The article raises issues of natural architecture, presenting the advantages of ecological construction and demands of sustainable development. It presents an example of the use of natural material (straw) to erect buildings in the straw bale technology. On the basis of the presentation of the building it is shown that future bio-construction may be based on simple, natural and environment-friendly materials [2]. It underlines the benefits and the need to develop natural construction for the good of a mankind and the environment, with regards to the aspect of energy efficiency – both in the process of building and operation. It emphasizes that nowadays the natural architecture gives more and more possibilities of building passive objects or even zero-energy ones. The idea of the publication is also to sensitize the audience to the fact of the use of straw to create objects representing contemporary polemic against the traditional solutions of form and architectural building blocks.

The existing railway from Kraków to Zakopane is characterised by complex horizontal (curves) and vertical (slopes and rises) profiles. Although the railway is attractive to tourists, it is not highly valued by carriers. This article describes a new route with profile modifications. The new route would be possible mainly due to civil engineering structures such as tunnels. It would make it possible to reduce travel time significantly and reduce energy consumption.

This article outlines static and dynamic analyses of the viewing platform in Trzęsacz. The steel construction consists of two parallel lattice girders placed on concrete columns. The elements of the girders are made of tubular profiles. Ultimate limit state and serviceability limit state criteria were fulfilled in accordance with algorithms from Eurocodes. This paper also presents an analysis of the platform’s dynamic responses from rhythmical motion caused by human activity. The results of these calculations were checked with the comfort levels of people standing in the platform during the vibrations. Robot Structural Analysis Professional was used for the linear load case of static analysis and modal analysis.

The latest revision of national standards, aimed at the thermal performance of structures, conformed to internationally applicable standards of energy-efficient construction, low-energy construction, ultra energy construction, and nearly zero-energy construction. This paper analyzes the requirements of thermal revised standards in the context of the construction of apartment buildings. The mentioned required standards involve improved and more detailed project planning, leading to the comprehensive realization of building projects as they are intended. Currently, in addition to traditional ways of building, there is an increasing prevalence of modern methods of construction. MMC are using the potential of prefabricated parts of structures. In this article, the aforementioned methods will be compared from an energy conservation and economic point of view.

Term of “modern methods of construction” (MMC) comes from the United Kingdom as a common name for off-site and on-site methods of construction. Modular constructions consist of three-dimensional objects known as modules (off-site methods of construction). Modules are joined together at the construction site. Currently, the construction of modular schools in Slovakia is supported by the state government. This paper presents the advantages and disadvantages of MMC emerging at the technological preparation and implementation stages of buildings, which are manifested in modular schools.

Laser scanning is currently a very fast developing field of science. By creating it for the purpose of geodetic, the possibility of using it in other branches of science was quickly observed. Development of measuring devices and the increase of accuracy and simplicity in performing measurements enabled finding a wider audience and extend its use. In the article the author presents the results of experimental studies aimed at identifying the use of scanning triangulation in the research which allows a comparison of behavior states of selected structural elements before and after their deformation. The study was performed using triangulation scanner that uses a white light. The results were compared in the corresponding computer program that allows the analysis of point clouds and to create models from TIN grids.

Management of construction projects is being carried out through modern information-communication and knowledge technologies. These innovative technologies are to be implemented extensively in the process of construction as much as possible. Document management systems are information systems which ensure an efficient exchange of data and information between the participants in the construction project. Current data and information facilitates decision-making, as well as serving to improve control over projects. Modern DMS are among the most used in construction worldwide, including in Slovakia and Poland.

Before the widespread use of computers, the only way to design a structure with complex shape was to build a prototype model and perform the necessary tests. Nowadays, designers are able to create an accurate and complex engineering design by effective mathematical models. The paper describes the numerical analysis of cooling tower carried out by a finite element method. The FEM analysis was performed with Lusas software. The cooling tower represents the real structure located in Kozienice, Poland. During the calculations, different load cases based on wind tunnel tests were taken into account. The evaluation of the influence of different wind directions and configuration of obstacles on internal forces and displacements were analyzed. Proper dimensions, material proprieties and method factors were applied to the model. In the further part, the dynamic evaluation was presented. The Eigen modes with corresponding values and shapes were created and described. Estimation of impact of dynamic wind action on the object will be also released. Time history of amplitude and displacements was attached. As a result of the dynamic studies, the dynamic evaluating indicator was calculated.

The aim of this paper was to investigate the dynamic responses of the industrial masonry chimney under seismic activity. In this study peak ground accelerations equal 0.4 g were assumed for the shock. In the paper there are the results from numerical simulation. The analyses were prepared for two material models: with elastic and inelastic behavior. In both cases the homogenization model of masonry material was used. The study was prepared in ABAQUS software (Simulia, 2013).

When analyzing large panel buildings, it is very rare to take into consideration the requirements connected with the overheating effect. The paper presents the results of the annual computational simulations of thermal comfort conducted for one flat of W70 multi-family large panel building. Basing on the simulations the authors analyzed the influence of night cooling on thermal comfort inside the flat. Different simulation steps were taken into consideration: windows with and without shading systems, opened during entire night or just during given periods of time to keep specific thermal conditions.

The paper presents a new approach to the design of the solar thermal system controller which is characterized by modular arrangement. The proposed solution enables the integration of controller functions that significantly improve user comfort and the overall reliability of the system. These functions may include both security operations (control of blinds for solar collector, emergency power supply) as well as system monitoring (heat meter, data logger with memory card, Internet-based monitoring, weather station).

The article describes the results of performed calculations of heat transfer through the divisions of buildings designed in the technology of polystyrene prefabricates. All results were referred to the values contained in the new Technical Conditions. The article also contains the results of linear simulations of thermal bridges in the cited technology.

This article presents the parameters of concentrated light, transmitted by optical fiber. A parabolic mirror was used for concentrating the solar radiation. An analysis of the spectrum of light reflected from the parabolic mirror and transmitted by using of variable length of the optical fibers is presented. The article also shows the simulations of the focused solar radiation with the transmitter in the form of fiber. This allowed to show the propagation of radiation inside the fiber and the distribution of the luminous flux on the important areas of the system. On the basis of this analysis, it is proved that the solar radiation concentrating system can be successfully used for lighting purposes.

This paper presents the results of studies conducted to determine the possibility of generating power using stove-fireplace with accumulation. During studies described in the paper, thermoelectric generator with the nominal power of 10 W and maximum operation temperature of 150°C was tested. Obtained results allowed to define real performance of the used generators. However, further tests are still needed to obtain better energy efficiency of the tested micro-scale cogeneration system.

The responsible waste management is an integral part of a sustainable construction process which is based on managing of waste stream on site, waste minimization, waste registry, waste disposal (reusing, recycling, landfilling, ...) on construction site, but also the policies and regulations in this field. Currently, many opportunities have arisen for the beneficial reduction and recovery of construction material that would otherwise be destined for the disposal as construction waste. The scope of use of these opportunities is related to the perception of waste management by construction companies, especially by contractors. The submitted paper presents the importance of on site waste management in terms of construction of buildings. The research was carried out through a questionnaire survey in Slovakia. It was focused on finding construction companies’ approach to the issues of waste management on building sites and problems in the field of construction waste registry. The first part of the paper is focused on attitudes to waste disposal depending on company size (using chi-squared test) and the second part is focused on attitudes to meeting waste legislation.

The cooling tower can be classified as a special structure, both in terms of reliability and size. The collapse of such a large tower, located closely to other buildings, may result in very serious consequences. It seems that special attention should be paid during design process of this kind of structures. Despite the increase in cost, the additional analysis and studies are indicated and also may raise reliability. The article presents the influence of wind action on the cooling tower. It consists of the studies on the issue of aerodynamic interference performed in the wind tunnel. The attention was particularly focused on the influence of the wind pressure on the shell of cooling tower, and on variability of these pressures on the surrounding objects. Making an adequate scale model, configuration of measuring equipment and an execution of wind tunnel tests will be described in this paper. The research was concentrated on measuring the pressure coefficients on the cooling tower surface in single situation and interference situations.

Construction industry has a large share in environmental pollution. In the context of building industry, it is also the transport of building materials and products, which largely contributes to environmental degradation. Construction increasingly promotes wood-based construction systems, thanks to faster construction, better environmental, energy and economic parameters. Prefabricated wood-based panel construction system fully utilizes construction, manufacturing and assembly advantages of the production to the efficiency of the entire construction process. The key moment to increase the efficiency and degree of prefabrication is panel’s finishing. Creation of structural elements in the factories allows a reduction in rides to the site. The paper analyzes the transport costs of the model house constructed by the system of traditional brick and panel system based on wood in the context of transport and manipulation of materials in both bearing systems.

The aim of the research was to evaluate possibility to reduce the emission of the carbon monoxide (CO) in the biomass boiler, by application of a newly-designed secondary air supply system. The approach implied the practical tests of the real biomass boiler installation and numerical analyses of chosen optimizing solutions of the secondary air distribution system. Promising modifications have been implemented in the current design and tested. Results of the numerical and experimental studies have been compared and discussed.

The aim of the paper is to present the results of a comprehensive analysis of three selected wood-based construction systems from design, technological and economical point of view. The selected construction systems imply the stick frame construction system, the structural insulated panels and the standard panel construction system. The optimal construction system from the perspective of a customer is evaluated on the basis of the multi-criteria optimization method. The typified design of the family house Largo 85 served as a model to present and analyze the parameters such as construction cost, construction time, heat transfer coefficient of external walls and air soundproof of walls. The mentioned criteria are the most significant for a customer when making a decision about the most suitable wood-based construction system.