Construction Technology and Management (CTM) students presented in the 6th International Conference on Computational Science and Technology (ICCST 2019) in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia - Last August 29-30, 2019, Construction Technology and Management (CTM) students Isabel Nicole Lecciones, Jasmine Anne Garduque and Daniel Joshua Buera presented their research with the title "Ultimate Confined Compressive Strength of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Circular and Rectangular Concrete Column" in the 6th International Conference on Computational Science and Technology (ICCST 2019).

Dr. Jason Ongpeng served as their research adviser.

ICCST 2019 offers practitioners and researchers from academia and industry the possibility to share computational techniques and solutions in this area, to identify new issues, and to shape future directions for research, as well as to enable industrial users to apply leading-edge large-scale high-performance computational methods.

According to Ms. Lecciones "The experience was one of a kind since it was our first time presenting our paper in an international conference. We also got to interact with other people from across the world."

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TRE Students and Faculty presented in the 12th ATRANS Conference, Bangkok, Thailand

The 12t^h ATRANS Annual Conference with the theme “Transportation for a Better Life: Smart Mobility for Now and Then” was successfully held last 23^rd August 2018 at Chatrium Hotel Riverside, Bangkok, Thailand. The ATRANS conference is the international platform inviting the government officials, policymakers, practitioners, academics, scholars, researchers, NGOs, and general public from abroad who are interested and major in transportation to debate, share and exchange opinions and information regarding a fast-developing technology towards sustainable mobility, urbanism, environment, and social development.

                                          

The event was composed of three main sessions. Session one is the panel discussion on smart mobility for now and then of several countries in the Asian Region. Keynote speakers from Thailand, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan were invited to share the aspects of smart mobility about their countries. Session two is the technical session that discussed about the benefits of Big Data for transportation planning, road safety on data collection of motorcycle crashes, transport innovation challenge, and public participation and engagement. For the benefits of Big Data technical session, professionals and professors from different countries participated to share the benefits of Big Data being applied in their countries, i.e., Thailand, Japan, Philippines, and Japan. Dr. Fillone was one of the presenters regarding his ongoing research on Big Data Analytics and Applications on Metro Manila’s Transport System. The last session is the ATRANS Young Researchers’ Forum for young researchers. Only young researchers from Thailand and abroad submitting their original research papers were accepted and funded to join the session and presented their research output. Those accepted, peer-reviewed research articles are published in the Proceeding of ATRANS Young Researcher's Forum 2019. Four young researchers were selected from the Philippines, and these the advisees of Dr. Fillone as listed:

1.      Mr. Monorom Rith (PhD student) presented a paper entitled “The study of travel mode choice among basic education school students in Metro Manila” co-authored by Mr. Monorom Rith, Prof. Alexis M. Fillone, and Prof. Jose Bienvenido M. Biona.

2.      Mr. Jhun Christopher Castro (BSMS student) presented a paper entitled “Perception on the transport modes in the island province of Marinduque, Philippines” co-authored by Mr. Jhun Christopher Castro and Prof. Alexis M. Fillone.

3.      Mr. Alerik Ruiz (BSCE student) presented a paper entitled “Analysis of the Black Nazarene procession in the city of Manila” co-authored by Darius Diamante, Rex Apad, John Ferrer, Alerik Ruiz, and Prof. Alexis Fillone.

4.      Miss. Princess Tamayao (BSCE student) presented a paper entitled “Choice analysis between Point-to-Point (P2P) bus service and other modes of transportation in Metro Manila” co-authored by Emmeline Espano, Kane Ilao, Princess Tamayao, Justin Tomaliwan, and Prof. Alexis M. Fillone.

Mr. Alerik Ruiz was proudly nominated as one of the “Top-Four Best Paper Presentation Awardees” selected from 28 young presenters. His topic is related to their undergraduate thesis which they were also able to successfully defend this 3^rd term of AY2018-19. 

Dr. Jason Ongpeng represented DLSU CIV in the 23rd Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS) Congress in Sarawak, Malaysia

Kuching, capital city of Sarawak, Malaysia - Last August 23 - 27, 2019, Dr. Jason Ongpeng attended the 23rd Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS) Congress. With him are Julie dela Cruz, Chair and Founder of PIBE (Phil. Institute of Built Environment), Inc., and Phil. Institute of Certified Quantity Surveyors (PICQS) together with PICQS officers/members.

Dr. Jason Ongpeng participated in the following activities:

August 23, 2019
Dr. Jason Ongpeng attended the Research Committee. The committee comprised of QS organization from Malaysia, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Singapore.

August 24, 2019
Board Meeting with PICQS founder and chair Julie dela Cruz for the planning and preparation of PAQS 2021 to be held in the Philippines.

August 25, 2019
 Dr. Jason Ongpeng attended the BIM WORKSHOP
 1) RISM Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia shared their construction industry transformation programme 2016 - 2020. Highlighted the use of National BIM report 2019 by NBS.
 2) HKIS Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors shared studies of BIM contract conditions in US and UK. The obligations of the project participant - scope and standard of BIM services. Highlighted the use of US AIA Document G202™–2013 and AIA Document E203™–2013, Building Information Modeling and Digital Data Protocol Exhibit. Emphasized the use of Centralized Electronic Document Management System for all project stakeholders. Some challenges are the protection and backup of digital data in HK, interoperability of BIM software in UK and HK, employer's Intellectual Property Rights, standard Method of Measurement (HKSMM5).

August 26, 2019
International Construction Measurement Standards (ICMS) was discussed and how it can help QS profession. Some presentation on RICS futures report - impact of emerging technologies on the Surveying Profession and Future of the Profession and McKinsey 2011 report.

The official release of ICMS 2 will be on September 23, 2019 https://icms-coalition.org

August 27, 2019
Dr. Jason Ongpeng presented the paper "LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF PREFABRICATED AND CONVENTIONAL RECONSTRUCTION AFTER DISASTER" with co-authors Donovan Catindoy, Ismael Concepcion Jr., Dustin Grimares.


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MSCE Student Eden Ditchella won 2019 ERDT Poster Competition

The 8^th ERDT Congress with the theme, “The Rise of Smart Cities and Communitiies”was held on 23 August 2019 at the PICC. MSCE student and ERDT scholar,  Eden Ditchella was awarded as the winner in the ERDT Poster Competition for the Environment and Infrastructure Category. Here poster on “Seismic Risk Assessment of Metro Manila DPWH Bridges”with Prof. Andres Oreta as adviser presented her project in the Seminar on Disaster Risk Reduction & Infrastructure Development (DRRID). In this research, existing DPWH RC bridges in QC, Marikina, Pasig, Makati, Taguig and Muntinlupa were assessed based on the hazard at the site like distance to a fault and liquefaction potential, vulnerability which is a function of the bridge condition and asset based on DPWH data on bridge needs ratio. (BNR). The final output is a list of the bridges with their corresponding risk index where bridges with high risk indices must be given immediate attention for a more detailed inspection and possible retrofit. Out of the 128 bridges assessed, 19 bridges belong to the high risk lever.

Aside from Engr. Ditchella, six posters from graduate students form DLSU Civil Engineering Department were also submitted. The titles and advisers of the posters are listed below:

·        Risk analysis and assessment of public school buildings in the city of Malolos using MCDM and GIS – Emerzon S. Torres

·        Quantifying a resilience index of a WDN under seismic hazard – Abraham Matthew S. Carandang & Dr. Lessandro Estelito O. Garciano

·        Retrofitting rectangular concrete columns using R-PET bottle strips – Donovan E. Catindoy and Dr. Jason Maximino C. Ongpeng

·        Destination choice model for earthquake evacuation using stated preference approach for residents in Surigao city, Philippines – Sherwin Roy Caumba and Dr. Alexis M. Fillone

·        Characterization of truck traffic in Metro Manila – Riches S. Bacero and Dr. Alexis M. Fillone

·        Experimental & numerical modeling of a tide embankment section in tacloban city subjected to storm surge waves – Patrick Shaun N. Ngo, Dr. Lessandro E.O. Garciano, Dr. Mario De Leon, Dr. Neil Stephen Lopez and Waseda University researchers

Epicenter Encounters

De La Salle University (Manila) faculty members – Dr. Lessandro Garciano, Dr. Andres W. Oreta, and Engr. Richard De Jesus, together with Engr. Dexter Lo from Xavier University (CDO) participated in UCL-hosted conference “Epicenter Encounters” last July 2 to 3, 2019, at University College London (UCL), HereEast Campus in London.

Epicenter Encounter was the gathering of UCL network of international collaborators, industrial collaborators and co-researchers to discuss current and future directions of disaster risk and resilience. It was also a venue for networking with colleagues all over the world whose expertise and research of interest are into earthquake engineering, and disaster risk and resilience management. During the event, representatives from different sectors presented their experiences in implementing and assessing disaster and risk resilience of built structures as well as communities. As part of PRISMH research project with UCL as its international collaborator, this event had been a venue for our project to present some of its experiences and accomplishment. Dr. Oreta gave a keynote presentation during this event. Together with Dr. Amaratunga from University of Huddersfield, they talked about “Localising strategies for making cities resilient”. Engr. Dexter Lo presented about Cagayan De Oro being hailed as a resilient city, yet is at risk to multiple natural hazards, particularly to flooding.

This two-day conference was comprised of poster presentations, keynote lectures, and break-out sessions for various oral presentations from various participants. The topics of presentations and lectures focused on the following themes: (1) methods for multi-hazard risk assessment and resilience, (2) transformative technologies for improved decision-making, (3) innovation in disaster risk and resilience, and (4) community resilience. In between sessions, participants were given a chance to promote collaboration among participants over coffee and snacks.

Dr. Ongpeng presented paper in the 4th International Conference on Construction and Building Engineering & 12th Regional Conference in Civil Engineering in Langkawi, Malaysia

Langkawi, Malaysia - Last August 20-22, 2019, Dr. Jason Ongpeng presented his paper with the title "Alkali-Activated Binder as Stabilizer in Compressed Earth Blocks" in the 4th International Conference on Construction and Building Engineering & 12th Regional Conference in Civil Engineering.

The fourth International Conference on Construction and Building Engineering (ICONBUILD 2019) is a premier forum for the presentation of new advances and research results in the field of civil engineering and built environment. The conference will bring together leading researchers, engineers, architects, scientists, and other professionals in various disciplines of civil engineering and built environment around the world. The ICONBUILD 2019 conference aims to establish scientific link at international level for sharing and disseminating valuable information of the latest research activities in Civil Engineering and Built Environment.

While the Regional Conference in Civil Engineering (RCCE 2019) under AUN/SEED-Net is a platform to share the most updated technology and research on common regional issues in order to contribute to the ASEAN community and to draw support from the industrial and the governmental sectors. The regional conference allows opportunities for AUN/SEED-Net members to publicise their research work, exchange ideas and discuss future collaborations and activities related to the civil engineering field. The conference itself is not only to enhance the academic network among the ASEAN universities, but also to strengthen the relationship between ASEAN and Japanese professors of each university.

Paper: Alkali-Activated Binder as Stabilizer in Compressed Earth Blocks
Authors: Dr. Jason Ongpeng; Emerson Gapuz; Jester Joseph San Andres; Darlene Prudencio; James Cuadlisan; Mark Tadina; Arnold Zacarias; Danna Benauro; Alyanna Pabustan

The conference was successful joined together by other ASEAN universities.

Networking Meeting at University of Portsmouth

The Universyty of Porstmouth-DLSU networking meeting was initiated as a follow-up to the signing of the MOU between DLSU and UoP. Representing DLSU are Dr. Lessandro Garciano (CE Dept. Chair), Dr. Andres Oreta (CE Dept. Professor and CESDR Disaster Resilience Unit Lead) and Mr. Richard De Jesus (CE  Dept. Asst. Prof.). The DLSU faculty are actually visiting University College London (UCL) from August 29 – July 5, 2019 in connection with the Newton Agham International Links Project on PRISMH. The UoP-DLSU networking meeting was held on July 1, 2019 to explore the future collaborative activities between DLSU and UoP. Highlights of the meeting are: Dr. Garciano introduced DLSU CE Department (Faculty, Researches, External Activities) and Dr. Oreta introduced CESDR and the Disaster Resilience Unit and International linkages. From UoP, Dr. Nick Koor and Dr. Richard Teeuw introduced UoP graduate programs.  After the presentations, a round table discussion was held with UoP researchers composed of Mr. Phil Crook, Dr. Jessica Roberts, Dr. Craig Collie, Dr. Aliraza Tatari, Dr. John Williams and Dr. Carmen Solana. After the RTD, a short laboratory tour was conducted. Then early dinner ended the networking activity.

Networking Meeting with Nagasaki University

Nagasaki University, Japan - Last August 10, 2019, Prof. Andres Winston C. Oreta met Prof. Hiroyuki Nakahara (Human and Engineered Environmental Science, Division of Decision Science, Nagasaki University). Prof. Nakahara’s research area is on Seismic Design for Building Structures. The meeting was held on August 10, 2019 at the Conference Room of the Engineering  Building, Bunkyo Campus, Nagasaki University. Dr. Oreta presented an introduction about DLSU Civil Engineering – faculty, research areas and external engagements including the student exchange program with Japanese universities (TIT and TCU). Prof. Nakahara then presented his lab research including his current research on Low-Cost Method For Seismic Retrofitting By CFT Braces. There was a discussion on the future collaborative activities such as Student Exchange Program, Visiting Professor Program and Research.