Abstract The sponge city concept offers an effective approach to managing urban stormwater challenges caused by high-intensity rainfall. This paper investigates the application of sponge city principles in the Pécs-Szigeti district, Hungary, focusing on prefabricated residential buildings and sealed surfaces. A cost-based assessment evaluates construction costs, water savings, and flood mitigation potential, including integration with the Green Gate urban development project. Results indicate a reduction in potable water consumption of approximately 37–38% and stormwater runoff of up to 50%, demonstrating the economic and hydrological feasibility of decentralized retrofit solutions.
Abstract A bridge resists the dynamic pressures of flowing water while gently joining disparate places. When multiple bridge piers are placed close together, complex flow interference alters hydrodynamic forces and local scour patterns. This study investigated the circular, square, and sharp-nose piers arranged in line, focusing on the effects of pier shape and spacing on flow behavior and vortex interactions. Results showed that the upstream pier can shield downstream piers, reducing scour under certain conditions. Significant hydrodynamic interference was observed at spacing below 4D, while near-independent behavior developed at 12D-16D. Sharp-nose piers exhibited the least scour due to reduced flow separation compared to circular and square piers.
Abstract This research explores micro-spatial regeneration in historic districts and marginal urban areas, examining how traditional spatial patterns can inform a contemporary community center design. Using the alleyway culture of Naples as a case study, the study analyses its historical development, spatial organization, and role in sustaining community identity. By investigating layered thresholds, public–private interfaces, and informal social interactions, it identifies spatial characteristics that promote inclusivity and resilience in dense urban contexts. These insights are translated into design principles for a contemporary community center in Rione Luzzatti, contributing to context-sensitive urban regeneration and participatory architectural theory.
Abstract The widespread adoption of heat pumps presents challenges during building renovations. Heat pumps operate most efficiently at low supply temperatures, creating challenges for conventional radiators. This research aims to determine the optimal supply temperature for heat pump-driven fan-coil systems, balancing thermal comfort and energy efficiency. Laboratory measurements were conducted across three building types, testing different supply water temperatures at three fan speeds. Results demonstrate that supply temperatures of 30–45 °C may be sufficient when accepting a slightly cool thermal comfort range, depending on building envelope, enabling energy savings through improved heat pump efficiency. The findings support a moderately cool operating strategy.
Abstract This study investigates hydrodynamic behavior in the Sĺňava Reservoir, on the Váh River in western Slovakia. A one-dimensional hydraulic model was created in the Hydrologic Engineering Center-River Analysis System model to analyze water level variations under different flow scenarios using two topographic datasets from 1978 to 2014. The comparison reveals morphological and hydraulic changes affecting reservoir storage and flood conveyance capacity. Bridge flow capacity was evaluated under extreme flood conditions, including an event with a return period of 100 years. The model was calibrated using a historical rating curve. The results demonstrate how numerical modeling supports long-term reservoir management and flood risk assessment.
Abstract Rapid population growth has increased the construction of bridges in close proximity, making accurate estimation of scour depth essential for safe foundation design. This study experimentally investigates local scour around side-by-side bridge piers with varying clear spacing and proposes an empirical equation incorporating pier spacing, which shows good agreement with measured data. Results indicate that maximum scour depth decreases with increasing pier spacing and approaches that of a single pier at twice the pier diameter. Additionally, artificial neural network and random forest models provided reliable scour depth predictions. Random forest showed lower errors for the left pier during testing, while both models achieved similar accuracy for the right pier, with artificial neural network showing slight improvement in mean absolute error and root mean square error.
Abstract The result of three-dimensional scanning is a digital object that represents the scanned subject in electronic form. In this study, scanning was performed using LiDAR technology on a pressure ulcer. The principle of LiDAR technology is to emit laser beams that reflect off the surface of the object and return to the sensor, where the time of flight is measured to calculate distances. High-resolution and accurate surface reconstruction is essential to obtain a reliable digital representation of the wound surface. The resulting data are stored as a point cloud derived from laser scanning. From this point cloud, mathematical algorithms establish connections between points, resulting in a 3D mesh. The mesh is generated using interpolation methods, and can approximate the real surface.
Abstract Reverberation time is a key parameter for room acoustic evaluation in building commissioning and renovation. However, on-site measurements are often affected by background noise and limited speaker power, leading to unstable or unreliable results. Based on international standard ISO 3382-2:2008, this study compares the interrupted noise and exponential sine sweep methods and proposes an optimized measurement and data processing strategy that combines the respective advantages under non-ideal conditions. Experiments were conducted in six representative rooms at the University of Pécs, using both conventional and optimized approaches. The proposed method significantly reduces the dispersion of measured reverberation times across octave bands, leading to more consistent and reliable results under practical measurement conditions.
Abstract The heuristically accelerated fuzzy rule interpolation-based Q-learning enables the integration and fine-tuning of external expert (a priori) knowledge during the learning. The system represents its knowledge base as a sparse fuzzy rule-base defined by a fuzzy rule interpolation Q-function. Expert knowledge is optimized through a gradient-based approach that requires computing the partial derivatives of the Q-function. The aim of this paper is to present the determination of these partial derivatives and describe analytical and numerical methods for their calculation. The results provide a foundation for gradient-based optimization in heuristically accelerated fuzzy rule interpolation-based Q-learning, enabling more precise and reliable refinement of expert knowledge.
Abstract This paper presents the Porto Fluviale RECHouse urban regeneration project in Rome, highlighting a participatory multi-criteria evaluation that guided its conversion. The approach combines co-design, community involvement, and multi-criteria methods to select among three alternative scenarios, balancing residents' preferences with social performance. The chosen scenario increases public spaces and social functions while meeting funding criteria, enabling full financing through the National Innovative Program for Housing Quality. The methodology promoted shared decision-making, reinforced community participation in urban planning, and supported sustainable regeneration practices.
Abstract This study addresses the pressing environmental challenge of improving the treatment of industrial wastewater contaminated with chromium(III) ions through the use of natural and modified bentonite. A sequential adsorption process was proposed, involving the selective adsorption of phosphate ions in the first stage, followed by the adsorptive removal of chromium ions in the second stage. The structural characteristics of natural carbonate-rich bentonite, as well as bentonite modified with phosphate and chromium ions, were studied and analyzed. The results demonstrate that bentonite modified by prior phosphate ion adsorption exhibits enhanced sorption activity, which is attributed to the activation of the adsorbent surface.
Abstract Energy dissipation devices absorb seismic energy to reduce vibrations and structural damage during ground motions. The study reviews hydraulic, friction, and viscous dampers in modern and retrofitted buildings. Non-linear viscos dampers and negative stiffness amplifying dampers with nonlinear viscous damping and displacement-dependent improvement improve structural element seismic performance and energy dissipation. This study suggests innovative base isolation and rotational viscoelastic dampers for Eurocode 8 seismic codes. Energy dissipation devices higher costs, design complexity, and skilled workforce make implementation difficult. This article evaluates technology, and research gaps and provides implementation guidelines to maximize energy dissipation devices deployment in earthquake-resistant construction for safer infrastructure.
Abstract Ball burnishing is a cold forming process in which a rolling ball plastically deforms a surface to improve finish and mechanical properties. This study presents the development of a combined turning and hydraulically controlled ball burnishing tool. Experiments were conducted on a TurnMaster T-40 lathe using a 2 3 factorial design to optimize surface finish on brass with SAE-30 oil, SAE-40 oil, and kerosene as lubricants. Surface roughness was measured before and after burnishing. Analysis of variance and F -test results show that burnishing force is the most significant parameter, followed by speed and feed. The best result was achieved with SAE-30 oil, reducing roughness from 0.33–0.65 µm to 0.0107 µm.
Abstract This study investigates the effects of tool geometry parameters on the static strength of Al5754 sheet joined by clinching. Joints were formed using TOX® clinching tools while varying the punch fillet radius, punch angle, die depth, and die diameters. Overlap and cross-lap tensile tests were conducted to evaluate the tensile-shear and pull-off load characteristics of the joint. The neck and interlock thickness were significantly affected by the tool's geometry parameters. Consequently, tensile shear, pull-off load, and energy absorption were affected. Overall, the study shows that the joint formation process and mechanical performance are predominantly affected by tool-geometry parameters.
Abstract Photovoltaic systems are increasingly applied in buildings to reduce energy costs and support sustainability. Their performance depends on factors such as panel angle, orientation, and temperature, which significantly affect energy yield. This study compares the actual output of an operating photovoltaic system with results from three calculation methods: manual estimation, 3D modeling, and artificial intelligence-based evaluation. The photovoltaic geographical information system and Rhino-Grasshopper methods proved most accurate, deviating by less than 10% from measured data due to their use of extensive, long-term meteorological datasets that ensure reliable performance prediction.
Abstract The rapid growth of the Internet of things creates a need for secure, efficient, and scalable authorization for machine-to-machine communication. Traditional mechanisms are not well suited for Internet of things environments due to heterogeneous devices, limited resources, and dynamic conditions. This paper proposes an OAuth 2.0 based authorization framework for resource constrained and large scale IoT systems. The solution is implemented on the ESP8266, microcontrollers reducing computational load by delegating authorization tasks to hardware. Integration of eXtensible Access Control Markup Language enables flexible and fine-grained policy management. Experimental results show improved scalability, low latency, and efficient resource usage for secure Internet of things authorization.
Abstract Kosovo's transition to green energy is critical for mitigating climate change and advancing sustainable development. This study evaluates the retrofit of approximately 400 public buildings, quantifying reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, primary energy consumption, and environmental benefits. It also assesses climate vulnerability and risk factors, proposing targeted mitigation and adaptation measures. Results demonstrate significant improvements in emissions reduction and energy performance, while enhancing resilience. The study provides a scalable framework for similar initiatives in other regions aligned with Paris Agreement objectives and international methodologies.
Abstract Functionally graded materials exhibit spatially varying properties that enhance structural performance. This study investigates the vibration behavior of a functionally graded materials square plate using ANSYS code. A five-layer plate graded from Al 2 O 3 at the top surface to steel at the bottom was modeled and validated against literature, showing good agreement. The verified model was extended to analyze functionally graded materials composed of zirconia (ZrO 2 ), steel, and boron using a smooth power-law distribution with varying thickness and refined layering. The effects of a centrally located crack on natural frequencies were evaluated. In addition, a harmonic forced vibration model was developed to examine the dynamic response of cracked and uncracked functionally graded material plates.
Abstract This paper emphasizes on an improved adaptive control strategy for a three-phase grid-integrated photovoltaic system employing a multifunctional Improved Re-Weighted Zero Attracting Normalized Least Mean Fourth algorithm. The proposed control strategy aims to integrate the enhanced adaptive learning capability to provide better regulation, thus ensuring faster convergence, considerable harmonic suppression, and robust operation under dynamic grid conditions and load variations, while also ensuring optimal power extraction from the photovoltaic array. The overall configuration consists of photovoltaic modules, a voltage source inverter, and a combination of linear and nonlinear loads. The proposed system with grid integration of Smart Energy Grids is modeled and simulated in the MATLAB/Simulink software.
Abstract The assessment of walkability is essential for sustainable mobility and livable urban environments. This study explores the applicability of a walkability index - originally developed for a metropolitan context-to small towns in Hungary and identifies necessary adaptations. Data were collected through an expert survey on the prioritization and weighting of walkability factors. Weighting was determined using two methods: pairwise comparison and 100-point distribution, followed by linear normalization. Statistical analyses revealed that sense of safety and transport accessibility is more significant in small towns, while other factors, for example the attractiveness of the environment, are less emphasized. The findings support settlement-specific weighting of walkability criteria to address local needs.
