Medium-scale Projects Research Articles

HYPOSO Map Viewer: A Web-Based Atlas of Small-Scale Hydropower for Selected African and Latin American Countries

In many countries, the advancement of hydropower resources has been hindered by economic factors and insufficient data on topography, streamflow, environmental sensitivity, power grid, and, most importantly, the location of potential hydropower sites. This challenge is particularly pronounced in certain African and Latin American river systems. Developing web-based maps of hydropower resources based on geographic information systems and advanced mapping technologies can facilitate the initial assessment of hydropower sites. This is especially relevant for developing sites in remote areas and data-scarce regions. The available geospatial datasets, remote sensing technologies, and advanced GIS modelling techniques can be used to identify potential hydropower sites and assess their preliminary characteristics. This paper reviews web-based hydropower atlases in African and Latin American countries. Their main features are represented and compared with the recently launched HYPOSO map viewer covering two African countries (Cameroon and Uganda) and three Latin American countries (Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador). This hydropower atlas consists of 20 spatial layers. Its particular focus is to present a geospatial dataset of new hydropower sites with concise information for potential investors. These so-called virtual hydropower atlases can be only one type of discovery at the early project stage, automatically identifying sites worthy of further investigation. A formal validation of the web-based atlases, including the HYPOSO hydropower atlas, is briefly considered. Creating open-access hydropower map viewers is anticipated to significantly enhance the hydropower development database in these nations, offering valuable insights for small and medium-scale projects.

Towards Characterization of Scale and Scaling in Implementation Research within Mathematics Education

Abstract Scale and scaling are central concepts in projects aimed at implementing innovations for improving mathematics education. This study aims to provide conceptual clarity on the notions of scale and scaling in mathematics education research. The meanings of these terms are handled tacitly, and there is diversity in how they are used in the literature. To address this, we gathered opinions from experienced researchers in the area of the large-scale implementation of educational innovations, and we also conducted a literature review of articles explicitly addressing aspects of scale and scaling in mathematics education. We analyzed the content of these sources using Coburn’s (2003) conceptualization of scale. Our findings provide insight into how experts define and understand the concepts of small scale, large scale, at scale and scaling, and how these concepts relate to the four dimensions of scale proposed by Coburn. This study contributes to developing a more precise and nuanced understanding of scale and scaling in mathematics education research by offering an operational distinction between small-scale, large-scale, and medium-scale project implementation. This distinction is based on three key factors: the contact factor, the material factor, and the organizational factor. The impact sheet to this article can be accessed at 10.6084/m9.figshare.22339609.

Tunnel support practice in small hydropower tunnels in the Himalayas through observational approach

With the high mountains, steep terrain and fast flowing river, the Himalayan region has a great opportunity and potential for hydropower development. In Nepal, many hydropower projects have been constructed and many are under construction among which majority of the project are small to medium scale project. For such project, medium size tunnel provides an economic and safe route for water convergence. Squeezing and collapse have been observed in most of the hydropower tunnels, which have resulted in support failure, as the tunnel passes through weak rock mass under high in-situ stress during construction. Due to insufficient tunnel closure measurements, field-based observation has been conducted to study the installed support at different tunnels in the Himalayas. The observational approach is used for analysis and recommendations have been made for designing a stable and safe support system for tunnels. Through an analysis of a case study from Nepal, comparison has been made on the design and practiced support systems, and description of supports used in various case histories from Nepal have been provided.

Implementation Level of Effective Risk Management Systems by Indian Infra Structure Projects - An Assessment

Study reports from various sources indicate that India is likely to see increased failures of infrastructure projects in the coming days. These reports are based on the historical trends of increasing cost overruns and schedule delays. The inability of project organisations to cope up with the uncertainties and risks that haunt the projects stand out as the most major reason for such failures. Even though the concept of risk management has made strong inroads into the project arena in many countries, to manage and mitigate project risks. India is seemingly lagging in integrating risk management into project management. This paper was an attempt at mapping the level of implementation of any structured risk management in the infrastructure Project segment of India in order to identify the gaps that need to be filled for attaining a satisfactory level of effectiveness in combating project risks. The suggestion of corrective solutions based on the shortcomings thus unearthed was also another objective of the study. The study was made by means of a questionnaire survey across a cross-section sampled out of the Indian infra project spectrum. The survey was conducted only after a thorough literature survey was done to gather the know-how about implanting any effective risk management system to identify the deviations of the risk management practice at project sites from the ideal one. Instrumentation was done with the knowledge thus gathered from the published works, appropriate to point out the vital deviations from index aspects corresponding to maximum effectiveness. The findings obtained after the analysis of survey results indicated that the project organisation that reported the best in risk management implementation itself had only effectiveness of 76%. 30% of the projects reported a poor level of implementation and exposed the lack of interest in risk management of the top management in low and medium-scale project organisations. Sector-wise analyses brought out the fact that the presence of a nationwide uniformity in governing guidelines could produce a good impact on risk performance. The study concluded that centrally administered policy guidelines aimed at maximising risk management effectiveness were necessary to bring forth breakthrough progress in the level of implementation of risk management throughout the infra sector.

Quantitative risk analysis procedure for economic project sustainability.

The paper briefly explains the importance of quantitative procedures of risk analysis in large and medium scale projects for the sustenance of project economic sustainability. Globally, several construction projects are being descoped and tend to close out before attaining the initial project deliverables due to cost and schedule overruns. The quantitative methods can sieve the key factors and forecast the tangible impacts that can lead to schedule or cost variance in a project. It can guide the project stakeholders for timely decision making and mitigate the risks associated to achieve the project goals. Today, the quantitative methods are pivotal to analyze the impacts of Covid-19 crises in Construction industry which are increasingly apparent.
 Keywords- Project economic sustainability, Risk analysis, Quantitative methods

Cooperative coevolution with an improved resource allocation for large-scale multi-objective software project scheduling

The existing literature of search-based software project scheduling merely studied to schedule a small to medium-scale project in static scenarios, while little work has considered to schedule a large-scale software project with uncertainties. However, many real-world software projects involve a large number of tasks and employees. Meanwhile, they are confronted with uncertain environments. To tackle such problems, this paper constructs a mathematical model for the large-scale multi-objective software project scheduling problem, and proposes a cooperative coevolutionary multi-objective genetic algorithm to solve the established model. In our model, more practical features of human resources and tasks are captured in the context of large-scale projects than the previous studies. Two efficiency related objectives of duration and cost are considered together with robustness to uncertainties and employees’ satisfaction to allocations subject to various realistic constraints. Three novel strategies are incorporated in the proposed algorithm, which include the problem feature-based variable decomposition method, the improved computational resource allocation mechanism and the problem-specific subcomponent optimizer. To evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm, empirical experiments have been performed on 15 randomly generated large-scale software project scheduling instances with up to 2048 decision variables, and three instances derived from real-world software projects. Experimental results indicate that on most of the 15 random instances and three real-world instances, the proposed algorithm achieves significantly better convergence performance than several state-of-the-art evolutionary algorithms, while maintaining a set of well-distributed solutions. Thus, it can be concluded that the proposed algorithm has a promising scalability to decision variables on software project scheduling problems. We also demonstrate how different compromises among the four objectives can offer software managers a deeper insight into various trade-offs among many objectives, and enabling them to make an informed decision.

Organization model for information system project: a literature review & blended learning case

Along with the development of information technology today, the development of information systems is also increasing. Organizations and personal competitions to make an information system. A reliable information system is produced by a team that has the ability to design, design and validate. With the increasing number of students at XYZ College and limited existing building facilities then one of the solutions that will be applied is the development of e-learning system to support teaching and learning activities. One important element in project management is determining the organizational model to be used. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the organization model is effective to manage the e-learning system project in the PT. The research method used is literature study and interviews with key stakeholders, especially leaders of universities. The results show that the effective organizational model for the blended learning information system project is to use functional organizational structure, since functional organization is more appropriate for small to medium scale projects, focusing on the division of tasks based on the function of each part, the difficulty level is low and the limitationof resources.

A SIMPLIFIED METHOD FOR PHYSICAL PROGRESS MEASUREMENT

Project stakeholders frequently have problems while monitoring the progress of the projects during execution. Since an unbiased measurement system could not be established, progress figures are mainly based on project stakeholders’ own experiences or subjective judgements. Considering the size of the projects, small to medium scale projects suffer the most from this problem. Usually, planning and site organizations of such scale projects are not set up adequately due to tight budgets or limited number of qualified personnel. Therefore, progress calculation method could not be defined efficiently or the data required for calculating project progress could not be gathered accurately. In order to overcome aforementioned difficulties and measure the progress correctly, simplified progress measurement techniques can be a solution. This article intends to describe how a simplified and convenient physical progress measurement method can be established. By separating the project into main elements and defining the most indicative commodities of them, number of parameters, which should be followed in the project can be decreased to a manageable level. Project weights of the elements can be calculated by taking into account standard man-hours required to complete each of them. Finally, construction milestones of the elements can be scheduled in a table, which helps to track and calculate the progress. A footbridge example is simply illustrated in the article to describe the method to readers explicitly.

Crowdfunding platforms for renewable energy investments: an overview of best practices in the EU

This paper takes a closer look at EU crowdfunding platforms offering investment in renewable energy (RES) projects, how they are exposed to an lead with investor risk. We analyze the platforms’ business model and the resulting risk types, as well as their assessment, mitigation and communication based on an in depth document review and on a survey taken among the platform’s representatives. The resulting overview shows that RES-crowdfunding activity thrives on stable long term policy support schemes for small and medium scale projects, as well as on comprehensive financial regulation that exempts crowdfunding from classic financial service regulatory obligations. When combining the offered financial instruments and underlying RES-projects, a considerable exposure to credit risk can be verified. Risk awareness among platforms can be considered high. However, confidence in the investor’s capability to deal with risk is high as well.

A Management Framework to Reduce Delays in Road Construction Projects in Sudan

Road construction delays are a challenge for developing countries, and specifically for Sudan, where great economic costs result from difficulties in identifying and reducing the factors that cause delay. This paper addresses the key delay factors faced by the road construction industry in Sudan, and it proposes a management framework that has the potential to reduce this delay. The methodology used first critically reviewed relevant published studies, reports, policy documents and management steps used in different countries. Secondly, a structured questionnaire was produced through a two-day interactive workshop with the help of experts and professionals from the road construction industry in Sudan. Thirdly, Relative Importance Index was measured based on the individual responses towards delay factors in road construction projects, and then, the correlation between delay factors and the effects of delay were evaluated. Moreover, the initial findings were analysed and the factors were combined into six groups. The finance competence factors group was found to be the main contributor towards delays in road construction projects in Sudan. Some effective ways were proposed to overcome delays due to financing via use of strategic public and private partnerships for large-scale projects, introduction of bank financing schemes for medium-scale projects, and community-based partnership for small-scale projects. In the fourth stage, a management framework was developed using the ‘stage–gate’ approach and validated with the input from a panel of experts. The paper details the way a proposed management framework will work to design a construction project in an effective manner especially in Sudan.

A versatile and light-weight slow control system for small-scale applications

We present an open source slow control system for small and medium scale projects. Thanks to its modular and flexible design, where the various instruments are read and controlled by independent plugins, Doberman (Detector OBsERving and Monitoring ApplicatioN) can be quickly adapted for many applications, also making use of existing code or proprietary components. The system uses a SQL database to store the data from the instruments and provides an online application to display and browse through the data. It allows the modification of device settings while the program is running and features a protocol to handle exceptions, including the automated distribution of alarm messages. We present two case studies from astroparticle physics, on which Doberman is successfully deployed: a low-background screening facility installed in a remote underground laboratory and a detector R&D platform using cryogenic liquid xenon.

Working Intricately with Moh Daha

Moh Daha has been instrumental for initiating and coordinating many European consortia in the area of immunopathogenesis of glomerulonephritis including a number with the author. This review provides a personal history of these developments, ending with INTRICATE, an FP7 medium scale project investigating ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). The current status of this research and recent insight in the autoimmune reactions and autoantigens in AAV are briefly summarized.

An Innovative Approach to the Development of Project Management Processes for Small‐scale Projects in a large Engineering Company

AbstractA Canadian division of a large American engineering company has developed and implemented project management processes for their small‐scale and medium‐scale projects. The company was already using a robust project management process for their large‐scale projects. The objectives of this process improvement project were to reduce cost overruns and project delays, standardize practices to facilitate the integration of new managers, increase the level of customer satisfaction and to reduce risk‐related planning deviations. For this improvement project, the engineering organization used the new ISO/IEC 29110 standard developed specifically for very small entities. An analysis of the cost and the benefits of the implementation of small and medium scale project management processes was performed using the ISO economic benefits of standard methodology. The engineering enterprise estimated that, over a three‐year timeframe, savings of about 780,000$ would be realized due to the implementation of project management processes using the ISO/IEC 29110 standard.

English

Software engineering provides methodologies, concepts and practices, which are used for analysing, designing, building and maintaining the information in a software industry. Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) model is an approach used in the software industry for the development of various size projects: small scale projects, medium scale projects and large scale projects. A software project of any size is developed with the co-ordination of development team. Therefore it is important to assign resources intelligently to the different phases of the software project by the project manager. This study proposes a model for the spiral development process with the use of a simulator (Simphony.NET), which helps the project manager in determining how to increase the productivity of a software firm with the use of minimum resources (expert team members). This model increase the utilization of different development processes by keeping all development team members busy all the time, which helps in decrease idle and waste time. As future work, many other SDLC models like incremental, prototype etc. will be simulated, in order to find which simulation model is best for the software firm.

중소규모 SW개발 프로젝트를 위한 시각화 기반의 Tool-Chain 품질관리 방법 제안

Since the concept of software engineering was first used in 1968 by NATO Science Committee, a lot of research work and improvements have been made on software development methodology and software quality control, but they still fall short of ensuring successful development of small and medium scale software systems. Under these circumstances, Center for Software Engineering (CSE) at National IT Industry Promotion Agency(NIPA) has been conducting studies on quality control methodologies of software visualization well-suited for small and medium scale software systems, and also working on the systemization and quantification of software quality control. In this paper, we attempt to scope on the software development management of domestic and foreign small and medium-sized enterprises that are lying in the blind spot, compared to large enterprises with well-organized software development systems. In particular, based on software visualization that CSE is pursuing for small and medium-sized developers, we propose a practical quality control methodology well-suited for small and medium scale projects, and a low-cost quality control management tool by combining open-source quality control tools. Our proposal is expected to induce developers` mind change in SI-specialized small and medium-sized software enterprises, increase their profits and improve customer satisfaction through project quality control.

A PROPOSED HYBRID METHOD FOR UNDERGRADUATE SOFTWARE ENGINEERING STUDENT’S PROJECT

Agile methods for software engineering has been described as the best for small projects and highly experienced development team. Thus, suggesting that some agile practices requires certain level of expertise and may not be effectively applied by students. Researchers, trainers and institutions are still looking for an appropriate agile method that can be efficiently applied by students and how agility can be achieved in such environment. The objective of this research is to find an appropriate agile method as well as applicable agile concepts, principles and practices that can be suitable for both graduate and undergraduate students’ project. Two software development methods were combined in this study: extreme programming from the agile family and throwaway prototyping from the rapid development methods to come out with an applicable hybrid agile method that can be used by students. The research presented is based on a real time application of certain agile principles and practices in a final software engineering project at Linton University College, Malaysia. As suggested in this research, the hybrid method could guide students in applying agile practices and implementing small and medium scale projects.

Lifecycle management of footbridges: a framework

Little effort has been made to develop a life-cycle management system for small or medium-scale projects, such as the provision of footbridges. As the number of footbridges keeps increasing, there is a need to develop an optimal management strategy to optimise the cost of design and construction, as well as the cost of future actions such as maintenance, inspection and repair. However, while footbridges tend to be built in the form of networks, in most existing life-cycle management system research and practice, bridges are treated individually rather than as a bridge network. A new life-cycle management system for footbridges is therefore needed. The objective of this paper is to propose a framework for a life-cycle management system of footbridges which consists of three management levels – component level, project level and network level – in order to manage footbridges as a united network. The management approach and the dominant components of the proposed framework are introduced and application of the framework to Hong Kong provides an illustrative example.

EBRD ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

The article focuses on one of the strategic European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) sector priorities – sustainable energy. A vast amount of initiatives aiming at efficient energy use have been launched since the late XX century. Among others a pivotal role play the EBRD programmes comprising investments and technical assistance. Within over 20 years of activity the EBRD has gained great experience carrying out projects in the field of energy efficiency and therefore Sustainable Energy Initiative (SEI) was launched in 2006. Sub-sector breakdown include cleaner energy production, industrial energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable energy financing facilities for small and medium-scale projects implemented through local banks etc. SEI Phase 1 and 2 had been carried out by the end of 2011. In 2006-2012 the EBRD invested €11 billion in more than 620 projects. In 2012 Phase 3 was launched for the period 2012-2014, financing target – €4,5 to €6,5 billion. SEI accounts for 20-30% of the total EBRD financing volume. The greatest share as a core country of operations receives Russia: total SEI investments – €2,4 billion, number of projects – over 100, avoided greenhouse gases emissions – 18 million tonnes (CO2 equivalent per year), energy savings – 9 million tonnes of oil equivalent per year. Thus the EBRD encourages sustainable low-carbon economic development of the country. The EBRD will further extend sustainable energy activities, combining investments with technical assistance and policy dialogue.

Estimation of the New Agile XP Process Model for Medium-Scale Projects Using Industrial Case Studies

Agile is one of the terms with which software professionals are quite familiar. Agile models promote fast development to develop high quality software. XP process model is one of the most widely used and most documented agile models. XP model is meant for small-scale projects. Since XP model is a good model, therefore there is need of its extension for the development of medium and large-scale projects. XP model has certain drawbacks such as weak documentation and poor performance while adapting it for the development of medium and large-scale projects having large teams. A new XP model is proposed in this paper to cater the needs of software development companies for medium-scale projects having large teams. This research may prove to be step forward for adaptation of the proposed new XP model for the development of large-scale projects. Two independent industrial case studies are conducted to validate the proposed new XP model handling for small and medium scale software projects, one case study for each type of project.

EXRUP: A Hybrid Software Development Model for Small to Medium Scale Projects

The conventional and agile software development process models are proposed and used nowadays in software industry to meet emergent requirements of the customers. Conventional software development models such as Waterfall, V model and RUP have been predominant in industry until mid 1990s, but these models are mainly focused on extensive planning, heavy documentation and team expertise which suit only to medium and large scale projects. The Rational Unified Process is one of the widely used conventional models. Agile process models got attention of the software industry in last decade due to limitations of conventional models such as slow adaptation to rapidly changing business requirements and they overcome problems of schedule and cost. Extreme Programming is one of the most useful agile methods that provide best engineering practices for a good quality product at small scale. XP follows the iterative and incremental approach, but its key focus is on programming, and reusability becomes arduous. In this paper, we present characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of RUP and XP process models, and propose a new hybrid software development model eXRUP (eXtreme Programming and Rational Unified Process), which integrates the strengths of RUP and XP while suppressing their weaknesses. The proposed process model is validated through a controlled case study.