Proceedings of the Second International

Conference for PhD Students in Civil

Engineering and Architecture

“Building the community

of young researchers”

CE-PhD 2014
www.cephd.ro

Cluj-Napoca-ROMANIA
10-13 December 2014
Edited by:
Cosmin G CHIOREAN

Organized by:
Technical University of Cluj-Napoca,
in partnership with
Academy of Technical Sciences of Romania
&
SEnS Group
Published by:

UTPRESS
 2nd International Conference for PhD students in Civil Engineering and Architecture
CE-PhD 2014, 10-13 December 2014,Cluj-Napoca, Romania
www.cephd.ro

Applications of Artificial Neural Networks in Civil Engineering

Alexandrina-Elena C. Pandelea*1, Mihai Gh. Budescu2, Gabriela M. Covatariu2

1,,2
”Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iaşi, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Building Services. 1
prof. Dimitrie Mangeron Av., 700050, Iaşi, Romania

Abstract
Artificial neural networks are defined as systems that solve complex problems for which doesn’t
exist sequential algorithms, only examples of solutions, and it’s generate their own rules of learning
from examples. Over the years in all areas of Civil Engineering were undertaken specific
researches addressing various problems using artificial neural networks with varying degrees of
success. Were studied problems in the field of building materials behaviour, geotechnical
engineering and structural engineering, structural identification and control, heat transfer
problems, transport infrastructure issues, management and technology in construction and
installation issues.

Keywords: artificial neural networks, structural computing, forecast, estimation, material

characteristics

1. Introduction

Artificial intelligence is a multidisciplinary field which has been created from the necessity to a
deeper study of the possibility to create human behaviours. A system designed based on artificial
intelligence must be able to store information, to apply those information to solve problems and
learn new information through experiences.

The brain learns from experiences. In studies so far, it shows that the brain store the information as
models. A neural network is an artificial representation of the human brain that tries to imitate his
learning process. The term "artificial" means that the neural networks are implemented in computer
programs that are able to handle many values for the calculations required along the learning
process. This area does not use traditional programming but involves massively parallel networking
and training of these networks to solve specific problems. In comparison to traditional computing
systems based on neural networks learn examples, they have a distributed associative memory, have
a high tolerance for errors, recognize patterns and have greater synthetic capacity.

Using neural networks has many advantages but also some disadvantages.
Among the advantages we can highlight: solving complex problems for which doesn’t existe an
sequential algorithms, only examples of solutions; the ability to adapt to a changing environment;
deterioration of some neurons does not involve a steep deterioration in performance, but degrades
network performance; opportunity to work with imprecise data; ability to modify the internal
structure in order to perform the desired action; generates its own rules of learned examples; are

*
Corresponding author: Tel./ Fax.:0232239213
E-mail address: alexandrina_pandelea@yahoo.com

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used to model the nonlinear systems; creating a well-trained neural networks lead to the removal
experimental phase; inexpensive and fast to a slow and expensive program structural analysis; may
be used for real-time applications; ability to approximate a nonlinear continuous function with the
desired degree of accuracy; easily modeled neural networks multivariable systems (due to the large
number of inputs and outputs).
Among the disadvantages noted are: the learning process is complicated because of the difficulty in
choosing the training set, is lengthy depending on the training’s method and the training set size and
requires very efficient computing means; for training it takes a very large data volume; establish
training base is a difficult operation, it must cover all the search satisfactory solution.

Worldwide neural networks have been used in every field of engineering to study various
phenomena. In Romania, it has been studied so far in electronics, automation, cybernetics,
chemistry, but has been rarely used in the behaviour’s simulation of different engineering structures
subjected to various types of actions.

The first articles on the neural networks’s application in Civil Engineering emerged in 1989, when
I. Flood presented in the proceedings of the 6th International Symposium on Automation and
Robotics in Construction from the Austin paper "A Neural Network Approach to the Sequencing of
Construction Tasks". First item on the application of neural networks in structural engineering
appeared in the journal “Microcomputers in Civil Engineerring” in 1989 by Adeli and Yeh
"Perceptron learning in engineering design", which presented application in engineering design of a
machine learning model based on a concept of internal control parameters and perceptron. The
study was done to a metal frame in order to design it.
Over the years in all areas of Civil Engineering were undertaken various research addressing using
artificial neural networks for solving problems with varying degrees of success.

2. Neural networks applied in engineering

2.1. Study the behaviour of building materials

The construction used materials or mixtures of materials with heterogeneous behaviour in the
structure, which is difficult to establish a formula applies to various cases encountered.

Using neural networks were made forecasting the compressive strength of concrete according to
different mixtures of concrete (Kim, 2005), the various of materials properties and ultrasonic
measurements (Lorenzi, 1997 Tapkin et all, 2006), the slump of concrete compressive strength and
high performance (Öztas et al, 2006) or the value of the ultimate shear force in concrete beams
(Frohnsdoff, 2001), the value of ultimate strength (Pu, 2006) and other features material, such as
elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, ultimate strength, yield strength (Pandya and Shah, 2014).

Studies have been conducted on the estimated slump of concrete using specific properties of the
concrete’s components (Jain, 2008) or the fresh concrete’s consistency on the compaction test
results (Gonzales, 2006). Ghaboussi and Jung (2001) described the stress-strain relationship in
concrete and applied to an analysis of its in-time behaviour. The proposed model has the ability of
any model describing the rate dependent material loading.

Other studies have made assessments of the time degradation of oil-well cement, the effect of
carbonation on concrete corrosion (Clifton, 2001), textile’s usage in reinforced concrete (Fraitag,
2009) and properties determination of the composite materials (Lingaraju and Ramji, 2011; Carlone
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et all., 2014; Samanta et all., 2014). Also, using neural networks can perform behaviour’s
simulation of reinforced concrete at different ages and can help by macro calculating to model of
the reinforcement-concrete’s interface (Unger, 2009).

2.2. Structural engineering

An important benefit of the approach with neural networks in structural engineering is that it
provides a mechanism model includes factors that are poorly understood in how it affects the
system.

Regarding the concrete’s behaviour by using neural networks (NN) have been studied a number of
issues such as job forecasting failure and maximum amount moments simply supported rectangular
plate subjected to concentrated loads somewhere on the plate (Adeli and Park, 1995), the design of
a beam with a rectangular section of reinforced concrete is known valve tensile strength, thickness
and width of the beam, the cost and size of the torque meter (Mukherjee and Deshpande, 1995),
predict the shear strength of the reinforced concrete rectangular beam according to the length /
height of the beam, the concrete strength, reinforcement, thickness and width of the beam (Abdalla,
2007).

NN are used for reinforced concrete structures, steel structures, and not least for composite
structures. Xu (2001) propose a technique in order to detect cracks in anisotropic laminated plates
with an adaptive MLP model; Su and Ye (2005) propose monitoring of composite structures “in
service”, according to damage assessment based on Lamb wave propagation; Ganesh (2006 )
evaluates the “m” and “k” parameters of longitudinal shear force at composite floors; Kumar (2008)
performs the vibration’s control of spherical structures made of composite material thin-walled;
Tsompanakis (2008) identifies a beam cracks and a composite plate and performs an seismic
probabilistic analysis of a metal frame structure. Rehabilitation methods were analysed in laminated
composite structures (Lopes 2010) or concrete poles with steel rods (Jørgensen et all., 2013).
Regarding monitoring using neural networks was studied problem of identifying and localizing
possible imperfections of curtain wall systems (Efstathiades, 2007), and monitoring the structural
status through changes induced by damages of Ritz vector (Lam, 2006).

Among the issues on the behaviour of steel elements studied with neural networks are: modeling the
nonlinear behavior of steel structures and studying in the boundary domain using a neural network
model in which neurons (from input and output layers) are multiplied with logarithmic and
exponential neurons (Zeh, 1998), analysis of XT tubular joints subjected to three different types of
axial tests (Chiew, 2001), forecasting the load of structural elements of steel profiles cold
compressed formats (El-Kassas, 2002), forecasting of flexure and initial stiffness for beam-column
elements joint using a supervised learning backpropagation algorithm (de Lima, 2005), nonlinear
modeling of beam-column joints based on inelastic hysteretic model (Yun, 2007), the dynamic
response, during time, of an eight-story structure of steel frames subjected to seismic actions
(Ahmadi, 2008); estimation of seismic response to different types of structures (Jeng and Mo,
2004).

Structural elements behaviour with NN has been addressed in their studies by Hegazy,1998; Hung
and Jan, 1999; Maru and Nagpal, 2004; Cevik and Guzelbey, 2007; Safe, 2008 and Möller et all.,
2008; Jorgensen et all., 2013; Garzon-Roca et all, 2013, obtaining structural response simulations of
various actions on them and a structural evaluation obtained by Yasarer and Najar, 2014.

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Considering the NN ability to approximate functions and to recognise patterns in diagnosis of

structural damage cause them to be considered a good method of diagnosis. In 1992 Wu, Ghaboussi
and Garrett presents a structural damage detection system using backpropagation algorithm and its
ability to recognize patterns and extent of the damage location recognition of individual elements by
measuring the frequency spectrum of a frame structure damaged at 3 levels of rigid floors. The
problem of fault detection and evaluation of the structural elements has been addressed over time by
many other researchers Szewczyk and Hajela, 1994; Ju Liu, 2010; de Lautour and Omenzetterb,
2008; Hadzima-Nyarko, 2011 Yam, 2003; Chen, 2003; Tam, 2004; Yuen, 2006; Pidaparti, 2007;
Masri, 2000; Lee, 2005; Lee and Kim, 2007; Mehrjoo, 2008.

The identification of the damaged structures can be achieved with neural networks: through
detection of the structural defects presence of the dynamic response data in simple structures
(Ceravolo, 1995), the location of the damages based by changes in the vibrational modes (Garcia,
1997), by the identification’s method of a single cracks in the vibrating bar based on knowledge of
the fault-induced change in a natural frequency pair (Morassut, 2001), by altering the dynamic
properties (its values and proper modes of vibration) in order to find the damage (Ni, 2002), using
stress and displacements to recognize potential faults by comparing the response to undamaged
structure (Maity, Saha, 2004), by locating cracks and their size based on modal frequencies (Suresh,
2004), by a method of damages assessment in beams prestressed by the natural frequency
measurements (Jeyasehar, Sumangala, 2006), by detecting the failure of the place and the size of
input beams using the Fourier coefficients of the proper modes of vibration (Pawar 2007), through a
variation of the technique smart structural system parameter and fault detection using simulations
(Saadat, 2007); a method of identifying damage to steel frames connected by welding subjected to
seismic actions using frequencies and vibration modes (Zapico and Gonzalez, 2008).

For an dynamic mandantory analysis of a secure design in terms of seismic protection, it developed
a method of generating accelerograms through clever integration between NN and wavelets (Sirca
and Adeli, 2004). Regarding the analysis of seismic actions with NN, are made several forecasting
of the parameters for generating artificial accelerograms (Bento, 2000), there was studied ground’s
movements in order to test constructions for which was used accelerograms of 1,000 different
earthquakes in a sufficiently reduced region of California (Vassileva, 2001), it was assessed the
level of safety of the structural system in case of future earthquakes (Chakraverty, 2006), was
investigated for predicting the magnitude of the largest seismic event in the future based on the
analysis of eight mathematically computed parameters known as seismicity indicators (Panakkat
and Adeli 2007), the maximum ground acceleration (PGA) and vertical directions EW, NS, by
comparing the results of three types of NN obtained based on data from 95 records in 15 moves
seismic between 1999-2000 (Gunaydin, 2008). Reyes et all (2012) shows a system based on neural
networks forecast earthquakes in Chile makes an area with a high seismic activity, Moustra et all
(2011) were made prognosis of earthquakes using time series magnitude data or Seismic Electric
Signals; Adeli (2009) presents a probabilistic neural network for earthquake prediction. Calabrese
(2013) used artificial neural network to implement, in order to find the unknown nonlinear seismic
and geotechnical input data versus the expected performance of the facility. NN has successfully
used for deriving fragility curves of the considered structures.

Neural networks also could be used for problems optimization in structures: Ouarghi and Krarti,
2006; Kim, 2007; Alan, 2007; Vishnu Nambiar, 2014 or reliability of construction Shazanfar 2007.
Joining NN with finite element analysis Khan, Topping, 1997; Topping, 1998; Sziveri, 1999;
Hurtado, 2002; Lu and Tu, 2004 led to a more explicite finite element analysis, optimization of
structural responses.

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2.3. Structural identification and control problems

Studies in this area have attracted strong interest; NN is considered a powerful tool for identifying
structural nonlinear dynamical systems (Marsi, 1993; Zun and Bahng, 2000; Hung and Loh, 2001;
Ni (2002); Sirca and Adeli, 2012; Facchini et all., 2014). Xu proposes a new method to NN in 3
steps, based on a method of identifying structural parameters - stiffness and damping coefficients
(2004), a structural model updating methodology by the direct use of free vibration acceleration
time without extracting eigenvalues (2006) and a direct parametric identification program (2007).

The active control of structures has been an active area of research. Mukherjee (1997) predicted
modes of vibration of the frame structures with different numbers of levels. Bani-Hani and
Ghaboussi (1998) analyses the nonlinear structural control using NN by simulations on a 3 levels
metal frame considering inelastic behaviour. Problems on the structures control were studied by
Valla, 2000.2001; Narasimhan, 2008; Liuta et all, 2000; Kim, 2008, 2009; Xia, 2003. Yang (2006)
presents an NN for identification and vibration suppression of a building structure with active mass
damper, achieving reductions of vibration up to 70 or 80%. Lin (2006) introduced a concept of
smart structures with an active control system by using fiber Bragg sensor grids and NN to build a
system similar to a model of human thinking.

2.4. Heat transfer problems in civil engineering

Thermal comfort, air flow distribution and air quality in a particular area are the solutions
addressing the issues investigated using NN studies, which has made significant improvements in
this area. Using NN can be predicted energy required for a building (Yang, 2005), operating
performance of heat exchanger in the real system of mechanical ventilation and air conditioning
(Hu, 2005), air quality simulation methods based on data from long periods (annual) and shorter
time periods (daily), (Rashad, 2008), the maximum concentration of ozone O3 in a specific day in a
metropolitan area (Garcia, 2008), atmospheric constituents in time periods in a metropolitan area
(Ibarra-Berastegi, 2008).
Malinowski (2006) has studied the process of air infiltration in residential and determining the
possibility of minimizing the energy consumption using artificial neural networks. (Barai, 2007),
reducing the strength of reinforced concrete columns subjected to high temperatures, and Hozjan
(2007) discloses an alternative to mechanical modeling of the behaviour of metal frames exposed to
high temperatures, based on a series of stress-strain curves experimentally realized for different
temperature’s levels. Tosun and Dincer (2010) determined the thickness of a wall of a building,
taking into account the heat loss.

2.5. Geotechnical Engineering

The problem situations of geotechnical engineering are characterized by uncertainties on design

values of geotechnical indices with significant impact. In most cases, successful resolution of
problems depends on the knowledge and experience of experts. Artificial neural networks are
suitable for modeling the complex behaviour of most materials in geotechnical engineering (soil
types and their associations in complex stratigraphic profiles), which by their nature, show a wide
variety. NN modeling capacity, as well as the ability to learn from experience, give neural networks
modeling superiority over traditional methods because there is no need to make assumptions about
the fundamental rules governing problem we have.

Due to the inhomogeneous soil, modeling with neural networks can be a solution for solving many
problems in geotechnical engineering. So, many studies have been conducted to track the soil’s
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behaviour and finding their characteristics (Ellis, 1995; Ghaboussi, 1998; Penumadu, 1997, 1999;
Zhu, 1998; Basheer and Najjar (1995) and Najjar et al (1996)) or investigation and evaluation of
swelling soils (Najjar (1996); Erzin (2007).

Basma (2004) investigates the feasibility of using NN for modeling the complex relationship
between geotechnical indices, loading conditions and its potential failure. Slope stability is studied
by Sakellariou (2005), Samui (2006), Shangguan (2009) which estimates the parameters of
geotechnical slope stability and geometric using several types of neural networks: backpropagation,
probabilistic neural networks and generalized regression. Das (2011) do more research on slope
stability, its classification and prognosis of safety factor, or piles behaviour and soil-pile interaction
in various cases and actions. Also, the piles behaviour has been studied by Ahmad, 2007; Nasseri,
2014 Assessing the potential for liquefaction of soils was approached in 1997 Agrawal, Cham
(1997), Bourdeau, bar (2002) and Chibbasti Khozaghi (2007), Juang and Chen (1999), Hanna
(2007), Rahman (2010), Khozaghi şi Chibbasti (2007). Were made using neural networks modeling
of soil-foundation interaction Provenzano, 2003; Pala et all, 2008.

2.6. Transportation

Some of the infrastructure issues solved with neural network consists of: identifying traffic
problems to improve its fluency (Zhang, 1997), an advanced decision support system for
management actual traffic in areas where are sites in working (Jiang and Adeli, 2004), training a
network to detect the end of the row of cars in the area and display a message upstream motorway
(Adeli and Hooshdar, 2004), detecting incidents on highway traffic to improve transport system
(Adeli, 2005), analysis of road infrastructure based on nondestructive measurements with
deflectometer (Goktepe, 2006), predict cracks in flexible road structures (Owusu-Ababio, 1998),
creating a mathematical model to predict the viscosity of the asphalt binder (Specht, 2007),
compiling a model for weather-risk pavement (Manik, 2008), predicting dynamic modulus of hot
mix asphalt (Ceylan, 2008), determination of the Asphalt Concrete (AC) moduli and subgrade
moduli of airfield pavement based on measurements with Heavy Weight Deflectometer
(Gapalakrishnan, 2008).

2.7. Construction Technology and Management

Among the issues addressed in this area include: an estimate of the cost of buildings (Moselhut,
1991), a model for finding labour productivity in construction (Sonmez, 1998), a forecast revenue
of disputes in construction (Arditi, 1998), a method of organization of the site (Yhang, 2002), an
estimate of the acceptability of new technologies (Chao, 2002), a cost estimate to forecast
residential preliminary cost estimate (Kim, 2005).

Neural networks established between the quantities / costs of concrete / formwork, which are
necessary for the structural elements of tall buildings using high performance concrete and design
variables with hybrid and hierarchical strategies (Fang, Froese, 1999). Adeli and Senouci (2001)
propose a mathematical formulation rules for cost optimization of construction projects, and Wang
(2011) has a research to predict the life casualties related to several factors in an earthquake related
to several factors.

2.8. Building services issues

Various studies were conducted using NN such as mathematical simulation models for analyzing
water distribution networks, state prediction pipes underground infrastructure to control risk,
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identifying segments cracked pipe condition assessment based on time, study on the rehabilitation
networks water, creating a metamodel optimum water distribution system, including water quality
assurance.

3. Conclusions

From studies conducted in over two decades, there is a strong interest in using neural networks in
solving problems in civil engineering, and demonstrated their usefulness for problems in building
work. Neural networks do not replace conventional methods of calculation, but are complementary.
They come with good modeling in areas where traditional approaches (finite elements, finite
differences a.s.o.) require large computing resources or time to solve problems. Artificial neural
networks give very good solutions, direct mapping of nonlinear problems which include more
independent variables, a class of common engineering problems. It provides solutions with greater
accuracy than alternative modeling techniques and requires fewer requirements for modeling, in
terms of knowledge represented shape function.

A promising trend in approach to solve problems of artificial intelligence tools is that it could
combine several tools: neural networks, genetic algorithms, expert systems, a.s.o., with classical
methods of analysis and calculation of area.

4. References

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[2] Adeli H., Panakkkat A. A Probabilistic Neural Network for Earthquake Magnitude Prediction. Neural
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[3] Calabrese A., Lai C., Fragility functions of blockwork wharves using artificial neural networks, Soil
Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 2013.

[4] Carlone P., Dragan, Velimir A., Irovic, Gaetano S., Palazzo Meta-modeling of the curing process of
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[6] Chakraverty S., Marwala T., Gupta P. Response Prediction of Structural System Earthquake Motions
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[9] Gunaydin K, Gunaydin A. Peak Ground Acceleration Prediction by ANN for Northwestern Turkey,
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[10] Jiang X., Mahadevan S. Bayesian Probabilistic Inference for Nonparametric Damage Detection of
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[13] Kumar R., Misha B., Jain S. Vibration Control of Smart Composite Laminated Spherical Shell using
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[14] Kumar S., Das Artificial Neural Networks in Geotechnical Engineering Modeling and Application
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[16] Lingaraju D., Ramji K., Mohan R., Iakshmi R., Characterization and prediction of some engineering
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[19] Möller O., Foschi R., Quiroz L., Rubinstein M. Structural optimization for performance-based design in
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Structures 28, pp. 1190-1196, 2006.

[27] Samantaa S., Mandalb A., Thingujam J. Application of ANN in Identifying Defects in Impacted

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Composite, Procedia Materials Science 6 , pp. 926 – 930, 2014.

[28] Sirca G.F., Adeli H. ANN Wavelet Model For Generating Artificial Accelerograms, Intern.J.of
Wavelets, Multiresolution& Inform. Process. Vol. 2, pp. 217–235, 2004.

[29] Shabani M., Mazahery A. The ANN application in FEM modeling of mechanical properties of Al–Si
alloy, Applied Mathematical Modelling, 2011.

[30] Shangguan Z., Li S., Luan M. Intelligent Forecasting Method for Slope Stability Estimation by Using
Probabilistic NN, EJGE, Vol. 13C, 2009.

[31] Vassileva S.T. Predicting Earthquake Ground Motion Descriptions through ANN for Ttesting the
Constructions, Proc. Intern.Conf. on Struct. Eng., Mechanics and Computation 2–4 April 2001, Cape
Town, South Africa, pp. 927-936 , 2001.

[32] Xu Y.G., Liu G.R., Wu Z.P., Huang X.M. Adaptive Multilayer Perceptron Networks for Detection of
Cracks in Anisotropic Laminated Plates, Intern. J. of Solids and Structures 38, pp. 5625-5645, 2001.

[33] Yasarer H., Najjar Y. Assessing the Auto Associative Network Approach for Prediction in Civil
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[34] Yam L.H., Yan Y.J., Jiang J.S. Vibration-Based Damage Detection for Composite Structures using
Wavelet Transform and NN Identification, Composite Structures 60, pp. 403–412, 2003.

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Applications of Artificial Neural Networks in Civil Engineering

Alexandrina-Elena C. Pandelea*1, Mihai Gh. Budescu2, Gabriela M. Covatariu2

1,,2
”Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iaşi, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Building Services. 1
prof. Dimitrie Mangeron Av., 700050, Iaşi, Romania

Abstract
Artificial neural networks (ANN) are defined as systems that solve complex problems for which
doesn’t exist sequential algorithms, only examples of solutions, and it’s generate their own rules of
learning from examples. Over the years in all areas of Civil Engineering were undertaken specific
researches addressing various problems using artificial neural networks with varying degrees of
success. Using NN has many advantages but also some disadvantages, shown in the article. In
Romania, it has been studied so far in electronics, automation, cybernetics, chemistry, but has been
rarely used in the behaviour’s simulation of different engineering structures subjected to various
types of actions.

Keywords: artificial neural networks, structural computing, forecast, estimation, material

characteristics

1. Introduction

Artificial intelligence is a multidisciplinary field which was born from the desire to study the deeper
possibility of creating human behaviors. A system designed on the basis of artificial intelligence
must be able to store information, to apply the stored information to solve problems and learn new
information through experiences.

Over the years in all areas of Civil Engineering were undertaken various research addressing using
artificial neural networks for solving problems with varying degrees of success

2. Neural networks applied in engineering

2.1. Study the behavior of building materials

Using neural networks were made forecasting the compressive strength of concrete according to
different mixtures of concrete, the building materials properties and ultrasonic measurements, a.s.o.

2.2. Structural engineering

An important benefit of the approach with neural networks in structural engineering is that it
provides a mechanism model includes factors that are poorly understood in how it affects the
system and for problems optimization in structures or reliability of construction with finite element
analysis. NN is considered a powerful tool for identifying structural nonlinear dynamical systems.

2.3. Structural identification and control problems

*
Corresponding author: Tel./ Fax.:0232239213
E-mail address: alexandrina_pandelea@yahoo.com

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 2nd International Conference for PhD Students in Civil Engineering and Architecture
CE-PhD 2014, 10-13 December 2014,Cluj-Napoca, Romania
www.cephd.ro

Studies in this area have attracted strong interest; NN is considered a powerful tool for identifying
structural nonlinear dynamical systems.

2.4. Heat transfer problems in civil engineering

Using NN can be predicted energy required for a building, operating performance of heat exchanger
in the real system of mechanical ventilation and air conditioning, air quality simulation methods
based on data from long and short.

2.5. Geotechnical Engineering

In this domain ANN are suitable for modeling the complex behaviour of most materials in
geotechnical engineering (soil types and their associations in complex stratigraphic profiles), which
by their nature, show a wide variety.

2.6. Transportation
Problems involving the traffic problems identify to improve its fluency, an advanced decision
support system for management actual traffic in areas where are sites in working.

2.7. Construction Technology and Management

In this area include: an estimate of the cost of buildings, a model for finding labour productivity in
construction, a forecast revenue of disputes in construction, a method of organization of the site, an
estimate of the acceptability of new technologies, a cost estimate to forecast residential preliminary
cost estimate.

2.8. Building services issues

Mathematical simulation models for analyzing water distribution networks, state prediction pipes
underground infrastructure to control risk, identifying segments cracked pipe condition assessment
based on time, study on the rehabilitation networks water, creating a metamodel optimum water
distribution system, including water quality assurance are considerated.

3. Conclusions
From studies conducted in over two decades, there is a strong interest in using neural networks in
solving problems in Civil Engineering. NN do not replace conventional methods of calculation, but
are complementary. A promising trend in approach to solve problems of artificial intelligence tools
is that it could combine several tools: neural networks, genetic algorithms, expert systems, a.s.o.,
with classical methods of analysis and calculation of area.

4. References
[1] Adeli H., Panakkkat A. A Probabilistic Neural Network for Earthquake Magnitude Prediction. Neural
Networks 22, pp. 1018-1024, 2009.
[2] Baziar M.H., Sharafi H., Roodsari M.T., Habibi M.R. Using NN for Prediction of the Dynamic Period
& Amplification Factor of Soil for Microzonation, EJGE, Vol. 14J, 2009.
[3] Caglar N., Elmas M., Zaman Y.D., Saribiyik M. NN in 3-Dimensional Dynamic Analysis of Reinforced
Concrete Buildings, Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 22, pp. 788-800, 2008.
[4] Kumar S., Das Artificial Neural Networks in Geotechnical Engineering Modeling and Application
Issues, Department of Civil Engineering,National Institute of Technology, 2014.
[5] Liu Y., FengJu J., DongDuan C., Zhan X. Structure damage diagnosis using neural network and feature
fusion, Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, 2010.
[6] Panakkat A., Adeli H. NN Models for Earthquake Magnitude Prediction using Multiple Seismicity
Indicators, Intern.J. of Neural Systems, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 13–33, 2007.

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