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The research on the visual relationships between public works and the surrounding area has been lately based on the method of making surveys after different images. In this paper, however, we intend to make different notes on the subject based on the testimonies of technicians, designers and philosophers who have analyzed and described the formal and aesthetic links between the engineering work and the physical place where they settle. The visual role of engineering in the territory is studied and redefined throughout the different sections; in the final part of the paper a new classification of the relationship between landscape and public works is proposed, considering the relative location o f the observer and his status as static or dynamic viewer; this coassification can be useful for future research. The last section contains the conclusions of the whole text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of waste for the construction and rehabilitation of roads, is a strategy to be boosted to stablish regional industrial symbiosis agreements that can support companies to gain competitiveness and reduce the environmental impact associated to their day to day business activity. This article summarizes particular exemples to generate on one hand circular economy models using waste from the pulp and paper industry for soil stabilization, steel slags and foundry sands for asphalt concrete manufacturing, C&DW for the construction of granular sub-bases and on the other to validate the use of renewable materials for pavements construction (bio-polymers like lignin for the production of polymer modified bitumen and bio-rejuvenator agents to enhance asphalt concrete workability and increase the use of reclaimed asphalt pavements or RAP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the different photocatalytic solutions available on the market, i.active® cements by Italcementi Group are the most common raw materials currently utilized for the manufacturing of building products possessing an added value in terms of sustainability and durability. One of the main purposes for their use is to reduce pollution, in order to improve the air quality in urban environments. Another environmental advantage in their use is in terms of mitigation of urban heat island effects. Currently, photocatalyctic cements are commercially available in Europe, North America, North Africa and India. Several million square meters of photocatalytic cement-based surfaces, have already been applied, and this number is expected to grow substantially in the coming years. In this framework, photocatalytic cementitious roads and pavements represent the widest application for the improvement of air quality in urban environment. This paper gives an overview of the product performances to help engineers to choose and design sustainable and durable paved surfaces that typically represent from 30% to 60% o f developed urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road traffic noise is one of the main environmental impacts of road infrastructures, so that efficient solutions are required for reducing noise exposure. Analyzing the noise action plans published in Spain it is observed a widespread lack of methodologies and criteria for the decision-making process on prioritizing road stretches in noise action plans. In this paper the main decision-making criteria are defined. Also, an objective and reasoned methodology, called PATRON, is developed, and these criteria are weighted for the construction of a normalized numerical index, the Road Stretch Priority Index. The weight of each decision-making criterion is determined by applying the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process to the results obtained from an expert panel. The developed methodology is implemented in a case study in order to test the validity of the weights assigned to the criteria in the decision-making problem under study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper covers innovative issues to obtain energy from the roads through projects and studies that improve the road safety and sustainability. From the recycling of the unused energy braking forces that can recharge the future electric vehicles in vials until the special energy of the sun during the day to inform us in adverse environmental conditions, using holograms on our roadways. Geothermal pavement applications defrosting a way by reusing the heat, or the conversion of an impact energy in an accident against a security barrier into a SOS interpreting the data instantly. Use of low temperature asphalt more environmentally friendly or lighting control to improve the performance. Measures very different, studying or applied, that will save us nearly a 20% the management and maintenance of the road today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among winter period, the climatic conditions in the state of Lleida, where L4 sector is located, cause an important number of days with northern or north-western wind which maintains a very low temperatures with a dry road. Our experience allows estimate that the permanence of the salt on the road is higher in dry than in wet road conditions, especially when we use brine for anti-icing treatments. But, the consequence of a hypothetic accident, where the driver denounces ice on the road when we have not realize the pertinent treatment, promotes us to carry out anti-icing treatments to defend ourselves against possible claims and not because they were really necessary. These unnecessary treatments became an important increase of the economic cost of the infrastructure's maintenance and a higher impact on the environment. This paper expects to provide the trends about the taken salinity measurements reveal, under various conditions (e.g. traffic, different pavements types and different treatment types). Decision makers might use these trends as a tool for understanding the connection between the different factors that are involved about the amount of residual salt on the dry road. In future seasons, we could get better relationship between the residual salt and the traffic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]