The evaluation of the structural response statistics constitutes one of the principal tasks in engineering. However, in the tail region near structural failure, engineering structures behave highly nonlinear, making an analytic or closed form of the response statistics difficult or even impossible. Evaluating a series of computer experiments, the Monte Carlo method has been proven a useful tool to provide an unbiased estimate of the response statistics. Naturally, we want structural failure to happen very rarely. Unfortunately, this leads to a disproportionately high number of Monte Carlo samples to be evaluated to ensure an estimation with high confidence for small probabilities. Thus, in this paper, we present a new Monte Carlo simulation method enhanced by a convolutional neural network. The sample-set used for this Monte Carlo approach is provided by artificially generating site-dependent ground motion time histories using a nonlinear Kanai-Tajimi filter. Compared to several state-of-the-art studies, the convolutional neural network learns to extract the relevant input features and the structural response behavior autonomously from the entire time histories instead of learning from a set of hand-chosen intensity inputs. Training the neural network based on a chosen input sample set develops a meta-model that is then used as a meta-model to predict the response of the total Monte Carlo sample set. This paper presents two convolutional neural network-enhanced strategies that allow for a practical design approach of ground motion excited structures. The first strategy enables for an accurate response prediction around the mean of the distribution. It is, therefore, useful regarding structural serviceability. The second strategy enables for an accurate prediction around the tail end of the distribution. It is, therefore, beneficial for the prediction of the probability of failure.

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A Monte Carlo Simulation Approach in Non-linear Structural Dynamics Using Convolutional Neural Networks

The COVID 19 outbreak dramatically highlighted the inadequacy of the Emergency Department (ED) settings in dealing with events that can acutely affect a wide range of population. The immediate urgency to create strictly distinct pathways became also a strategic aspect for reducing possible sources of contagion inside the hospital.1 This need has often clashed with inadequate structural conditions of the hospital: in fact, the rigidity of many EDs is due to the hospital typology and its localization (affected by functional program);2,3 and it prevents them from being quickly adapted to new needs in the case of maxi-emergencies.4 In several recent international projects, the presence of a multifunctional space and/or a buffer area guarantees different scenarios in relation to the healthcare/emergency needs.5 [...]

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Challenges of the next generation hospitals: Rethinking the Emergency Department

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted healthcare systems worldwide. Although this disease has primarily impacted general medicine intensive care units, other areas of healthcare including psychiatry were modified in response to corona measures to decrease the transmission of the disease. Reflecting on the modifications to the environment provides an opportunity to design psychiatric environments for future pandemics or other demands for healthcare. Background: The therapeutic environment of psychiatric wards was modified in Friesland, the Netherlands, in response to COVID-19. During this time, an interdisciplinary team met consistently to contribute to the preliminary design of a new psychiatric hospital. Methods: During the first 18 months of the pandemic, clinical reflections were made to describe the impact of COVID-19 on the psychiatric care environment. Architects have created a preliminary design of a new psychiatric hospital based on these reflections, monthly collaborative design discussions based on virtual mock-ups and evidence-based design based on theoretical concepts and research. Results and conclusions: This theoretical and reflective study describes how an inpatient psychiatric environment was restructured to manage infection during COVID-19. The therapeutic environment of the psychiatric ward and patient care changed drastically during COVID-19. The number of patients accessing care decreased, patient autonomy was restricted, and the function of designated behavioral support spaces changed to manage the risk of infection. However, these challenging times have provided an opportunity to reflect on theories and consider the design of new hospital environments that can be adapted in response to future pandemics or be restructured for different care functions.

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The Reorganization of a Psychiatric Unit During COVID-19: A Reflection for Psychiatric Hospital Design

The unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19 has had a tremendous negative impact on healthcare facilities, especially public hospitals. Thai community hospitals serve as primary care for COVID-19 patients. However, many hospital buildings were constructed in the 1990s and are now becoming outdated. Community hospitals faced many difficulties during the Thailand COVID-19 outbreak. To identify these difficulties this study focused on the physical settings of the community hospital’s outpatient departments (OPD) between 2020 and 2021. Furthermore, the study provided design suggestions for preventing the spread of respiratory infectious diseases. The study used a three-step process of data collection. The first was to observe the physical settings of the OPD buildings of the three hospitals. Secondly, interviews were conducted with thirty healthcare employees: 11 from the first hospital, 11 from the second hospital and 8 from the third hospital. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using content analysis. Subsequently, the architectural design was produced based on observation and interview analysis. In the third step, the same thirty participants evaluated the architectural design through a focus group. Findings from the interviews led to four themes: 1) factors leading to the accumulation of pathogens, 2) measures for preventing the spread of respiratory diseases, 3) the effect of patient numbers on virus transmission, and 4) suggestions for improving the physical setting of OPDs. The analysis of the four themes led to the preliminary design recommendation, which was evaluated through a focus group, leading to suggestions for the improvement of thirteen areas. The analysis results showed that the participants were satisfied with the architectural design with additional minor recommendations. This study provided originality for the implementation and future development of hospital layout designs that can prevent the spread of COVID-19 throughout Thai community hospitals.

Preventing the spread of COVID-19 through environmental design in Thai community hospitals

Envisioning Innovative Post-COVID Approaches Toward LTCF Design in Dense Urban Areas: Exploring an Evidence-Based Design Prototype

Background: Based on recent experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic, designers and design researchers are crafting guidelines for the development of future environments. In this context, this paper focuses on future best practices regarding environments for health, hospitality and senior care. Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted, the results of which were distributed to a group of experts (N=12) specializing in health, hospitality and design. After receiving their input, expert focus groups were conducted to further explore the proposed concepts. The document was revised based on the contributions of these field experts, resubmitted for additional input, and ultimately summarized in this paper. Results: Based on the literature review and expert input, dozens of recommendations were made regarding post-COVID health, hospitality and seniors environments. Healthcare facilities will require additional space, access to the outdoors, service hubs, and additional infrastructure to all conversion of garages for emergency use. Hospitality settings will employ new cleaning methods, use of robotics, improved HVAC, Wellness programming, workspace options, and flexible food service operations. Senior facilities will engage more technology, socially distance visiting facilities, increase access to nature, and smaller scale residential clusters. Discussion: By considering health and hospitality simultaneously, we come to understand the symbiotic benefits of applying goals from one sector to the other. Senior living environments are an excellent example of this approach in action. By implementing some of the proposed design recommendations generated by this research, we will be better prepared to face future challenges.

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McCuskey Mardelle Shepley

Papers

How COVID-19 Will Change Health, Hospitality and Senior Facility Design