2016 IRC Articleshttp://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/38172024-03-29T12:56:18Z2024-03-29T12:56:18ZA GIS based Approach for Landslide Susceptibility MappingPussella, PGRNILi, LinFernando, MHBMunasinghe, DSKaradana, CAhttp://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/13042023-04-26T11:15:02Z2016-01-01T00:00:00ZA GIS based Approach for Landslide Susceptibility Mapping
Pussella, PGRNI; Li, Lin; Fernando, MHB; Munasinghe, DS; Karadana, CA
A methodology for landslide susceptibility mapping using an integrated GIS approach is presented under this study. Imbulpe Divisional Secretariat Division in Ratnapura district of Sri Lanka was selected as the study area. Topographic maps and other informative maps were used as inputs to the model. Slope, aspect, drainage proximity, lineament proximity, road proximity, landuse, lithology and soil type were identified as important terrain factors, contributing to landslide occurrences in the region and corresponding thematic data layers were generated. These data layers represent the geological, topographical, and hydrological conditions of the terrain. A numerical rating scheme for the factors was developed using the knowledge of expertise via Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) method for spatial data analysis in the GIS. The resulted landslide susceptibility map delineates the area into four different zones as high, moderate, low and very low potential for future landslide occurrences. It was introduced the Landslide Potential Index (LPI) value in this study. The study revealed that about 19.6% of the study area has very low susceptibility, 49.5% has low susceptibility, 22.9% has moderate susceptibility and 8.0% has high susceptibility for landslides. This model can be recommended with finer details for other areas as well, since the model shows that well known Puwakgahawela landslide which was occurred in 2002 and 2016 is in the moderate susceptible area.
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2016-01-01T00:00:00ZCreative City Planning: Integration of Cultural Assets in Planning the Vibrant CityMunasinghe, Harshahttp://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/13032023-04-26T11:40:21Z2016-01-01T00:00:00ZCreative City Planning: Integration of Cultural Assets in Planning the Vibrant City
Munasinghe, Harsha
Cultural-planning has been a popular topic among urban planners as a strategy to regenerate city centres. Helsinki started adapting the concept of creative-city, a prodigy of cultural- planning, after being named the European Capital of Culture in 2000. This annual crowning is parallel to the embracement of the creative-city paradigm in North America, where the societies are diverse and polarised. The complexity of social value in the North American city may have found refuge in this concept to unite its urban landscape. More homogeneous Helsinki is readopting its industrial core for creative industries thus initialising city?s intention to exploit this impulsive regeneration to embrace its cultural diversification. Our research focused on Arabiaranta, a regenerated urban district where the School of Arts and Design forms the nucleus of a new urban living. City authorities took progressive steps, removing constraints to implement cultural-planning, by reforming land-use planning, zoning, and organizational structures to create socio-culturally diverse urban spaces. The place-specific strategy improved the liveability of Arabiaranta without compromising its morphology. Our study, based on qualitative research, documents a case of adopting the concept creative-city to instigate regeneration within a city-wide master plan.
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2016-01-01T00:00:00ZEffect on physical activity among users of walking track under wetland conditions in sub urban area in Sri LankaHirimuthugoda, L KKarunapema, PalithaMadarasinghe, H PGayantha, DWKhttp://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/13022023-04-26T11:28:05Z2016-01-01T00:00:00ZEffect on physical activity among users of walking track under wetland conditions in sub urban area in Sri Lanka
Hirimuthugoda, L K; Karunapema, Palitha; Madarasinghe, H P; Gayantha, DWK
Planned environment and Communities can strongly enhance opportunities for people to improve their levels of physical activity (PA). Peaceful area for physical activity nevertheless offer benefits to mind and body both. As most of population travel for work from sub-urban and minimal occupancy of wetland in urban busy settings, it is much beneficiary to develop walking tracks (WT) with wet, greenish surroundings in sub-urban area for the use of working community. Materials & Methods Between 10/ 2014 and 12/ 2014, a total of 428 individuals, attending to selected WTs in Kotte area were randomly assigned to collect data by using interviewer administered questionnaire. The participants were surveyed of their profile, purpose of using Walking tracks, pattern of PA and compared their PA levels after starting use WT with, PA levels before starting to use WT. Non-parametric ?Wilcoxon T test? was used to assess the comparison. Levels of PA in WP (MET score /week) were analyzed in relation to sociodemographic characteristics of the users comparing with standard levels of PA per week. Results & Discussion About 67% of participants revealed that they used to come WT for both relaxation and to do PA and 21% of participants were exercisers only. 51% (n=218) were previous regular exercisers and rest of 49% has started to do regular exercises after establishment of WT. Study in American trail tracks, 23% (n=93) of those surveyed were new exercisers and 77% (n=321) were habitual exercisers (Gordon et al., 2004). Well-educated rich people with more than 40 year age category were attending to WP in majority. Median time spent in WP was 60 minutes and median MET score / week was 792. Wilcoxon T test showed that PA level among users was significantly higher after starting to use WT over their earlier PA levels (p< 0.0001). Being a male (81%), employed person (80%) or having income >50,000LKR (84%) is significantly higher with doing recommended level of PA to their opponents? side (p < 0.05). In contrast to our study findings, study done in Illinois, USA revealed, there were no significant association between male and female regards to level of PA (Gobster et al.,2005). Age category of less than 40 years over more than 40 tears was not significantly different from the level of PA in our study (p = 0.748). In contrast, Results from survey of North Central Research Station, Illinois, USA, showed that younger users figured most strongly in predicting high activity levels compared elders. Those individuals observed on the trail who were 18?38 years of age were nearly 15 times more likely to be highly active than those users over 55 years (Gobster et al.,2005)
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2016-01-01T00:00:00ZBamboo as a New Retrofitting Material for Existing Masonry Walls with Improving the Walls Aesthetic ViewPushpakumara, BHJMendis, WS WasundaraDe Silva, Sudhirahttp://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/13012023-04-26T11:47:58Z2016-01-01T00:00:00ZBamboo as a New Retrofitting Material for Existing Masonry Walls with Improving the Walls Aesthetic View
Pushpakumara, BHJ; Mendis, WS Wasundara; De Silva, Sudhira
Sri Lankan architecture is mainly based on masonry since ancient time. Among different types of masonry, Un-Reinforced Masonry (URM) construction has possessed the local culture of Sri Lanka especially in home/ residential building construction since ancient time. Unfortunately, URM buildings are the most vulnerable for earthquakes. It reveals that, the need of introducing proper techniques for retrofitting of URM buildings, especially for existing buildings is time essential. Bamboo is a unique building material in that it is strong in both rigidity and density; is now being used more prominently in all types of architecture. The objective of this study is to evaluate the performances of bamboo strips as an architectural material to retrofitting the existing URM walls against earthquakes. The test walls were constructed in double wythe with the size of 600 x 600 x 215 mm and retrofitted by using bamboo strips arranging as a mesh with the pitch of 50 mm. The retrofitted walls and the control wall were subjected to diagonal compression test. Bamboo strip mesh help the masonry wall to increase lateral resistance by 172.6%, compared to the non-retrofitted wall. Retrofitting technique improve the initial stiffness, energy dissipation and deformation capacity of the URM wall. Bamboo strip mesh enhances the ductility of URM walls. Therefore, Retrofitting of URM walls with bamboo strip mesh proved to be an effective and reliable strengthening technique against earthquake while improving the aesthetic view of the wall.
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