Conference Agenda

Earthquakes are responsible for a significant amount of money losses and death tolls. For this reason, their force is considered in civil engineering designs. The first method that implemented earthquake effects was descriptive structural design, later it was developed a performance-based seismic structural design methodology. The latter considers the dynamic properties of the soil. An important factor for appropriate implementation of this methodology is the seismic site classification. The site classification can be estimated with the help of destructive geotechnical tests, such as SPT, CPT, PMT; together with statistical correlations. However, it can also be determined by using non-destructive testing (i.e. geophysical testing). These estimations can be done obtaining the average shear-wave velocity in the upper 30m and the fundamental frequency of the soil. In this study a comparison between the results obtained from refraction microtremor (ReMi) and Horizontal-to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) geophysical tests against existing engineering correlations based on SPT tests was developed. The soils tested correspond to tropical residual soils, from Panama City. Results show that the ReMi and HVSR tests in combination accurately represent the properties of the soil. Also, this study identifies which correlations are best suited to be used in residual soils similar to the studied site.

The research work focuses on the influence of synthetic fibers (FS) and metallic fibers (FM) when added to a concrete mixture with the purpose of improving its mechanical properties. There is a wide variety of fibers used to improve the quality of concrete such as steel fibers, glass, plastic and natural materials, which are available in various shapes, sizes and thicknesses. Each one has technical characteristics that are decisive for the study and will allow analyzing the mechanical properties of concrete without reinforcements compared to concrete reinforced with FS and FM in different dosages to improve the mechanical properties of the concrete. Three types of laboratory tests were carried out: compressive, flexural and tensile strength for different dosages of FM and/or FS (1%FM, 1%FS, 0.9%F.M + 0.1%FS, 0.825%FM + 0.175%FS , 0.75%FM + 0.25%FS), at the ages of 7, 14 and 28 days with a water-cement ratio (w/c) of 0.64, where cylindrical samples (specimens) and prismatic samples (beams) were made. It was determined that the optimal dosage of FM and F S is the one that has CP + 1% FM as its design, because it presents an improvement in the compression resistance by 1.07%, the flexural resistance increases by 82.61%. , tensile strength increases by 34.08% with respect to pattern concrete. Finally, it is concluded that the mechanical properties improve when a CP + 1%FM design is used because the resistance of the mechanical properties increases with respect to the master concrete (CP).

The indiscriminate use of plastics has led to an environmental crisis due to inadequate disposal and prolonged degradation time. Among them, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is widely used in food packaging and textiles, significantly contributing to plastic waste generation. This study investigates the incorporation of PET fibers into concrete as a sustainable solution within the framework of the circular economy. Experimental tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of concrete with PET fiber additions at different dosages (2%, 3%, 4%, and 5% relative to cement weight) and in two forms (smooth fibers and accordion-shaped fibers). The results showed that adding 2% smooth PET fibers increased compressive strength by 3% and flexural strength by 12.6%, while higher percentages negatively affected material resistance. The findings highlight the potential of PET-reinforced concrete as a viable alternative to reduce plastic waste and enhance material performance in construction.

Abstract–This paper explores the critical importance of project management skills for engineers and their impact on national development. The benefits of implementing project management practices are discussed, as well as the risks and negative consequences that arise when engineers lack these competencies. Using data from the Project Management Institute (PMI) Pulse of the Profession reports from 2017, 2018, and 2019, quantitative evidence is presented on how project management improves organizational performance, reduces resource waste, and increases project success rates. The results show that organizations with high project management maturity waste up to 28 times less money than low-performing ones, and that up to 69% of projects meet their original objectives when good practices are implemented. The symbiotic relationship between engineering, project management, and national development is also examined, highlighting how these disciplines interconnect to drive socioeconomic growth. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need to integrate project management skills into engineering training and practice to maximize their contribution to the sustainable development of countries.

The objective of this research was to provide a knowledge management model to support risk management in the construction sector. The model aims to optimize the risk management process through the efficient use of knowledge. The construction sector is characterized by its high accident rate, which highlights the need to generate models that radically improve the identification, analysis, and evaluation of risks, resulting in an efficient use of resources for risk mitigation. To validate the capacity and scope of the model, a survey was conducted with experts in the sector, evaluating six fundamental parameters to gain an initial understanding of the model. The results obtained were positive; however, it is recommended to conduct pilot tests of the model to validate the experts' feedback.