Development of a conceptual model for the selection of intelligent building systems

With the availability of a myriad of intelligent building components or products in the market, the decision to choose between them becomes significant and crucial in the configuration of building alternative. This results in placing the decision makers in the selection ‘dilemma’. This paper presents the development of a conceptual model for the selection of intelligent building systems which aims at assisting the decision makers to select the most appropriate combination of intelligent building components. The paper commences by reviewing the literature on intelligent building research. A survey is conducted to examine the criticality of selection attributes. Findings of this survey enrich the field of intelligent building research in at least two ways. Firstly, it widens the understanding of the factors, as well as their degree of importance, in affecting the selection of intelligent building systems and components. Second, the identified selection attributes form a conceptual framework which can be used to guide the selection of intelligent building components.     

浙江省数字医院系统建设的现状及其发展

笔者对浙江省已建成的200多家医院进行了智能化建设的基础调查,并在此基础上阐述了数字医院系统的设计理念、组成以及建设中存在的问题。     

工欲善其事 必先利其器——BIM实践案例及经验体会

通过对BIM实践案例解析,指出BIM在建筑设计行业的应用前景,并总结了设计人员在工程实践中的经验体会。     

Organising and Managing boundaries: A structurational view of collaboration with Building Information Modelling (BIM)

The construction industry is currently undergoing digital transformation due to emerging technologies. Hence new forms of organisation are needed. Collaborating with Building Information Modelling (BIM) is complex and challenges the management of projects. The ubiquitous digital information sharing among multi-disciplinary actors in BIM-based projects, activates dense inter-organisational processes. This study offers insights into collaboration with BIM, through the theoretical lens of boundaries. By analysing two projects of BIM-based collaboration in the Netherlands, the interplay between structure and agency of collaboration was discussed. The various artefacts of BIM, as boundary objects were interpreted in multiple ways by different communities of practice and this resulted in poor communication and consequently poor collaboration. The findings challenge the prevalent view of BIM as a software artefact and showed that this view only partially supports collaboration. Additionally, a structurational view (enabled by communication, conflict management, negotiation, and teamwork) as opposed to a structural view of collaboration (e.g. BIM as a software) can fully support the implementation of digital innovations. Finally, the paper revealed a ‘tactical gap’ in the implementation of digital between strategic and operational decision-making needs fine-tuning to ensure better collaboration in projects where digital innovations are adopted. The study concludes with propositions for supporting organisation of teams through integration of activities and the management of BIM-based collaboration in projects beyond merely structural and technological approaches, which dominate the field but from a structurational view instead.     

Journey to Home: development of a conceptual model to describe Veterans' experiences with resolving housing instability

Abstract

Recent research has focused on risk factors for Veteran housing instability and programmatic responses. However, little is known about Veterans’ experiences of becoming unstably housed and navigating available resources to resolve housing crises. This qualitative paper, based on open-ended interviews with Veterans (n?=?60), presents the Journey to Home conceptual model, which offers a framework for understanding Veterans’ journeys through housing instability, including the factors that contribute to vulnerability, the range of housing conditions that Veterans describe as inadequate, how Veterans connect to assistance through VA and community providers, and barriers and facilitators to connecting with and using available assistance, resulting in either continued housing instability or successful housing outcomes. Ongoing efforts to end Veteran homelessness should prioritize strategies that respond to complex vulnerabilities.     

The making and impacts of a classic text in megaproject management: The case of cost overrun research

This paper presents a case study of the making and impacts of a classic text in the field of megaproject management. It focuses on Bent Flyvbjerg, Mette Skamris Holm and Søren Buhl's article Cost Underestimation in Public Works Projects: Error or Lie?, which was published in the Journal of the American Planning Association in 2002. The paper shows that classic texts can have a significant impact on megaproject planning theory and practice. Within the academy, classic texts are those that are widely cited and come to define the theoretical terrain, types of research questions that are asked and methods used in subsequent research. They also directly contribute to new megaproject planning methods and shape the public discourse on megaproject delivery. The paper concludes by identifying the key ingredients that make a classic text.     

The historical turf farms of Iceland: Architecture,building technology and the indoor environment

Mineral-based turf has been used as a building material in Iceland for centuries. The vernacular Icelandic architecture is characterised by turf walls and sod roofs. This paper describes the historical development of the various archetypes of Icelandic turf farmhouses, researches the building techniques and materials applied, and qualifies the impact of the building properties on comfort and health of the former occupants. The study consisted of desk research, and a field study at the farmhouse of Glaumbær. In the wet and cold Icelandic climate, turf was an appropriate material that required its own building technology. The material was commonly available in settled areas of the island. Thick turf walls protected the residents against the harsh outdoor conditions, but had little effect on indoor air quality.     

Understanding the impact of risks on performance in internal and outsourced information technology projects: The role of strategic importance

Successfully managing the risks of information technology projects continues to be a central problem for organizations regardless of whether the project is outsourced or not. While a plethora of studies has examined the effects of risks on performance, majority fail to distinguish the sourcing characteristics of the projects investigated. Furthermore, little is known about the joint effects of strategic importance and the risk on system performance across internal and outsourced projects. Based on data collected from 77 internal projects and 51 outsourced projects, we find that social subsystem and project management risks are negatively associated with system performance in both internal and outsourced projects. However, technical subsystem risk negatively affects performance only in internal projects. While social subsystem risk exerts greater influence on system performance in outsourced projects than in internal projects, the technical subsystem risk has greater effect on performance in internal than that in outsourced projects. Moreover, the effect of project management risk is not different in both types of projects. In addition, strategic importance moderates the relationship between risks and performance. The negative impact of risks on performance is greater in projects that are more strategic. Strategies are proposed to reduce the complexity and potential conflicts inherent to strategic projects because these characteristics may amplify a risk's impact.     

A conceptual model for project management of exploration and production in the oil and gas industry: The case of a Brazilian company

The objective of this study was to obtain a better understanding of factors that influence Exploration and Production (E&P) project management success and corporate financial performance. The study follows structural equation modeling (SEM) methodology to achieve greater understanding of the intricate network of relationships between variables involved in E&P project management. A comprehensive theoretical framework was needed to formulate the conceptual basis of research. Observation of the real world and practical experiences were also important. To that end, we conducted a case study in a large Brazilian oil company. Field research was essential because of the lack of similar studies in the oil and gas sector. The model developed is a theoretical construct known as a structural and measurement model (set of latent variables, observed variables and hypotheses, depicted in a path diagram). This model contributes significantly to the company because it is a global representation of the main factors for improving E&P project management. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution because adjustment and validation of the theoretical model were not performed.     

The central sunlighting system: development and validation of an optical prediction model

This article presents the development of a sufficiently accurate and reliable optical model to predict the lighting and thermal performance of the central sunlighting system (CSS). The model is based on the ray tracing technique to compute the amount of sunlight flux transmission through the light guide to interior spaces of buildings, and absorption of solar radiation within the components of the CSS, which may become solar heat gains indoors. The model is validated using a detailed ray tracing technique and field measurements carried out on a previous prototype. The validation results show that the model predictions are in good agreement with the ray tracing and measurement results. The model can be integrated in existing fenestration design tools, or in whole-building energy simulation software, with significantly lower calculation time compared to the full integration of suitable lighting simulation software.     

The role of universities in regional development Endogenous human capital and growth in a two-region model

This paper proposes a dynamic two-region model with human capital accumulation. This economic system is assumed to produce two commodities – one in each region. The only university in the economy which carries out higher education (=teaching) is located in region 1. The model describes the dynamic interdependence between human capital accumulation, regional division of labour, the spatial price structure under perfect economic competition, and the government intervention in higher education. Thus the analysis examines how differences in human capital improvements and environmental conditions between the two regions affect the economic geography. Received: October 1998/Accepted: April 2000     

A study on a porous residential building model in hot and humid regions: Part 1—the natural ventilation performance and the cooling load reduction effect of the building model

This study targets environmental load reduction in hot and humid regions. It reveals the effects that porous residential buildings have on the natural ventilation performance and, consequently, the cooling load reduction. Two residential building models, namely a model with a void ratio of 0% and a model with a void ratio of 50%, are evaluated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and thermal and airflow network analysis. The analysis on components of the heat load indicates that improvements in the natural ventilation performance would significantly reduce the cooling load.     

Control-oriented model of a solar community with seasonal thermal energy storage: development,calibration and validation

The development of a control-oriented model of a solar community with seasonal storage (the Drake Landing Solar Community) is investigated. The proposed approach, intended to facilitate the development and testing of control strategies and targeting an actual predictive control implementation, is based on grey-box models, and enables the prediction of the system state (temperatures at key locations). This paper discusses the concept of state update procedure (whereby the system state is periodically corrected with measurements), which plays a fundamental role for control purposes. Firstly, the DLSC is presented and both operation and monitoring system are described. Secondly, a simplified model is developed for each sub-system: district and solar loops, short-term (water tanks) and seasonal (borehole) thermal energy storage, and existing operation rules are encoded. Finally, the model is calibrated and validated by using measurements at 10-min intervals over two years of operation (2015–2016, 2016–2017) and accurately predicts the system performance.     

A study on pesticide runoff from paddy fields to a river in rural region--2: development and application of a mathematical model

A mathematical model was developed to predict the runoff of pesticides from paddy fields to a river in a rural region. The model comprises three submodels: (1) submodel for river flow, (2) submodel for pesticide behavior in paddy fields, (3) submodel for pesticide behavior in a river. The tank model was applied to predict the river flow and the paddy water. In order to reproduce the actual behavior of pesticides in paddy fields, the kinetics of the transport and reaction mechanisms of pesticides applied to paddy fields were considered in the model. The model was applied to the Kozakura River Basin where the detailed field survey was conducted. The model reflected well the runoff characteristics of pesticides obtained from the detailed field survey.     

Recent water quality trends in the Schuylkill River,Pennsylvania, USA: a preliminary assessment of the relative influences of climate,river discharge and suburban development

Climate, flow rate and land use are all known drivers of water quality in river systems, but determining the relative influences of these factors remains a significant challenge for aquatic science and management. Long-term data from the Schuylkill River at Philadelphia is assessed here in an attempt to ascertain the separate and combined influence of these major drivers on water quality in a developed watershed. Water quality measures including nutrients, conservative solutes and bacteria all elicited distinct seasonal patterns driven primarily by river discharge. Mass transport rates of sodium and chloride have increased with time, and were elevated in winter, presumably as a function of road salt deposition. A steady increase in developed land area in the watershed has occurred in recent decades, which allowed the use of time as a surrogate parameter for regional development in the construction of multiple factor linear models predicting the relative influences of precipitation, river discharge and developed land area on river water quality. Linear models predicting annually averaged water quality measures showed the effects of precipitation, discharge and developed land area to be of nearly equal importance in regulating levels of conductivity, alkalinity, sodium, and chloride in the river. Models predicting water quality variables for discrete samples demonstrated that river flow was the major determinant of daily variability in alkalinity, conductivity, hardness and calcium levels, while still resolving the highly significant influence of watershed development on water quality. Increases in solute transport in the Schuylkill River in recent decades appear to be the direct result of modern suburban development in the watershed.     

The structural variability of quarters and residential areas in the historical texture of the city of Yazd based on Islamic rules and jurisprudence: a case study of Golchinan quarter

According to many researchers and scholars, religious beliefs can be considered as the most influential factor in forming Muslim urban spaces and their architectural elements. In fact, historical cities reflect the culture and beliefs of their residences. Among all historical places in Iranian cities, the historical texture of the city of Yazd, especially the quarters since the age of Qajar dynasty, are well preserved. The present study aims at identifying the Islamic principles and values influencing the formation of architectural spaces and the extent of their applications in one of the historical quarters known as Golchinan. The results of the conformation of the theoretical findings with the data acquired from field studies revealed that almost 90% of the urban and architectural spaces (e.g. residential areas, mosques, bazaars, and pathways) in Yazd are directly influenced by Islamic principles. In other words, there is a strong conformity between the accepted Islamic values of the society and what actually was applied to urban constructions during Qajar dynasty.     

The Light of the World: Mediating Divine Presence through Light and Sound in a Contemporary Megachurch

Abstract

The paper explores the interplay of elaborate light and sound technologies used in the worship services of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. During the renovation and reconstruction of the church venue from former basketball stadium to church auditorium, the church hired professional companies to design and outfit the huge 16,000 seat auditorium in order to create a worship space, which simultaneously is meant to serve as a meeting space for the congregation and as an intimate place for a personal encounter with God. Worship services at Lakewood Church are multi-sensory events in which lights on the ceiling, in the auditorium, and on stage interplay with sound, vision, and space in order to structure the worship service and to mediate divine presence. The analysis is based on fieldwork data acquired on site and textual data drawn from portfolios of the technological companies involved in the reconstruction and outfitting of the church auditorium. I argue that despite the capaciousness of the space an atmosphere of intimacy is created through a specific lighting scheme that departs from traditional church lighting practices.     

The Ebb and Flow of Digital Innovation: From Form Making to Form Finding - and Beyond

Architectural historian and theorist Mario Carpo examines the status quo of digital innovation. Whereas the espousal of animation software in the 1990s placed architects conspicuously at the forefront of new technologies as early adopters and adapters, in the new millennium they have less enthusiastically embraced the participatory opportunities of Web 2.0 and open-source modes of working. Could the desire for single authorship be holding designers back?     

The Isle of Dogs: Four development waves,five planning models,twelve plans,thirty-five years,and a renaissance … of sorts

The story of the redevelopment of the Isle of Dogs in London's Docklands is one that has only partially been told. Most professional and academic interest in the area ceased following the property crash of the early 1990s, when the demise of Olympia & York, developers of Canary Wharf, seemed to bear out many contemporary critiques. Yet the market bounced back, and so did Canary Wharf, with increasingly profound impacts on the rest of the Island. This paper takes an explicitly historical approach using contemporaneous professional critiques and more reflective academic accounts of the planning and development of the Isle of Dogs to examine whether we can now conclude that an urban renaissance has taken place in this part of London. An extensive review of the literature is supplemented with analysis of physical change on the ground and by analysis of the range of relevant plans and policy documents that have been produced to guide development over the 35-year period since the regeneration began. The paper asks: What forms of planning have we seen on the Island; what role has design played in these; what outcomes have resulted from these processes; and, as a result, have we yet seen an urban renaissance?