Operational Perspective Research Articles

Chartering policies and operational efficiency of shipping lines: exploring strategic changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Shipping is a highly cyclical, volatile, and unpredictable industry. In recent history, economic shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic have heavily disrupted supply chains and tested the resilience and adaptability of shipping lines from both operational and financial perspectives. Therefore, the commercial success of shipping lines is increasingly determined by an optimal balance between reliable logistics operations and financial performance. Given this, chartering strategies of shipping lines are pivotal in achieving fleet optimisation and financial sustainability. Using a Mann–Whitney U test and a data envelopment analysis (DEA), this study provides a view on chartering strategies and efficiency levels of shipping lines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings reveal that chartering strategies have changed considerably since 2020 and that most shipping lines have pursued a peculiar strategy with a different mix in terms of chartered vessels’ size, age, and period of charter. Shipping lines which showed the most marked differences in chartering strategies also yielded higher efficiency scores under DEA, whereas those that did not sustain large changes scored lower in terms of efficiency. This study provides significant insights on and managerial guidance for understanding and benchmarking chartering strategies and their impact on efficiency gains.

Decommissioning and restoration: early planning is critical to an efficient and risk-minimised process

Over the next 7 years, according to Wood Mackenzie, it is estimated that as many as 380 fields oil and gas facilities will be decommissioned across Asia–Pacific (Wood Mackenzie 2018). Many companies leave Decommissioning and Restoration (D&R) up to the respective project groups using their normal project management and control systems. However, managing D&R requires a different approach and mindset, as the value drivers and risk profiles for D&R projects are different compared to conventional construction projects. For D&R to be efficient – from operational, sustainability, regulatory compliance, environmental and financial perspectives – delivery must not be limited to an isolated project group. Rather, it must leverage corporate and operational knowledge, lessons learned from other decommissioning projects and industry best-practice to support the identification and management of the decommissioning risk profile and successful delivery thereof. Planning for D&R is essential at every stage of the life of an asset and should start as early as possible. Ideally, facilities are designed with D&R in mind at the project conception stage as the scope of D&R is often broader and more complex than operators realise, contributing to D&R projects often exceeding original cost estimates and timelines. Decommissioning and restoration opportunities may be missed or associated risks increased without timely recognition and management. In this paper, dss+ will provide companies with pragmatic guidance on how to plan and implement a D&R process that is managed well from an operational, risk, financial, contractor management and importantly, a stakeholder management point of view.

Economics of physics-based solar forecasting in power system day-ahead scheduling

A high-quality solar power forecasting system that strictly adheres to grid regulations is valuable for system operators to formulate strategies for power system scheduling. Some grid operators, therefore, enact penalty schemes for the forecasts submitted by photovoltaic (PV) plant owners, as a means to fortify truthful and high-quality forecast submissions. From the perspectives of both plant owners and grid operators, this study inquires into the quality-to-value mapping of solar forecasts in the context of power system day-ahead scheduling. A physics-based solar power forecasting method is presented, which consists of two steps. Firstly, ensemble numerical weather prediction (NWP) is summarized into point forecasts. Then irradiance is converted to power via a physical model chain. The results reveal that the two-step physics-based forecasting method has an advantage over a winning method in Global Energy Forecasting Competition 2014 in terms of several accuracy measures. Subsequently, the economics of solar forecasting is quantified through performing day-ahead scheduling on a modified IEEE 30-bus system with PV and battery storage. It is demonstrated that, by respecting the statistical theory on consistency and elicitability when extracting point forecasts from NWP ensembles, both power system operators and PV plant owners can benefit profoundly in terms of cost savings. The former sees fewer needs for reserves, while the latter is less penalized. The data and Python code used to produce the results are also provided to enhance the reproducibility of this work.

Shaping patient perceptions with healthcare supply chain transparency

AbstractHealthcare professionals continually face pressure for increased transparency in their supply chains (SCs). This research examines how healthcare SC information disclosures and physician operations influence patient perceptions (i.e., satisfaction with physicians and attitude toward healthcare service providers). Evidence from prior research might not be applicable in the healthcare context because of intense regulations and safety concerns. Moreover, previous studies have mostly adopted an internal, operational perspective. By contrast, we provide healthcare professionals with guidance on how to maximize patient perceptions. Anchoring on signaling theory and construal level theory of psychological distance, we examine whether and how the disclosed information in a healthcare context influences patients' perceptions with two vignette‐based studies. In contrast with literature on SC transparency, we do not find a main effect of SC disclosures in healthcare. Instead, the effects depend on the content disclosed. We find that spatial and temporal distances of the healthcare SC significantly influence patients' perceptions. Furthermore, a three‐way interaction shows that by strategically disclosing manufacturing and distribution information, especially when these occur close to the patient's home country, and incorporating service recovery actions, such as closer follow‐ups, professionals can maximize patient perception outcomes.

The potential for water recovery from urban waste water - The perspective of urban waste water treatment plant operators in Poland

Water recovery from waste water has become an essential element of the circular economy in the Baltic Sea region. However, there is little data on the possibility of using water recovered from urban waste water. A survey was conducted to learn the opinions of Poland waste water treatment plant operators. They were asked whether they recovered water for internal or external needs. Respondents indicated opportunities and barriers in this activity. The opinions of 107 operators show that work is underway on closing internal circuits in urban WWTPs. These solutions are technically relatively easy to implement and show measurable benefits (i.e., saving drinking water). However, water recovery for external purposes is rare and is at a very early stage. Despite this, the potential is significant, although many financial, organizational, technical, and mental barriers exist. The most critical challenge is the safe use of reclaimed water and the cost-effectiveness of the solutions. The survey also shows a need for education and involvement of the public.

Exploring the dynamics between artificial intelligence and cybersecurity in Healthcare

Technology changed the world over the past decades, reinventing the way we work, communicate, and live. In the healthcare sector, it has contributed to driving innovations in the diagnosis process, treatment, data management, and information access. However, this transformation has been accompanied by an increasing dependence on digital systems and connectivity. Nowadays, concepts such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity are widely recognized, but organizations just became aware of the benefits and risks involved. In fact, the nature of their relationship it is still under discussion.
 The central objective of this study is to explore the dynamics of this relationship in healthcare, taken as a sector undergoing constant technological evolution. We propose a dual approach, encompassing both strategic and operational perspectives, which can support the management of this complex interaction, balancing security and innovation.

A Study on the Improvement of Durability of Push Switches for Rotorcraft Control

In this study, we propose a method to improve the durability of rotorcraft switches. Additionally, the appropriate verification test results are presented. As a result of analyzing the defective switch, it was found that the contact was defective due to long-term use. It was confirmed that stable contact of the terminal is necessary to achieve appropriate performance. We manufactured a switch with one spring and a switch with two springs. As a result of the verification test using this, it was found that the durability of the improved shape was improved by 15 % compared to the existing shape. Those numbers have merit from an operational perspective. This has the effect of reducing the number of replacements per aircraft.

Exploring Ancillary Parameters for Quantifying Interpolation Uncertainty in Digital Bathymetric Models

The oceans remain one of Earth’s most enigmatic frontiers, with approximately 75% of the world’s oceans still unmapped. To create a seamless digital bathymetric model (DBM) from sparse bathymetric datasets, interpolation is employed, but this introduces uncertainties of unknown nature. This study aims to estimate and characterize these uncertainties, which is important in many fields, particularly nautical charting, and navigational safety. Complete seafloor coverage sonar depth data for five testbeds that varied in slope and roughness are sampled at a range of densities (1% to 50%) and interpolated across an entire area using Spline, Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW), and Linear interpolation. The resulting uncertainties are evaluated from both scientific and operational perspectives. Employing linear regression and machine learning techniques, the relationships between these uncertainties and ancillary parameters (distance to the nearest measurement, seabed roughness, and slope) are examined for quantifying and characterizing the interpolation uncertainty. Results indicate insignificant operational differences among the three interpolators in depth estimation, as well as the statistical significance of the examined uncertainty predictors. Additionally, findings suggest the potential presence of unaccounted-for factors shaping uncertainty, yet this work lays a foundational understanding for improving the estimate of uncertainty in DBMs.

THE RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT OF POWER TRANSFORMERS

This research investigated the assessment of power transformer reliability with emphasis on the transmission network within Rivers State in Nigeria, focusing on the perspectives of electricity consumers, organizational personnel, and business operators using descriptive survey. The study encompassed the entire population of 725,372 electricity consumers in the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PEDC) in Rivers State, which included both households and business owners. To select a representative sample, the Convenience Sampling Technique was employed, resulting in the inclusion of 390 electricity consumers in Rivers State. Data collection utilized the Consumers Perception of Electricity Power Transformer Reliability (COPEPT) questionnaire and Structured Interview, with the instrument's reliability established through the test-retest technique, yielding a reliability coefficient for each investigation. Research questions were addressed through the weighted mean score (WMS) analysis. Key findings indicated dissatisfaction among electricity consumers in Rivers State, primarily attributed to factors such as transformer age, overall condition, uncontrolled overloading, adverse weather conditions, and inadequate transformer capacity to meet increasing demand. Addressing these issues, different approaches including upgrading or replacing outdated transformers, implementing limits on transformer loading, introducing robust earthing systems, and increasing transformer capacity, were recommended to enhance consumer satisfaction and overall reliability. The study further revealed that persistent power transformer failures resulted in power outages, adversely impacting businesses, households, communication, and contributing to reduced production and national income. Based on these findings, recommendations in the form of strategies were provided, emphasizing a comprehensive analysis of power surge control during adverse weather conditions, a plan for upgrading or replacing outdated transformers, an assessment of power transformer capacity needs, and collaboration with relevant stakeholders to develop strategies mitigating the negative economic impact and enhancing communication with consumers.
 Keywords: Reliability Assessment, Power Transformers, Rivers State and Transmission Network.

Analysis and Simulation of Lateral Collision Risk under Paired Approach

The paired approach can improve the efficiency of closely spaced parallel runways. Calculating the probability and frequency of horizontal overlap is an indispensable step when evaluating the horizontal collision risk of the paired approach. As the generation of horizontal overlap probability is closely related to horizontal position error, we propose a calculation method of horizontal overlap probability based on position error from the perspective of pilot operation. First, according to the principle of flight mechanics, the attitude adjustment model is established for the horizontal direction of the approach process, and the pilot’s operation model for various position errors is based on the concept of the stochastic process. This attitude adjustment model can replicates the process of the pilot operating the steering column to change the aircraft’s attitude. When combined with the pilot’s operation model, it is possible to simulate the position errors generated during the approach process. Building on this, the horizontal overlapping conditions of two aircraft are analyzed to simulate the horizontal overlap process in the paired approach. The duration and instances of overlap counted and the ratio between these results and the total running time give the overlap probability and frequency. Multiple simulations in MATLAB reveal that higher pilot operating accuracy shortens the time for the aircraft to align with the course, whereas lower accuracy leads to unstable horizontal position errors. Furthermore, the horizontal overlap in paired approaches primarily occurs at the beginning of the procedure, and enhancing the pilot’s operating accuracy does not significantly affect the probability and frequency of horizontal overlap.

Dielectric flow- and tab-based battery thermal management system for EV high performance application

From the perspectives of security, durability, and proper operation, effective temperature control via thermal management systems (TMSs) on lithium-ion batteries is crucial for electric vehicle use. In this regard, a novel TMS based on dielectric flow and tab cooling was presented in this paper. A functional prototype of the system was developed and experimentally tested for performance analysis. A thermal model was built on computational fluid dynamics software, and a comparative analysis of the initial and an optimised geometry of the prototype was carried on after validation. Results demonstrate the adequate response of the system. Thermally speaking, temperature decrease was noticed during operation, and the internal and among-cells thermal gradient was preserved into the recommended span. Besides, the used dielectric fluid assisted with a low auxiliary consumption due to its particular viscosity. With the new geometry, the dielectric flow duct volume was reduced by 79.8%, and the system particularities were enhanced due to heat dissipation improvement: operating temperatures were even lower in every scenario examined. The temperature difference among cells was reduced by 15%. Thermal dispersion within the cells was still below the limit, despite being increased. Moreover, the necessary pumping energy consumption was below 0.004% of the exchanged battery module’s energy, demonstrating the TMS efficiency. Thus, the application potential of the dielectric tab cooling-based system for electric vehicles was highlighted.

Accuracy of cumulonimbus cloud prediction using Rapidly Developing Cumulus Area (RDCA) products at Pattimura Ambon airport

Extreme weather conditions caused by cumulonimbus (Cb) clouds are closely related to the world of aviation, which is the main mode of transportation in Indonesia. Thus, the delivery of information regarding Cb predictions needs to be optimized to support flight safety and minimize the impact that can be caused. The RDCA product from the Himawari satellite can be a solution for predicting cumulus clouds that have the potential to become Cb within the next 1 hour. How accurate is the prediction of the RDCA, is considered important to be carried out in its application in the Ambon Pattimura airport area. This study focuses on the spatial and statistical analysis of categorical scores from dichotomous verification using weather radar data and surface observations, which were also verified using several parameters. Based on analysis in July and December 2021, RDCA verification results using weather radar aligned with surface observation data show that RDCA has a high accuracy value in predicting Cb in the next 10-60 minutes. Meanwhile, the results of research with several parameters have a proficient level of accuracy, although in certain cases, there are still quite a lot of false alarms and misses, indicating that the RDCA point cannot predict perfectly. The results of this research have led to progress in the development of techniques or ways to obtain the accuracy of RDCA products. The results of the accuracy of the application of RDCA can be used as a basis for nowcasting considerations as well as practical use from an operational perspective in aviation. In addition to using surface data or observations as one of the verification considerations, this paper is a initial step in assessing the accuracy of RDCA products in the tropics, especially in Ambon.

Fairness-oriented multicast routing for distributed interactive applications

Facing the challenges of network services on the edge, such as routing considering Quality of Service, is a crucial issue for current networking research efforts. Multicast routing is an essential technique for delivering routing services at a high level of optimization from the perspective of operators and application providers when there are user groups. Furthermore, routing that considers latency constraints has obstacles when it comes to merging different conditions in the solution, particularly when there is a need for fairness in the users’ communication. This work addresses this fairness requirement in multicasting, showing an efficient solution to increase the balance in routing by choosing better options for fair group interaction.

Afinal, o que é um argumento?

Este artigo busca discutir o conceito de argumento, alvo de considerável controvérsia no âmbito dos estudos da argumentação. Nosso objetivo central é apresentar uma contribuição a esse debate a partir de uma proposta unificadora e integradora orientada pela seguinte definição: o argumento é uma unidade de fundamentação de uma resposta a uma questão argumentativa. Com base nessa definição, procuramos, então, discorrer sobre as propriedades do fundamentar, propondo que tal processo possa ser delineado a partir de três operações: a operação lógico-inferencial de atribuição de plausibilidade à tese, que articula a noção de argumento à noção de esquema argumentativo em termos de uma relação tipo-instância; a operação retórica de geração de influência, que incorpora a discussão em torno de comprometimentos e acordos ao modo de funcionamento do argumento; e a operação dialética de deslocamento do ônus da prova para o outro, que conecta a realidade racional à interacional e intertextual. Cada uma dessas operações é discutida do ponto de vista teórico e operacional, destacando categorias relevantes de análise para dar conta desse conjunto. A fim de mostrar a produtividade da proposta, agregamos a tal debate a análise ilustrativa de um diálogo concreto entre uma menina de quatro anos e seu responsável, publicado no perfil Fatos de Crianças do então Twitter (hoje, X).

Analyzing flexibility options for microgrid management from economical operational and environmental perspectives

Power grids have undergone a massive transformation due to increasing number of renewable/non renewable distributed generators, storage technologies and electrical vehicles. This paper focuses on the flexible energy management of grid connected microgrid (MG) in order to analyze the effects of the flexibility options such as electric vehicle with demand response (EV-DR), battery storage system (BSS), hydrogen storage system (HSS) and dynamic line rating (DLR) in presence of renewable sources. In addition, microturbine (MT), fuel cell (FC), biomass (BIO), geothermal (GEO), and diesel engine (DIE) whose output is controllable are also considered as flexible sources. In this paper, optimum operation of grid-connected MG is modeled as a mixed-integer linear programming problem considering uncertainties of wind turbine (WT) and photovoltaic (PV) sources. A day-ahead forecasting of irradiance and wind speed are performed with Decision Tree Regression (DTR) and Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) algorithms for sensitive calculation of PV and WT output. The cost function merges operating costs including fuel, operation & maintains (O&M), depletion costs with emission cost of CO2, SO2, and NOx. Obtained numerical results show that total cost of the MG is reduced by 9.40% and emission cost is diminished by 5.59% with inclusion of all considered flexibility options. Further, load factor is improved from 0.7932 to 0.8236 with 100% flexibility condition for MG.

ANALISIS STRATEGI E-COMMERCE PADA PT. SPADA INOVASI DIGITAL MENGGUNAKAN METODE IT BALANCED SCORECARD

The use of information systems is one of the IS/IT investments in a company. Information systems can certainly improve company performance, but many information systems have not been implemented optimally, and do not meet the company's vision, mission and goals. This research was conducted with the aim of making strategic planning for the implementation of the E-Commerce information system at PT. Beware of Digital Innovation. The strategic plan was developed based on the IT Balanced method. Data collection was carried out through interviews, then the data obtained was subjected to SWOT analysis, then mapped into the IT Balanced Scorecard. This research produces strategic recommendations that companies can implement, including: 1) from an operational excellence perspective, companies need to determine IS/IT employees and regular maintenance; 2) user orientation perspective, companies need to adjust the interface design according to customer wishes and provider manuals as a template for system use; 3) future orientation perspective, companies need to recruit employees which can be done with background checks; 4) from a business contribution perspective, companies need to maintain and improve service quality. It is hoped that the results of this research can improve the quality of PT Waspada Innovation Digital's e-commerce.

A semantic model-based systems engineering approach for assessing the operational performance of metal forming process

Metal Forming is a basic and essential industrial process to provide materials for constructing complex products. To design an efficient metal forming process, the functional requirements and operational performance are two important aspects to be considered. In this paper, a semantic Model-based Systems Engineering (sMBSE) approach is proposed to support the design of the entire metal forming process. A multi-architecture modeling language KARMA is used to develop meta-models and architecture models of the metal forming process from the perspectives of mission, operation, function, logic flow and physical structure. Enabled by customized software, the KARMA models are transformed to ontology models, which are then converted to Petri Net (PN) models. Simulations are conducted based on the PN models to evaluate the operational performance of the created processes. A case study based on a real metal forming scenario is conducted to evaluate the proposed approach using quantitative and qualitative analysis. The result proves that the proposed approach enables to formalize the entire architecture modeling for metal forming process; and to provide an efficient approach for evaluating the operational performance of the designed solution for initial verification.

Spray nozzle for topical anaesthesia during flexible bronchoscopy: a randomised controlled trial.

The effectiveness of using a spray nozzle to deliver lidocaine for superior topical airway anaesthesia during non-sedation flexible bronchoscopy (FB) remains a topic of uncertainty when compared with conventional methods. Patients referred for FB were randomly assigned to receive topical lidocaine anaesthesia via the bronchoscope's working channel (classical spray (CS) group) or through a washing pipe equipped with a spray nozzle (SN group). The primary outcome was cough rate, defined as the total number of coughs per minute. Secondary outcomes included subjective perceptions of both the patient and operator regarding the FB process. These perceptions were rated on a visual analogue scale, with numerical ratings ranging from 0 to 10. Our study enrolled a total of 126 (61 CS group; 65 SN group) patients. The SN group exhibited a significantly lower median cough rate compared with the CS group (4.5 versus 7.1 counts·min-1; p=0.021). Patients in the SN group also reported less oropharyngeal discomfort (4.5±2.7 versus 5.6±2.9; p=0.039), better tolerance of the procedure (6.8±2.2 versus 5.7±2.7; p=0.011) and a greater willingness to undergo a repeat FB procedure (7.2±2.7 versus 5.8±3.4; p=0.015) compared with those in the CS group. From the operator's perspective, patient discomfort (2.7±1.7 versus 3.4±2.3; p=0.040) and cough scores (2.3±1.5 versus 3.2±2.4; p=0.013) were lower in the SN group compared with the CS group, with less disruption due to coughing observed among those in the SN group (1.6±1.4 versus 2.3±2.3; p=0.029). This study illustrates that employing a spray nozzle for the delivery of lidocaine provides superior topical airway anaesthesia during non-sedation FB compared with the traditional method.

Humanitarian principles and humanitarian disarmament: An operator's perspective

Abstract Conceptually rooted in the efforts to ban indiscriminate weapons and both their immediate and long-term effects, humanitarian mine action and humanitarian disarmament operations have developed significantly since 1988, when the United Nations first took on work on mine action operations for the protection and benefit of local communities. A large part of those operations has been carried out by humanitarian disarmament NGOs such as the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), one of the first organizations to be established on this issue. Drawing on MAG's experience and perspective, this article explores how the humanitarian principles apply to humanitarian disarmament operations. The aim of the article is to show that as an operator on the humanitarian–development nexus, MAG considers the four humanitarian principles as a critical and necessary part of its reference framework due to the influence of the humanitarian disarmament framework, even when operating in the development space. All in all, the case of humanitarian disarmament and MAG's experience are good examples to illustrate where the humanitarian horizon is extended because of long-terms serious needs, and that humanitarian principles remain essential to keep the focus on the needs of affected populations.

BANULA—A Novel DLT-Based Approach for EV Charging with High Level of User Comfort and Role-Specific Data Transparency for All Parties Involved

The core goal of the BANULA research project is to combine customer-oriented and grid-compatible charging of electric vehicles. It addresses the current challenges of the e-mobility ecosystem from the perspective of grid operators and charging infrastructure users and creates added value for every mass market role involved. In the project, the idea of a virtual balancing group based on blockchain technology is implemented. Thereby, it enables extended data acquisition, a real-time data exchange between grid and market participants, proper balancing and grid node-specific load flow determination and, thus, load management.