Early Stages Of Project Research Articles

Methods for inclusive design processes at the early stages of a research project in School Environments

This paper explores the use of participatory methods prior to designing interventions within a research project at a primary school in central Sweden. The approach presented in the paper is based on the principles of participatory design (PD), to enhance the use of these methods within the areas of educational research (ER), lighting, and architecture. This approach aims to include participants of educational spaces and incorporate their views prior to design interventions. Two workshops were designed to support teachers’ participation through hands-on activities. Twenty-eight teachers participated in the workshops. Scale models corresponding to two of the school’s classrooms were used to initiate discussions regarding the interconnection between spatial layouts, lighting, and learning activities. The workshops’ data collection analysis assisted the research group in understanding the school’s spatial and learning characteristics. The information gathered from the workshops provided additional knowledge and informed the research project in a way that allowed for further development and changes within the project related to the additional variables measured along with light. According to the analysis, there is a correlation between the activity and the desired layout of the space, while the type of equipment also varies according to the task.

Cost Estimation Proxy Models for Economic Evaluations in Petroleum Projects

Petroleum economic evaluation involves estimating revenues from forecasted production profiles and field costs including capital expenditures (CAPEX), drilling expenses (DRILLEX), and operating expenses (OPEX). The existing cost-estimating tool requires several inputs making it time-intensive and difficult to use with few data during the early stages of projects. Majority of the previously developed time saving cost estimations proxy models rely on unrealistic assumptions that include uniform operational costs for different fields with a different number of wells, casings, and drilled depths. This work focused at developing proxy models that consider the variability of the development costs with different parameters. The developed models benefited from a three-step approach for CAPEX, DRILLEX, and OPEX estimations based on datasets from three wells from a gas field in southern coastal Tanzania. Firstly, cost sensitivity analysis was performed using QUE$TOR v15.1.0.18, a cost estimating commercial software to determine the most influential field parameters of the field costs. Secondly, the field cost models were generated based on historical cost data from the gas field using multivariable regression analysis with the help of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (SPSS) v22.0. Lastly, errors analysis was done for checking the predictive reliability of the models. Based on the analysis, the CAPEX and OPEX were found to be strongly linearly dependent on the size of processing facilities, number of producing wells in the gas field and production capacity, respectively. On the other hand, a nonlinearity relation was revealed on of the DRILLEX which was strongly dependent on drilled well depth and number of installed well casing. Results show that the developed models are useful and their reliability becomes robust when more data is used. A stochastic modeling approach was further recommended for the models to incorporate uncertainties associated with the parameters used to quantify the cost estimates.

Sustainable green remodeling strategies for public nursery school in South Korea: A simplified model

Existing buildings necessitate conversion to green buildings through remodeling. In early stages of this green remodeling project, it is crucial to establish a clear objective or strategy, because this determines the energy efficiency improvement rate of existing buildings. In this study, a local public nursery school was taken as the case study, where three objectives were determined: zero energy building (ZEB), greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and energy saving cost (ESC), and an efficient strategy for green remodeling according to each objective was provided. In addition, this study introduced a function called multi-objective energy efficiency ratio (MO-EER) to allow consumers to establish an optimal strategy by setting weights for each objective. The results of the study demostrated that both passive and renewable technologies were important in zero energy buildings. To achieve ZEB, it was advantageous to apply passive and renewable energy technologies that greatly reduces primary energy consumptions. In terms of GHG emissions, the more green remodeling technology, the better the building energy efficiency. In case of ESC, it was advantageous to apply a technology that greatly reduces secondary energy consumptions.

A threat analysis for the world’s most threatened turtle (Rafetus swinhoei)

We conducted a comprehensive threat analysis of the Swinhoe’s softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei), the most endangered freshwater turtle in the world, historically occurring along river systems in Vietnam and China, but currently almost extinct. Here, our goal was to identify the pressures along two main rivers in Vietnam (Black and Red rivers, both extending into Yunnan, People’s Republic of China), building a conceptual framework to understand the causal relationships among driving forces, threats, and the target species. We involved a panel of experts who identified two priority direct threats in Vietnam, classified following the IUCN standard taxonomy, and showing the highest Magnitude (as a proxy of threat pressure): (i) Habitat loss at nesting sites (LOS; code 1.2 - Commercial & industrial areas) and, (ii) Land conversion due to settlements (LAN; code 1.1 - Housing & urban areas). Threats showed a comparable (i.e., not significantly different) Magnitude in the two rivers (Mann-Whitney U test). Experts also identified the underlying driving forces behind these threats: (i) demographic drivers (due to a rapid population growth in the last decades) causing LAN and LOS, as the priority threats, but also sand mining, and water pollution; (ii) economic drivers induced by high poverty in local populations and causing harvesting (fishing activities and related markets), the needs of power supply for economic activities (e.g., dams), and recreational activities; (iii) ethical drivers linked to conservation project teams (limited funds and divergent points about strategies to carry out). Preliminary data for China suggest HAR (Harvesting by native fishers; code 5.4) and POL (water pollution; code 9.2) as priority threats. Threat analysis is an useful tool in the early stages of a conservation project during the context analysis, helping to define priorities for conservation and management.

Generalized structure of the group method of data handling for modeling iceberg drafts

The iceberg draft prediction is vital to mitigate the collision risk of deep keel icebergs with the seafloor-founded infrastructures, including the subsea pipelines, wellheads, hydrocarbon loading equipment, and communication cables crossing the Arctic and subarctic areas since the drifting icebergs may gouge the ocean floor and the physical and operational integrity of the submarine structures would be threatened. In this study, the iceberg drafts were simulated using the generalized structure of the group method of data handling (GS-GMDH) algorithm for the first time. The parameters affecting the iceberg drafts were determined, and five GS-GMDH models comprising GS-GMDH 1 to GS-GMDH 5 were developed utilizing those parameters governing. A dataset comprising 161 distinct case studies measured in the most significant field investigations of iceberg characteristics was generated, and the GS-GMDH models were trained through 60 % of the data, the rest of the data (i.e., 40 %) were considered for the GS-GMDH models’ validation. By defining different scenarios, the most accurate GS-GMDH model and the most important input parameters were identified. The sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the iceberg width ratio (W/H) and the iceberg shape factor (Sf) were identified as the most influencing input parameters. The comparison between the performance of the premium GS-GMDH model and the group method of data handling (GMDH), artificial neural network (ANN) algorithms, and the empirical models proved that the GS-GMDH model simulated the iceberg drafts with the highest level of precision and correlation along with the lowest degree of complexity. Based on the partial derivative sensitivity analysis (PDSA), the magnitude of iceberg drafts grew by increasing the value of the iceberg width and iceberg length. Ultimately, a GS-GMDH-based equation was presented to estimate the iceberg drafts for practical applications, particularly in the early stages of iceberg management projects and engineering designs.

Total Capital Investment of plastic recycling plants correlates with energy losses and capacity.

Plastic pollution is a generational problem, and stakeholders are turning to chemical recycling as a potential solution. However, decision-makers necessitate quick and reliable capital investment estimations to evaluate innovative technologies, especially in the early project stage, when limited historical data are available. To address this need, we built a database of 160+ chemical recycling plants, querying for nominal capacity, year and place of construction, total capital investment (TCI), number of long-term jobs and opportunity of subsidies. Then, we compared conventional association of the advancement of cost engineering AACE class 5 estimation methods, with literature estimates, and commercial capital expenditure confidence intervals for pyrolysis, gasification, solvolysis, and selective dissolution. We demonstrate the unreliability of classic methods, and we propose ballpark correlations based on the plant capacity, or the energy loss. Chemical recycling plants suffer from poor economy of scale (with current technologies), and capacity is not always the best indicator for TCI estimation. Pyrolysis and gasification are energy-driven technologies, and their TCI correlates very well (R2 =0.91-0.92) with the total energy losses. Solvolysis and selective dissolution, instead, are at an earlier development stage, so cost engineers or researchers will have to accept less certain TCI vs capacity (R2 =0.60).

Walk slowly, listen carefully, tread softly: enhancing participation in architectural conservation practice

ABSTRACT Participation is long-established within heritage and assists practitioners achieving the aims of critical heritage studies. Yet there is limited study into the utility of participation within architectural conservation practice. Through qualitative insight this article foregrounds views and experiences of twelve UK accredited conservation architects on the definition, meaning, and expectations of participation from within their role. Findings reveal conservation architects value participation with local communities at early project stages where it can positively impact significance and design development. Barriers towards participation were centred around client concerns, economic constraints, and limitations of their skillset, compelling practitioners to promote the benefits of participation and learn new skills to transcend traditional methodologies. A six-step process emerges to enhance participation in architectural conservation practice: 1) employ holistic project mediation; 2) identify place-based users with embodied experience of projects; 3) utilise project sites for participatory knowledge transfer; 4) apply knowledge to project briefs and significance statements; 5) capture heritage narratives within physical conservation; and 6) celebrate conserved buildings as symbols of partnership with participants. A mantra of ‘walk slowly, listen carefully, tread softly’ is offered as a concluding phrase and moral anchor for conservation architects to consider when contemplating a participatory evolution of their practice.

Life-cycle cost estimation of a building structure: An example of partition walls

Abstract The growing pressure to optimise construction investment costs from the life-cycle perspective inevitably leads to efforts to seek new solutions that will facilitate informed decision-making in the early stages of the construction project. Awareness of the importance of considering future operation and demolition costs emphasises the shortcomings related to the possibility of making accurate predictions/estimations of such costs, which will become apparent in the future. To address this research gap, an innovative approach of life-cycle cost modelling on the level of individual structures of the building is presented. The model provides users with information on the costs of available technical solutions resulting from the requirements of the investor at a specific stage of the construction project. In this way, it helps investors optimise their building projects and to find the most economical solutions. Specifically, this model is assembled for the purpose of selecting a suitable partition wall and, therefore, it takes into consideration specific characteristics relating to this particular type of structure. The results indicate diversity in partition wall structural design variants at the early stage of the project. Since the ability to influence future costs decreases as the project progresses, the model allows capturing LCC perspective even if only a construction study is available without more detailed technical and economic information. The presented model aims to contribute to the higher performance of construction projects in the planning phase from the perspective of LCC and investors’/owners’ point of view.

Importance of Strategic Environmental Assessment (Sea) Process and Environmental Health Impact Assessment (Ehia) Process Towards Sustainable Climate Change And Control

Importance of Strategic Environmental Assessment (Sea) Process and Environmental Health Impact Assessment (Ehia) Process Towards Sustainable Climate Change And Control

Accelerated design of Power-to-X process chains for transient operation using Recurrent Neural Networks

Climate change requires a reorientation towards renewable energy generation and storage technologies, especially from solar and wind-based sources. Power-to-X technologies offer a promising way to convert renewable energy into chemical energy carriers based on green hydrogen. A major obstacle to the implementation of such systems is the need to operate the plants dynamically to account for fluctuations. The conventional design of these process chains is usually done through complex dynamic flowsheet simulations, which require specialized engineers and are therefore time-consuming and costly.This study presents an innovative approach to build surrogate models of process chains by using Recurrent Neural Networks and in detail Long Short-Term Memory. To establish a basis for the training data of these models, process simulations were performed with respect to critical parameters for plant dynamics and capacity adjustment. The developed models can represent the dynamics of the process and allow the estimation of annual production volumes for different geographical locations, based on local wind speeds. In addition, plant-specific variables, such as the number of cells in hydrogen-producing electrolysis, can be modified and optimized. These models open the possibility of making informed decisions at an early project stage and reduce the risk of implementing dynamic Power-to-X plants.

Assuring Sustainable Construction at Project Inception Stage: A Project Feasibility Evaluation Criteria

Sustainable construction (SC) practices are crucial for minimising environmental impacts and enabling the long-term viability of construction projects. However, sustainability considerations are often lacking during early project stages in developing countries like Sri Lanka. This research aims to mandate sustainability assessment at the critical project feasibility stage by proposing sustainable feasibility criteria. A qualitative Delphi study gathered experts' insights on incorporating sustainability factors into feasibility evaluations. The findings reveal 68 minimum sustainability requirements spanning economic, social, and environmental dimensions which should be assessed during feasibility studies. Further analysis identified 35 non-legalised sustainability criteria along with measurable factors and relevant Sri Lankan authorities to mandate their evaluation. By requiring consideration of these criteria, project owners and developers can be compelled to integrate sustainability principles during initial decision-making. This research provides a vital first step towards mainstreaming sustainability practices through mandated feasibility assessments. The proposed sustainable feasibility evaluation framework with specific criteria ensures that all projects account for sustainability impacts before approval, driving improved triple-bottom-line performance.

Design and Evaluation using Technology Acceptance Model of an Architecture Conceptualization Framework System based on the ISO/IEC/IEEE 42020

Among the difficulties in developing software-intensive systems are the necessity of managing and controlling data that must be held for decades, as well as describing the needs and concerns of a variety of stakeholders. Therefore, one cannot neglect a good Software Engineering practice which is to develop software-intensive systems based on solid software architecture. However, the processes related to the software architecture of software-intensive systems are often considered only from a low level of abstraction. A recent architectural Standard, the ISO/IEC/IEEE 42020, defines 6 clauses for the architecture process, among them the Architecture Conceptual-ization process is the subject of this study. Considering that the ISO/IEC/IEEE 42020 has only recently been published, given the importance of establishing a well-defined software architecture, and considering the difficulties of understanding an architectural Standard, this work proposes a framework, and then the design and further evaluation of a web-based application to support soft-ware architects in using the activities and tasks of the Architecture Conceptualization clause based on the framework described. The ArchConcept was designed to address the high-level abstraction of the Standard ISO/IEC/IEEE 42020 and can be useful for software architects who want to follow ISO/IEC/IEEE 42020’s recommendation and achieve high-quality results in their work of software architecture conceptualization. A qualitative evaluation employing a questionnaire was carried out to obtain information about the perceptions of professionals regarding the ArchConcept, according to the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). As ArchConcept is focused on activities of Archi-tecture Conceptualization, which is one of the early stages of a software project, the results found could be evidence of the short time dedicated to the initial phases of projects and their consequences.regarding the ArchConcept, according to the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). As ArchConcept is focused on the early stages of the project (Architecture Conceptualization), the results found in this work could be evidence of the short time dedicated to the initial phase of projects and their consequences.

Estimation of building project completion duration using a natural gradient boosting ensemble model and legal and institutional variables

Estimation of building project completion duration using a natural gradient boosting ensemble model and legal and institutional variables

Practical Exploration of Eco-Geological Survey Mapping in Qinghai–Tibet Plateau: Framework, Standard and Preliminary Cost Estimation

It is a common responsibility of all countries to protect the ecological environment and promote sustainable development. Eco-geology, which provides a basic guarantee for the rational utilization of natural resources, ecological protection and restoration, has gradually become a new hot spot of geological survey institutions in various countries. Eco-geological survey in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau plays an important role in regional ecological protection and global change research. Setting up workable budgets symbolizes the competence of geological survey organizations in fulfilling their responsibilities, and unreliable cost estimates can cause economic and political complications. The unclear scope definition and scarcity of project information available at early stages make it hard to generate reliable preliminary cost estimates. Hence, based on historical data and the practical experience of scientists who have been engaged in eco-geological survey in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau for a long time, this research aimed to develop a cost estimation model using statistical learning methods for geological survey organizations to forecast preliminary costs during the early stages of an eco-geological survey project to fulfill different cost control and managerial functions. This research makes full use of modern remote sensing technology and reasonably arranges the input of ground survey, drilling, geophysical exploration and other workloads, supplemented by the existing ecological monitoring station data. It comprehensively sorts out the work means and workload of field and office work needed to complete the map work, and it puts forward a consistent index system and preliminary cost calculation framework. On this basis, based on the principle of matching quantity and price, a reasonable budget standard or market price is selected to calculate the budget estimate of a single map sheet, and then, through the regional adjustment coefficient, the budget estimate of a map sheet covering the whole Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is extended and calculated. The budget estimate will provide effective support for the declaration of eco-geological survey projects in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and the calculation of the scale of project funds so as to ensure the smooth development of eco-geological surveying in the region.

Study on the Performance of the GRANDProto300 Particle Detector Array by Simulation

The Giant Radio Array for Neutrino Detection (GRAND) is a proposed large-scale observatory designed to detect cosmic rays, gamma-rays, and neutrinos with energies exceeding 100 PeV. The GRANDProto300 experiment is proposed as the early stage of the GRAND project, consisting of a hybrid array of radio antennas and scintillator detectors. The latter, as a mature and traditional detector, is used to cross-check the nature of the candidate events selected from radio observations. In this study, we developed a simulation software called G4GRANDProto300, based on the Geant4 software package, to optimize the spacing of the scintillator detector array and to investigate its effective area. The analysis was conducted at various zenith angles under different detector spacings, including 300, 500, 600, 700, and 900 m. Our results indicate that, for large zenith angles used to search for cosmic-ray in the GRAND project, the optimized effective area is with a detector spacing of 500 m. The G4GRANDProto300 software that we developed could be used to further optimize the layout of the particle detector array in future work.

Aerial cable cars as a transit mode: a review of technological advances, service area characteristics, and societal impacts in Latin America and the Caribbean

ABSTRACT The success of the first Metrocable line in Medellín (2004) as a feeder for the Metro system served as a turning point in considering the use of aerial cable cars (ACC) as a mode of public transport in urban settlements. In the following years, 33 ACC transit lines were inaugurated in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the majority after 2010. This review has several aims: (i) to understand the differences in aerial cableway transit (ACT) technologies; (ii) to describe the characteristics of the ACC service area for the most critical case studies in LAC and identify their role in the public transport system; and (iii) to find the essential societal benefits presented by ACC. We will follow two complementary approaches. First, the review concentrates on the most recent technological advances. Second, 24 reports were obtained from scientific databases, complemented by another 18 found using the “snowball” method. Our findings show that detachable gondolas, called aerial cable cars in the transport literature, are the most used technology as a transit mode. Furthermore, the ACC initially served as a feeder mode, serving low-income communities on hillside terrains. However, some cases are restructuring the public transport system and building a comprehensive network utilising the ACC. The empirical evidence shows that complementary projects are essential to impact less-frequent ACC users and people in the neighbourhood. Moreover, travel time and cost reductions increase accessibility and reduce inequalities, especially in the service area. Participatory budgeting may also prompt community engagement with the project, especially among low-income residents. Considering integration between transport modes (and within transit modes) in the project's early stages will also increase ridership and users’ accessibility. Future research should focus on the travel behaviour and societal impacts of ACC integrated into the structure of the public transport systems.

Modified Mamdani-fuzzy inference system for predicting the cost overrun of construction projects

Cost overruns are a common worldwide problem in the construction industry; improved proactive risk management and cost control are much needed. Several models have been proposed, but all have weaknesses, particularly in data demands and the severity of critical risks or uncertainties associated with expert judgment. In response, this study develops a new 3-part model based on the Mamdani-type fuzzy inference system (FIS) to predict the cost overrun of construction projects. The first part assesses the weight of each expert, evaluating the severity of cost overrun factors. The second part contains a list of 40 in-built cost overrun factors and their degree of severity, while the third part establishes the relationships of every factor’s occurrence probability and severity to predict the cost overrun of a specific project. The severity of each factor is assessed based on a survey of 31 randomly selected experts in the Saudi Arabian construction industry. The model is demonstrated on two completed projects in Saudi Arabia. For each project, this involves a group of project-based experts rating the probability of occurrence of each factor on that project and applying this to the factor severity list to obtain a predicted cost overrun (PCO) for the whole project. The model is validated for robustness by sensitivity analysis comparing the predicted and actual whole project cost overrun and shown to be of practical value in assessing critical risks and predicting the likely amount of cost overrun. The model is equally applicable in the early project stages.

Among All the Nations

I spent much of the first decade of the 2000s writing a book about the Catholic Church in nineteenth and twentieth-century Vietnam. I came to the topic as a scholar of Vietnam, and very much not as a scholar of modern Catholicism. In the project's early stages I searched high and low for a general history to fill in the (many) gaps in my knowledge of the subject. The best I could find was Nicholas Atkin and Frank Tallett's 2003 Priests, Prelates & People: A History of European Catholicism since 1750. This book, although excellent and still worth reading, is squarely grounded in scholarship written from an older national and regional approach to the Church's modern history. It essentially ignores the fact that in the modern era more than ever before, Catholicism's historical epicenter in Europe was irreducibly tied to the rest of the world not only through the Ultramontane Church but also through the circulation of ideas and the printed word, migration, and (above all) European imperialism, and that the Church's institutional and cultural evolution since the eighteenth century is incomprehensible outside of such frameworks (Atkin and Tallett devote an astounding 5 of their 333 pages of text to the European empires in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, which made up two-thirds of the global Catholic population at the time they finished their book).

Assessing annual energy production using a combination of lidar and mast measurement campaigns

<span lang="EN-US">The current study evaluates the wind potential at early stage of wind project using met mast and lidar. The wind data obtained from a met mast located away from the turbines can be hindered by obstacles, leading to limited coverage and height, it negatively impacting the project's performances. To address the above limitations, the study suggests implementing a secondary measurement approach utilizing Lidars in various locations to cover the full study area. This work assesses the two measurements campaign and compares the wind potential evaluated with data measured by met mast and lidars. The simulations of two wind data base are quantified referring to the main key performance indicators for a project of total capacity of 140MW. The results show significant improvement in gross and net production for all exceedance scenarios, with 2% increase on the P90, and an improvement in the annual capacity factor by 1.09%. The use of Lidar data referenced to a met mast leads to accurate and bankable data, with the advances of cost and logistics, Lidars helps in layout configuration and performance evaluation.</span>

EVALUATION OF THE INNOVATION-INVESTMENT FACTOR FOR AUGMENTING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF CONSTRUCTION ENTERPRISES

This article delves into the multifaceted realm of innovation and investment processes, shedding light on their intrinsic nature, economic ramifications, and pivotal roles in fostering resource efficiency. The study meticulously examines investment policies, delving into the imperative factors that drive investments in innovations, thereby necessitating the enhancement of management systems. The crux of the narrative emphasizes the profound significance of integrating innovations and investments to optimize resource utilization effectively. The exploration begins by scrutinizing the economic landscape during the initial years of the Republic of Azerbaijan's independence. It dissects the strategic steps taken to reconstruct the economy, highlighting the pivotal role played by state investment programmes. Special attention is devoted to the nuanced analysis of investments in the construction industry. This scrutiny extends to the impact of the landmark "Agreement of the Century" and the strategic development of the construction sector of Azerbaijan. Utilizing data from 1995 to 2021, the research analyzes the growth trends of fixed assets and investments in fixed capital in the construction sector. Despite a setback in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector demonstrated resilience, rebounding in 2021. The findings reveal a substantial increase in both fixed assets and investments over the studied period, underscoring the sector's pivotal role in the country's economic development. The research recommends a dual-perspective consideration of innovation and investment activities – both as internal management processes and as fields for capital application for potential investors. The importance of effective dynamic management of investment needs and resources is emphasized, especially in the early stages of innovative projects. The study also explores the correlation between the share of construction in investments in fixed capital and the degree of economic openness in Azerbaijan. The article suggests the necessity of adapting the management structure of construction enterprises to innovation and investment activities, involving the creation of specialized units within construction enterprises. This extended exploration underscores the intricate relationship between innovation, investment, and economic dynamics, portraying them as symbiotic elements crucial for the sustainable growth of construction enterprises. The research contributes valuable insights into the economic dynamics of Azerbaijan's construction sector, offering recommendations for policymakers and industry stakeholders to foster sustained growth and competitiveness.