon enhancement. However, intensified urban growth and industrialization led to higher emissions of GHGs, including formaldehyde (HCHO), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon dioxide (CO2), contributing to degraded air quality and increased regional warming potential. Elevated concentrations of these gases were closely linked to forest loss, declining vegetation cover, soil degradation, and growing anthropogenic pressures, highlighting the dual challenge of enhancing carbon sequestration while mitigating environmental risks. This study underscores the importance of integrated and sustainable LULC planning to control emissions, enhance carbon storage, and reduce the basin's vulnerability to climate change. These findings provide critical insights for policymakers to formulate evidence-based strategies that promote eco-friendly development, resource conservation, and climate resilience in the GRB.
In light of the depletion of natural river sand (RS) and the detrimental impact on the environment of sand mining, manufactured sand has become an appealing and sustainable substitute for concrete manufacturing. In India, RS remains the highest source of fine aggregate for all construction activities. Uncontrolled sand mining removes the flora and fauna from the river system triggering the ground water table and even causing floods during rainy seasons. Using alternate sand can reduce the dependency on RS to promote sustainability goals. This study focuses on the development of sustainable Alkali-resistant Glass Fibre-reinforced Concrete incorporating partial replacement of RS with manufactured sand. Experimental results demonstrated that the partial replacement of R sand by 60% with manufactured sand mix M60R40 enhances compressive strength, flexural strength and split tensile strength after 56 days by 11.7%, 23.5% and 22.19% with respect to control mix (M0R100), while maintaining acceptable workability. The inclusion of alkali-resistant glass fibres by 0.3% fibre content mix M60GF3 further improves compressive strength, flexural strength and split tensile strength by 9.36%, 38.8%, and 19.1% with respect to M60R40 after 56 days. The findings suggest that the inclusion of 0.3% conventional concrete.
Claims in the construction industry are a crucial element of project management and contract administration, with the potential to significantly impact project timelines, costs, and stakeholder relationships. Understanding the nature and causes of construction claims is vital for mitigating disputes and ensuring successful project delivery. This study delves into and assesses the causes of construction claims in the public construction industry in Palestine and identifies the parties responsible for these claims. A mixed-method approach was used, combining qualitative interviews and quantitative questionnaires. Thirty-five causes of claims were identified through literature review and expert interviews. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the data, ranking the causes by significance index and assigning responsibility. The results showed that contractors are responsible for approximately 50% of the identified causes of claims, followed by owners at 28%, and designers at 22%. Furthermore, the results revealed that the three most significant causes of claims are: poor management processes by contractors, work suspension due to the owner's non-compliance with contract requirements, and attempts by contractors to increase the quantities of certain work items. The findings provide valuable insights for all key players in public construction projects, serving as guidelines to minimize disruptions and enhance project outcomes.
This study examines the effects of installing stone columns in soft clay using numerical simulations of small-scale laboratory tests. These tests involve reinforcing Kaolin specimens with sand columns constructed using two techniques: simple replacement without compaction and replacement with compaction. After installation, the specimens were subjected to loading to evaluate their mechanical behavior. A parametric study was conducted to assess the influence of key factors, including area replacement ratio, geogrid confinement, column length, and intensity of compaction stress. The results showed that settlement reduction is proportional to the area replacement ratio, column length, and the stiffness of the geogrid encasement. For a 16% area replacement ratio, the relative settlement decreased from 14.6% to 12.1%, with a corresponding stress concentration ratio of 1.92. When geogrid confinement was applied, settlement was further reduced to 6.9% and stress concentration ratio increased to 15.9. Moreover, columns installed with compaction led to a 20% reduction in the void ratio near the column, lowering the settlement to 9.23%. This reduction was directly related to the intensity of the compaction stress applied. The study highlighted the importance of the column installation method on the behavior of reinforced soils.
The geotechnical properties of soils are often influenced by chemical compounds and mineral additives. This study investigates the effects of varying calcium chloride (CaCl2) contents (0% to 6% by weight of dry soil) on the Atterberg limits and classification of Marley soil (MS), stabilized with 8% lime (L), 20% natural pozzolana (NP), and their combination (8%L+20%NP). The research also examines the impact of curing time (1 and 30 days) on the plasticity index (PI) and soil classification, both with and without CaCl2. In the absence of CaCl2, the addition of L, alone or combined with NP, significantly reduced the PI of stabilized MS and markedly improved its classification, particularly with the L-NP combination over longer curing periods. In contrast, NP alone caused only a slight decrease in the PI. The inclusion of CaCl2 further reduced the PI in the MS-L and MS-L-NP mixtures. Notably, the transformation in soil classification was more substantial with L and L-NP than with NP alone. A comparative evaluation of the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) and the British Soil Classification System (BSCS) revealed that the BSCS offered greater precision in classifying stabilized MS, underscoring its suitability for such applications. These findings highlight the significant benefits of incorporating CaCl2, alone or in combination with L or L-NP, in enhancing the PI and the classification of MS. The improvements in both PI and classification are influenced by several factors, including additive type and amount, CaCl2 content, curing period, and the classification system employed.
This study investigates the effectiveness of electrocoagulation (EC) and hybrid electrocoagulation-ultrasound (EC-US) processes for treating landfill leachate from Alor Pongsu Landfill and Pulau Burung Sanitary Landfill in Malaysia. The treatment performance of the EC and EC-US processes was evaluated using aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) electrodes under various operating conditions, including applied voltage (2 V-10 V), inter-electrode distance (1 cm-3 cm), and electrolysis time (5-30 minutes) in influencing COD removal efficiency from both landfill leachates. The results showed that the hybrid EC-US process significantly outperformed the EC process. Using Al electrodes, the maximum COD removal efficiency reached 95.05% and 96.31% for Alor Pongsu and Pulau Burung leachates, respectively, in the EC-US process, compared to 80.80% and 81.90% in the EC process. Both methods shared optimal operational parameters: 10 V, 2 cm inter-electrode distance, and 25 minutes of electrolysis time. The highest percentage of anode weight loss was 19.4% and 21.4%, as recorded in the EC-US process using Al electrodes for Alor Pongsu and Pulau Burung leachates, respectively, indicating enhanced coagulant generation. The findings demonstrate that the EC-US process is a promising and efficient approach for improving COD removal in landfill leachate treatment.
Campus transportation is representative of citywide transportation problems, making sustainable mobility solutions more important considering rising environmental concerns and traffic congestion. This paper investigates the mobility patterns of the population of the University of Tabuk (UT) commuting to the main campus using survey data and explores the opportunities to adopt new sustainable mobility alternatives from the commuters and experts' points of view. Five transportation mode alternatives are investigated and assessed through a direct survey among a considerable number of UT population. The opinions of 9 experts and decision makers are studied by applying Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) adopting five criteria: Environment, Safety, Economy, Time and Social perception. The experts selected "Safety" as the most important criterion for the selection of a sustainable mode of transport, followed by Economy and Environment. The analysis indicates that more than 86% of UT members commute with private cars. The trip duration is between 10 minutes and 20 minutes for 70% of UT population. For almost all the alternatives, male single students with higher trip duration are the most interested profile in sustainable transportation options. Based on the weights of criteria, FAHP results show the alternative bus from the residence to the university as the best sustainable alternative, followed by the park-and-ride inter-campus bus, which was the second-highest alternative in the campus population survey. The findings can provide a basis for developing transportation strategies for UT aimed at alleviating traffic issues and congestion in the surrounding area and enhancing environmental conditions on campus and its vicinity.
Mobile phone distraction has emerged as a major social and road safety issue, contributing to rising rates of traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Understanding how phone use influences driver behavior is therefore essential. This study investigates drivers' attitudes and behaviors regarding mobile phone use while driving through a questionnaire survey of 613 participants across multiple regions of Anbar Governorate, Iraq. Results reveal that 68% of drivers admit to using their phones while driving, most frequently on urban roads. Notably, 51.4% reported never switching their phones to silent mode, despite having access to modern vehicles and higher education. Logistic regression analysis identified behavioral factors-particularly responding to calls while driving (p < 0.001) and a history of phone-related accidents (p <0.001)-as significant predictors of phone use, whereas demographic factors showed no significant association. These findings highlight the prevalence of risky driving behaviors linked to mobile phone distraction and underscore the need for targeted interventions to enhance road safety.
The rapid growth of road transportation is significantly degrading air quality, with pollutants, like P*M_{10s} S*O_{2} and N O x 0 contributing to respiratory issues and serious health risks. This study analyzes the spatial distribution and seasonal variation of P M 10 2 N*O_{x} and S*O_{2} using daily data from 23 monitoring stations across Navi Mumbai Thane from 2014 to 2023. Focusing on monsoon, pre-monsoon, post-monsoon, and winter seasons, the study integrates GIS-based spatial interpolation techniques-to-explore how seasonal changes influence pollutant levels. Results reveal persistently high P*M_{10} concentrations across all stations. Despite the monsoon season's cleansing effect, moderate-to-poor air quality persisted due to continuous vehicular and industrial emissions. Notably, Kharghar, Taloja, and Kalamboli recorded P*M_{10} levels of 257mu*g / (m <^> 3) and 217mu*g / (m <^> 3) in 2014-2015. Nerul peaked at 600mu*g / (m <^> 2) in the 2017 pre-season, surging to 1000wg * m <^> 3 on June 21, 2023 Post-monsoon readings in 2014 showed Airoli at 320.99 mu*g / (m <^> 2) Glaxo premises at 496mu*g / (m <^> 3) Persistent pollution in areas, like Pimpaleshwar Mandir and Ulwe, highlights the need for continuous monitoring. Since 2020, NO levels have worsened, particularly in industrial zones, such as Mahape and Nerul, shifting from moderate to very poor across seasons. Figures 7, 9, and 11 illustrate these trends. In contrast, S*O_{2} concentrations remained stable, with slight post-2020 increases in Mahape and Pimpaleshwar Mandir during post-monsoon periods. GIS analysis helped identify pollution hotspots and assess regulatory effectiveness. This study highlights the critical need for ongoing air quality monitoring and targeted mitigation strategies to address escalating public health concerns in the region.
The load-bearing capacity analysis of pre-stressed concrete in bridge engineering is a core technology for structural safety evaluation. It has long faced challenges in insufficient detection accuracy under complex stress environments and low efficiency in multi-source data fusion. Traditional analysis methods rely on a single mechanical model or empirical experience, making it difficult to accurately capture the nonlinear relationship between crack development and load-bearing capacity degradation. Therefore, this study proposes a prestressed concrete load-bearing capacity analysis model based on a dual-threshold edge detection algorithm. Experimental results show that the accuracy of the improved edge detection algorithm reaches a maximum of 89.5% after iteration, with the misdetection rate of bridge cracks under various noise influences being as high as 9%. Evaluation of the fusion analysis model shows that the Mean Square Error (MSE) of its load-bearing capacity is only 0.015 kNm2, and the coefficient of determination R2 is 0.98. These results indicate that the proposed prestressed concrete load-bearing capacity analysis model can effectively improve the prediction accuracy of load-bearing capacity under complex stress environments and accurately capture the nonlinear relationship between crack development and load-bearing capacity degradation. Compared with existing research, the core contributions of this study are reflected in three aspects: 1. A collaborative analysis framework for crack characteristics and section loss was constructed, quantifying the coupling influence mechanism of the two on bearing capacity and breaking through the limitations of traditional single-factor analysis; 2. A prestressed concrete bearing capacity analysis model was proposed. Through algorithms, the core characteristics of crack-section loss were precisely screened, and the problem of dynamic bearing capacity prediction under small samples was solved, filling the technical gap of nonlinear mapping in complex stress environments; 3. The experiment verified the quantitative correlation between crack size and steel bar damage (for every 0.1mm increase in crack width, the steel bar corrosion rate increases by approximately 15%), providing an operational quantitative method for inferring internal structural damage from surface cracks. This study provides a new technical approach for bridge structural safety assessment and contributes to the development of intelligent monitoring and full-life-cycle maintenance technologies for prestressed concrete structures.
This study focuses on the development of a sustainable and cost-effective road construction process with the use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP), Warm Mix Additives (WMAs), and Waste Cooking Oil (WCO) in Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA). RAP was used in varying proportions (20%-40%), Sasobit (WMA additive) in 2%-5%, and WCO as a softening agent. Series of laboratory tests, such as SARA fractions, Marshall properties, moisture susceptibility, resilient modulus, and rutting resistance, were carried out to evaluate the mechanical and performance characteristics. A multivariate analysis approach was employed to rank these mixes based on their performance parameters and to determine the best-performing mix. Among all the mix combinations, the mix containing 30% RAP, 3% Sasobit, and 6% WCO (referred to as WS30R) in Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB) demonstrated the best performance. Compared to conventional SMA mix (3WS), the WS30R mix improved rutting resistance by 41%, resilient modulus by 15%, and moisture resistance. The findings confirm that the inclusion of RAP, WMA, and WCO enhances the performance of SMA while promoting sustainability. This synergetic improvement provides a practical and eco-friendly solution for modern road construction through the use of sustainable materials.
