In the last few decades, the concrete industry has been massively expanded with the adoption of various kinds of binding materials. As a substitute to cement and in an effort to relieve ecofriendly difficulties linked with cement creation, the utilization of industrial waste as cementitious material can sharply reduce the amount of trash disposed of in lakes and landfills. With respect to the mechanical properties, durability and thermal behavior, ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) delineates a rational way to develop sustainable cement and concrete. Apart from environmental benefits, the replacement of cement by GGBS illustrates an adequate way to mitigate the economic impact. Although many researchers concentrate on utilizing GGBS in concrete production, knowledge is scattered, and additional research is needed to better understand relationships among a wide spectrum of key questions and to more accurately determine these preliminary findings. This work aims to shed some light on the scientific literature focusing on the use and effectiveness of GGBS as an alternative to cement. First and foremost, basic information on GGBS manufacturing and its physical, chemical and hydraulic activity and heat of hydration are thoroughly discussed. In a following step, fresh concrete properties, such as flowability and mechanical strength, are examined. Furthermore, the durability of concrete, such as density, permeability, acid resistance, carbonation depth and dry shrinkage, are also reviewed and interpreted. It can be deduced that the chemical structure of GGBS is parallel to that of cement, as it shows the creditability of being partially integrated and overall suggests an alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). On the basis of such adjustments, the mechanical strength of concrete with GGBS has shown an increase, to a certain degree; however, the flowability of concrete has been reduced. In addition, the durability of concrete containing GGBS cement is shown to be superior. The optimum percentage of GGBS is an essential aspect of better performance. Previous studies have suggested different optimum percentages of GGBS varying from 10 to 20%, depending on the source of GGBS, concrete mix design and particle size of GGBS. Finally, the review also presents some basic process improvement tips for future generations to use GGBS in concrete.

Effective water management is crucial in urban and rural settings, requiring efficient usage and timely detection of issues like leakages for sustainability. This paper introduces an integrated framework that combines Digital Twin technology with a multimodal transformer-based model for accurate water usage prediction and leakage detection. The system synchronizes real-time data from various sensors including flow meters, pressure sensors, and thermal imaging devices with a Digital Twin of the water network. Advanced transformer models, specifically the Informer model for long-term time-series prediction and a Water Multimodal Transformer for anomaly detection, process these data to capture complex patterns and dependencies. Experimental results demonstrate the framework’s effectiveness: the Informer model achieved an R² score of 0.9995 and a Mean Squared Error (MSE) of 2.2, outperforming traditional models. For leakage detection, the model attained 98.4% accuracy and precision, an F1 score of 97.6%, a low False Positive Rate of 0.0019, and an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.984. By fusing diverse sensor data and utilizing advanced transformer architectures, the framework provides a comprehensive view of the water network, enabling real-time decision-making, enhancing forecasting accuracy, and reducing water waste. This scalable solution supports sustainable water management practices in both urban and industrial contexts.

Sustainable urban water management is essential to handle water scarcity, leakage, and inefficient distribution. This paper covers water management in urban areas, including an introduction, an overview of water management practices, the characteristics and functioning of water distribution systems, monitoring and control systems for efficient distribution, smart systems for optimization, strategies for water conservation and waste management, per capita water demand analysis, and desalination plant overviews. The article proposes a blockchain-based water management architecture with IoT sensors for accurate reporting. The framework uses blockchain technology to authenticate and share real-time data between sensors and the water distribution dashboard. It also has a modular API for water leakage detection and flow control to decrease water waste and enhance distribution. The suggested approach might enhance water management; however, its execution is complex. Maintaining the framework’s efficacy is advised. The research provides insights into water management and proposes a technology solution employing blockchain and IoT sensors for trustworthy data reporting and effective water distribution to promote sustainable urban water management.

Various Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques in water resource management highlight the current methodologies’ strengths and limitations in forecasting, optimization, and control. We identify a gap in integrating these diverse approaches for enhanced water prediction and management. We critically analyze the existing literature on artificial neural networks (ANNs), deep learning (DL), long short-term memory (LSTM) networks, machine learning (ML) models such as supervised learning (SL) and unsupervised learning (UL), and random forest (RF). In response, we propose a novel framework that synergizes these techniques into a unified, multi-layered model and incorporates a digital twin and a multi-modal transformer approach. This integration aims to leverage the collective advantages of each method while overcoming individual constraints, significantly enhancing prediction accuracy and operational efficiency. This paper sets the foundation for an innovative digital twin-integrated solution, focusing on reviewing past works as a precursor to a detailed exposition of our proposed model in a subsequent publication. This advanced approach promises to redefine accuracy in water demand forecasting and contribute significantly to global sustainability and efficiency in water use.

Marble dust is one of the hazardous byproducts of marble-processing factories and requires planned disposal. Its beneficial use as a construction material will add to the sustainability, and most importantly, might overcome the burden of marble waste disposal. However, the use of marble dust in concrete has a negative impact. Therefore, this research examines various properties related to the utilization of such material in ceramic clay, and therefore its effects on the use of clay bricks are investigated. The research activity covers the categorization of marble dust powder from three different sources: Ziarat in Mohmand Agency, Buneer, and Mullagori (Pakistan). Its utilization in different proportions preparation of bricks is also addressed. Through the partial replacement of clay with marble dust from 0 to 30% by weight with amplification of 5%, seven mix designs are examined. The test result includes Bulk density, water absorption, porosity, thermal insulation, and strength. The partial replacement of clay with marble dust reduced its weight, strength and increased its porosity, water absorption, and thermal insulation. Furthermore, the utilization of marble powder in bricks minimizes soil erosion and reduces pollution to the environment. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091738 Full Text: PDF