Construction Productivity Improvement

Construction productivity has been on the decline in the last decade. The results are presented on a survey of the Engineering News‐Record 400 largest contractors to obtain their views on where productivity improvements would most help and to compare the trends with a similar survey carried out in 1979. Data were collected on the general company characteristics of the responding contractors, and on the contractors' opinions on potential areas for productivity improvement in the office and in the field. Findings indicate that immediate research should concentrate on improving marketing practices, planning and scheduling, labor‐management relations, site supervision, industrialized building systems, equipment policy and engineering design; and that governmental regulations have lost the immediate urgency attached to them in 1979.It is also recommended that similar surveys be conducted every 3 to 4 years to identify new trends and to steer research in the appropriate direction.     

三峡工地高压供电线路故障判断方法的探讨

高压供电设备故障特别是输电线路的高压接地故障对工地的影响是相当大的。由于接地故障为隐性故障，没有明显的物理现象，且若是长期接地可能会发展成较为严重的两相或三相短路故障，使系统解列运行直至崩溃；由于工地流动人员较多，还易造成电击事故。利用高压一相接地时在线路中产生零序电压这一特性来迅速判断和切除接地的用电设备，可以保证各项施工的顺利进行。     

Virtual Teams: Guide to Successful Implementation

The successful initiation and execution of a virtual team is gaining increasing attention in the design and construction community. From opportunities to integrate international and multidisciplinary teams to the opportunity to leverage the best resources in an organization on a given project, virtual teams can transform the concept of project planning and execution. However, potential barriers exist in several areas to the successful implementation of virtual teams. The needs of increased management emphasis, social and cultural understanding, and emphasis on common goals are only a few of the nontechnical factors that can turn successful virtual teaming into virtual frustration. When combined with traditional technical challenges including compatibility of systems, security, and the selection of appropriate technologies, the line between leveraging virtual technologies for enhanced solutions and introducing additional complications into the project process is one that can be easily crossed. This paper presents the findings of research that addresses the opportunities and potential barriers to successful virtual teams in the engineering, procurement, and construction industry. Combining results from current research, industry practices, and early results from nonconstruction industries, the research findings provide an initial path to successful virtual team implementation.     

Effects of CSCW on organizations

We consider the potential impact of Computer Supported Cooperative Work, with special reference to large technically advanced projects involving several organizations. It is vital that such projects are managed efficiently, without delays, since a product that reaches the market a few months earlier than its competitors enjoys a great advantage. Traditional methods of coordinating large projects, based on hierarchical communication, tend to produce delays, since technicians at remote sites are obliged to solve coordination problems by passing them up the hierachy. It would be better if such problems were solved by improvising conferences among the technicians; Computer Supported Cooperative Work will provide the technical means of implementing this heterarchical style of management without losing control of the project. The use of computers as a social medium raises methodological and ethical issues which are discussed in the final section.     

A method for the efficient prioritization of infrastructure renewal projects

The infrastructure renewal program at MIT consists of a large number of projects with an estimated budget that could approach $1 billion. Infrastructure renewal at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is the process of evaluating and investing in the maintenance of facility systems and basic structure to preserve existing campus buildings. The selection and prioritization of projects must be addressed with a systematic method for the optimal allocation of funds and other resources. This paper presents a case study of a prioritization method utilizing multi-attribute utility theory. This method was developed at MIT's Department of Nuclear Engineering and was deployed by the Department of Facilities after appropriate modifications were implemented to address the idiosyncrasies of infrastructure renewal projects and the competing criteria and constraints that influence the judgment of the decision-makers. Such criteria include minimization of risk, optimization of economic impact, and coordination with academic policies, programs, and operations of the Institute. A brief overview of the method is presented, as well as the results of its application to the prioritization of infrastructure renewal projects. Results of workshops held at MIT with the participation of stakeholders demonstrate the feasibility of the prioritization method and the usefulness of this approach.     

计算机专业CAD课程的深化实践

在现行的社会技术人才的高度需求下,CAD课程的教学任务更显得意义重大。探讨如何提高教学效率．培养学生的技术应用能力、职业实践能力和创新能力,缩短计算机专业学生cAI）技术应用与单位需求的差距而进行相应的有效实用教学。     

《计算机组装及维护》课程项目教学法研究

项目教学法对于中高职院校培养学生的实际操作能力十分有效,针对《计算机组装与维护》这门课程,通过项目设置、任务分解、组织完成的形式,激发学生学习的兴趣,提高了学生的实际动手能力,取得较好的教学效果。     

A robust critical path in an environment with hybrid uncertainty

In this article, we consider the project critical path problem in an environment with hybrid uncertainty. In this environment, the duration of activities are considered as random fuzzy variables that have probability and fuzzy natures, simultaneously. To obtain a robust critical path with this kind of uncertainty a chance constraints programming model is used. This model is converted to a deterministic model in two stages. In the first stage, the uncertain model is converted to a model with interval parameters by alpha-cut method and distribution function concepts. In the second stage, the interval model is converted to a deterministic model by robust optimization and min-max regret criterion and ultimately a genetic algorithm with a proposed exact algorithm are applied to solve the final model. Finally, some numerical examples are given to show the efficiency of the solution procedure.     

“项目式教学”在高职《C语言》课程中的应用

本文针对高职C语言课程教学中存在的内容安排不合理、教学方法与手段陈旧、学生厌学等问题,提出基于以以就业为导向、以学生为中心,以项目为载体,以工作任务为驱动,将理论与实践有机结合,使学生在完成任务的过程中掌握知识和技能。同时重视职业素养的养成,充分体现职教课程的特色。     

Office Excel软件教学方法研究

本文主要对现阶段Office Excel软件教学中出现的问题进行深入研究,结合实际的教学经验,提出了以问题教学法、研究性教学法、项目教学法为主要方法的Office Excel软件教学方法。意在从教学方法的角度提高Office Excel软件教学质量,夯实学生的Office Excel软件基础。