Monday, December 26, 2016

Dr. Dungca at IABSE Congress - Stockholm, Sweden


Dr. Dungca at the plenary hall of the congress


Dr. Jonathan Dungca, Prof. in Civil Engineering and currently the Dean of the Gokongwei College of Engineering, DLSU, Manila attended the 19th Congress of the International Association on Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) with the theme, “Challenges in Design and Construction of an Innovative and Sustainable Built Environment” last Sept. 21-23, 2016 at Stockholm, Sweden. The venue was City Conference Centre, Folkets Hus
Barnhusgatan 12 - 14,111 23 Stockholm. 

Dr. Dungca presented his paper co-authored with Joshua Macaraeg on “Development of a Reference for Seismic Amplification: The case of Metro Manila" in a technical session of Loads (Earthquake Resistant Structures). He also represented the Philippine Branch of IABSE, being its secretary at the annual meeting on the national groups of IABSE.To view the photo gallery of the congress, go to the IABSE website. Download the program

Photo from IABSE Website
Photo from IABSE Website

Sunday, December 11, 2016

IIIAE2016 Kyoto, Japan - Acoustic Emission Conference


Raphael Lee and Dr. Andy Oreta at Kyoto Terrsa
DLSU Professor, Dr. Andres Oreta and BSMS student, Raphael Lee attended the 8th International Conference on Acoustic Emission or IIIAE2016 held on Dec. 6-8, 2016 at Kyoto, Japan. The paper on "Investigation of Acoustic Emission Source Locations in RC Beams under Cyclic Loading" based on the research of Lee and his adviser, Jason Ongpeng with collaborators, Oreta and Prof. Hirose of Tokyo Institute of Technology was presented. The organizer, International Institute of Innovative Acoustic Emission (IIIAE) was founded by three major groups: Acoustic Emission Working Group (AEWG), the R & T Committee on AE of Japanese Society of Non-Destructive Inspection, aka, Japanese Committee on Acoustic Emission (JCAE), European Working Group on Acoustic Emission (EWGAE).

Raphael Lee presents his BSMS research 
Dr. Oreta also visited Kyoto University (Katsura campus) on Dec. 8, 2016 to meet Prof. Kiyono to discuss the cooperative research under the AUN/SEED-Net on "Seismic Risk Analysis for Critical Structural Systems: The Case Study of a Medical Center and its Supporting Systems in Yangon, Myanmar and Metro Manila, Philippines." Dr. Garciano is the DLSU project proponent with Dr. Oreta as a co-researcher of this project. Prof. Kiyono is the Japanese counterpart in the research.
At Kyoto University with Prof.  Kiyono

Thursday, December 1, 2016

DLSU-Chula Student Exchange Visit 2016

Seventeen (17) DLSU civil engineering students took part in the 10-day Chulalongkorn University Student Exchange Program 2016 from August 31 to September 9 accompanied by DLSU civil engineering professors, Dr. Mario De Leon and Engr. Marcus Kyle Baron. The purpose of the program was to strengthen the bond between De La Salle University and Chulalongkorn University (CU) by giving the exchange students a chance to experience the life in each other’s campus and culture. 
 DLSU Students with Dr. Mario De Leon and Engr. Marcus Kyle Baron at
NAIA International Airport Terminal 1

The students visited the CU Civil Engineering Building to meet with some of its faculty and students. An orientation regarding ASEAN Scholarships was held to expose the students to their opportunity in pursuing higher studies. 


DLSU Students in the orientation about the AUN/SEED-NET

Afterwards, a research forum was conducted wherein selected DLSU exchange students as well as CU students presented their thesis. In this event, the students were given a chance to communicate with the CU students intellectually by asking questions to the presenters. 

DLSU exchange student, Marvin Aguilar, presenting his group’s thesis entitled “The Effect of Lane Changing Behavior on the Approach Ramp of a Road Overpass”

The students were then toured around the civil engineering laboratory facilities who were guided by some of the CU professors. Their laboratory facilities were fully equipped and have a conducive learning environment. Also, the students had the chance to see an experiment going on in their laboratory for testing materials. The CU civil engineering professors who accommodated the tour in their laboratory facilities were very kind and encouraged the students to ask questions. The CU students then continued the tour by guiding the group around the campus and by sharing some historical and cultural facts along the way which involved the visit to their museum and to the statue of King Chulalongkorn and King Vajiravudh. Before parting ways, the group showed their gratitude to the CU professors and students by giving them tokens.

DLSU Students with Dr. Mario De Leon, Engr. Marcus Kyle Baron, and CU Civil Engineering Associate Professor Dr. Akhrawat Lenwari in front of the CU Civil Engineering Building

DLSU Students with Dr. Mario De Leon, Engr. Marcus Kyle Baron, Engr. Jem Jayme, Ms. Joy Jongruamklang, and CU Students in front of the statue of King Chulalongkorn and King Vajiravudh in Chulalongkorn University

Two days were allocated for visits to cultural sites of Thailand in which the trip to these sites requires long rides by bus. One of the cultural sites that the students visited was the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market where they had a boat ride paddled by a Thai person or operated by a motor. The boat ride travelled a small canal with stalls at the sides selling different goods and merchandise for tourists. The students were also able to ride an old train that travels the Burma Railway (Death Railway) which was constructed by the Japanese during the World War II. On the second cultural visit day, the students went to Bang Pa-In Royal Palace which were used by Thai kings before, Wat Yai Chai Mongkon which is a Buddhist temple in Ayutthaya with a big lying Buddha, and Ayutthaya Historical Park where the old city of Ayutthaya was located which is now full of its ruins. Despite the long travel time, the visits were worth it as the students were able to have a glimpse of Thai history and culture. Afterwards, the students had their lunch in a cruise ship which traveled the Chao Phraya River, the major river in Thailand, for around 2 hours. As the cruise traveled the river, the students saw some of their remarkable bridges wherein their culture can even be seen in their design.


DLSU Students roaming around the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace

The students also had the chance to visit the ongoing construction of G Tower, a G-shaped building that will stand next to The Super Tower, the tallest ASEAN skyscraper that the G Land developer plans to build. Afterwards, the students went to visit the ongoing construction of Bang Sue – Rangsit Railway which is part of the planned Mass Transit System Project that will be beneficial and strategic for Bangkok’s transportation system.

DLSU Students with Dr. Mario De Leon, Engr. Marcus Kyle Baron, and CU graduate students with Dr.Vachara Peansupap and Project Engineers in the construction site visit in Bang Sue - Rangsit Railway

The remaining days were used as free days for the students to roam around Bangkok and experience its modern lifestyle. They were lucky to have a chance to shop for pasalubongs in Chatuchak, a big market full of different kinds of merchandise which is open only during weekends. They also went to Siam Square where shopping malls are located and to night markets to eat different Thai foods.

The exchange program gave the students the chance to experience Thai culture and to meet some of the professors and students of Chulalongkorn University which is helpful in strengthening the bond between the two universities.

Prepared by:
DLSU Student Exchange Visit 2016 Participants



Sunday, November 20, 2016

Two best papers from DLSU at GEOMATE 2016 (Bangkok)

DLSU delegates at Swissotel Le Concorde, Bangkok.
GEOMATE International Society in coordination with Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society (SEAGS), Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand, AOI-Engineering, Useful Plant Spread Society, HOJUN, Cosmo Winds, and Glorious International organized The Sixth International Conference on Geotechnique, Construction Materials and Environment, GEOMATE 2016, last November 14 to 16, 2016 at Swissotel Le Concorde, Bangkok. The conference aims to provide an opportunity to share researches on geo-engineering, construction materials, environmental issues, water resources, and earthquake and tsunami disasters. The conference was also dedicated to the Tohoku-Kanto earthquake victims that happened on March 11, 2011.  


Civil Engineering Department Assoc. Professors, Dr. Mary Ann Q. Adajar and Dr. Bernardo A. Lejano, Assistant Professor Richard M. De Jesus, Academic Service Faculty Engr. Joenel G. Galupino, PhD students Engr. Gilford B. Estores and Engr. Erica Elice S. Uy, former graduate student Engr. Jayvee L. Gagan and BS-MS student Bryan Joseph T. Medrano went to the conference to present their respective researches.


Nine best paper awards based on peer reviews were awarded during the welcome dinner. Two out of 9 awardees were from De La Salle University. The two papers which were co-authored by DLSU CE Dept. faculty members - Dr. Jonathan Dungca and Dr. Barnardo Lejabo - are:  

  • Pull-Out Strength of an Expansion Stud Anchor in Carbon Fiber Reinforced Concrete by Gilford B. Estores and Bernardo A. Lejano
  •  Soil Bearing Capacity Reference for Metro Manila, Philippines by Jonathan R. Dungca, Ismael Concepcion Jr., Moises Christian Mickail Limyuen, Terence Oliver See and Marion Ryan Vicencio 

DLSU delegates at Swissotel Le Concorde, Bangkok.

The other DLSU papers presented were:
  •        Strength and Permeability Characteristics Of Road Base Materials Blended With Fly Ash and Bottom Ash -Jonathan R. Dungca and Julie Ann L. Jao
  •          Utilization of Aggregate Quarry Waste in Construction Industry -Mary Ann Q. Adajar, Euclid De Guzman, Ryan Ho, Cesar Palma Jr. III, and Dennis Sindico
  •         Evaluation of Different Fiber Reinforced Mortar as Retrofitting Materials for RC Columns - Bernardo A. Lejano
  •         Modelling of Carbonation of Reinforced Concrete Structures in Intramuros, Manila Using Artificial Neural Network - Richard M. De Jesus, Joshua A. M. Collado, Jemison L. Go, Mike A. Rosanto and John L. Tan
  •         Artificial Neural Network Permeability Modeling of Soil Blended with Fly Ash - Joenel G. Galupino and Jonathan R. Dungca
  •      · Constitutive Modeling of Coal Ash Using Modified Cam Clay Model -Erica Elice Saloma Uy and Jonathan Rivera Dungca
  •        Assessment of Critical-State Shear Strength Properties of Copper Tailings -Erica Elice Saloma Uy and Mary Ann Q. Adajar
  •      Optimization of Compressive Strength of Concrete with Pig-Hair Fibers as Fiber Reinforcement and Green Mussel Shells as Partial Cement Substitute - Jayvee L. Gagan and Bernardo A. Lejano
  •         Damage Quantification of Beams Using Frequency Signature - Bryan Josef T. Medrano and Lessandro Estelito O. Garciano
Engr. Estores with Conference Chair Dr. Suksun Horpibulsuk
·     
Engr. Vicencio with Conference Chair Dr. Suksun Horpibulsuk

 All papers submitted were published at the International Journal of Geomate (ISI/Scopus-Indexed). Article by Erica Uy


Wednesday, November 16, 2016

DLSU-TCU Joint Forum in Civil Engg held

Group Photo of the Presentors and Faculty
 The CE Department led by the dept. chair, Dr. Lessandro Garciano organized a DLSU-Tokyo City University Joint Forum in Civil Engineering on Nov. 16, 2016 at the Andrew Gonzalez Building, AH1403. GCOE Vice Dean Dennis Cruz gave the welcome remarks. Prof. Hiromi Shirahata of TCU introduced TCU and its programs. There were eight papers presented by the TCU graduate students and also eight papers from DLSU. DLSU CE Department has a student exchange program with TCU.


Prof. Shirahata of TCU

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

DLSU signs MOU with PPA on offering Master's degree on ports and harbours engineering



The Civil Engineering Department achieved and reached another milestone last November 4, 2016 with the signing of the general Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and DLSU. Dr. Gerardo C. Janairo, DLSU Chancellor and Atty. Jay Daniel R. Santiago, PPA General Manager, signed the MOU to jointly develop a new graduate program in Ports and Harbours Engineering and Management (MS PHEM). Present to witness this event were representatives from  PPA top management and DLSU GCOE administrators, Dr. Jonathan R. Dungca, Dean of the Gokongwei College of Engineering (GCOE) and Dr. Lessandro Estelito O. Garciano, Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering.

Under the provisions of this MOU, both parties shall endeavour on the following general forms of cooperation:
1.      Joint research activities
2.      Exchange of academic materials and publications
3.      Exchange of faculty and personnel members for research, lectures and discussions

This new MS PHEM program will commence during the 1st term AY 2017 – 2018. The program follows the 36 unit - MS curriculum with 6 units of Advanced Mathematics, 15 units of Major Courses on Ports and Harbours, 6 units of Electives, 3 unit of Methods of Research and 6 units of Thesis. Aside from the CE faculty, professional lecturers from the industry including PPA will be invited to conduct the courses. This innovative graduate program will cater to the demands of port engineers and young professionals who aim to pursue higher academic degrees to advance their career in Ports and Harbours.

The development of the program started during the term of Jason Ongpeng as CE Dept. Chair and was finalized in the term of Dr. Garciano.