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Research Article
A Hybrid Approach Based on Factor Analysis and Fuzzy AHP Multi-criteria Decision-Making Model for Evaluating Pavement Maintenance Management Practices: The Case of Ethiopian Roads Authority
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 4, August 2025
Pages:
131-152
Received:
31 May 2025
Accepted:
19 June 2025
Published:
10 July 2025
Abstract: The construction industry has long been realized as one of the most important enablers for the social, economic, and political development of countries. Road pavement that has been constructed undergoes a process of deterioration and catastrophic failure after opening to traffic starts at a low rate and with time this rate increases because of aging, overuse, misuse, and mismanagement. Proper maintenance management practice helps to reduce the cost of maintenance and to make sure the pavement is in good condition with minimum maintenance. Thus, the study focuses on exploring the pavement maintenance management practice in the Ethiopian road authority. The method of data analysis for this study was carried out by using factor analysis and fuzzy AHP methods. Factor analysis provides as to reduce a data set to a more manageable size without much loss of the original information while fuzzy AHP is used to determine the preference weights of the variables. To achieve the objective, the data were collected from primary and secondary sources. SPSS software version 23, and Microsoft Excel were used as analysis tools. The study revealed that written maintenance management plans (0.072), maintenance staff training (0.071), maintenance management team leader (0.069), maintenance checklists (0.068), and periodic maintenance (0.063) were mostly practiced in the Ethiopian road authority. Finally, it can be recommended that the decision-makers conduct practical solutions to enhance, advance, and improve pavement maintenance management practices.
Abstract: The construction industry has long been realized as one of the most important enablers for the social, economic, and political development of countries. Road pavement that has been constructed undergoes a process of deterioration and catastrophic failure after opening to traffic starts at a low rate and with time this rate increases because of agin...
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Research Article
Application of Light Storage Direct Flexible Energy Management System in Low Carbon Campus Construction in Cold Regions
Liu Bing,
Lv Tiangang,
Li Zhu,
Guo Runbo*
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 4, August 2025
Pages:
153-159
Received:
15 May 2025
Accepted:
4 July 2025
Published:
15 July 2025
Abstract: In the context of the policy of "carbon peaking and carbon neutralization", campuses in cold regions are characterized by high per capita energy consumption, high total carbon emissions, low utilization of renewable energy and concentrated power consumption. At the same time, campuses have the social attributes of teaching and educating people and disseminating low-carbon ideas, so reducing campus carbon emissions is of great significance. With the development of science and technology and renewable energy application technology, photovoltaic power generation, energy storage technology, DC power distribution and flexible management are integrated in the light storage direct flexible energy management system, which improves the utilization efficiency and local absorption rate of renewable energy, and can solve the problems of high energy consumption and low utilization rate of renewable energy in cold areas, and help the construction of low-carbon campus. The author first analyzes the feasibility and advantages of the combination of light storage, direct and flexible system and low-carbon campus construction, and then takes the light storage, direct and flexible demonstration project of the sunken square of a teaching building in the north as an example to discuss the system construction scheme and intelligent adjustment strategy, so as to provide the basis and reference for the construction and promotion of light storage, direct and flexible energy management system in low-carbon campus in cold regions.
Abstract: In the context of the policy of "carbon peaking and carbon neutralization", campuses in cold regions are characterized by high per capita energy consumption, high total carbon emissions, low utilization of renewable energy and concentrated power consumption. At the same time, campuses have the social attributes of teaching and educating people and ...
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Research Article
Design and Performance Evaluation of Biogas-based ‘Injera’ Baking Stove Using Local Waste as Feedstock
Ashenafi Desta*,
Abera Ayza
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 4, August 2025
Pages:
160-165
Received:
27 December 2024
Accepted:
13 January 2025
Published:
5 August 2025
Abstract: Injera is a popular food in Ethiopia. Currently, approximately 70-80% of the primary energy for cooking in Ethiopia comes from biomass. The collection of wood for fuel and its combustion in inefficient stoves lead to local scarcity and ecological damage. This extensive use of biomass in traditional ways contributes to drought, environmental pollution, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and health issues. To mitigate these problems, there is a growing emphasis on promoting alternative renewable energy sources, such as biogas technology, which is both energy-efficient and cost-effective. Currently, biogas in Ethiopia is primarily used for lighting and cooking. However, previously implemented biogas injera baking stoves have faced challenges, including uneven heat distribution, heat loss, and high fuel consumption. This study aims to analytically design and develop an improved biogas injera baking stove and its performance. This project is focusing on key parameters such as cooking time, biogas consumption, temperature, efficiency, energy requirements, and the quality of injera. The newly developed stove completed the baking process in just 120 sec. The experimental results demonstrate that the newly developed biogas injera baking stove outperforms the existing model, showing significant reductions in both baking time and biogas consumption. Additionally, this study highlights the economic feasibility of the new stove, with a positive net present value.
Abstract: Injera is a popular food in Ethiopia. Currently, approximately 70-80% of the primary energy for cooking in Ethiopia comes from biomass. The collection of wood for fuel and its combustion in inefficient stoves lead to local scarcity and ecological damage. This extensive use of biomass in traditional ways contributes to drought, environmental polluti...
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Research Article
Experimental Investigation on Partial Replacement of River Sand with Waste Brick and Laterite Soil in Concrete Production
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 4, August 2025
Pages:
166-174
Received:
16 December 2024
Accepted:
2 January 2025
Published:
21 August 2025
Abstract: Concrete stands as the most widely used building material in the world due to its affordability, accessibility, and durability as well as its adaptability and diversity. Due to these developing countries, like Ethiopia, are facing a scarcity of river sand in quality and quantity that satisfies the demand for rapid infrastructure growth. The balance between material availability and demand will be disrupted by this rise in demand. Therefore, in order to handle the circumstance, an alternate substance is needed. This study's primary objective was to examine the workability, durability, strength, and cost of partially replacing sand for normal strength concrete with waste brick and laterite soil. The purpose of this experimental study was to examine the physical and mechanical characteristics of concrete that contained laterite soil and waste brick. And this study contains 13 distinct set of mixes, including the control mix utilized in the investigations were available. For concrete with a compressive strength of 25 MPa without additives, mixes with a consistent water-to-cement ratio of 0.49 and slump ranging from 75 to 100 mm were used in this study. And right after mixing, each fresh concrete mix’s workability was assessed. After three, seven, and twenty-eight days, the compressive strengths of 117 concrete cubes measuring 150 mm by 150 mm by 150 mm were evaluated. In comparison to conventional concrete, concrete containing waste brick and laterite soil as a natural substitute for sand shows superior compressive strength and lower proportion of water absorption which is an indication of better durability. However, as the percentage of waste brick and laterite soil replacement increased, workability decline. Concrete having 45% waste brick and 22% laterite soil was the optimum replacement rate, which has 4.43% water absorption capacity and can reduce concrete costs by up to 4.58%.
Abstract: Concrete stands as the most widely used building material in the world due to its affordability, accessibility, and durability as well as its adaptability and diversity. Due to these developing countries, like Ethiopia, are facing a scarcity of river sand in quality and quantity that satisfies the demand for rapid infrastructure growth. The balance...
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