Walking is the most sustainable, safe, and active mode of transportation among the elderly. There is growing evidence that the built environment influences walkability. However, little research has been conducted to assess the perceived built environment correlates for senior citizens walking in low- and middle-income countries. This paper explores the relationship between built environment characteristics and the walkability of senior citizens in Triplicane, Chennai, India. Seniors aged 60 years and above, both men and women, living in Triplicane, Chennai, were interviewed (n = 221). Personal characteristics and perceived built environment factors were assessed using the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for India (NEWS India). Data were analyzed using SPSS 26 and AMOS 21 software. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to examine the association between the built environment characteristics and the walkability of senior citizens. The results show that built environment attributes, namely pedestrian safety infrastructure, physical barriers of the neighborhood, and aesthetics, have a high impact on walkability among senior citizens.

This paper reports the experimental investigation conducted to study the influence of temperature and rest period on different methods of estimation of fatigue life of the bituminous mixture. Four-point beam bending tests were conducted on the bituminous mixture prepared with one unmodified binder and two different modified binders (crumb rubber modified and elastomer modified binder). The test was conducted at 20 °C and 0 °C using continuous loading and a rest period between two load cycles. The fatigue life was estimated using stiffness modulus and energy dissipation. The performance of three different bituminous mixtures was ranked—ranking a bituminous mixture based on the fatigue performance varied with temperature and loading condition. In addition, the ranking also varied with different post-processing methods adopted.

This study examines the influence of vegetation on indoor daylight performance in school buildings located in the hot–humid climate of Chennai, India. With increasing urban development leading to the cutting or relocation of trees, their role in modulating interior daylight conditions has become critically relevant but remains underexplored in the literature. Recognizing a significant research gap in this area, this study employed a simulation-based approach using DesignBuilder 7.4 software. A government school in South Chennai, India, was chosen for this study. A total of 208 scenarios were generated by varying the window-to-wall ratio (WWR), facade orientation, floor level, and tree presence. Daylight performance was evaluated using spatial daylight autonomy (sDA), annual sunlight exposure (ASE), and useful daylight illuminance (UDI), based on IES LM-83-12 and LEED v4 standards. Simulation results showed that a 20% window-to-wall ratio (WWR) failed to meet daylight standards, while a 30–40% WWR with shading consistently performed well. Trees significantly improved daylight metrics, like sDA, UDI, and ASE, more so than orientation or floor level. This study urges regulatory mandates for climate-resilient schools, emphasizing fenestration and landscape integration.

Daylight plays a crucial role in enhancing the physical and mental well-being of occupants, particularly students, who spend approximately fourteen years of their early lives in school classrooms. The built environment significantly influences students’ performance, health, and psychological well-being. Although the National Building Code 2016 mandates a minimum illuminance level of 300 lux, this requirement is not mentioned in the compliance report for school affiliations. Hence, lighting is not evaluated scientifically. This study assesses the existing illuminance levels in classrooms through field measurements and computational daylight simulation using Rhinoceros software with the Climate Studio plugin. The research aims to establish quantifiable relationships between key parameters such as window-to-wall ratio, annual sun exposure, spatial daylight autonomy, shading device configuration, and tree location and propose window optimization strategies for different site conditions. Results from field data and simulations establish that trees and window-to-wall ratios significantly impact daylight availability in classrooms. Optimized window-to-wall ratios should be determined for each façade and floor based on specific site conditions. These findings are useful for the architects to make informed decisions in the pre-design stage to provide sustainable design solutions.