Textual representations of UML are basic requisites to make UML modeling accessible for visually impaired people. The accessibility, however, varies depending on the concrete realization. Constructing and rating accessible notations is challenging because the notation has to consider requirements of various assistive techniques including screen readers with audio and/or braille output. Neither ...

the national bridge stock of iran consists of about 330,000 bridges, of which around 50% are older than 30 years. since 2010, iran road maintenance & transportation organization has started implementing a comprehensive bridge management system in order to manage this aged stock efficiently. to predict future conditions of bridge stock, a heuristic numerical method is presented. this methodology...

The author regrets to inform that there is a change in the affiliation details of Dr. Ibrahim Unal Sert and the correct one is given above.

Bridges, as an essential part of transportation system, play a special role in economy, politic and military all around the world. Serviceability of bridges is of high importance especially in emergencies, helping injured people and proportioning transportation after earthquakes. Earthquake regulation codes, normally suggest linear methods to conduct the analysis, and nonlinear analysis is bare...

Building construction projects appear to have higher accident rates. Contractors procure workers’ compensation insurance (WCI) to transfer these risks to insurance companies. The commitment of insurers under WCI is extremely broad; there are no exclusions and ceilings on their liabilities. They must quote adequate premiums to cover future risks. Yet, the prices should be low enough to penetrate...

Sustainability has become an important initiative discussed and undertaken, not only by private buildings, but also by public buildings which both dealing with residential, office, commercial as well as hospital. Sustainable building is the practice of designing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and removing buildings in ways that conserve natural resources and reduce pollution. Rating sys...

Highway bridges are frequently constructed as simple span structures with steel or concrete girders and a cast-in-place concrete deck, spanning from one pier to another. At each end of the simple span deck, a joint is provided for deck movement due to temperature, shrinkage, and creep. Bridge deck joints are expensive and pose many problems with regard to bridge maintenance. Elimination of deck...

Port and Maritime Organization of Iran (PMO), in connection with a research project at Information Technology Mechatronic Offshore research and development cooperative society (ITMO), has added another dimension to its subsea inspection activities by introducing new methods of NDT and expert system for condition monitoring and assessment of concrete structures. ITOM provided a wide range of spe...