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Muhammad Ali Rehman; Turab Jafri
Abstract
In geotechnical engineering, soil stabilization provides practical and cost-effective solutions related to problematic soils. With the growing necessity for environmentally friendly and sustainable materials, researchers have been exploring alternative methods such as biological approaches for soil stabilization. ...
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In geotechnical engineering, soil stabilization provides practical and cost-effective solutions related to problematic soils. With the growing necessity for environmentally friendly and sustainable materials, researchers have been exploring alternative methods such as biological approaches for soil stabilization. Biopolymers are produced from living organisms and are considered to be environmentally friendly soil stabilizers. A detailed study on stabilization of soil using Guar Gum biopolymer was carried out through intensive laboratory testing. For this purpose, low plastic (CL) and high plastic (CH) clays were treated with varying contents of Guar Gum biopolymer (1%, 2%, 3% and 4%) by the weight of dry soil. The experimental program mainly focused on compaction characteristics, unconfined compressive strength, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and swell potential tests. All the samples were prepared on dry mix basis. The UCS of cured and soaked samples was tested after 2, 7, 14 and 28 days of curing and soaking. Strengthening effect of Guar Gum biopolymer was observed with the increasing biopolymer content and curing period. An increase of 182.64% and 243.30% was observed in the UCS of CL and CH respectively at the end of curing period using 2% biopolymer content. The results indicated a significant increase in the CBR of both CL and CH under soaked and unsoaked conditions. The incorporation of Guar Gum biopolymer has shown significant improvement in geotechnical properties of low plastic and high plastic clays and can be adopted as a potentially sustainable soil stabilizer.
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Aniekan Essienubong Ikpe; Akanu-Ibiam Effiong Ndon; Promise Joseph Etim
Abstract
The R3 (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) system of waste management specified by Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) waste management framework is the pathway to sustainable environment. This system which is practiced in advanced countries is given little or no preference in Nigeria where open waste ...
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The R3 (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) system of waste management specified by Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) waste management framework is the pathway to sustainable environment. This system which is practiced in advanced countries is given little or no preference in Nigeria where open waste dumping is mostly practiced. Questionnaire based survey was employed to determine the awareness of the effects of open waste dumping by individuals. A physical survey was carried out to assess the risks posed by open waste dumping on the physical environment and health of individuals. Findings from the questionnaire-based survey indicated that many individuals are aware of the risks posed by open waste dumping system but have little or no knowledge of the R3 waste management standard for proper waste management. The physical survey pointed out that open waste dumping leads to infrastructural dilapidation and environmental degradation from drainage blockage and flooding. The findings also revealed that open waste dumping is responsible for outbreak of diseases such as Cholera, Diarrhoea, Malaria, Tetanus, Lassa fever, Typhoid and Yellow fever, Hookworm, and other parasite infestation as well as the promotion of fecal contamination of the hands, food and water that may result in fecal-oral transmission diseases. Hence, this method of waste management is responsible for water pollution, land pollution and the emission of obnoxious odour and also aid climate change and global warming through the release of Green House Gases (GHGs). From the risk evaluation carried out, simple and effective processes and technologies must be employed to aid the R3 practice for domestic recycling of specific waste.
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Abdella Yimam Ali; Andarge Ayele
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to implement the quality tools for reducing food waste in Woldia University (WU) canteen (Ethiopia). Universities are one of the main sources of food waste among food catering industries. In WU canteen, it is observed that most of the generated food wastes are goes to landfill. ...
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The aim of this paper is to implement the quality tools for reducing food waste in Woldia University (WU) canteen (Ethiopia). Universities are one of the main sources of food waste among food catering industries. In WU canteen, it is observed that most of the generated food wastes are goes to landfill. This has a direct impact on the environment. This paper proposes a methodology to tackle this problem. First, food items which contribute by 80% of food waste in the university are identified with the help of Pareto chart. Then the cause and effect diagram is used to identify the main causes or reason for these food items to be wasted. Finally, Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is implemented for reducing food waste through customer satisfaction. This reduces significant portion of food waste as the food waste in the canteen is directly related to customer satisfaction.
Other
Chandan Debnath
Abstract
Eyes play a vital role in our life. Usually, all of us have seen the visually impaired people and know the problems that they face in their daily life. In order to detect the obstacles, blind people use sticks when they are walking but this instrument just can help them find objects on the ground. Obstacle ...
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Eyes play a vital role in our life. Usually, all of us have seen the visually impaired people and know the problems that they face in their daily life. In order to detect the obstacles, blind people use sticks when they are walking but this instrument just can help them find objects on the ground. Obstacle detection is a field of effort that has led to vast progress in primary safety systems and in the primary-secondary safety systems interaction. Obstacle detector for the blind is an automated device for blind people. The main objective of this device is to make easy the walking environment for blind people. In this paper, a device is made which help the blind people by assisting through an android application. First, the device is made and then its performance is tested in three demanding conditions, for instance, normal, windy, and rainy conditions. The device shows a satisfactory level of accuracy in the three conditions. It helps the user to hear the distance and the location in an automated human voice.