Complex Planning Process Research Articles

Abdominal MR Multitasking for radiotherapy treatment planning: A motion-resolved and multicontrast 3D imaging approach.

Radiotherapy treatment planning (RTP) using MR has been used increasingly for the abdominal site. Multiple contrast weightings and motion-resolved imaging are desired for accurate delineation of the target and various organs-at-risk and patient-tailored planning. Current MR protocols achieve these through multiple scans with distinct contrast and variable respiratory motion management strategies and acquisition parameters, leading to a complex and inaccurate planning process. This study presents a standalone MR Multitasking (MT)-based technique to produce volumetric, motion-resolved, multicontrast images for abdominal radiotherapy treatment planning. The MT technique resolves motion and provides a wide range of contrast weightings by repeating a magnetization-prepared (saturation recovery and T2 preparations) spoiled gradient-echo readout series and adopting the MT image reconstruction framework. The performance of the technique was assessed through digital phantom simulations and in vivo studies of both healthy volunteers and patients with liver tumors. In the digital phantom study, the MT technique presented structural details and motion in excellent agreement with the digital ground truth. The in vivo studies showed that the motion range was highly correlated (R2 = 0.82) between MT and 2D cine imaging. MT allowed for a flexible contrast-weighting selection for better visualization. Initial clinical testing with interobserver analysis demonstrated acceptable target delineation quality (Dice coefficient = 0.85 ± 0.05, Hausdorff distance = 3.3 ± 0.72 mm). The developed MT-based, abdomen-dedicated technique is capable of providing motion-resolved, multicontrast volumetric images in a single scan, which may facilitate abdominal radiotherapy treatment planning.

Evaluating future strategies for sustainable growth of fiberglass composites industry in developing countries: A novel hybrid SWOT-Fuzzy extended PIPRECIA approach

The global fiberglass-composite market is expanding tremendously due to its extensive applications in the construction and automotive sector. The progress in low-medium income developing countries is slow. This study explores an exclusive hybrid model of SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis and Fuzzy extended PIPRECIA (pivot pairwise relative criteria importance assessment) to evaluate the strategies for sustainable development of fiberglass composites industry in Pakistan as a representative of low-medium developing countries. SWOT analysis is employed for examining the factors and sub-factors which have been extracted from a real-time industrial survey. While internal and external factors are also critically established to formulate a TOWS matrix comprising nine proposed strategies. Later the preferences as proposed by experts are evaluated by Fuzzy extended PIPRECIA i.e., a MCDM (multi-criteria decision making) model. Finally, SWOT factors, sub-factors and strategic choices are orderly ranked and presented. The results of the study reveal that development of a suitable environment to attract investors for the advancement and growth of the local fiber composites manufacturing industry (WO2 i.e., 0.175) is a most desirable and highly prioritized strategic choice. While maximizing environmental research to reduce environmental impact and better management of resources (WT2 i.e., 0.076) is the least favorable. The application of this exclusively developed MCDM model will provide an insight to the policy makers and assistive in strategic management and sustainable development of composite industry in developing countries. While this model can also be effective for other complex planning and decision-making processes.

Conservation-Based Estate Planning: Toward a Sustainable Future for Private Lands

Landowners who seek to manage ownership transitions while preserving conservation-related values must engage in the notoriously complex process of estate planning. Most scholarship on conservation-based estate planning has been undertaken from landowner perspectives, seeking to understand why some succeed whereas others do not. Here, we expand this scholarship by including perspectives from professional planners. Combining their insights with past literature, we offer a framework of conservation-based estate planning that describes and normalizes key elements within stages of the process. Interview results emphasized the unique needs of conservation-based estate planning around non-monetary values, the relational nature of the planning process, and the temporal challenges and disruptive life events landowners commonly confront while planning. Our findings synthesize the extant literature, raise questions and needs for future work, and empower landowners, planners, and natural resource professionals to persevere through this difficult process and achieve their conservation-related goals from which we all benefit.

«Supply chain management» concept essence and emergence

The essence and main stages of the «supply chain management» concept formation are analyzed in the article. The etymological basis and definitions characterizing the categories «supply chain» and «supply chain management» are studied. It is proposed to consider supply chain management as a strategic management system, a process of deepening integration, a systematic approach to management and a complex process of planning, creating and controlling material and information flows to meet the needs of consumers and increase the efficiency of the supply chain. It is noted that the main prerequisites for the development of the «supply chain management» modern concept are a number of factors, in particular, the consequences of global financial shocks and the decline in the growth rate of the world economy, crisis phenomena in the energy sector, the need to develop new approaches in marketing and logistics as a response to challenges and requirements of the present day. The four most important stages of the researched concept emergence are identified: the preliminary stage (prerequisites for the formation of the concept); emergence; formation of the «supply chain management» classical concept, as well as the modern stage of its development. The importance of high-quality and effective management of supply chains to ensure the competitiveness of the enterprise in the long-term perspective, as well as its commercial success, is emphasized. It is determined that the context of the concept development became the basis for the appearance of its modern modifications, in particular, Demand Chain Management (DCM), Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM), Sustainable Demand Chain Management (SDCM), Demand Driven Material Requirements Planning (DDMRP), which qualitatively complement the classical interpretation of this concept. It is concluded that all these modifications reflect the evolution and adaptation of the supply chain management approaches to changing market conditions and consumer demand aimed at ensuring the efficiency, sustainability and competitiveness of enterprises. The results of the study made it possible to generalize the retrospective basis and to analyze more deeply modern approaches to the management of the enterprise’s supply chain.

From 3D Modeling to Landscape Mapping—A Workflow for the Visualization and Communication of the Asinara Island Park Plan

This paper aims to present the method for producing visual media for communicating the Asinara Island National Park plan. These products are landscape visualizations capable of fostering landscape preservation both from the point of view of the management of the landscape and of the citizen’s involvement in the communication of the historical and environmental values of the landscape. Starting from landscape information gathering, the research has experimented with an operative method for processing different graphic representations from the same geographic database, calibrating the outputs to different audiences, their needs, objectives, and literacy skills. Three different types of products are presented as results of the research: The first is a digital, dynamic, and multisectoral decision-making GIS tool for park management. The second is a 3D model, aimed at virtual fruition. The third is a map of the zoning park plan drawn to be easily readable to the non-expert public. The results of this case study can be applied to other context and planning processes because of the replicability of the experimented method, which allows for processing the landscape information to make different visualization tools from a single geographic model, to meet the different requirements that arise from a complex landscape planning process.

Mapping Stakeholders and Their Networks for Strategic Communication in the Romanian Health Sector – A Public Relations Approach

Abstract Introduction: Communication has a significant role in achieving objectives in the medical sector. It involves information, collaboration, partnership and starts from understanding the profile, needs and interests of main stakeholders and their relationship networks. Healthcare public relations (HPR) provides a useful framework for strategic communication, by identifying stakeholders and their potential connections, designing, and implementing interactions that lead to positive results for all those involved and for supporting health in general. The current study proposes a mapping of stakeholders and networks in the healthcare system in Romania, as premises for efficient HPR. Public relations and stakeholder approach: Professional public relations (PR) is based on two-way communication, implying partnership and collaboration. Stakeholder theory, as approached within PR framework, is appropriate for present realities, considering the network society and the interdependency between actors. Methodology: This is an exploratory study using in-depth documentation and analysis of public data (statistics, reports, legislation), accessible online. Results: The author provides a graphic and verbal map of stakeholders in the Romanian health sector (patients, medical body, pharmacists, health facilities, academia, healthcare producers and suppliers, authorities and international bodies, professional representatives, NGOs, and mass media), and their networks. Five types of linkages are highlighted, by considering the criteria of the impact the connection has on healthcare (direct and indirect) and the connection grounds (functional, support), and including mixed interactions. Discussion: Results and implications of the analysis are discussed in relation to previous scholarship. The HPR approach is emphasized as an advantageous framework for strategic communication in the healthcare sector. Conclusions: Healthcare communication implies a complex process of documentation, planning, strategy, and implementation. Its outcomes are translated into more than plain public information or promotion of specific products and services in this area. By focusing on interconnectivity, and mutual understanding, HPR fosters common engagement and collaboration between stakeholders, within their natural networks, and offers valuable strategic communication coordinates for the medical sector and its challenges.

Essence, Role and Characteristics of the Product in the Enterprise’s Marketing Activities

The process of managing marketing activities at the enterprise is a complex process of planning and organizing the company’s marketing activities with the aim of meeting the needs of consumers of goods and services, as well as obtaining the greatest profit on this basis. The process of managing the marketing activities of a business entity can be defined as the analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring of the implementation of relevant marketing programs aimed at creating, maintaining and expanding profitable relations between the enterprise and its customers. The purpose of the research is to substantiate the theoretical and research practical aspects of managing the marketing activities of the enterprise in conditions of competition.

The Study of Cortical Lateralization and Motor Performance Evoked by External Visual Stimulus During Continuous Training

Motor imagery (MI) as an important way of motor learning has been studied widely. The visual task stimulus is an efficient way to improve MI abilities; however, its impact mechanism on motor training is still obscure. This study aimed to explore the influence of visual task stimulus on MI during continuous training. Three types of kinesthetic motor imageries, including a visual task stimulus, a visual stimulus, or no stimulus, were assessed. Brain lateralization and the variations of the event-related desynchronization were investigated. The results demonstrated a greater improvement motor performance after a visual task stimulus. The MI evoked by the visual task shows the most complex event-related lateralization (ERL) among the three contexts, with the presence of many ERL components. These results reveal a complex process of planning, attention focusing, and information processing on the brain, and the complexity of the information process increases with the one of external visual stimulus. This work provides a promising foundation for the incorporation of visual-task stimuli as a strategy to improve motor ability during motor training and motor rehabilitation.

Smart Logistics and Supply Chain with Machine Learning and IoT

Logistics is an important part of the Supply Chain. The management of logistics and supply chain is a complex process of planning and management of services, goods from the origin to the point of consumption. Logistics is defined as the process of managing movement of goods in and out of an organization. Supply Chain is defined as the process of managing movement and coordination of goods in between multiple organizations. Together Logistics and Supply Chain includes planning the transport, warehousing, inventory and sales an example of logistics could be the military stockpiling ammo whereas an example of Supply Chain management is making sure the right amount of goods reaches the destination, supplying more could lead to increased storage costs and supplying less could lead to inefficiencies. So, the main objective of Logistics is customer satisfaction and the main objective of Supply Chain is to have a competitive advantage by being more efficient. This project aims to have both customer satisfaction and efficiency and will achieved by implementing Internet of Things and Machine Learning to Logistics and Supply Chain. Large Corporations invest a lot of money to improve supply chains. This paper aims to help small businesses and rural businesses to improve their Supply Chain. This project aims at providing customer satisfaction and efficiency. Implementation using IoT and machine learning provides better efficiency. Keywords— Smart Logistics, Smart Supply Chain, Industry 4.0, Internet of Things, Machine Learning.

Onshore wind farm - Reliability centered cable routing

Designing an onshore wind farm is a complex planning process that requires various stages to be completed. The prime focus of this work is to assist planners and experts in finding the optimal cable layout of the onshore wind farm. The optimization algorithm is designed using mixed integer linear programming (MILP). The MILP algorithm takes into account system reliability, power transfer capacities and power quality issue. The novelty in this optimization algorithm is to simultaneously minimize cable installation cost and the cost of lost energy production and therefore maximize the reliability of the system. Additionally, the algorithm supports the optimal selection among different cable options, with different features, prices and capacities. By calculating voltage increase at the point of connection (POC), power quality issue is considered as well. The designed algorithm provides optimal results for four different wind farm layouts. Every layout is tested for three different case scenarios, where different number and type of cables are considered. The results show that more cable options contribute in lowering the total costs. Moreover, cables with higher capacity can help in improving the power quality issue.

Revenue management systems as symbiotic analytics systems: insights from a field study

Revenue management is a complex operational planning process involving predictive and prescriptive analytics. As real-world implementations strongly rely on the joint outcomes from both algorithms and analysts, we consider the revenue management system as an example of symbiotic analytics systems. This paper presents insights from a field study observing a natural experiment in revenue management. As a firm updates its automated revenue management systems, it also updates the related processes and the corresponding organizational structure. We use this opportunity to examine the multilevel use of symbiotic analytics systems based in a field study and explore the implications for the design of future systems. Specifically, we identify two different perspectives on the revenue management process. In the functional view, jobs are organized sequentially with a high degree of system-oriented specialization. The process view organizes jobs in a parallel structure, differentiating two perspectives on demand. Depending on what view the firm implements, different structural fault lines turn the communication and training of analysts into keystones of the planning process. Furthermore, as we point out, even implementing more sophisticated algorithms and redesigning planning processes and organization do not seem to reduce the relevance of human analysts.

What Difference Does Public Participation Make? An Alternative Futures Assessment Based on the Development Preferences for Cultural Landscape Corridor Planning in the Silk Roads Area, China

Landscape corridor planning (LCP) has become a widespread practice for promoting sustainable regional development. This highly complex planning process covers many policy and planning issues concerning the local landscape, and ideally involves the people who live in the area to be developed. In China, regional planners and administrators encourage the development of landscape corridor planning. However, the current LCP process rarely considers ideas from local residents, and public participation is not recognized as beneficial to planning outcomes. We use a specific Chinese case of LCP to analyze how citizen involvement may enrich sustainable spatial planning in respect to ideas considered and solutions developed. To this end, we compare a recently approved landscape corridor plan that was created without public participation with alternative solutions for the same landscape corridor, developed with the involvement of local residents. These alternatives were then evaluated by professional planners who had been involved in the initial planning process. We demonstrate concrete differences between planning solutions developed with and without public participation. Further, we show that collaborative processes can minimize spatial conflicts. Finally, we demonstrate that public participation does indeed contribute to innovations that could enrich the corridor plan that had been produced exclusively by the decision-makers. The paper closes with a discussion of difficulties that might accompany the involvement of local residents during sustainable LCP in China.

Designing and executing a functional exercise to test a novel informatics tool for mass casualty triage.

The testing of informatics tools designed for use during mass casualty incidents presents a unique problem as there is no readily available population of victims or identical exposure setting. The purpose of this article is to describe the process of designing, planning, and executing a functional exercise to accomplish the research objective of validating an informatics tool specifically designed to identify and triage victims of irritant gas syndrome agents. During a 3-year time frame, the research team and partners developed the Emergency Department Informatics Computational Tool and planned a functional exercise to test it using medical records data from 298 patients seen in 1 emergency department following a chlorine gas exposure in 2005. The research team learned valuable lessons throughout the planning process that will assist future researchers with developing a functional exercise to test informatics tools. Key considerations for a functional exercise include contributors, venue, and information technology needs (ie, hardware, software, and data collection methods). Due to the nature of mass casualty incidents, testing informatics tools and technology for these incidents is challenging. Previous studies have shown a functional exercise as a viable option to test informatics tools developed for use during mass casualty incidents. Utilizing a functional exercise to test new mass casualty management technology and informatics tools involves a painstaking and complex planning process; however, it does allow researchers to address issues inherent in studying informatics tools for mas casualty incidents.

Integrating urban and port planning policies in a sustainable perspective: the case study of Naples historic harbour area

ABSTRACTThis paper explores the case of the historic harbour area of Naples, considered highly significant, due to its physical and cultural characteristics, with the aim of reflecting on the contemporary need for building renewed and synergic city–port relations in a sustainable perspective. Focusing on the physical and functional city–port integration, the study investigates Naples harbour planning policy between twentieth and twenty-first centuries in order to identify the limitations of older instruments and to exam the current proposal, finally suggesting perspectives for the future. The analysis highlights the fact that, in the port of Naples, with a landlord governance, the main obstacles to a more inclusive planning policy have been related to land use conflict between on one hand the public interest of the Port Authority and Municipality and the private interest of port operators on the other. In conclusion, the need for city–port plan integration is outlined as a central planning issue so as to combine the economic development of the harbour with social, cultural and ecological themes and to overcome the conflicts between the different actors involved in the complex planning process.

Exposing ecological and economic costs of the research-implementation gap and compromises in decision making.

The frequently discussed gap between conservation science and practice is manifest in the gap between spatial conservation prioritization plans and their implementation. We analyzed the research-implementation gap of one zoning case by comparing results of a spatial prioritization analysis aimed at avoiding ecological impact of peat mining in a regional zoning process with the final zoning plan. We examined the relatively complex planning process to determine the gaps among research, zoning, and decision making. We quantified the ecological costs of the differing trade-offs between ecological and socioeconomic factors included in the different zoning suggestions by comparing the landscape-level loss of ecological features (species occurrences, habitat area, etc.) between the different solutions for spatial allocation of peat mining. We also discussed with the scientists and planners the reasons for differing zoning suggestions. The implemented plan differed from the scientists suggestion in that its focus was individual ecological features rather than all the ecological features for which there were data; planners and decision makers considered effects of peat mining on areas not included in the prioritization analysis; zoning was not truly seen as a resource-allocation process and not emphasized in general minimizing ecological losses while satisfying economic needs (peat-mining potential); and decision makers based their prioritization of sites on site-level information showing high ecological value and on single legislative factors instead of finding a cost-effective landscape-level solution. We believe that if the zoning and decision-making processes are very complex, then the usefulness of science-based prioritization tools is likely to be reduced. Nevertheless, we found that high-end tools were useful in clearly exposing trade-offs between conservation and resource utilization.

From city’s station to station city

Since its origin, the railway station has had a complicated relationship with the city, demanding periodical updates, particularly regarding spatial issues. With the aim of improving the liveability of station areas, current redevelopment projects are reconceptualising them as balanced transport ‘nodes’ and ‘places’ in the city. However, the proposed spatial solutions do not fully support the sought after economic, social and environmental performances. These intentions continue to be predominantly bounded with the (abstract) planological level, not finding appropriate translation at the (concrete) spatial design level. Further, the interdisciplinary nature of the highly complex planning and design processes of station areas, which should contribute to enhance the performance of their spaces, reinforces constraints and relegates architecture to a marginal role in this quest. It is thus necessary to understand how architecture can contribute to the improvement of the spatial performance of contemporary stations areas, supporting their current reconceptualization. To gain this understanding, the research explored the factors which influence the spatial definition and performance of European High Speed Train station areas, using “design research” and “research by design”. Via a theoretical integrative framework, synthesized from knowledge developed by architecture and other sciences, case studies of ‘through’ stations were analysed and compared. Six cases, encapsulating the most recurrent relative positions of the railway (infrastructure and the station building) towards the(ir) direct built environment, were chosen out of a large sample. For each category (cases with railway tracks at (a) ground level, (b) elevated level and (c) underground level), two cases, featuring an adapted station building and a newly built one, were studied. Their physical and functional characteristics were mapped at several scales and moments (in history), as well as redesigned. A variety of positive and negative approaches and solutions to the problem were identified. The research is rounded up with a set of ‘design recommendations’ meant to improve the performance of station area spaces, based on the results of the (graphical) analyses and the redesign exercises. In general, to attain such performance the (physical and functional) integration of the public spaces of the station and of its surroundings, along with the specific (spatial) characteristics of the city they are located in, are crucial. The desirable concentration of transport and non-transport functions must be clearly organized in space, dismantling barriers to their accessibility. To operationalize such integration in all categories of cases, architecture must go beyond its traditional scope regarding intervention scale and methodology. This requires a structural change to the station area’s design task, which should be organized around spatial goals commonly subscribed by all stakeholders, and in which architecture should have a central role. Such renovated awareness on the approach to the redevelopment of station areas is necessary for the improvement of their spatial performance. In this way the ‘city’s station’ can become a ‘station city’ which enhances the city’s liveability, instead of draining it out.

МАРКЕТИНГОВІ ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ СТАНУ ЗДОРОВ'Я НАСЕЛЕННЯ ЯК ФАКТОР ФОРМУВАННЯ ПОПИТУ НА РИНКУ ПЛАТНИХ МЕДИЧНИХ ПОСЛУГ

Стан здоров'я населення є одним із найважливіших показників благополуччя нації. Важливими напрямки реформ охорони здоровя є оптимізація управління, раціональний розподіл обмежених фінансових ресурсів, ефективне використання матеріальної бази, впровадження медичного страхування, реструктуризація лікувально-профілактичної допомоги начеленню.
 Маркетинг ринку медичних послуг належить до найскладніших видів маркетингу. Оскільки, саме медичні послуги пов’язані з охороною і підтриманням найважливіших цінностей людини – життя та здоров’я. Ринок медичних послуг – це сукупність соціально-економічних відносин у сфері охорони здоров’я.
 Найважливішими складовими аналізу будь-якого ринку, в тому числі і ринку медичних послуг, є маркетингові дослідження, що представляють собою систематичний збір, опрацювання, аналіз даних та інформації з метою формулювання пропозицій щодо ефективної діяльності на ньому.
 У сфері охорони здоров'я маркетинг можна визначити як комплексний процес планування, економічного обгрунтування та управління процесом надання медичних послуг, формування цінової політики лікувально-профілактичного процесу, забезпечення ефективної комунікації з пацієнтами.
 Мета дослідження – ідентифікація стану здоровя населення та визначення факторів попиту на платні медичні послуги та їх затребуваність.
 Основним завданням, яке ставилось перед проведенням маркетингових досліджень стану здоровя населення є формування і надання споживачам благ, які задовольняють їхні потреби в кваліфікованій медичній допомозі та підвищення якості життя .
 Методи дослідження, що використані в роботі базуються на ймовірнісній, стратифікованій, квотній, репрезентативній вибірках для всього населення м. Івано–Франківськ та Івано-Франківської області.
 Отримані результати дозволяють дати реалістичну оцінку основним тенденціям та дозволяють оцінити потенціал соціально-економічної адаптації населення в умовах економічної кризи, а також набули практичного застосування у практичній діяльності медичного центру “Оксфорд – Медікал Прикарпаття”.

Metodología de producción para el desarrollo de contenidos audiovisuales y multimedia para MOOC

The development of a MOOC involves the implementation of a complex process of planning, design and development. This process requires the participation of different professionals and work areas. The efficiency of the production system needs to establish specific methodologies. These should address the specific characteristics of the context of development, and they must combine strategies and techniques from different areas: instructional design, audiovisual production and multimedia development. The article presents a methodological model for the production and development of audiovisual and multimedia content for MOOC, after a year of successive interactions of implementation and evaluation. This becomes a result of a procedure based on the action research methodology. The process has been carried out during the sequential development of the first five MOOCs developed for the platform URJCx Rey Juan Carlos University (Spain). The process, which is part of an overall strategy, has required the creation of dedicated professional teams and the provision of specialized resources. The working methodology has been tested by iterative processes of design, implementation (action), analysis and evaluation aimed at improving the efficiency of production processes. The interactions sequence? have defined a model of lighter production, based on the development of schemes and formal patterns both for audiovisual production and multimedia. These schemes work as general templates. Also it has improved communication flows and work among the teams involved.

Methodology for Analysing Capacity and Level of Service for Roundabouts with one Lane (HCM 2000)

As the motorisation augments in urban areas, different solutions are required, considering the traffic network. In order to adjust the urban arrangement with the need for mobility, complex process of planning and designing is required. City development contains adequate incertitude which causes difficulty during the process of planning and designing. According to this, the process of planning and designing the city infrastructure network are mutually connected and inevitable. Traffic planning is a base of successful functioning in urban areas. With adequate analysis about city development and traffic, the planning process can begin, and be followed by the designing process and building the traffic network. Analysis of capacity and level of service are necessary, in order to obtain the delay of the analysed facilities. These analyses can be empirical and analytical. The empirical model is based on regression analysis, and the analytical model uses the gap – acceptance theory. Empirical models provide better results, but can be used in cases where few roundabouts are congested, to calibrate the model. Othewise, gap – acceptance methods are used to analyse uncongested roundabouts.

Influence of Dynamic Traffic Control Systems and Autonomous Driving on Motorway Traffic Flow

As in many other countries, traffic demand on German motorways is continuously rising, especially during peak hours. Enhancing the road infrastructure by building additional lanes or new motorways is cost-intensive and - due to the complex planning process in Germany – extremely tedious. Thus, the government tries to maximise the performance of the existing infrastructure using dynamic control systems. The development and deployment of autonomous driven vehicles can have positive effects on the capacity of road elements. In this study the effect of dynamic control systems on the traffic flow on motorways is analysed in case studies using microscopic traffic simulation. Furthermore it is outlined that autonomous driving in an environment where access to the motorway is limited to autonomous vehicles only can have a positive effect in terms of higher capacities and more harmonized traffic resulting in fewer traffic breakdowns.