During May 2012, the CERN-CNGS neutrino beam has been operated for two weeks for a total of ∼ 1.8 × 10 17 p.o.t., with the proton beam made of bunches, few ns wide and separated by 100 ns. This beam structure allows a very accurate time of flight measurement of neutrinos from CERN to LNGS on an event-by-event basis.Both the ICARUS-T600 PMT-DAQ and the CERN-LNGS timing synchronization have been substantially improved for this campaign, taking advantage of additional independent GPS receivers, both at CERN and LNGS as well as of the deployment of the "White Rabbit" protocol both at CERN and LNGS.The ICARUS-T600 detector has collected 25 beam-associated events; the corresponding time of flight has been accurately evaluated, using all different time synchronization paths.The measured neutrino time of flight is compatible with the arrival of all events with speed equivalent to the one of light: the difference between the expected value based on the speed of light and the measured value is δt = tof c −tof ν = 0.10±0.67 stat. ±2.39 syst. ns. This result is in agreement with the value previously reported by the ICARUS Collaboration, δt = 0.3 ± 4.9 stat. ± 9.0 syst. ns, but with improved statistical and systematic accuracy.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receivers are nowadays commonly used in monitoring applications, e.g., in estimating crustal and infrastructure displacements. This is basically due to the recent improvements in GNSS instruments and methodologies that allow high-precision positioning, 24 h availability and semiautomatic data processing. In this paper, GNSS-estimated displacements on a dam structure have been analyzed and compared with pendulum data. This study has been carried out for the Eleonora D’Arborea (Cantoniera) dam, which is in Sardinia. Time series of pendulum and GNSS over a time span of 2.5 years have been aligned so as to be comparable. Analytical models fitting these time series have been estimated and compared. Those models were able to properly fit pendulum data and GNSS data, with standard deviation of residuals smaller than one millimeter. These encouraging results led to the conclusion that GNSS technique can be profitably applied to dam monitoring allowing a denser description, both in space and time, of the dam displacements than the one based on pendulum observations.

Collocation approach has been applied to get a global Moho model in spherical approximation based on a GOCE geopotential model. A simple single layer model, with known density contrast, has been considered and a linearized relationship between the spherical harmonic coefficients of the anomalous potential and those of the Moho depth has been derived. This allows the covariance propagation from gravity to Moho depth. The derived covariance functions are then used in the collocation estimate of the global Moho depth. In order to be as close as possible to the considered model, reductions for the gravity signal related to topography/bathymetry have been applied. Simulated and real data tests have been performed and the obtained global solution has been compared with Moho estimates available in literature. The obtained global Moho has been then used as a starting solution for a regional refinement assuming planar approximation. In this second step the computation has been performed in the Central Mediterranean area, based on collocation, local gravity and topography/bathymetry data. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015

It is incontrovertible that an exchange of files is essentially required at several stages of the workflow in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Therefore, investigating and detecting the capabilities/inabilities of building information modeling (BIM) software packages with respect to interoperability can be informative to stakeholders who exchange data between various BIM packages. The work presented in this paper includes a discussion on the interoperability of different software platforms commonly used in the AEC industry. Although, in theory, flawless interoperability of some types of files between different BIM platforms is ensured, in practical applications, this is not always the case. Hence, this research aims to identify faults in data exchange by assessing different possible scenarios where a sample Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) four-dimensions (4D) BIM model and related Gantt charts are exchanged. Throughout the interoperability analysis of both IFC file and Gantt charts, the following checks were carried out: geometrical and nongeometrical information exchange through IFC files, 4D information correct readability, and presence of missing schedule information in Gantt charts after their import/export procedure. The results show that interoperability between the analyzed platforms is not always ensured, providing useful insight into realistic scenarios.

This paper investigates quality management (QM) during the execution phase of structural elements by proposing, developing, and testing a complete framework by integrating building information modeling (BIM) and augmented reality (AR) technology. QM during execution is boosted by BIM–AR integration through a dedicated web-based system aimed at reducing the occurrence of omissions and negligence. With such a system, efficiency is improved by allowing the entering of inspection data directly in a shared digital environment, where people involved in QM have permanent access to updated information and inspection results, clearly organized, and entered in real time. The system has been developed in the asp.net framework using C# language where, by generating a web-based checklist and establishing its link to AR, it can enhance the process of information extraction from industry foundation class (IFC) 4D BIM models and the recording of inspection data. A test has been performed on a real case study in Budapest, to assess the effectiveness of the system in the field. Results demonstrate the following benefits brought by such a type of QM system: improved understanding of the design, access to information, and overview of the quality status of the project, leading to reductions in defects and reworking, as well as improved and quicker response and decision-making.

The building sector plays a central role in addressing the problem of global energy consumption. Therefore, effective design measures need to be taken to ensure efficient usage and management of new structures. The challenging task for designers is to reduce energy demands while maintaining a high-quality indoor environment and low costs of construction and operations. This study proposes a methodological framework that enables decision-makers to resolve conflicts between energy demand and life cycle costs. A case study is analyzed to validate the proposed method, adopting different solutions for walls, roofs, floors, windows, window-to-wall ratios and geographical locations. Models are created on the basis of all the possible combinations between these elements, enriched by their thermal properties and construction/management costs. After the alternative models are defined, energy analyses are carried out for an estimation of consumption. By calculating the total cost of each model as the sum of construction, energy and maintenance costs, a joint analysis is carried out for variable life cycles. The obtained results from the proposed method confirm the importance of a preliminary assessment from both energy and cost points of view, and demonstrate the impact of considering different building life cycles on the choice of design alternatives.

We have measured the speed of muon neutrinos with the Borexino detector using short-bunch CNGS beams. The final result for the difference in time-of-flight between an E = 17 GeV muon neutrino and a particle moving at the speed of light in vacuum is δt = 0.8 ± 0.7 stat ± 2.9 sys ns, well consistent with zero.

Abstract. The International Service for the Geoid (ISG, https://www.isgeoid.polimi.it/, last access: 31 March 2021) provides free access to a dedicated and comprehensive repository of geoid models through its website. In the archive, both the latest releases of the most important and well-known geoid models, as well as less recent or less known ones, are freely available, giving to the users a wide range of possible applications to perform analyses on the evolution of the geoid computation research field. The ISG is an official service of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), under the umbrella of the International Gravity Field Service (IGFS). Its main tasks are collecting, analysing, and redistributing local, regional, and continental geoid models and providing technical support to people involved in geoid-related topics for both educational and research purposes. In the framework of its activities, the ISG performs research taking advantage of its archive and organizes seminars and specific training courses on geoid determination, supporting students and researchers in geodesy as well as distributing training material on the use of the most common algorithms for geoid estimation. This paper aims at describing the data and services, including the newly implemented DOI Service for geoid models (https://dataservices.gfz-potsdam.de/portal/?fq=subject:isg, last access: 31 March 2021), and showing the added value of the ISG archive of geoid models for the scientific community and technicians, like engineers and surveyors (https://www.isgeoid.polimi.it/Geoid/reg_list.html, last access: 31 March 2021).