Collaborative Construction Research Articles

“Islam” and “Muslimisme” in the official discourse and categorical apparatus of the French authorities in the 1920s

Throughout history, France and the Muslim world have been connected in various ways. Their interactions have ranged from constructive collaboration to colonial (or semi-colonial) domination and mutual animosity. In this article, the author seeks to examine the nuances of the discursive mobilisation and contextualisation of terms such as “Islam” and “Muslimisme” within the public and secret documents of French diplomacy and colonial administration during the 1920s. He attempts to address the following questions: What was the terminological and semantic conflict surrounding the aforementioned concepts? What were the objectives of the French officials in articulating one or another aspect of “Islam” and “Muslimisme”? Contemporary neocolonialism and a necessity to study its historical genesis and forms determine relevance of the article. The author makes use of insufficiently researched archival and published material. This, in conjunction with the nature of the research question, provides the rationale behind the originality of the analysis presented in the essay. He employs the methodology of the “history of concepts” and comparative-historical analysis to examine the intricate interrelationship between the discursive mobilisation of “Islam” and “Muslimisme”, on the one hand, and the practical policies of Paris, on the other. The author draws on a range of sources to inform his analysis, including French diplomatic documents, the notes and reports of Marshal Hubert Lyautey, books and pamphlets by various French experts and public figures, and material from the French and Algerian press. He concludes that the semantic colouring of “Islam” and “Muslimisme” in the French official discourse of the 1920s was not homogeneous. This perception included a sense of superiority close to Orientalism, a perception of the backwardness of “Islamic civilization” and its incompatibility with the Western socio-political order, and a perception of “Islam” as a potential danger, especially if it was combined with other religious (pan-Islamism) and/or socio-political challenges (pan-Turkism, Bolshevism). Concurrently, the Third Republic’s authorities frequently regarded Islam as a means of securing Muslim allegiance and enhancing France’s “soft power”.

Understanding the Integration of Building Energy Modeling into the Building Design Process: Insights from Two Collaborative Construction Projects

This research investigates the integration of building energy modeling (BEM) within collaborative construction projects to inform design decisions for achieving high-energy performance goals. The study aims to understand current practices, benefits, and challenges associated with this integration. Using an ethnographic case study approach focused on two high-energy performance social housing projects with integrated project delivery and integrated design processes, data were collected through direct observations, document analysis, and interviews with project team members. Design process modeling was utilized to dissect current practices, followed by a hybrid inductive and deductive thematic analysis to find challenges related to energy performance design in collaborative projects. Findings from this research revealed that BEM experts often operate in isolation, with late integration of energy models into design decisions. Compliance-centric BEM usage and challenges related to interoperability of design and BEM tools further compound the issue of seamless collaboration. However, the study highlights that early collaboration among project stakeholders emerges as a pivotal factor in informed design decisions, bridging the gap between energy modeling and design. This research provides valuable insights for practitioners seeking to optimize BEM in their design process, and offers support to policymakers aiming to enhance the role of BEM in projects.

Integrating ecosocial policies through polycentric governance: A study of the green transformation of Danish vocational education and training

AbstractHow can polycentric governance promote the development of ecosocial policies within existing policy systems? Through a study of green reforms of Danish vocational education, the paper argues that polycentric governance institutions are particularly useful at engaging constituent actors in innovation and constructive collaboration over reforming education programs to integrate ecological goals into vocational education. Combining significant autonomy for governance units and their nesting in a larger governance structure, polycentric governance helps address three key governance challenges: developing agreement among actors with clashing material interests about what green transformation entails; identifying how joint gains can be reached within a common vision of the development of the economy; and setting up an institutional structure that supports continuous adjustment to respond to technological advances and shifting social demands. Polycentric governance is, however, not a panacea. The state thus plays an important role in supporting autonomous governance units to develop ecosocial policies.

A reflective approach to educational “design”

The purpose of this article is to offer a comprehensive outline of the intents, processes and results of a research, training and experimentation project which involved educators, teachers, pedagogists and external trainers. This project resulted in a long process of redefinition of a “design approach to education within a network of municipality-run infant-toddlers centres and preschools located within the Province of Reggio Emilia (IT). If we conceive “progettazione” (design) as a research-oriented approach, as an educational and training process in which the aspects of “progettazione”, action and evaluation constantly intertwine, “progettazione” turns into a strategy that sustains the collaborative construction of the knowledge of both adults and children together. Our experience was about acting out a projectural structure with the potential to generate change and characterised by systematic and recursive processes of observation, documentation, evaluation (interpretation) and feedback about the learning experience and the processes implemented therein. In particular, the processes of evaluation and self-evaluation utilised by the team, and deeply connected to the phases of reflection and meaning-building, provided room for the articulation of the strategies employed and for the levels of knowledge progressively acquired by the children. The intent of defining our design approach highlighted the necessity of recognizing the fundamental importance of some underlying structures of the pedagogical project, which constituted the starting point of our reflections: the educational context, the relation between families and educational institutions, the team group (made up of educators, teachers, auxiliary personnel, “atelierista” and pedagogical coordinator). In order to build new competences and new viewpoints, teachers slowly veered towards a different posture: that of a curious researcher who managed to elaborate the itineraries to knowledge and acquire a new awareness generated by common learning spaces thanks to continuous interchange between action and reflection in cooperation with one’s colleagues.

Transcending Pseudohistory: Korean Early Asia and Discourse Analysis

Abstract Advocates of Korean pseudohistory imagine early Korea to have comprised a vast continental empire. They accuse professional scholars, who reject their ideas, of promoting “colonial historiography” to the benefit of China and Japan. This polemic resonates with domestic political nationalism. In 2014–15 it caused the termination of two government-funded projects, and a similar incident occurred in 2023. Despite a series of critiques, pseudohistory continues to thrive, particularly in the popular domain, and cannot be ignored. The challenge is how to address it. The author suggests two directions that can attend to pseudohistory while offering constructive areas for new research. The first is to pay attention to a discourse of Korean scholarship that focuses on regions extending beyond the conventional boundaries of Early Korea. This discourse represents a critical counterpart to pseudohistorical narratives of expansive empire, while its study enables engagement with Korean scholarship. The second suggestion is wider discourse analysis. For given topics of early Korea and Asia, we should model popular and pseudohistorical discourse alongside scholarly discourse, thus attending to popular and public domains. To address online, screen, and real-world sites of historical discourse, this article calls for constructive collaboration from a wider disciplinary spectrum of Korean studies and communication fields.

Competencies for Human-Robot Collaboration in the Construction Industry – Academia’s Perspective

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the perceptions of Construction Engineering and Management instructors regarding the competencies for Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC) in construction to determine knowledge areas, skills, and abilities prioritized for facilitating effective collaboration between humans and robots in the industry. A two-round Delphi study was employed to evaluate the perceptions of construction instructors regarding HRC competencies. This study’s findings revealed that human-robot collaboration knowledge areas prioritized by the instructors include HRC ethics and regulation, robot anatomy and technical specifications, construction robot applications, sensors, and task planning. The instructors prioritized skills such as task planning, application of machine learning algorithms, safety management, human-robot interface proficiency, and effective communication. HRC abilities prioritized include decision-making, continuous learning, critical thinking, attention to detail, analytical aptitude, and adaptability. This research established the competencies prioritized by the instructors for implementing HRC in the construction industry and recommended future research directions.

Moving beyond us-versus-them polarization towards constructive conversations

ABSTRACT The global surge of political polarization poses a significant threat to liberal democracies. The prevailing “us-versus-them” mentality prevents leaders from effectively addressing societal issues. While intergroup dialogue shows promise in bridging divisions among diverse identity groups, the dynamics of real-life conversations between individuals with opposing political identities remain underexplored. This study investigates a unique case study of constructive face-to-face interactions among American political elites on a contentious issue. By examining how opposing leaders collaborate towards shared goals, the research identifies communicative actions that can reduce polarization. This study delves into the complex dynamics of polarization, as both an issue-based and identity-based conflict, focusing on interactional framing strategies leaders use to navigate their differences. The findings reveal that political leaders bridge ideological divides by embracing multiple frames, reconnecting conflicting frames, and developing neutral non-political frames. They also foster positive relations, use superordinate identities, and decrease social distance, thereby bridging their identity gap. By fostering convergence rather than accentuating differences, they effectively counteract polarization. Studying rare examples of constructive bipartisan collaboration offers valuable insights into reducing polarization, restoring political trust among the general public, and mitigating broader societal impacts, ultimately strengthening the foundations of a healthy democracy.

Constructive Collaboration in the Voice Studio: Pedagogic Considerations for Building Contemporary Commercial Voices

Abstract: The challenges associated with teaching contemporary commercial vocal styles regularly depend upon a teacher’s ability and willingness to embrace a singer’s unique vocal footprint. Often contemporary commercial singers are reluctant to implement technical alterations which may impact their desired tonal aesthetic or overall sound. Associate Editor Justin John Moniz offers voice teachers pedagogic tools to assist in both technical assessment and collaborative approaches for building unique and sustainable practices with contemporary commercial singers.

Airway Issues in Management of Severe Cut-Throat Injuries

<i>Introduction:</i> Open or incised anterior neck injuries inflicted by sharp implements may be described as Cut-throat injuries (CTIs). The managing team is immediately confronted with airway management options, therefore, a close collaboration between the surgeon and the anesthetist is required to adopt a strategy that will guarantee a safe airway and ensure a successful outcome. In this article, we discuss the factors that led us to perform tracheostomy before repair while avoiding a rule of tracheostomy for all. <i>Method:</i> A prospective study was conducted at Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, between January 2019 -August 2023. Nine (9) patients presented with zone II cut-throat injuries and the choice of airway management was discussed between the surgeon and the anesthetist focused on symptoms of air obstruction and findings within the larynx that could lead to airway obstruction once repair was done. <i>Result:</i> There were nine patients (9) with the age range of 18-60 years. Tracheostomy rate was 55.6% (n=5). There is a positive correlation (+1) between tracheostomy and laryngeal edema. A subset of patients, 22.2% (n=2) was selected for repair without a tracheostomy. <i>Conclusion:</i> The choice of perfect airway management should result from constructive collaboration between the surgeon and the anesthetist. Tracheostomy should be considered in patients with asymptomatic laryngeal edema.

Digital twin method for intelligent lifting of cable structures under multi-collaborative mode

In order to ensure the high efficiency and quality consistency of cable structure in each construction stage, this study proposes a digital twin method for intelligent lifting of cable structure under multi-collaborative mode. Firstly, a construction and operation methods of the digital twin logic model are formed. In the logical model, a relationship between the transmission and iteration of construction information in the collaborative process is defined. In order to realize the adaptability of working conditions, the coupling relationship between construction step and structural elevation is established. A cable structure lifting analysis model driven by an improved long short-term memory neural network is proposed, which effectively solves the problem of poor convergence of the traditional finite element method. An automatic time window selection method is formed for the neural network. An adaptive moment estimation method is used for neural network parameter optimization, which improves the efficiency and accuracy of the analysis. Taking the lifting process of a cable truss structure test model as an example, a digital twin collaborative construction platform is established to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the research method. The results show that the digital twin logic model realizes the process collaboration, scene collaboration and data collaboration, and significantly improves the stability of construction quality and the linkage of construction process. Through the improved long short-term memory neural network, the coupling relationship between the construction step and the structural elevation is established, which accurately guides the whole construction process.

LA INCLUSIÓN, LA EDUCACIÓN INCLUSIVA Y LA CULTURA DE PAZ EN DOS INSTITUCIONES DE EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR MEXICANAS

Inclusion, inclusive education, and the promotion of a culture of peace in secondary and higher education represent significant challenges for higher education institutions. In Mexico, experiences have been identified that reflect both the achievements made and the obstacles that remain on the path to ensuring equitable and quality education for all. This document highlights, on the one hand, the trajectory of the Metropolitan Autonomous University, which, in the Academic Unit of Iztapalapa, developed the Academic Model for Collaborative Construction of Learning taking into account important references from the UAM-Iztapalapa Inclusive Project; on the other hand, it reflects and shows the progress of the advanced initiatives and activities that were launched at the Autonomous University of the State of Morelos through the Inclusive Education Unit. What was done in both higher education institutions is framed in the context of what was the beginning of the health contingency caused by the SARS-Cov-2 virus and its subsequent effects that still remain unfinished.

Data Industry Green Development Promoted by Public Policy and Law in China

It is difficult to fully match the current green development initiatives in the context of public policy and industrial economy to the new infrastructure process driven by massive data. Its connotation and extension and the level of the rule of law need to be deepened to ensure that data production, processing, circulation, elimination, and other activities can achieve high-quality and sustainable development within the collaborative construction of hard facilities and the soft environment in the new era. Based on the practical needs of data industry green development in key areas, we can resolve the legal risk of data industry green development from three aspects: improving the legal level of green public policy, clarifying the green legal benchmark of data industry development, and improving the green legal system of digital society. Then, this paper considers the design of an environmental protection system based on hardware facilities and the structural and readable clean data system innovation of the soft data industry development framework mode so as to clarify the legalization scheme of data industry green development under the new infrastructure. Overall, achieving the green development of the data industry requires not only active attempts by China but also joint efforts by China and other countries.

Light and Motion: Effects of Light Conditions and mEDI on Activity and Motion Area under a Sky-Lighting Machine

ABSTRACT We investigated whether differences in light levels and spectral properties have effects on motion. Twenty-two participants, divided into groups of two, experienced the same room in two diffused light conditions (daylight [DL] or static artificial light [AL]), which were experienced in a repeated measures design layout, controlled for order. Both light conditions offered a stimulus of at least 250 melanopic equivalent daylight illuminance (mEDI) lux, without a view. Participants were observed during an individual reading session and a collaborative construction game session. We measured the connectivity of the built structures, activity by actigraphy, and we automatically extracted motion area and quantity of motion from video analysis. We found a correlation between mEDI values in the two light conditions (DL or AL) and activity and a correlation between light condition and motion area. Diffuse daylight conditions were correlated with lower activity and less extended motion than a diffuse static condition at levels recommended for office lighting and to ensure alerting responses. Indeed, static AL was found to be related to increased spatial exploration, which might indicate restlessness, and high mEDI to a more composed motion. Actigraphy measurements correlate with quantity of motion values; therefore, the two methods provided comparable results. Results also showed a high correlation between all photometric values in the daylight condition. These findings offer arguments for favoring DL conditions in the design of places where it is desirable to avoid fidgetiness, like educational institutions, and to support composed motion, like medical institutions.

Collaborative construction of meaning: facilitating sensemaking moments through aesthetic knowledge generation

ABSTRACT In times of accelerating digital transformation processes, it is of crucial importance to convey the meaningfulness of digital work processes to stakeholders. In the current research, the authors provide means for exploring immersive digital interaction for collaborative meaning construction. Thereby, Knowledge Management (KM) activities comprise instantiating and guiding individual and collective sensemaking processes, focusing on the effects of aesthetics and embodiment, i.e. human senses, and the human body. When performing actions in digital sensemaking stakeholders attribute meaning to work tasks through embodied agency and aesthetic performative awareness. The contribution demonstrates how active and traceable knowledge generation can be induced. Knowledge generation needs to be accompanied by an aesthetic coding scheme targeting shared perception and knowledge elicitation.

Accessible nature: Balancing contradiction in protected areas

Physical and social barriers have long hindered people with disabilities from full participation in outdoor recreation and nature experiences. As spending time in nature, where protected areas constitute an important arena for nature engagement, is increasingly connected to improved health and well-being, there is a need for nature activities and experiences in protected areas to become more accessible and inclusive. However, the provision of accessible protected areas for outdoor recreation and nature activities poses challenges for planners and managers of such areas, as there are elements of contradiction between interests of accessibility and nature conservation. This qualitative study examines how providers of nature experiences and outdoor activities, such as governmental authorities, outdoor recreation associations and nature-based tourism entrepreneurs in Sweden view and practice the balancing of these interests, through perspectives of the social construction of nature, inclusion, and collaboration. Findings indicate that interests in nature conservation generally take precedence over measures of accessibility and that such initiatives are directed to a few, designated areas. There is also an apparent lack of knowledge about how people with disabilities wish to engage with nature, which hinders full access to nature. It is therefore important to include people with disabilities in the process of developing accessibility in protected areas and promote collaboration between stakeholders, to avoid excluding decisions. The study concludes by stating the necessity to challenge the viewpoint of accessible infrastructure for outdoor activities in protected areas as ‘ruining’ the nature experience, in order for access to nature to become a truly democratic right.

Significantly enhancing the through-plane thermal conductivity of epoxy dielectrics by constructing aramid nanofiber/boron nitride three-dimensional interconnected framework

Epoxy dielectrics with high through-plane thermal conductivity (λ) hold great promise for applications in the thermal management of advanced power electronics. Intensive attempts have been made to improve the λ of epoxy by filling with boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs). However, it remains a great challenge to achieve a satisfactory increased λ by a small amount of BNNS loading. Herein, we reported a new strategy to prepare epoxy dielectrics with internal three-dimensional phonon transport channels by vacuum freeze-drying and vacuum impregnation. Aramid nanofibers (ANFs) and BNNSs were used for the collaborative construction of a vertical interconnected thermal framework. The resultant ANF-BNNS/epoxy achieved a high through-plane λ of 0.87 W m−1 K−1 at only 1.43 vol. % BNNS, which is ∼17.1% higher than that of the BNNS/epoxy counterpart with even 18.34 vol. % randomly distributed BNNS. The increasing efficiency of λ of epoxy by ANF-BNNS is tenfold more than that of the conventional blending methods. In addition, the ANF-BNNS/epoxy composite also exhibits a low dielectric constant and low dielectric loss. The findings of this study offer an inspired venue to develop high-performance thermally conductive epoxy dielectrics with a minimal BNNS loading.

The acquisition of foreign science and technology literature resources in specialized libraries amidst the challenges posed by science and technology blockade

Confronted with significant challenges in procuring foreign scientific and technological literature resources due to a global science and technology blockade, professional libraries are facing severe limitations imposed by the United States on China. These export control measures have severely hampered domestic scientific research institutions and universities from accessing foreign scientific and technological documents, thereby impeding China's progress in the field of scientific and technological innovation. To effectively address this predicament and enhance the ability to secure resources of foreign language scientific and technological literature, professional libraries should focus on the following five aspects: Firstly, diversify funding sources while expanding channels for procuring foreign periodicals; Secondly, increase procurement of English-language scientific and technological literature from non-American countries while organizing and categorizing these materials; Thirdly, strengthen access to non-English language scientific journals; Fourthly, promote collaborative construction and sharing of scientific and technological documents; Fifthly, develop localized versions of foreign digital resources. Ultimately, it is emphasized that bolstering one's own capabilities is key to overcoming barriers in accessing scientific and technological literature. Therefore, China should prioritize national-level development of digital academic platforms.

A four‐party evolutionary game analysis of collaborative construction strategies for zero‐carbon tourism cities

AbstractA four‐party evolutionary game model for the collaborative construction strategies of zero‐carbon tourism cities (ZCTCs) is established that considers the individual contributions of local governments, tourism enterprises, tourists and local residents to the overall carbon‐neutralizing target. The evolutionary stability of the game players' strategies is then analyzed. The results show that there are three stable strategy combinations in the game system for ZCTC construction, which matches the construction modes of tourism cities at different levels of development. The initial value, costs, rewards, penalties, distribution coefficient, and reporting coefficient of the strategy selection affect the evolutionary paths of game players.

The Interplay between Citizen Activities and Space across Different Official Memorial Landscape Construction Phases: Disaster Risk Reduction in Ishinomaki, Japan

Memorial facilities are one of the crucial places where citizens conduct activities facilitating disaster risk reduction (DRR). However, previous studies have primarily focused on the post-construction phase of official memorial facilities, neglecting the citizen activities collaborating with the official memorial construction process before and during the construction process. This research gap is important considering the urgency of disaster-affected regions to recover from spatial, social, and psychological voids while working towards the goal of DRR, including the efforts of citizens in the official efforts. This study addresses this gap by examining the case of the official memorial park in Ishinomaki, Tohoku region, following the Great East Japan Earthquake. Here, local citizens actively participated in activities before, during, and after park construction, engaging with official efforts. Data were gathered from various online sources to capture activity, space, and management information. Employing a mixed methods research approach, we conducted both quantitative analysis, counting labels of structural coding, and qualitative description of original texts. Our findings reveal that fostering mutual respect built on communication and collaborative tree-planting activities were crucial for maintaining the pre-existing citizen activities and collaborative construction during the official construction period. Additionally, the implementation of a collaborative regulation system was vital for integrating and managing spontaneous citizen activities to achieve the park’s intended objectives post-opening. In conclusion, we highlighted a framework elucidating the mechanisms through which these processes contribute to DRR across key phases of disaster risk management: preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery (PPRR). These insights are important in guiding efforts to engage citizens in DRR initiatives through recovery and reconstruction facilitated by memorial facilities.

Design and implementation of a collaborative modeling architecture based on MDE (Multi-DDS Edge)

Abstract Virtual space is an integral part of the Metaverse. Typical virtual spaces are modeled step by step using artificial means. With the development needs of Metaverse modeling and simulation technology and the need for simulation fidelity and content richness in virtual space construction, efficient and correct modeling methods are required. It has become a bottleneck restricting the efficiency of virtual space modeling. This paper designs a multi-person collaborative virtual space modeling method, which improves the modeling efficiency, communication security, and interaction stability of the virtual space collaborative modeling method. Compared with existing collaborative modeling methods, this paper proposes a virtual space collaborative modeling method based on multi-edge DDS technology. By constructing MDE (multi-DDS edges) and MDE on user migration, collaborative construction in multiple virtual spaces is completed. Model data communication extends collaborative modeling technology from the virtual space creation stage to the virtual space simulation and deduction stage, and designs and verifies collaborative content, collaborative architecture, and collaborative communication. Experiments show that the architecture synergy efficiency is 145.6%, the architecture synergy efficiency is 212.5%, and the architecture synergy efficiency is 105.4%. As the number of people in collaborative modeling increases, the operational complexity and demonstration take a logarithmic form, meeting the needs of the future development of the metaverse.