Real-time Seismic Damage Detection of Concrete Shear Walls Using Artificial Neural Networks

Concrete shear walls are widely employed in buildings as a main resistance system against lateral loads. Early identification of seismic damage to concrete shear walls is vital for deciding post-earthquake occupancy in these structures. In this article, a method based on artificial neural networks for real-time identification of seismic damage to concrete shear walls was proposed. Inter-story drifts and plastic hinge rotation of concrete walls were used as the inputs and outputs of a MLP neural network. Modal Pushover Analysis was employed to prepare well-distributed data sets for training the neural network. The proposed method was applied to a five-story concrete shear wall building. The results from the network were compared with those obtained from Nonlinear Time History Analysis. It was observed that the trained neural network successfully detected damage to concrete shear walls and accurately estimated the severity of seismic-induced damage.     

The Langkawi Global Geopark: local community’s perspectives on public education

The study reported in this paper represents one of the first attempts at exploring the perspectives of the local communities on the designation of Langkawi Island in Malaysia as a UNESCO Global Geopark. It is premised on the widely acknowledged assertion that the local communities constitute an important group of stakeholders in the planning and implementation of development activities. Hence, the communities living in the geopark areas in Langkawi are considered important stakeholders who play a crucial role in the development of heritage tourism in Langkawi Global Geopark. This paper examines their views on their appreciation of the geopark as heritage, the interpretation of their shared values, the benefits and opportunities afforded by the geopark, and the extent of their involvement in the implementation of geopark activities. The findings point to the need for more support for public education programmes, and awareness initiatives aimed not only at ensuring community engagement with the development of Langkawi Geopark but also at generating stewardship actions from the community.     

Ethnic minorities and the planning system in Britain and Sweden

This article, based on a questionnaire survey among planning authorities in Britain and Sweden, compares the sensitivity of the planning systems to the needs and aspirations of ethnic minorities. It also examines how ethnic disadvantage and discrimination impinge upon the working of the planning system. Despite different histories of immigration and politics of 'race', planning practice in both countries is notably devoid of widespread evidence of efforts to make the planning system more sensitive to the needs of ethnic minorities. Moreover, the current political uncertainty with regards to immigration and immigration policies inhibits such efforts. Nevertheless, there are differences in detail between the two countries which it is argued reflect differences in planners' professional organization and political mobilization among ethnic minorities.