Facility Management Research Articles

Epidemiological features and clinical profile of patients with thalassemia

Objectives: Thalassemia is the most common genetic disorder globally. In Afghanistan, the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the disease are not studied officially. This study aims to explore the epidemiological pattern and clinical profile of thalassemia patients registered in the National Blood Bank (NBB), Kabul, Afghanistan. Material and Methods: A retrospective medical record review was conducted to analyze registries and conduct phone calls for follow-up patients registered in the NBB during 2019–2020 in Kabul. The confirmed case was any patient tested for fetal hemoglobin and blood film. Data were collected using a form matching the patient’s registers. Epi Info v.7 was used for data management and descriptive measures analysis. Results: Totally 411 patients with thalassemia were enrolled in the analysis. Out of all patients, 225 (54.61%) were male, with an overall mean age of 6.89 (±4.06) years. The highest proportion of patients was clustered around age groups of 2–8 years (56%). Pashtuns’ ethnicity had the highest percentage of patients (63%) and Hazara the lowest (1%). Almost the majority of cases under management were thalassemia major (98.8%), and just one case was recorded as intermedia and four cases as minor. According to laboratory tests, 88 (21.4%) were positive for hepatitis C, 2 (0.5%) positive for hepatitis B, and 1 (0.2%) for human immunodeficiency virus. As a whole, 251 (61.67%) had a type of consanguinity marriage. In patients, the blood groups of A+ (27%), B+ (27%), and O+ (25%) were almost equally distributed, while AB+ (10%), O negative (4%), A negative (2%), and AB negative (0.2%) had low proportions. The residency of the majority (87.13%) was Kabul. Totally, 18 (4.36%) had surgical operations, and 11.8% reported children died due to thalassemia. Conclusion: Thalassemias are common in Afghanistan, and facility for management is lacking. Consanguineous marriage was more common and probably a contributing factor to disease. The establishment of more centers and a full review of factors are recommended.

Persistent Identifiers for Instruments and Facilities: Current State, Challenges, and Opportunities

Objective: Persistent Identifiers (PIDs) are central to the vision of open science described in the FAIR Principles. However, the use of PIDs for scientific instruments and facilities is decentralized and fragmented. This project aims to develop community-based standards, guidelines, and best practices for how and why PIDs can be assigned to facilities and instruments. Methods: We hosted several online and in-person focus groups and discussions, cumulating in a two-day in-person workshop featuring stakeholders from a variety of organizations and disciplines, such as instrument and facilities operators, PID infrastructure providers, researchers who use instruments and facilities, journal publishers, university administrators, federal funding agencies, and information and data professionals. Results: Our first-year efforts resulted in four main areas of interest: developing a better understanding of the current PID ecosystem; clarifying how and when PIDs could be assigned to scientific instruments and facilities; challenges and barriers involved with assigning PIDs; incentives for researchers, facility managers, and other stakeholders to encourage the use of PIDs. Conclusions: The potential for PIDs to facilitate the discovery, connection, and attribution of research instruments and facilities indicates an obvious value in their use. The lack of standards of how and when they are created, assigned, updated, and used is a major barrier to their widespread use. Data and information professionals can work to create relationships with stakeholders, provide relevant education and outreach activities, and integrate PIDs for instruments and facilities into their data curation and publication workflows.

Investigating the common practice of higher education institutions’ facility management

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are an indispensable part of the UK society. In 2011, the Higher Education Funding Council for England set a carbon reduction target of 43% by 2020, that most HEIs failed to meet. HEIs have a clear interest in improving student experience/comfort and their sustainability credentials. However, this research found that space management in HEI is clearly inefficient. This research represents the first phenomenological study in this field and identifies current practices in HEIs regarding their space/energy management. First, a traditional thematic literature review was completed, which found a clear gap on what data is collected and used to calculate the ventilation/heating/cooling by facilities managers at HEI. Then, semi-structured interviews were conducted with facilities management experts (n=10) based in HEIs. This study concludes that HEIs should calculate ventilation, heating and cooling loads working in geometry and real occupancy, as this will improve occupant comfort, enrich the student experience and increase energy efficiency. A building information modelling (BIM) platform could be adopted to integrate different systems so that building management systems (BMS) have enhanced access to time-sensitive space/energy data.

Technology Focus: Production and Facilities (December 2024)

This year has been both inspiring and exhilarating in the production and facilities domain, highlighted by a record 269 abstracts. This plethora of ideas fosters industry knowledge and promotes the exchange of innovative solutions driven by engineering advancements and data analytics. It covers the deployment of digital technologies, the journey toward decarbonization and its environmental impact, and the enhancement of energy efficiency and maintenance of asset integrity. The process of reviewing a significant number of technical abstracts based on their relevance, originality, clarity, and potential impact on the oil and gas industry is essential to ensure that JPT’s readers see papers with high-quality contributions to the production and facilities community. Comprehensive digital solutions cover the entire spectrum of production and facilities management, integrating a wide range of technologies such as advanced data analytics, Internet of Things devices, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, automation, robotics, and digital twins. To exemplify this, paper OTC 32872 outlines learnings by evaluating the routine of a floating production, storage, and offloading vehicle crew to identify scenarios for the application of ground robots in day-to-day offshore activities, leading to a boost in productivity while reducing human exposure to risk. In the field of minimizing carbon footprint and promoting environmental sustainability, several academic papers have outlined strategies for reducing emissions led by a creative ecosystem of technologies and solutions, encompassing the deployment of methane emissions quantification at production facilities, reducing gas flaring, enhancing energy efficiency, repurposing of existing gas pipeline networks for the transport of hydrogen and hydrogen/methane blend, and using hydrogen fuel in a dual-fuel engine on a drilling rig. A notable illustration is URTeC paper 3866061, which presents continuous-monitoring point sensors for methane emissions, tracking changes in parts per million of methane in the air. Collecting raw data and applying a proprietary data-science algorithm, using a plume-dispersion model with the continuously acquired data, the evidence is reported to the operator, identifying the piece of equipment from which emissions originate and quantifying the volume and rate of the emission. In the asset-integrity-management landscape, the integration of digital technologies is playing a key role, whether through machine learning and artificial intelligence paired with fiber-optic distributed acoustic sensing technologies used to enhance pipeline integrity or rapid and reliable management of pipeline leak detection with a novel method on a multiphase-flow leak-detection model using only input and output parameters. From the standpoint of composite and nonmetallic materials, ongoing product research, development, and qualification efforts are being pursued to meet rising demand to stretch the operational envelope and enhance reliability. With the rapid advancement of carbon capture use and storage wells, paper SPE 217664 provides a guideline for such selections based on the composition of the CO2 stream, including impurities and the composition of the saline formation into which the CO2 will be injected. Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org. SPE 216229 Resource Optimization at Remote Facilities by Leveraging Advance Maintenance Practices Total Productive Maintenance, Operator-Driven Reliability, and Industry 4.0 Technologies by Muhammad Shahzad Ahmed, ADNOC, et al. OTC 34661 Unleashing the Sky Potential: Revolutionizing Construction With Drones by Chen Khian Fong, Shell, et al. SPE 217716 World’s First Demonstration of Hydrogen Blending in Dual-Fuel Engines on a Drilling Rig by W. Kernan, Caterpillar, et al.

BIM-based optimization approach to reduce life cycle costs by focusing on the integration of construction and operation phases in office-commercial buildings

This study investigates the application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) to reduce life cycle costs (LCC) by addressing critical nonconformances encountered during the construction and operational phases of buildings. The primary aim is to identify nonconformances that escalate operational costs and to evaluate how BIM can effectively reduce these costs. The research begins with a comprehensive review of existing literature and utilizes the Delphi method to identify four key nonconformances that most significantly impact operational expenses. To further analyze these issues, semi-structured interviews and the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) are employed to determine the cost ranges of components associated with these nonconformances in both the construction and operational phases. The study finds that BIM-based optimization can lead to substantial cost reductions, although there are limitations due to the lack of precise data on the operational phase of low-cost equipment. The key contribution of this research is the development of a framework that helps designers create more effective BIM models, enhancing facilities management (FM) and reducing LCC. The originality of this study lies in its integrated approach, combining BIM and optimization techniques to directly address operational cost issues, which provides a novel perspective on improving life cycle cost management in buildings. Future research should expand the dataset and explore a broader range of nonconformances to refine and extend the framework's applicability.

Classification of Customer Satisfaction with the K-Nearest Neighbor Algorithm in Relation to Employee Performance at PT. Airkon Pratama

PT. Airkon Pratama is the technical consultancy company in the field of maintenance, repair, and operate system. Among its projects are a four-building, multi-story tax office complex. PT. Airkon Pratama experience obstacles to know how its customer satisfaction with their services that is was measured by a questionnaireobtained from work order form. The purpose of this study is to determine how well K-Nearest Neighbor data classification accurately classifies customer satisfaction based on employee performance by PT. Airkon Pratama. The data used in this study is from PT. Airkon Pratama with the data processing using RapidMiner with the K-Nearest Neighbor method which produces an accuracy of 96.53%. Among them four performance indicators were rated as "good", and two as "adequate". Of the 196 that were correctly predicted to be "good," three were "adequate." Most of the 04 respondents gave a positive response indicating their satisfaction with the management of tax office facilities provided by PT. Airkon Pratama in January 2024.

BIM for management, operation and maintenance of facilities: scientometric and systematic review

Resumo Nos últimos anos a análise das condições de empreendimentos durante a fase de operação tem ganhado atenção, inclusive com o uso do Building Information Modeling (BIM). Neste âmbito, esta pesquisa tem por objetivo delinear as fronteiras do conhecimento e identificar direções de pesquisa futuras no que diz respeito aos usos do BIM para fins de gestão, operação e manutenção de instalações. Foi empregado um método misto de revisão que associou a análise cientométrica e revisão sistemática da literatura. Para condução da revisão inicialmente foram identificadas 4050 publicações da base de dados Scopus, que foram filtrados por meio do protocolo PRISMA e resultaram em 1004 publicações a serem analisadas. A frequência de fontes e citações e as redes de coocorrência de palavras-chave, de coautoria e de países compuseram a primeira análise. Em seguida, a análise sistemática do conjunto de dados foi realizada com o agrupamento das pesquisas em oito categorias diferentes. Como resultado, foi possível identificar que o campo “BIM para gestão, operação e manutenção das instalações” está em crescimento e que as finalidades de aplicação neste âmbito têm sido ampliadas, além de haver uma associação promissora das tecnologias emergentes com o BIM para este fim.

Quick Assesment Study On Condition Of Marine Debris From Fisheries Activities At Tegalsari Fishing Port In Tegal City

Waste is a significant environmental issue faced by one of the largest fishing ports in Central Java, PPP Tegalsari. PPP Tegalsari has been reported to have a slum status, evidenced by the accumulation of trash at key points in the port. The purpose of this rapid assessment activity is to evaluate the waste management status and waste conditions in the Tegalsari Coastal Fishing Port area. Primary data was collected through observations, in-depth interviews using an interview guide, and surveys using questionnaires and waste calculation forms, while secondary data was gathered from government stakeholders, scientific journals, and reports from relevant agencies. The results of the Rapid Assessment conducted from June 14, 2021, to June 19, 2021, include infrastructure facilities for waste management, human resources, waste management policies, sources of waste activities, daily waste generation, potential leakage of waste into the sea, waste composition, and waste management in the area, indicating that approximately 2,240 kg/day of waste is generated at the Tegalsari Fishery Port during times of low ship activity, with the fish processing/filleting industry producing the most waste at 652.3 kg/day, while the dock area generates the least amount at 287 kg/day. The handling of plastic waste management on the fishing vessel PPP Tegalsari consists of two methods: direct disposal into the sea and return to the port. The implementation of waste management based on handling and reducing waste is still in its early stages due to the fact that several requirements have not yet been met. It can be concluded that the waste conditions and waste management at PPP Tegalsari require improvements in waste management infrastructure, capacity building, the establishment of waste management institutions, as well as regulatory improvements and the creation of a sustainable waste management system.

Anthropogenic and Natural Impacts on Surface Water Quality: The Consequences and Challenges at the Nexus of Waste Management Facilities, Industrial Zones, and Protected Areas

AbstractThe objective of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of surface waters near an old landfill, to assess water quality using the Water Quality Index (WQI) and the Comprehensive Pollution Index (CPI), and to identify factors influencing surface water composition using multivariate statistical analysis. The analysis of temporal changes of 15 surface water parameters (pH, EC, Cl−, NH4+, SO42−, BOD5, CODCr, TOC, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Hg, and PAH) was complemented by the investigation of surface water flow, ambient temperature, and precipitation. A twelve-year monitoring period was considered, focusing on monitoring sites located along a watercourse in the area of the Radiowo landfill (Poland). No significant correlations were found between precipitation and surface water quality parameters in the outflow direction. The results showed that the average WQI values ranged from 63.06 to 96.86, while the average CPI values ranged from 0.56 to 0.88, indicating good water quality or low pollution, respectively. The temperature had a greater influence on the physicochemical parameters than the precipitation, especially on the parameters of contamination by organic compound (correlations between temperature and BOD5, CODCr, and TOC of 0.40, 0.50, and 0.38, respectively). Significant correlations were observed between EC, Cl−, NH4, BOD5, CODCr, and TOC in the outflow direction of the landfill. In addition, surface water flow showed a significant moderate negative correlation with pH (r = -0.44) and a moderate positive correlation with Cu concentration (r = 0.47) downstream of the landfill. The analysis of surface water quality monitoring, coupled with the critical evaluation of global research, has made it possible to understand the variation in surface water quality and the factors that influence it. The study confirmed that given the complex nature of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfills, understanding the dynamics and factors affecting water quality is essential for effective water protection and management and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Integration of family planning into the primary health care in Ethiopia: results from national assessment

BackgroundFamily planning (FP) is part of Ethiopia’s essential health service package. However, integrating FP into other health care services is a relatively new concept. Integrated service can minimize missed opportunities and allow health workers to provide FP services and Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent, and Nutrition (RMNCAH-N) services simultaneously. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the levels of FP integration into maternal and child health (MCH) services at primary health care service delivery units in Ethiopia.MethodsThis was a facility-based cross-sectional study conducted from July to October 2022. We conducted a nationally representative survey of primary health care (PHC) facilities selected from seven regions and two-city administrations in Ethiopia to assess the current level of FP integration across four service delivery units (antenatal care unit, postnatal care unit, post-abortion care unit, and immunization unit) of the facilities. We collected data from selected health facilities through interview with health facility managers, healthcare providers in the selected service units, clients seeking health services, and extraction of data from facility records. We employed descriptive analysis, and categorized the degree of FP integration according to the FP information and services provided in the selected service delivery units.ResultsThis national FP integration survey included 122 health facilities (39 primary hospitals, 42 health centers, and 41 health posts) from seven regions and two city administrations. The study found a huge discrepancy regarding FP counselling given at ANC, PNC, PAC, and immunization service delivery units as reported by health care providers and clients. The proportion of PNC and immunization clients who received FP counselling was higher at health post compared to hospitals and health centers. Moreover, the proportion of PAC clients who received FP information was higher in primary hospitals compared to health centers.ConclusionData from facility records and provider interviews showed significant FP integration within ANC, PNC, and immunization units of PHC facilities. However, client exit interviews indicated low FP counselling integration. Facility records revealed few PNC and PAC clients received contraceptives in the past year. The study found high FP counselling and provision of at least one short- or long-acting contraceptive at PNC and PAC units. No facility offered contraceptives at immunization units, indicating missed FP integration opportunities.

Nexus between Menstrual Hygiene Management Facilities and Primary School Girls’ Class Attendance in Uganda

Inadequate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities has remained a daunting reality in majority of schools in low-income countries. In this study, the authors examined the availability of physical facilities for menstrual hygiene management, class attendance of girls from P.4 to P.7 and the relationship between the physical menstrual hygiene management facilities and class attendance of girls in primary schools. The paper was constructed from secondary datasets from the Eighth Uwezo Learning Assessment. A total of 954 schools were enlisted for the study. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and spearman rank correlation. Based on the findings, the study argues that promotion of girl child education through provision of WASH facilities unveiled both challenges and successful stories. While private rooms and functional hand washing facilities were limited in numbers, and in some cases not available at all, separate latrine stances were largely available. There were remarkable differences in the average girls’ attendance across regions and classes. Due to diverse relationships between menstrual hygiene facilities and class attendance, the study concludes that enhanced WASH facilities promote girls’ attendance while inadequate facilities hinder the attendance. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education and Sports should prioritize provision of adequate WASH facilities in primary schools. In addition, the government should ensure that interventions from development and/or education partners maximize the provision of quality WASH facilities for enhanced girls’ school attendance.

Design and Construction of Infrastructure Asset Management Information Systems Using the Rapid Application Development (RAD) Method

The school administration system manages several things, such as the management, storage, and use of facilities and infrastructure items, which have been done traditionally. In contrast, the management must be well structured so that integration with information technology is needed. In previous studies, there were many areas for improvement in the asset information system, one of which was the use of traditional methods such as waterfall which had weaknesses in user flexibility and took a long time to process. Therefore, that a more relevant and accurate method is needed in its completion. SD Khaijah Surabaya built a facilities and infrastructure asset information system using the Rapid Application Development (RAD) method, which offers a more adaptive and interactive solution because it allows the development of rapid prototypes and continuous evaluation of the system. The results of this study show that building an asset management information system can simplify the process of managing infrastructure assets, improve data accuracy, and assist in making decisions related to asset management. The implementation of this system is expected to significantly improve organizational performance in terms of asset management, while system testing using the Black Box method shows accurate results and using the System Usability Scale (SUS) method manages to get a precise score of 80. The average person gives a score of 5 on the assessment of the questionnaire distributed to stakeholders.

Assessment of the barriers towards menstrual hygiene management: evidence from a qualitative study among school communities: lessons from Bahir Dar city in northwest Ethiopia

BackgroundThe challenges of safe menstrual hygiene management practices in low-income settings, including the study areas are pressing. However, Studies specifically focusing on barriers that schoolgirls face in managing monthly menstruation in schools of Bahir Dar are inadequate and scarce.MethodTo ensure the robustness of the findings, a comprehensive study was conducted among schoolgirls and boy students aged 12–20 in three schools. This study employed focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with students and leaders of the school gender club. A word cloud generator was used to visually represent frequently mentioned keywords, and the data generated from interviews were analyzed using the Open Code 4.03 tool.ResultsThe findings, derived from focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, revealed several significant barriers that schoolgirls face in practicing safe menstrual hygiene management. These barriers, including sociocultural factors (133), inadequate use of menstrual hygiene management facilities (73), inadequate knowledge before menarche (59), and a general lack of support (35), underscore the multifaceted nature of the issues. Importantly, these findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted interventions to address these barriers and improve menstrual hygiene management among schoolgirls.ConclusionSchoolgirls in Bahir Dar encounter numerous challenges in maintaining safe menstrual hygiene practices. Addressing the identified modifiable barriers represents crucial areas for intervention, requiring collaborative efforts from school communities and other relevant stakeholders to create an environment conducive to promoting and enhancing safe menstrual hygiene practices.

Simplifying the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid for enhanced accessibility.

Ensuring animal welfare is essential for both the well-being of zoo animals and the effective management of zoological facilities. This study introduces the Simplified Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (S-AWAG), a streamlined adaptation of the original AWAG framework that integrates the Five Domains Model with an observation-based approach. Designed for non-expert users, S-AWAG focuses on easily observable welfare indicators-such as health and environmental conditions-making it particularly suitable for small, private zoos, including petting zoos, roadside zoos, indoor zoos, and animal cafés. We conducted welfare assessments on 304 animals from 11 species across nine zoos in South Korea. The results revealed significant differences in welfare standards between accredited and non-accredited zoos, with accredited facilities consistently demonstrating better welfare conditions (p < 0.05). The tool exhibited high inter-rater reliability (IRR = 0.839), confirming its consistency across assessors with varying levels of expertise and ensuring reliable and accurate results. Pearson correlation analysis identified strong positive associations between health and environmental factors, reinforcing the comprehensive nature of the tool's evaluation approach. With its user-friendly, efficient, and adaptable design, S-AWAG has the potential to improve animal welfare standards not only in South Korea but also globally, particularly in smaller, resource-constrained facilities.

Global Perspectives on Healthcare Waste Management and Bibliographic Mapping during the Crises of COVID-19

The lack of proper waste management of health care facilities can have a significant negative health impact on the global population. This study provides a critical view on the current state of the existing healthcare waste management practices used in healthcare facilities around the world during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak. The increasing amount of COVID-related healthcare waste was analyzed and classified to provide justification for the urgent need to develop waste management standards that ensure safe containment and diversion of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes through recycling, reuse and repurposing. The waste handling, treatment, and disposal management of healthcare waste from various COVID-infected locations such as homes, quarantine centers, camps, and hospitals have been reviewed. A total of 100 documents on COVID-19 related healthcare waste were published on the Web of Science database over the 2020-2022 period. Innovative solutions for effective waste treatment and disposal, related government policies and regulations, and literature survey supported by VOSviewer-aided detailed bibliographic analysis are presented and critically discussed. Thus, the present research output advocates for a paradigm shift towards circular economy principles in healthcare waste management, emphasizing waste reduction, recycling, and recovery, and encourages global cooperation to develop resilient, crisis-responsive waste management systems.

Building Condition Auditing (BCA)—Improving Auditability—Reducing Ambiguity

BCA methodically assesses the state of a building’s deterioration to support Maintenance, Safety, Function, and Compliance purposes. Originally used to assist in identifying urgent repair requirements, it has evolved and become one of the most used tools for assessing a building’s outstanding maintenance liability when a building is transacted or acquired. Nevertheless, current practices involve several conflicts; for example, high costs are associated with inspections, inconsistent building component registers, and ambiguity and consistency regarding reporting parameters, all of which lead to compounding errors that reduce reliability. To address these gaps, the current research, involving one hundred and eighteen (118) active facilities managers and asset inspectors, suggests the development of an extension of the deterioration scale (0–7) and methodologies to reduce errors and ambiguity. Furthermore, it suggests using weighted indices to focus on crucial building components, thus improving condition assessment. As was found, these tools improve the accuracy of BCA, facilitate better management of the asset’s life cycle, and provide support in decision-making. This study adds consistency, limits subjectivity, and provides a framework applicable to different building types, assisting future management for sustainability. It, therefore, stands to serve the field by providing detailed and concise best practices for conducting condition audits on built assets.

Micro-Incubator Protocol for Testing a CO2 Sensor for Early Warning of Spontaneous Combustion

A protocol for detecting the potential occurrence of spontaneous combustion (SC) in stored cottonseeds and peanuts using a micro-incubator is described. The protocol indicates how to quantify CO2 production rates and final CO2 levels in wet versus dry cottonseed and peanut samples, which can provide crucial data for the early detection of SC risk in storage facilities. The experimental design utilizes a micro-incubator to simulate conditions found in large bulk crop storage. Parameters monitored include CO2 concentration, temperature, and relative humidity. The protocol includes preparation methods, experimental procedures for both control (dry) and wet seed tests, and test termination criteria that allow for safe experimentation of likely pathogenic fungi. The protocol has three replicates for wet and dry conditions. The protocol is intended to facilitate future experimental studies and ultimately contribute to the development of a consistently reliable early warning fire detection system for SC in cottonseed and peanut warehouse facilities. A consistently reliable fire detection system would address a critical need in the cotton and peanut industry for improved fire risk management and insurability of storage facilities.

Common open source WebGIS platform for spatial and non-spatial data to enhance health services in Sri Lanka

This study explores the transformative potential and current limitations of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the context of Sri Lanka's health sector and broader development initiatives. Despite the global GIS market's expected growth to billions by 2025, driven by its adoption in infrastructure, urban planning, and the integration with emerging technologies, its application in critical areas such as public health, disaster management, and citizen services remains underutilized. This underutilization stems from a lack of ground-level information, limited knowledge of GIS capabilities, restricted access to essential geospatial data, and the high cost of GIS software. This paper discusses the significant hurdles in obtaining updated and comprehensive citizen, household, and health-related information, which impedes effective planning and decision-making within the health sector of Sri Lanka. It further examines the initiatives by the Ministry of Health, supported by the Asian Development Bank, to implement a GIS-based Health Mapping System focused on infrastructure and inventory management of health facilities, yet lacking in integrating critical citizen data for demand analysis of health services. The study underscores the necessity for a comprehensive "Geographical Citizen Information System for the Health Sector in Sri Lanka" akin to those in developed countries, to host, process, and analyze spatial and non-spatial information for enhanced policymaking and development planning. Through an analysis of current challenges and the exploration of potential solutions, this paper advocates for an integrated approach to harness the full capabilities of GIS technologies, thereby enabling more informed and effective governance in Sri Lanka’s Health sector.

Management of Infrastructure in Supporting the Implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum

Infrastructure management is the most important thing in supporting the implementation of Merdeka curriculum in schools. This study aims to describe and analyze the management of facilities and infrastructure in supporting the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum and describe and analyze obstacles and solutions to overcome the gap in facilities and infrastructure in supporting the implementation of the Merdeka curriculum in SMP Negeri Keluang. Data collection techniques in this study used interview, observation, and documentation techniques. In the interviews, researchers involved principals, treasurers, wakasapras, and teachers. Data analysis techniques in this study include data reduction, data presentation, conclusions, and data validity using triangaluasi. This study concluded that the management of infrastructure facilities to support the implementation of the Merdeka curriculum at SMP Negeri Keluang has been carried out well by management functions. This study contributes to the principals in Indonesia to apply management of facilities and infrastructure where they would implement the Merdeka Curriculum.

Regional Framework Towards Establishing Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) Facilities for PV Waste Management in the Philippines: A Case Study of Laguna Province

Abstract. The accelerated adoption of photovoltaic (PV) systems for renewable power generation in the Philippines will yield a tremendous amount of PV waste. However, the country lacks a comprehensive framework for understanding PV module waste volume growth and optimally siting Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facilities for PV waste management based on minimum siting factor. The study aims to develop a regional framework that utilizes a geographic information system (GIS)-based approach to find the potential sites and optimal locations of TSD facilities in Laguna, Philippines, based on the estimated PV module waste growth of solar energy systems with service contracts and minimum siting criteria under Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order 2013-22. By 2060, the projected amount of PV module waste in Laguna province will be around 162,230 metric tons based on the waste projection results. The suitable sites cover around 19,720.5 hectares or 11.21% of the total land area of Laguna, which were determined by various siting factors that encompass social, economic, and environmental factors and obtained using binary suitability analysis and vector overlay analysis. The optimal locations of the two TSD facilities were identified using strategic positioning based on hotspot analysis, clustering algorithm, and proximity analysis. Consequently, the distance and GHG emissions of the two optimal locations were calculated. Indeed, the approach will serve as a guide for policymakers and other stakeholders in understanding PV module waste growth and strategically and optimally position TSD facilities on suitable sites for efficient and effective PV waste management.