Preliminary Planning Stage Research Articles

Computerized constructed wetlands allocation model (based on ecosystem services demand)

Egypt’s urban communities face many threats, including, pluvial floods, heat waves, and lack of publicly accessible urban green spaces. Nature-based solutions such as constructed wetlands (CWs) present a promising solution that could offer a wide range of ecosystem services (ES). However, the adoption of CWs is challenged by the lack of local planning guides and uncertainty about potential benefits. There are various models and tools available for quantifying and valuing ES, however, many of them are either highly complex or require extensive data and expertise. The aim of this paper is to develop a GIS-based multi-criteria decision model to select CW sites based on the supply and demand of ES. The model is to operate on three main stages: (i) demand: based on the need for risk reduction or benefit provisioning, (ii) potential sites (PSs): identify and score suitable sites for establishing a CW, and (iii) supply: define the service benefiting areas (SBA). An experimental approach is used, where the model is tested on New Damietta, an Egyptian Mediterranean city, proving the model is a reliable decision-making tool during preliminary urban planning stages due to its practicality, flexibility, and reasonable data requirements.

Site selection decision framework for biomass pyrolysis project based on a mixed method under probabilistic linguistic environment and low carbon perspective: A case study in China

Due to the shortage of fossil energy, pyrolysis has become a promising way for the thermal utilization of biomass resources, so as to partly replace fossil energy as well as achieve efficient resource usage. The site selection of the biomass pyrolysis (BP) project is an important task in the preliminary planning stage of the project. Moreover, since low-carbon development has become a common global goal at present, this paper proposes a decision-making framework from the low-carbon point of view for BP project site selection. Firstly, a complete site selection decision-making criteria system embracing the novel concept of low-carbon development is established for the first time, and the subjective and objective weighting method is integrated into the comprehensive integrated weighting method based on game theory. More importantly, a brand-new distance formula for the probabilistic linguistic term set is defined to measure the deviation between information, which uses expectation, variance and scale function to make the measurement more reasonable. Based on this, an improved TODIM (an acronym in Portuguese of interactive and multi-criteria decision making) method is proposed to more accurately determine the best option. Finally, taking Guangdong Province as an example, the best choice for site selection is obtained. This work can provide insightful theoretical basis for the site selection of BP projects.

Building Information Modelling Strategies in Sustainable Housing Construction Projects in Malaysia

Building Information Modelling (BIM) plays a very significant role in the construction industry, especially in project management decision-making and data integration efforts during the preliminary planning and design stage. This is aligned with the National Construction Policy (NCP 2030) by the Ministry of Work Malaysia, highlighting that it is timely for the construction industry players to move towards sustainability. BIM must be implemented to ensure the smooth delivery of sustainable housing construction projects in Malaysia due to its critical role in assisting in construction cost optimisation, green building implementation, minimising environmental impact, and waste reduction. However, the BIM implementation rate in Malaysia is still minimal due to the challenges in its execution. Therefore, this paper is aimed to propose BIM’s critical strategies in the development of Malaysian sustainable housing construction projects as envisaged in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). A thorough systematic literature review and questionnaire survey of fifty (50) BIM players in housing construction projects in Malaysia shows that from sixteen (16) BIM strategies, three (3) items are identified as critically important strategies, whereas another five (5) items are identified as important strategies. The outcome of the study shall benefit the construction industry players who are involved in the sustainable housing construction project and mainly drives the Public Work Department (PWD) BIM Strategic Plan 2021–2025, thus supporting the earlier mentioned NCP 2030 agenda by the Ministry of Work Malaysia.

ЗАГАЛЬНІ ВИМОГИ ДО ПОБУДОВИ ТА ВИКОРИСТАННЯ ГІБРИДНИХ МІКРОСИСТЕМ В РОЗПОДІЛЬНИХ МЕРЕЖАХ

The article substantiates the expediency of forming hybrid microgrids that can be integrated into a centralized power supply system or operate autonomously in order to expand the use of renewable energy sources and prevent their possible negative impact on electrical network modes. A two-level approach to managing the operation of a hybrid microgrid is proposed, which involves a preliminary planning stage based on forecasted loads, output power of renewable generation sources, market price of electric energy, and a stage of operational control based on data obtained in real time. A number of objective functions and constraints are proposed to solve the task of optimal planning of the operation of a hybrid microgrid as a multicriteria problem. At the same time, the possibility of transforming this problem into a monocriteria one is substantiated. An analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each of the proposed approaches was carried out. Ref. 12.

Parametric Method and Building Information Modeling-Based Cost Estimation Model for Construction Cost Prediction in Architectural Planning

Economic feasibility and cost analysis in the preliminary planning stage of early-phase construction projects have a significant impact on project management and implementation. However, while estimating the construction cost per unit area, the existing approaches do not account for factors other than the area-related information, causing estimation error. Therefore, a construction cost estimation model that can be utilized in the early phase of a construction project is developed in this study based on BIM in the architectural planning stage. Moreover, goodness of fit and accuracy of the model were verified through a validation method considering the BIM design process. The proposed model showed higher accuracy than the conventional models in terms of the floor area. Furthermore, it was possible to confirm the model performance based on the cost estimation accuracy range presented by the AACE. In addition, the developed model can generate estimation results corresponding to Class 1–3, a subsequent construction project stage. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of jointly considering the processes related to construction cost estimation and indicate that parameters other than the floor area need to be considered for construction cost estimation in the early phase of a construction project.

Application of Soft Computing Techniques in Modelling of Soaked and Unsoaked California Bearing Ratio

In this study, author attempted to establish a correlation between soil physical parameters and California Bearing Ratio of lateritic soils using advanced mathematical techniques such as the Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), M5 tree, multiple linear regression, and Artificial Neural Network. A total of 480 soil samples were collected and separated into a data set using training and validation of the generated models based on the main soil parameters of Liquid Limit (LL), Plastic Limit (PL), Natural moisture content (NMC), Specific gravity (GS), Fines (F), Gravel, and Sand. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to minimize the dataset's huge dimension, and the approximate sum of the first four principal components (PC) captured 88 percent of the variability in the response variable with just 12% information loss. The RMSE values of 21.6, 21.23, 295.67, 7.03, 14.54 and 24.43,24.59,326.49,8.63,17.71 are from the MLR, ANN, MS Tree, RF, and SVM models for SCBR and USCBR values, respectively. For SCBR and USCBR, random forest (RF) yielded the lowest values of 7.03 and 8.63, respectively. Similarly, the R values range from 0.1 to 0.94 and 0.01 to 0.92, indicating that the anticipated and real SCBR and USCBR are related. The Random Forest Model for SCBR and USCBR was shown to be the best by the correlation coefficient values, while the MS tree model for SCBR and USCBR was determined to have the lowest coefficient of determination R2. As a result, it can be concluded that Random Forest provided the best Soaked and Unsoaked CBR model based on the dataset, while MS tree provided the poorest model. The model is a valuable tool for evaluating the subsurface indices of a civil engineering site at the preliminary planning stage before final structural design for the substructures, as the anticipated soil parameter values are within permitted accuracy.

Shelter Effect of Pedestrian Wind behind Row Trees in a Line Arrangement

Flow past a single-line arrangement of evenly-spaced row trees, in an open territory, was numerically simulated under the action of a boundary-layer type of oncoming flow, with a strength of “strong breeze”, based on the Beaufort scale. By selecting Koelreuteria henryi as the demonstrated tree species, the spatial wind speed variations behind row trees at the pedestrian level, at various tree heights and tree spaces, were analyzed to investigate the corresponding downstream shelter effects from a systematic basis. Based on the results of the analyses, the tendency of stream-wise wind speed variations behind the row trees was presented so as to provide additional insights into row-tree planning for protection against ground wind. Moreover, in other cases of row trees with similar crown shapes and properties, resulting flow fields for various tree heights and tree spaces can provide referable quantitative information, which can be readily used to conduct tentative shelter effect assessments and pedestrian comfort evaluations in a preliminary planning stage.

Optimization of wind farm layout with optimum coordination of turbine cooperations

Traditional methods for micro-siting of wind farms usually assume that each turbine is controlled to obtain its individual maximum power generation. However, it is now common practice to implement farm level control actions during the daily operations in order to improve the economic profit of an entire wind plant. This study is then proposed to investigate the wind farm layout optimization to achieve the minimum cost per unit of energy (CoE), when the farm level control operations, the coordination of turbine cooperations (CTC), is considered preliminary farm planning stage. It is found that, by optimizing the turbine number and layout with CTC involved, the efficiency of a wind farm can be further improved. A single-objective optimization problem is firstly established by modelling all aforementioned factors of interest. Subsequently, a hybrid optimization algorithm is proposed, with a greedy algorithm to optimize the turbine number and a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to refine the turbine layout scheme. Eventually, extensive simulation studies with various scenarios are provided to substantiate the feasibility of the proposed scheme.

To the Editor: Resident Perspectives Optimize and Legitimize Redeployment.

We applaud Dr. Meo and colleagues' effort to share their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic at the University of Washington (UW).1 In Seattle and across the country, residents and fellows remain critical to COVID-19 responses, but many have limited avenues for demanding changes to working conditions without fear of repercussion.We would know—the Resident and Fellow Physician Union–Northwest (RFPU-NW) represents nearly 1400 doctors at UW. In March 2020, RFPU-NW members faced redeployment, with many union leaders among the first to volunteer in COVID-19 units to serve our patients and community. Simultaneously, RFPU-NW pressed UW for resident and fellow representation in redeployment planning meetings following Meo et al's Guiding Principle 8, through a proposed memorandum of agreement on April 3, 2020, to UW. This request was denied on April 20, as were all subsequent requests for representation.Despite a lack of input from the elected leaders of the residents and fellows at UW, we support many of the Guiding Principles from Meo and colleagues and encourage other institutions to emulate them. UW consistently respected work hours (Principle 7), in contrast to some institutions in hard-hit locations.2 UW made efforts to balance trainee redeployment with upstaffing of other physicians and advanced practice providers (Principles 6 and 10). Finally, despite initial haphazard training, UW quickly rolled out just-in-time training for COVID-19 care and personal protective equipment (Principles 1 and 5).Unfortunately, many reasonable requests voiced by residents and fellows seemed unheard at our site. For example, UW did not include residents and fellows in preliminary planning stages, which forced RFPU-NW to the bargaining table to ensure our members received advance notice prior to redeployment, alternative work accommodations for high-risk groups, and paid administrative leave (rather than use of personal sick leave) for required quarantine after work-related COVID-19 exposure. Despite the goal of Meo et al's Principle 8 to “[w]henever possible, involve trainees to critically evaluate the process and provide feedback,” it seemed rare that our voices were heard outside of negotiations.Now, as COVID-19 cases continue across the country, residents and fellows regularly face disrupted clinical education to provide necessary patient care. Perspectives by trainees in JGME over the last year speak to the challenges they face. We largely agree with the recommendations Meo and colleagues make, with a crucial edit: It is imperative to seek out resident and fellow representation in the early stages of redeployment planning, especially their elected representatives. At UW and a growing number of institutions, those representatives are union leaders.3–5Currently at UW, with strong advocacy from program directors and RFPU-NW, residents and fellows are only being redeployed when faculty are also redeployed and the institution is prioritizing staffing with internal moonlighting and extra-pay-for-extra-duty opportunities (at the same rate as attendings) before pulling residents from educational activities for redeployment without additional pay.We urge other institutions to treat their residents and fellows similarly to attending physicians. Physicians: if your institutions are not doing this, we implore you to recognize the strength that comes from collective action and unionization. This is how you secure a seat at the table and change institutional culture. We need to be included from the very beginning of surge planning—after all, we are the ones being redeployed.

Empirical Model of Ground-Borne Vibration Induced by Freight Railway Traffic

Developing an empirical model that can predict ground-borne vibration is required in the modelling process using actual data of ground vibration velocity induced by train traffic collected from sites. In the preliminary and mitigation planning stages of the project, the empirical models developed are expected to predict the ground-borne vibration velocity due to rail traffic. The findings of this research are expected to provide a new perspective for railway planners and designers to improve the national design to improve the quality of life for the residents living close to the rail tracks. This research study firmly fills the information gap towards a fundamental understanding of ground-borne vibration in numerous areas of learning regarding the condition of train operation. This study has developed a prediction model of regression to forecast the peak particle velocity of ground-borne vibration from freight trains based on correlated and fixed parameters. The models developed have considered a few parameters obtained from sites using minimal or without tools altogether. Speed of trains and distance of receivers from the sources were the only significant parameters found in this study and used to simplify the empirical model. Type of soil, which is soft soil, and type of train, which is freight train, were the fixed parameters for this study. The data collected were measured along the ground rail tracks involving human-operated freight trains. Residents from the landed residential areas near the railway tracks were chosen as the receivers. Finally, the peak particle velocity models have been successfully developed, and validation analysis was conducted. The model can be used by authorities in the upcoming plan for the new rail routes based on similar fixed parameters with correlated parameters from the study.

Validity and Practicality of Ongoing Assessment using STEM Approach Based Multiple Representation and Integrated with 21st Learning

The purpose of this research is to use science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) methods for effective and practical ongoing assessment, which is based on multiple representations and combined with the 21st learning magnetic field ability of Indonesian Lampung Bandar Lampung High School students. This ongoing assessment development adapted the Borg and Gall development model, which was grouped into four stages, such us: preliminary research stage, planning and development stage, the field test stage, and the dissemination stage. The research sample was 30 grade XI high school students who were taken randomly. Data collection techniques can use questionnaires, observation sheets, and tests. The data analysis technique used a qualitative approach with descriptive analysis techniques. The results showed that the ongoing assessment with stem approach multiple representations based integrated to 21st-century learning was stated: (1) valid, covering an average valid content of 83.38% and average construct validity of 78.33% (2) practical, including readability, easy to apply in learning and got positive responses from the student, stated practical with an average percentage of 83.40%. Keywords: Multiple Representations, on-Going Assessment, and STEM Approach

Walk in the Light: Integrating Personal Security into Pedestrian Spaces ( breakout presentation )

When we talk about the effect of design on pedestrians, it's usually about factors like connectivity, amenities, safety, and the interplay of structures and walkways. In our work we also find people concerned about their safety. But a complete street isn't enough to compel people to walk more and receive all the social, health, and economic benefits from the experience if they are afraid to venture out. Although usually thought of as the preserve of interior spaces and the immediate envelope adjacent to buildings, Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) offers an adaptable structure to work with law enforcement officials to think more deeply about the things that can make pedestrian ways the safe and fun places we envision. Through case examples and research this presentation will show how to create more eyes (and feet) on the street during the preliminary planning and design stages for walkable places. The ultimate goal is to reduce criminal activity, encourage walking for more people, and integrate security recommendations into our pedestrian projects.

Offshore winds and wind energy production estimates derived from ASCAT, OSCAT, numerical weather prediction models and buoys – A comparative study for the Iberian Peninsula Atlantic coast

Different offshore wind datasets were compared with buoys measurements in the Iberian Peninsula Atlantic coast, aiming to assess the best alternatives to ocean surface measured winds for offshore wind energy assessment and other applications. Resultsshow that although ASCAT (Advanced SCATterometer) high-resolution product showed the lowest wind speed temporal variability and wind power flux estimations errors, a WRF (Weather Research and Forecast) model high-resolution simulation can be considered as the best alternative for offshore wind energy applications. WRF's simulation showed wind power flux estimations errors very similar to ASCAT, the best representation of the wind speed mean state and Weibull probability density functions, and provide offshore wind data at typical turbines hub heights. CCMP (Cross-Calibrated Multi-Platform Ocean Surface Wind Vectors) can also be seen as a valid and readily available alternative of offshore wind data.The findings presented here can be of great value for offshore wind energy applications that focus on ocean areas where measured wind data are not available, or are insufficient for the desired purposes. An informed choice of the most accurate offshore wind databases will provide more realistic wind energy production estimates that will positively impact the preliminary planning stages of offshore wind energy exploration projects.

When it is unfamiliar to me: Local acceptance of planned nuclear power plants in China in the post-fukushima era

Many contributions have been made in the studies of the factors that influence public acceptance of nuclear power. However, previous studies seldom focused on nuclear power plants in the planning stage. Actually public perception is usually more sensitive at the preliminary planning stage of a nuclear power station. Mainly utilizing questionnaire survey and focus group methods, we have identified the factors that are correlated with local acceptance of planned nuclear power plants in China. We conducted our survey in two cities, Huludao, Liaoning province in northern China, and Shanwei, Guangdong province in southern China, where the local government was planning to build its first nuclear power plant. We find that people who live closer to the plant sites are less willing to accept nuclear power than those who live farther away. As for “surface psychology” factors, perceived benefits and risks significantly influence local acceptance. As for “deep psychology” factors, emotional identification and social trust can significantly influence local acceptance, while perceived knowledge cannot. When citizens are unfamiliar with nuclear power plants, they are more inclined to evaluate the benefits and risks through emotional identification and social trust, rather than through pure rational deduction based on concrete facts.

Planning for the closure of uncontrolled landfills in Turkey to reduce environmental impacts.

Landfilling is the most preferred solid waste disposal method in Turkey owing to both economic and technical reasons. However, beside the sanitary landfills there are also hundreds of uncontrolled waste sites located throughout Turkey, which are often left either abandoned or burning. Because there is a lack of legislative guidelines governing the closure and rehabilitation of these dumpsites, the municipalities that are responsible for waste management do not initiate the proactive strategies required for the closure of these sites. In this study, a method based on a multi-criteria analysis is conducted for different dumpsites in Turkey to evaluate the level of negative impacts on the environment. This method is based on the use of environmental indices for a quantitative assessment of the landfills, such as environmental interaction between the source and the receptors, environmental values of the receptors, and operational conditions. It was possible to assess the robustness of the proposed methodology since the pre- and post-groundwater quality monitoring data was available from the study sites that were closed and rehabilitated in 2014. The results of this study show that the method based on a multi-criteria analysis is an effective tool while in the preliminary planning stages of closure and rehabilitation activities of uncontrolled waste landfills.

Pinvention: Updating Commonplace Books for the Digital Age

Courses: This semester-length project suits the following courses, although instructors may find it applicable to others as well: Public Speaking, Speechwriting, Introduction to Communication, Rhetorical Criticism, and Communication and Technology.Objectives: This digital project helps students achieve the following objectives: (1) to organize digitally abundant sources during the research process (for multiple assignments over the course of a semester or for one only); (2) to visualize and spatialize their findings; and (3) to incorporate images and other non-traditional scholarly sources into their presentations or projects, or at least into their preliminary planning stages.

PRELIMINARY PLANNING EFFICIENCY EVALUATION FOR SCHOOL BUILDINGS CONSIDERING THE TRADEOFFS OF MOOP AND PLANNING PREFERENCES

Seismic resistance and cost effectiveness are often two important building planning objectives for architects. However, these objectives nearly always share a negative correlation with each other, which can cause planning delays and confusion. The conflict between these two is a Multi-Objective Optimization Problem (MOOP). Besides, building planning often encompasses both subjective and objective factors. However, most current efficiency evaluation methods focus on the latter and underemphasize the former. Current efficiency evaluation methods are thus not optimized for actual building planning needs. The aim of this study is to develop a new planning efficiency evaluation approach to resolve the above problems. Research methods include the indifference curve, efficient frontier and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The indifference curve deduced the subjective planning preferences of architects; efficient frontier theory constructed the efficient frontier of school buildings; and DEA evaluated the efficiency of various building factors objectively. A total of 326 school buildings in Taichung City, Taiwan in an empirical study designed to illustrate proposed approach effectiveness. The results show that using only objective evaluation or subjective recognition is insufficient to explain the true nature of building planning. Findings can serve as benchmarks for inefficient school buildings at preliminary planning stage.

Assessment of stakeholder perceptions in water infrastructure projects using system-of-systems and binary probit analyses: A case study

Globally, water management is evolving toward integrating participatory processes for decision-making to increase the sustainability of the decision outcome. Information about the perceptions and concerns of stakeholders needs to be readily available to those involved in the decision-making process early in the planning stage to assist in developing viable alternatives that may be implementable with limited public opposition and engender general consensus among stakeholders. The current literature does not identify an appropriate means to incorporate stakeholder views early in the preliminary planning stages without requiring relatively large time commitments or the physical presence of the key stakeholders for meetings and discussions. This study develops and demonstrates a decision-support framework that incorporates the system-of-systems school of thought with binary probit analysis to aid in efficient participatory processes by providing insight regarding the stakeholders' demographics and select behavioral characteristics in a decision-making process. The methodology first frames the water system as a system-of-systems, an approach that inherently pinpoints the necessity for diverse stakeholder involvement and maps the stakeholders in the system's hierarchy. Then, binary probit analyses are used to quantify the effect of stakeholder characteristics on the likelihood that (1) they perceive or do not perceive a need for new capital-intensive water infrastructure, and (2) they support or oppose new capital-intensive water infrastructure. A water system decision in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta serves as a case study to demonstrate the methodology. Data regarding stakeholder beliefs and perceptions were collected via a web-based survey deployed throughout Southern and Central California The study results indicate that individuals between 18 and 25 years, persons living solely with their spouse, persons associated with environmental stakeholder groups, and individuals who follow the news on local water issues have an increased likelihood of public opposition to new water infrastructure in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. These groups would be those targeted to mitigate public opposition by measures such as attempting to promote further discussion, educational outreach, and incorporating incentives such as increasing jobs or incorporating ecosystem rehabilitation efforts around the area impacted by the project.

In-space nuclear propulsion

The past and the recent status of nuclear propulsion (NP) for application to space mission is presented. The case for using NP in manned space missions is made based on fundamental physics and on the necessity to ensure safe radiation doses to future astronauts. In fact, the presence of solar and galactic-cosmic radiation poses substantial risks to crews traveling for months in a row to destinations such as asteroids and Mars. Since passive or active shields would be massive to protect against the more energetic part of the radiation energy spectrum, the only alternative is to reduce dose by traveling faster. Hence the importance of propulsion systems with much higher specific impulse than that of current chemical systems, and thus the use of nuclear propulsion. Nuclear-thermal and nuclear-electric propulsions are then discussed in view of their potential application to missions now in the preliminary planning stage by space agencies and industries and being considered by the ISECG international panel. In this context, recent ideas for future use of the ISS that may require NP are also presented.

해안 지하수 최적관리를 위한 개발가능량 산정 기법

해안 지역 지하수 최적 관리의 기본계획 수립 단계에 사용될 수 있는 간편한 개발가능량 산정식이 제안되었다. 산정식은 대수층 특성, 해수침투허용 거리, 지하수 해안유출량 그리고 양수정의 위치 등 주요 영향 변수들의 함수이므로 합리적이며, 보편적으로 사용되는 해석 해들과 Ghyben-Herzberg 법칙을 이용하여 유도되었다. 산정식은 관련 변수들의 양 함수로 표현될 수 있으므로 그 적용이 매우 간편하다. 또한 주로 주관적 경험에 의하여 그 값이 결정되어 온 양수정의 영향반경을 대수층의 수리특성과 양수량 등의 함수로 산정할 수 있는 식이 제안되었다. 가상 유역에 대한 적용과 수치 해와의 비교분석을 통하여 제안된 식들이 보수적인 결과를 산출한다는 것을 보였다. 제안된 식들을 기존 관정들이 존재하는 유역에 적용하면 추가 개발가능량을 평가할 수 있다. An equation is developed to estimate potential groundwater resources available for development. This equation is useful for preliminary planning stages prior to detailed design stages. The equation is a function of major factors such as aquifer characteristics, saltwater intrusion length, coastal groundwater discharge and potential locations of pumping wells. Thus, most important factors are taken into account. The equations are derived using well-known analytical solutions. Thus, the basis is scientifically sound. Use of the equation is quite simple since it is an explicit function of variables. A logical method is proposed to assess a radius of influence of a pumping well considering aquifer characteristics and the pumping rate. Applications to a hypothetical problem and comparison with results from a more rigorous numerical simulation model indicate that results obtained from the proposed equation are conservative.