WIT Transactions on the Built Environment – serie

Forming the 23rd addition to a successful series, this book contains papers presented by an extensive selection of international delegates at the 23rd International Conference on Urban Transport and the Environment. Due to its continued success and multiplicity of topics, the series is considered to be a leading source of new research in the area of transport engineering.Transportation in urban areas, with its related environmental and social impacts, is of significant concern for government policymakers and for the urban citizens who need efficient transport systems. Extensive reviews of these systems are required to devise and then safeguard their operational use, maintenance, safety and security.The continuing requirement for better and more efficient urban transport systems and the need for a healthier environment has added to the increasing international desire for new technologies and developments in this essential field.The variety of topics covered reflects the complex interaction of urban transport systems with their environment and the need to establish integrated strategies. These topics include: Urban Strategies; Urban Transport Planning and Management; Public Policies and Governance; Public Transport Systems; Transportation Modelling and Simulation; Mobility and Public Space; Eco-mobility Transport Systems; Infrastructure Development; Innovations in Transport; Environmental Impact; Traffic Control; Human Factor and Railway Safety; Safety and Security; Traffic Accidents; Travel Behaviour Studies; Railway Systems.

Forming the 16th volume from this successful series, this book contains papers from the 16th International Conference on Railway Engineering Design and Operation. The included papers are a collection of works from researchers, academics and practitioners involved in railway engineering.There is a continuing need to update the use of advanced systems, promoting their general awareness throughout the management, design, manufacture and operation of railways and other emerging passenger, freight and transit systems. By emphasising the use of computer systems in advanced railway engineering, this book contributes to this goal.These research studies will be of interest to all those involved in the development of railways, including managers, consultants, railway engineers, designers of advanced train control systems and computer specialists.

Providing a collection of research works on the continuing requirement for better urban transport systems, this volume consists of papers presented at the 24th International Conference on Urban Transport and the Environment. The need for better urban transport systems and for a healthier environment has resulted in a wide range of research originating from many different countries. These studies highlight the importance of innovative systems, new approaches and original ideas, which need to be thoroughly tested and critically evaluated before they can be implemented in practice.Moreover, there is a growing need for integration with telecommunications systems and IT applications in order to improve safety, security and efficiency. This book also addresses the need to solve important pollution problems associated with urban transport in order to achieve a healthier environment.The variety of topics covered in this volume reflects the complex interaction of the urban transport systems with their environment and the need to establish integrated strategies. The aim is to arrive at optimal socio-economic solutions while reducing the negative environmental impacts of current transportation systems.Moreover, there is a growing need for integration with telecommunications systems and IT applications in order to improve safety, security and efficiency. This book also addresses the need to solve important pollution problems associated with urban transport in order to achieve a healthier environment.The variety of topics covered in this volume reflects the complex interaction of the urban transport systems with their environment and the need to establish integrated strategies. The aim is to arrive at optimal socio-economic solutions while reducing the negative environmental impacts of current transportation systems.

Comprises a collection of papers presented at the 7th International Conference on Harmonisation between Architecture and Nature, this volume reviews the challenges and new opportunities of contemporary architecture. These papers cover the results of advances in design and new building technologies, as well as the development of new materials.Many of the changes are motivated by a drive towards eco-architecture, trying to harmonise architectural products with nature. Another important issue is the adaptation of the architectural design to the natural environment, learning from nature and traditional construction techniques.Never before in history have architects and engineers had such a range of new processes and products open to them. In spite of that, the construction industry lags behind all others in taking advantage of a wide variety of new technologies. This is understandable, due to the inherent complexity and uniqueness of each architectural project. Advances in computer and information systems, including robotics, offers the possibility of developing new architectural forms, construction products and building technologies, which are just now starting to emerge.Changes have also taken place in the way in which modern society works and lives, due to the impact of modern technologies. Patterns of work have been disrupted and changed, affecting transportation and the home environment. The demand is for a new type of habitat that can respond to the changes and the consequent requirements in terms of urban environment.The papers contained in this book deal with topics such as building technologies, design by passive systems, design with nature, cultural sensitivity, life cycle assessment, resources and rehabilitation and many others including case studies from many different places around the world. They will be of interest to architects, engineers, planners, physical scientists, sociologists and economists.

Containing research from the 25th edition of the Urban Transport conference,the papers included in this book address the need to solve important pollutionproblems associated with urban transport. There is also a growing need forintegration with telecommunications systems and IT applications in order toimprove safety, security and efficiency.The need for better urban transport systems and for a healthier environment hasresulted in a wide range of research originating from many different countries.These studies highlight the importance of innovative systems, new approachesand original ideas, which need to be thoroughly tested and critically evaluatedbefore they can be implemented in practice.The variety of topics covered in this volume reflects the complex interaction ofthe urban transport systems with their environment and the need to establishintegrated strategies. The aim is to arrive at optimal socio-economic solutionswhile reducing the negative environmental impacts of current transportationsystems.

Maritime transport faces multiple challenges, therefore it requires an interdisciplinary approach in order to respond efficiently to the interaction between diverse agents. This book presents interdisciplinary research, as well as operational experiences, which contribute towards the development of the field.The substantial growth of maritime shipping has resulted in large quantities of good and products being transported around the world, creating a demand for innovative solutions for infrastructure and fleets. A further increase in the scale and the size of container carriers and passenger cruisers also requires special facilities. These developments have presented a challenge for different types of technologies, as well as operational systems.Maritime transportation ought to be integrated with other services such as railways, roadways and airports and, in some cases, river and canal traffic in order to achieve maximum efficiency. It also needs to respond rapidly to the economic and political circumstances in different parts of the world. These challenges often require extreme performances in terms of capacity, speed of delivery, energy consumption, environmental sustainability, as well as social and economic aspects.A range of topics are covered, including: Ports and their operation; Routing and automatic control of marine ships; Responsible and sustainable port innovation and development along the 21st century Maritime Silk Road; Ports of the future - Sustainable intelligent ports for smart and autonomous ships and logistics; Pollution and the protection of the marine environment; Maritime education and training; Planning and management.

Originating from the 3rd Conference on Coastal Cities, the papers contained in this volume presents important research covering the integrated management and sustainable development of coastal cities. An increased world population and the preference for living in coastal regions increases the need for improved resources, infrastructure and services. Coastal cities should be considered as dynamic complex systems which need energy, water, food and other resources in order to work and produce diverse activities, with the aim of offering a socioeconomic climate and improved quality of life. Consequently the integrated management and sustainable development of coastal cities is essential with science, technology, architecture, socio-economics and planning all collaborating to support decision makers. Planners need to explore various options and models to forecast future services, plans and solutions. Included papers examine some of these possible models and potential solutions with emphasis in the areas of: Landscape and urban planning; Infrastructures and eco-architecture; City heritage and regeneration; Urban transport and communications; Commercial ports; Fishing and sports harbours; City-Waterfront interaction; Marine industries; Water resources management; Quality of life and city leisure; Tourism and the city; Water pollution; Air pollution; City waste management; Acoustical and thermal pollution; Coastal risk assessment; Coastal flooding; Coastal processes; Landslides; Socio-economic issues.

In its 8th edition the SAFE conference continues to publish important research contributing to the development of the field. The papers included in this volume are the work of engineers, scientists, field researchers, managers and other specialists involved in one or more of the theoretical and practical aspects of safety and security. Safety and Security Engineering, due to its special nature, is an interdisciplinary area of research and application that brings together in a systematic way, many disciplines of engineering, from the traditional to the most technologically advanced. This volume covers topics such as crisis management, security engineering, natural and man-made disasters and emergencies, risk management, and control, protection and mitigation issues. Specific themes include: Risk analysis, assessment and management; System safety engineering; Incident monitoring; Information and communication security; Disaster management; Emergency response; Critical infrastructure protection; Counter terrorism issues; Human factors; Transportation safety and security; Modelling and experiments; Security surveillance systems; Loss prevention; BIM in Safety and Security.

This volume encompasses latest research presented on the 6th edition of the Disaster Management Conference. The research published in this book is contributed by academics and experts on public health, security and disaster management in order to assess the potential risk from various disasters and discuss ways to prevent or alleviate damage. As the human population has continued to concentrate in urban areas the number of people and the value of property affected by both natural and man-produced disasters has also grown. Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, cyclones, tornadoes and forest fires have all taken their toll, as have man-made catastrophes such as industrial spillages and terrorist attacks.It is important to understand the nature of these global risks to be able to develop strategies to prepare for these events and plan effective responses in terms of disaster management and the associated human health impacts.The included paper cover various subject areas, including: Disaster analysis; Disaster monitoring and mitigation; Emergency preparedness; Risk mitigation; Risk and security; Resilience; Socio-economic issues; Health risk; Human factors; Multi-hazard risk assessment; Case studies; Learning from disasters and man-made disasters.

Originating from the 16th edition of the Conference on Studies, Repairs and Maintenance of Heritage Architecture, this volume brings together latest contributions from scientists, architects, engineers and restoration experts dealing with different aspects of heritage buildings, including the preservation of architectural heritage.The importance of retaining the built cultural heritage cannot be overemphasised. Rapid development and the inappropriate conservation techniques are threatening many built cultural heritage unique sites in different parts of the world.This current volume covers a wide range of topics related to the historical aspects and the reuse of heritage buildings, as well as technical issues on the structural integrity of different types of buildings, such as those constructed with materials as varied as iron and steel, concrete, masonry, wood or earth. Material characterisation techniques are also addressed, including non-destructive tests via computer simulation. Modern computer simulation can provide accurate results demonstrating the stress state of the building and possible failure mechanisms affecting its stability. The included papers focus on such topics as: Heritage and tourism; Heritage architecture and historical aspects; Management and assessment of heritage buildings; Modern (19th/20th century) heritage; Re-use of heritage buildings; Adaptability and accessibility; Social, cultural and economic aspects; Material characterization; Learning from the past; Industrial heritage; Heritage masonry structures.

Originating from the 2019 International Conference on Building Information Modelling this book presents latest findings in the field. This volume presents research from a panel of experts from industry, practice and academia touching on key topics, the development of innovative solutions, and the identification future trends.The modern construction industry and built environment disciplines have been transformed through the development of new and innovative BIM tools and techniques. These have fundamentally altered the manner in which construction teams operate; the processes through which designs are evolved; and the relationships between conceptual, detail, construction and life cycle stages.BIM is essentially value-creating collaboration throughout the entire life-cycle of an asset, underpinned by the data attached to them. BIM has far and reaching consequences on both building procurement and infrastructure. This recent emergence constitutes one of the most exciting developments in the field of the Built Environment. These advances have offered project teams multi-sensory collaborative tools and opportunities for new communication structures.The included papers focus on such topics as: BIM in design coordination, Construction operations; Building operation and maintenance; BIM and sustainability; Collaborative working and practices; Facilities management integration and GIS integration; Automation in construction; Health and safety; BIM and interoperability; Life cycle project management; Cultural heritage; BIM and Robotics; Risk analysis and management and Emergency analysis, planning and management.

Flooding is a global phenomenon that claims numerous lives worldwide each year. Apart from the physical damage to buildings, contents and loss of life, which are the most obvious, impacts of floods upon households and other more indirect losses are often overlooked. These indirect and intangible impacts are generally associated with disruption to normal life and longer term health issues. Flooding represents a major barrier to the alleviation of poverty in many parts of the developing world, where vulnerable communities are often exposed to sudden and life-threatening events.As our cities continue to expand, their urban infrastructures need to be re-evaluated and adapted to new requirements related to the increase in population and the growing areas under urbanization. Topics such as contamination and pollution discharges in urban water bodies, as well as the monitoring of water recycling systems are currently receiving a great deal of attention from researchers and professional engineers working in the water industry. The papers contained in this volume cover these problems and deals with two main urban water topics: water supply networks and urban drainage.Originating from the 7th International Conference on Flood and Urban Water Management, the included research works include innovative solutions that can help bring about multiple benefits toward achieving integrated flood risk and urban water management strategies and policy.

It is important to continue to update the use of advanced systems by promoting general awareness throughout the management, design, manufacture and operation of railways and other emerging passenger, freight and transit systems. Originating from presentations at the 17th International Conference on Railway Engineering Design and Operation, this volume contains selected research works on the topic. The included papers help to facilitate the use of advanced systems and place a key focus on the applications of computer systems in advanced railway engineering.These research studies will be of interest to all those involved in the development of railways, including managers, consultants, railway engineers, designers of advanced train control systems and computer specialists.

Structural Studies, Repairs and Maintenance of Heritage Architecture XVIIThe importance of retaining the built cultural heritage cannot be overstated. Rapid development and inappropriate conservation techniques are threatening many heritage unique sites in different parts of the world.Selected papers presented at the 17th International Conference on Studies, Repairs and Maintenance of Heritage Architecture are included in this volume. They address a series of topics related to the historical aspects and the reuse of heritage buildings, as well as technical issues on the structural integrity of different types of buildings, such as those constructed with materials as varied as iron and steel, concrete, masonry, wood or earth.Restoration processes require the appropriate characterisation of those materials, the modes of construction and the structural behaviour of the building. This knowledge can be gained through a series of material characterisation techniques, preferably via non-destructive tests. Modern computer simulation can provide accurate results demonstrating the stress state of the building and possible failure mechanisms affecting its stability. Of particular importance are studies related to their dynamic and earthquake behaviour aiming to provide an assessment of the seismic vulnerability of heritage buildings.Contributions originate from scientists, architects, engineers and restoration experts from all over the world and deal with different aspects of heritage buildings, including how to formulate regulatory policies, to ensure effective ways of preserving the architectural heritage.Earthquake Resistant Engineering Structures XIIIPapers presented at the 13th International Conference on Earthquake Resistant Engineering Structures form this volume and cover basic and applied research in the various fields of earthquake engineering relevant to the design of structures.Major earthquakes and associated effects such as tsunamis continue to stress the need to carry out more research on those topics. The problems will intensify as population pressure results in buildings in regions of high seismic vulnerability. A better understanding of these phenomena is required to design earthquake resistant structures and to carry out risk assessments and vulnerability studies.The problem of protecting the built environment in earthquake-prone regions involves not only the optimal design and construction of new facilities but also the upgrading and rehabilitation of existing structures including heritage buildings. The type of highly specialized retrofitting employed to protect the built heritage is an important area of research.The included papers cover such topics as Seismic hazard and tsunamis; Building performance during earthquakes; Structural vulnerability; Seismic isolation and energy dissipation; Passive earthquake protection systems.

Better urban transport systems and the need for a healthier environment are continuous requirements that create a fertile atmosphere for original ideas, innovative approaches and applications of advanced technologies, their tests and evaluations in practice. Moreover, there is a growing need for integration with IT systems and applications to improve safety and efficiency.Meanwhile, the substantial growth of maritime shipping has resulted in large transported quantities around the world, creating a demand for innovative solutions for ports and fleets.The apparently parallel topics of Urban Transport and Maritime Transport meet in the transport and environmental management of coastal cities, both being affected positively and negatively by landslide and seaside traffic.Maritime Transport is highly interconnected with rail, road and air services, as well as inland waterways. Each of these must therefore operate complimentary of one another to maximise efficiency and respond rapidly to variable economic and political contingencies.The variety of topics covered in this volume reflects the complex interaction of transport systems with their environment and the need to establish integrated strategies. The goal is to arrive at optimal socio-economic solutions while reducing the negative environmental impacts of transportation systems typically by interdisciplinary approaches.

Containing papers presented at the 4th International Conference on Building Information Modelling (BIM) in Design, Construction and Operations, this volume brings together the research of experts from industry, practice and academia. It describes innovative solutions and predictions for future trends across key BIM-related topics.The modern construction industry and built environment disciplines have been transformed through the development of new and innovative BIM tools and techniques. These have fundamentally altered the manner in which construction teams operate; the processes through which designs are evolved; and the relationships between conceptual, detail, construction and life cycle stages.BIM is essentially value-creating collaboration throughout the entire life-cycle of an asset, underpinned by the data attached to them. BIM has far and reaching consequences on both building procurement and infrastructure. This recent emergence constitutes one of the most exciting developments in the field of the Built Environment. These advances have offered project teams multi-sensory collaborative tools and opportunities for new communication structures.The included papers cover such topics as: BIM and sustainability; Advanced BIM platforms; BIM and automation in construction; BIM and cultural heritage; Digital twin and artificial intelligence for buildings and infrastructure.

Formed of papers originating from the 9th International Conference on Safety and Security Engineering, this book highlights research and industrial developments in the theoretical and practical aspects of safety and security engineering.Safety and Security Engineering, due to its special nature, is an interdisciplinary area of research and application that brings together, in a systematic way, many disciplines of engineering from the traditional to the most technologically advanced. This volume covers topics such as crisis management, security engineering, natural disasters and emergencies, terrorism, IT security, man-made hazards, risk management, control, protection and mitigation issues.The meeting aims to attract papers in all related fields, in addition to those listed under the Conference Topics, as well as case studies describing practical experiences. Due to the multitude and variety of topics included, the list is only indicative of the themes of the expected papers. Authors are encouraged to submit abstracts in all areas of Safety and Security, with particular attention to integrated and interdisciplinary aspects.Specific themes include: Critical infrastructure; Cyber security/E security; Disaster and emergency management; Earthquakes and natural hazards; Human factors and risk perception; Modelling and experiments; Risk analysis and assessment; Safety engineering; Risk reduction in transport system in emergency conditions.

Research presented at the 7th International Conference on Disaster Management and Human Health: Reducing Risk, Improving Outcomes is contained in this volume. These contributions from academics and experts focus on public health, security and disaster management with the goal to assess the potential risk from various types of disaster and highlight ways to prevent or alleviate any damage.There is a need for academia and practitioners to exchange knowledge and experience on the way to handle the increasing risk of natural and human-made disasters. Recent major earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods and other natural phenomena have resulted in huge losses in terms of human life and property destruction. A new range of human-made disasters have afflicted humanity in modern times; terrorist activities have been added to more classical disasters such as those due to the failure of industrial installations for instance.It is important to understand the nature of these global risks to be able to develop strategies to prepare for these events and plan effective responses in terms of disaster management and the associated human health impacts.The papers included in this volume cover such topics as Public health risk; Socio-economic issues; Environmental issues; Emergency preparedness and risk mitigation.

Research works were presented at the 8th International Conference on Flood and Urban Water Management with the aim of developing innovative solutions that can help bring about multiple benefits toward achieving integrated flood risk and urban water management strategies and policy. The papers resulting from these works form this book. Flooding is a global phenomenon that claims numerous lives worldwide each year. When flooding occurs in urban areas, it can cause substantial damage to property as well as threatening human life. In addition, many more people must endure the homelessness, upset and disruption that are left in the wake of floods. The increased frequency of flooding in the last few years, coupled with climate change predictions and urban development, suggest that these impacts are set to worsen in the future. How we respond and importantly, adapt to these challenges is key to developing our long term resilience at the property, community and city scale.As our cities continue to expand, their urban infrastructures need to be re-evaluated and adapted to new requirements related to the increase in population and the growing areas under urbanization. We also need to consider more nature-based interventions to the management of flood risk, including the adoption of more catchment-based approaches. These are now being recognised as being more sustainable and also able to achieve wider benefits to the environment and society as a whole.Water supply systems and urban drainage are also increasingly important due to this expansion. Topics such as contamination and pollution discharges in urban water bodies, as well as the monitoring of water recycling systems are currently receiving a great deal of attention from researchers and professional engineers working in the water industry. Mitigating losses from water distribution networks and effective, efficient and energy-saving management are key goals for optimising performance and reducing negative impacts. Sewer systems are under constant pressure due to growing urbanization and climate change, and the environmental impact caused by urban drainage overflows is related to both water quantity and water quality.This book is aimed at researchers, academics and practitioners involved in research and development activities across a wide range of technical and management topics related to urban water and flooding and its impacts on communities, property and people.

The use of novel materials and new structural concepts nowadays is not restricted to highly technical areas like aerospace, aeronautical applications or the automotive industry, but affects all engineering fields including those such as civil engineering and architecture. The included contributions highlight the latest developments in design and manufacturing.Most high-performance structures require the development of a generation of new materials, which can more easily resist a range of external stimuli or react in a non-conventional manner. Particular emphasis is placed on intelligent structures and materials as well as the application of computational methods for their modelling, control and management.The book also addresses the topic of design optimisation. Contributions cover numerical methods, different optimisation techniques and new software. Optimisation problems include those related to the size, shape and topology of structures and materials. Optimisation techniques have much to offer to those involved in the design of new industrial products, as the appearance of powerful commercial computer codes has created a fertile field for the incorporation of optimisation in the design process of all engineering disciplines.The performance of structures under shock and impact loads is another area covered. The increasing need to protect civilian infrastructure and industrial facilities against unintentional loads arising from accidental impact and explosion events as well as terrorist attacks is reflected in the sustained interest worldwide. While advances have been made in recent decades, many challenges remain, such as developing more effective and efficient blast and impact mitigation approaches or assessing the uncertainties associated with large and small scale testing and validation of numerical and analytical models. The overall aim is to move towards a better understanding of the critical issues relating to the testing behaviour, modelling and analyses of protective structures against blast and impact loading.The studies contained in this volume were presented at the International Conference on High Performance and Optimum Structures and Materials Encompassing Shock and Impact Loading and address issues involving advanced types of structures, particularly those based on new concepts, and shock and impact resistance.

Architecture is very multi-disciplinary, attracting many different professions. This is reflected in the contributions contained in this volume and that were originally presented at the 9th International Conference on Harmonisation between Architecture and Nature.The included works review the challenges and new opportunities of contemporary architecture as a result of advances in design and new building technologies, as well as the development of new materials.Many of the changes are motivated by a drive towards eco-architecture, trying to harmonise architectural products with nature. Another important issue is the adaptation of the architectural design to the natural environment, learning from nature and traditional construction techniques.Contemporary architecture is at the threshold of a new stage of evolution, deeply influenced by the advances in information and computer systems and the development of new materials and products, as well as construction processes that will drastically change the industry.Emphasis is placed on the minimum use of energy at each stage of the building process, the design by passive systems, life cycle assessment, resources optimisation and rehabilitation.Never before in history have architects and engineers had such a range of new processes and products open to them. In spite of that, the construction industry lags behind all others in taking advantage of a wide variety of new technologies. This is understandable, due to the inherent complexity and uniqueness of each architectural project. Advances in computer and information systems, including robotics, offers the possibility of developing new architectural forms, construction products and building technologies that are just now starting to emerge. Changes have also taken place in the way modern society works and lives, due to the impact of modern technologies.Patterns of work have been disrupted and changed, affecting transportation and the home environment. The demand is for a new type of habitat that can respond to the changes and the consequent requirements in terms of the urban environment.Such topics are dealt with as building technologies, design by passive systems, design with nature, cultural sensitivity, life cycle assessment, resources and rehabilitation and many others including case studies from many different places around the world.

Islamic architecture has enriched design with a wide variety of structural shapes, including among others, unique arches, a wide variety of vaults and domes which allow for new forms to be developed. This volume deals with the design of many types of buildings in Islamic countries, including not only the better known public buildings like mosques, mausolea, citadels and forts, but also houses and gardens, engineering works such as bridges and dams, irrigation systems and many others which have also had a profound impact on society.There is much to learn from past experiences to arrive at solutions that are environmentally sound and sustainable in the long term. As conventional energy resources become scarce, the Islamic design heritage can offer invaluable lessons on how to deal in an efficient manner with cases of hard and extreme environments. Traditional architecture and urban environments in most Islamic countries are now being eroded by overemphasis on a global type of architecture and city planning. As a consequence, many regions are losing their identity. The included research reviews these developments in the light of what the classical Islamic urban designs and architectures have to offer modern society.Equally as important is the analysis of the materials employed and the types of structural elements, particularly those unique to Islamic architecture. Associated topics considered are music, textiles and ceramics, which are essential parts of the architectural fabric. Also included are papers on construction materials, not only stone and brick but also more perishable materials like adobe, wood and reeds.Preserving this heritage also requires the development of appropriate conservation techniques in response to the different materials used and the ways structural forms work, including under extreme conditions, such as earthquakes.The influence of Islamic architecture on the development of new structural form, shape and design in Western countries is also a focus of the included studies.

Containing papers presented at the 28th International Conference on Urban and Maritime Transport and the Environment, this volume covers two, apparently, parallel topics which meet in the transport and environmental management of coastal cities, both being affected positively and negatively by landside and seaside traffic.The continuing requirement for better urban transport systems and the need for a healthier environment create a fertile environment for original ideas, innovative approaches and applications of advanced technologies, their tests and evaluations in practice. Moreover, there is a growing need for integration with IT systems and applications to improve safety and efficiency.Maritime Transport is highly interconnected with rail, road and air services, as well as inland waterways. Each of these must therefore operate complimentary of one another to maximise efficiency and respond rapidly to variable economic and political contingencies.The variety of topics covered by the included research works reflects the complex interaction of transport systems with their environment and the need to establish integrated strategies. The shared aim is to arrive at optimal socio-economic solutions while reducing the negative environmental impacts of transportation systems typically by interdisciplinary approaches. Therefore, a focus is placed on multidisciplinary research and development, as well as operational experiences.

Originating from papers presented at the 18th International Conference on Railway Engineering Design and Operation, this book provides up-to-date research on the use of advanced systems, promoting their general awareness throughout the management, design, manufacture and operation of railways and other emerging passenger, freight and transit systems. A key emphasis is placed on the use of computer systems in advanced railway engineering.The included works are compiled from a variety of specialists interested in the development of railways, including managers, consultants, railway engineers, designers of advanced train control systems and computer specialists.Topics covered include: Traffic safety, security and monitoring; Train and railways analysis; Operation of rail networks; Advanced train control; Energy-efficient design; Traffic modelling and simulation.

Research and industrial developments in the theoretical and practical aspects of safety and security engineering are the focus of this volume. This field, due to its special nature, is an interdisciplinary area of research and application that brings together, in a systematic way, many disciplines of engineering from the traditional to the most technologically advanced. The included papers, which were originally presented at the 13th Conference on Risk Analysis, Hazard Mitigation and Safety and Security Engineering, cover areas such as crisis management, security engineering, natural disasters and emergencies, terrorism, IT security, man-made hazards, pandemics, transportation security, protection and mitigation issues, among others.Also covered are various aspects of risk management and hazard mitigation, associated with both natural and anthropogenic hazards. Current events help to emphasise the importance of the analysis and management of risk to planners and researchers around the world. Natural hazards such as floods, earthquakes, landslides, fires, epidemics, transportation, climate change, fake news and others have always affected human societies. The more recent emergence of the importance of man-made hazards is a consequence of the rapid technological advances made in the last few centuries. The interaction of natural and anthropogenic risks adds to the complexity of the problems.

The contents of this volume reflect the increasing need to protect civilian infrastructure and industrial facilities against unintentional loads arising from accidental impact and explosion events as well as terrorist attacks. While advances have been made in recent years, many challenges remain, such as to develop more effective and efficient blast and impact mitigation approaches than those currently available. The primary focus remains the survivability of physical facilities and the protection of people, as well as reducing economic losses and impact on the environment, with emphasis on innovative protective technologies to support the needs of an economically growing, modern society. The application of such technologies ranges from the safe transportation of people and dangerous materials to defences against natural hazards.Large scale testing is economically prohibitive and results from small scale laboratory testing are prone to scaling uncertainties. Improving the knowledge on how structures behave under a variety of load actions is therefore essential; some of these actions interact making their definition even more complex and difficult. Consequently, more use of advanced numerical simulations for load and structural response calculations is common practice in industry and research. Such calculations can directly be used in design and risk assessments, but also contribute to the development of simplified design tools and design codes. Numerical or exact modelling techniques need to be complemented with experimental validation is vital for the modelling approach to be acceptable. The included papers, presented at the 17th International Conference on Structures under Shock and Impact, highlight new research ideas and results to promote a better understanding of a range of critical issues among those mentioned above.

The contributions to this volume cover issues involving advanced types of structures, particularly those based on new concepts or new materials. The latest developments in design, optimisation, manufacturing and experimentation are highlighted. There is also a focus on the search for higher performance sustainable materials as well as on the development of a generation of new materials, which can more easily resist a range of external stimuli or react in a non-conventional manner. Emphasis is placed on intelligent structures and materials as well as the application of computational methods for their modelling, control and management.Optimisation problems are also covered, including those related to the size, shape and topology of structures and materials. Optimisation techniques have much to offer to those involved in the design of new industrial products. The development of new algorithms and the appearance of powerful commercial computer codes with easy to use graphical interfaces has created a fertile field for the incorporation of optimisation in the design process in all engineering disciplines.Comprising research papers presented at the 12th International Conference on High Performance and Optimum Design of Structures and Materials, the present volume covers a range of issues among those mentioned above.