Design Project Research Articles

Climate change adaptation in fragile and conflict-affected settings: Conflict and peace considerations in project design

There is a growing overlap between countries most affected by climate change and those affected by conflict and fragility. This paper addresses the need for a better understanding of how to pursue effective climate action in fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCS) by investigating how and to what extent conflict considerations and peacebuilding efforts are integrated into adaptation projects in these contexts. A purposive sample of 15 projects approved in 2022–2023 from the three main multilateral climate funds were analyzed through a framework analysis method based on a novel three-step approach for the design of adaptation projects in FCS. The results indicate variability and a lack of systematic methodology in integrating conflict aspects and peacebuilding elements into project designs, a tendency of silo-thinking climate–conflict dynamics but also that a considerable share of projects engage with the concept of environmental peacebuilding. The findings imply that to mainstream conflict considerations and peacebuilding efforts more prevalently in adaptation projects in FCS, there is a critical need to develop suitable policies and guidelines to support this work. This includes more widely accepted frameworks and generates more robust evidence on the interaction between climate, conflict, fragility, and peacebuilding.

Addressing technology-mediated stigma in sexual health-related digital platforms: Insights from design team members.

Digital health technologies are increasingly used as complementary tools in accessing sexual health-related services. At the same time, there are concerns regarding how some interface features and content of these technologies could inadvertently foment stigma among end users. In this study, we explored how design teams (i.e., those involved in creating digital health technologies) might address stigmatizing components when designing sexual health-related digital technologies. We interviewed 14 design team members (i.e., software engineers, user interface and user experience (UI/UX) designers, content creators, and project managers) who were involved in digital health design projects across two universities in western Canada. The interviews sought to undersand their perspectives of how to create destigmatizing digital technologies and were centered on strategies that they might adopt or the kind of expertise or support they might need to be able to address stigmatizing features or content on sexual health-related digital technologies. The findings revealed two overarching approaches regarding how digital health technologies could be designed to prevent the unintended effects of stigma. These include functional design considerations (i.e., pop-up notifications, infographics, and video-based testimonials, and avoiding the use of cookies or other security-risk features) and non-functional design considerations (i.e., adopting an interprofessional and collaborative approach to design, educating software designers on domain knowledge about stigma, and ensuring consistent user testing of content). These findings reflected functional and non-functional design strategies as applied in software design. These findings are considered crucial in addressing stigma but are not often apparent to designers involved in digital health projects. This suggests the need for software engineers to understand and consider non-functional, emotional, and content-related design strategies that could address stigmatizing attributes via digital health platforms.

Impact of Change Orders on Cost Overruns and Delays in Large-Scale Construction Projects

This study investigates the impact of Change Orders (CO) on construction project performance, focusing on cost overruns and project delays. Partial least square structural equation modeling was used to analyze the relationships between key causal factors, including design changes, planning errors, and project outcomes. Data were collected from 127 construction practitioners involved in large-scale projects managed by PT XYZ, a leading Indonesian contractor. The analysis identifies that design changes contribute to 56.5% of cost overruns and 40% of project delays, while planning errors account for 34.5% of cost overruns and 23.1% of delays. These findings highlight the critical importance of improving project planning accuracy and enhancing design management processes to reduce the adverse effects of CO. Structured protocols for managing CO, better coordination among stakeholders, and adopting advanced technologies are recommended to minimize their effect. These insights are particularly relevant for large-scale projects where CO frequently disrupt budgets and timelines. By addressing these issues, project managers can enhance overall performance and reduce risks associated with cost and time escallations. This research provides practical strategies applicable to various construction contexts, supporting more efficient project delivery and better management of CO.

Landscape Design Proposal in Public Spaces: A Case of Düzce Uzun Mustafa Neighborhood

Public spaces are considered a critical process that determines the initial spatial perception of an individual in their environment and shapes their experiences and memories. These spaces include public buildings, open areas, and locations that are in constant interaction with the surroundings. The analysis of the landscape features of the physical environment aims to create an interaction between different uses in urban landscape design and to transform a busy street into a livable area. The surroundings of public buildings such as the Düzce Governorship Meteorology Directorate, Düzce Vocational School, and library in the Uzun Mustafa neighborhood of Düzce have passive urban open and green areas. In this study, the mentioned areas were evaluated, the landscape features of the physical environment were analyzed, and revision proposals related to urban landscape design were made. By utilizing the satellite image and zoning plan of the study area, it was aimed to eliminate elements that cause confusion in human psychology according to urban and landscape features. In the method of the study, internal and external factors were considered based on the project design processes of the area, and a SWOT analysis was conducted to minimize the impact of weaknesses and elements that pose threats in the area. As a result, this study aimed to create a more livable space that meets the needs of users in areas with passive, unused or undesigned surroundings of public buildings and to contribute more effectively to the daily life of the community in spaces with different functions.

Energy efficiency potential determination for an oil treatment and stabilization unit at the field

Relevance. The desire to increase the energy efficiency of industrial enterprises and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their activities. Reducing specific energy consumption at large oil refineries and petrochemical plants is not new and is quite widely used. Dozens of monographs and thousands of articles are devoted to these areas. But it should be taken into account that in the oil refining industry, all crude oil, even that which does not reach the refinery, necessarily passes through oil preparation and stabilization units at the fields. Therefore, in order to create energy-efficient and environmentally friendly processes throughout the entire oil refining chain, it is necessary to increase the energy efficiency of the oil preparation and stabilization units located at the fields. There are very few research works on thermal energy integration of oil preparation and stabilization units. Aim. Determination of target design and energy values for an energy-efficient retrofit project of the heat exchange network for the surveyed oil preparation and stabilization units and of its energy efficiency potential. Methods. Pinch analysis methods are used to determine the target values of an energy-efficient retrofit project. Mathematical modeling of heat exchange processes in the heat exchange network and economic analysis were performed using the Pinch 2.02 software; the Aspen HYSYS software package was used to create a simulation engineering model of the oil preparation and stabilization units. Results. When determining the target values of the heat exchange network retrofit project, the cost of energy and heat exchange equipment, the cost of collectors for splitting process streams, and technical restrictions on the placement of heat exchanger sections were taken into account. The inclusion of fuel gas in the process stream table has allowed the definition of target parameters for the optimal unit heat exchange network design to evolve. In the process of evolution of target values, the energy efficiency potential of the surveyed oil preparation and stabilization units was determined, which shows the possibility of reducing specific energy consumption by 77%. Upon implementation of the heat exchange network retrofit project and achievement of target parameters, the following economic results will be obtained: IRR=42%, NPV=7425780 USD, DPP 4 years. Also, CO2 emissions can be reduced by 30 thousand tons per year. It should be noted that the evolution of target designation and all target values for the reconstruction project were obtained before the implementation of the heat exchange network oil preparation and stabilization units project itself.

“…No one knows what it exactly means”: how do design graduates approach the concept of sustainability?

Purpose By exploring the understanding of design graduates toward the concept of sustainability in both their professional and personal lives, this study aims to uncover how they approach the concept of sustainability, providing insights for design educators, researchers and curricula. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a phenomenological approach and uses a mixed methodology, incorporating semi-structured interviews with 18 design graduates and a survey conducted with 181 design graduates from industrial design departments at universities in Türkiye. Regarding the research approach, the authors analyzed the data using thematic analysis. Findings Empirical findings revealed that design graduates from various universities in Türkiye perceive sustainability as a complex, multifaceted and popular concept. They associated it with environmental factors, including material properties, recycling and reuse activities, as well as with daily life practices. In terms of critical perspectives on sustainability, the prominent findings were on the transparency of the concept, its limitations and its outcomes. Another critical view they expressed was the lack of expertise in sustainability. Furthermore, their engagement with the concept of sustainability was influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. Originality/value This study distinguishes itself by exploring how design graduates approach the concept of sustainability, complementing existing research that focuses on design curricula, learning outcomes, design projects or students’ perspectives in higher design education.

Prediction of rain garden runoff control effects based on multiple machine learning techniques

ABSTRACT Due to the rapid development of urbanisation, cities frequently experience waterlogging during rainfall. Rain gardens are widely used in new urban construction because they effectively control surface runoff from rainwater, thereby reducing waterlogging. The runoff control effectiveness of rain gardens is influenced by multiple factors. This paper predicts the runoff effects of rain gardens using multiple models. By constructing five experimental structures, 240 sets of runoff control rates for rain garden structures were collected to build a database. Feature correlation analysis identified four input parameters: rainfall recurrence interval, storage layer depth, catchment area, and infiltration rate. Using BP, SVM, and Random Forest, initial predictive models for the runoff control effectiveness of rain gardens were established. To enhance the accuracy of the models, the Zebra Optimization Algorithm was employed for optimisation, and model performance was characterised using the coefficient of determination, mean squared error, and mean absolute error. The results show that the ZOA-BP model has the best prediction results on the test set, the prediction accuracy (R 2) is 0.979, and the RMSE is 2.331, which verifies the validity of the model. This research outcome can provide references for the application of rain gardens and is expected to reduce the design and operational costs of related projects.

Application of Cost Control Techniques in Construction Projects Delivery

Purpose: This research work deals on the application of cost control techniques in Construction project delivery. The need for the work arose as projects suffer from cost and time overruns due to factors stemming from poor cost control during at the design and execution stages of Construction projects. Material and Methods: This study adopted an exploratory research design using a structured questionnaire as the primary instrument for data collection. The research was conducted in Rivers State, Nigeria, known for its robust infrastructure development and relevance to the construction sector. The study population comprised public and private contractors, including civil engineers and quantity surveyors. A random sampling technique was employed to select 50 contractors, considering time and financial constraints. Findings: The analysis of the data obtained from the respondents identified cost control techniques that include schedules, budgeting, inspection, meetings, reports, records, monitoring & evaluations, as the commonly used techniques for cost control. The study also revealed that most project managers and contractors in Port Harcourt find it difficult in controlling project costs due to problems which include delays by clients to release fund as at when due, indecision, lack of materials and equipment, bad weather, overlapping of activities, unclear and incomplete drawings, making good defective works, and generally failure to control the productivity of resources. Others of paucity were due to theft and vandalism, interference by clients, high labor turnover, and insufficient knowledge on cost control techniques. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy : The study therefore recommends proper knowledge and application of cost control techniques, adequate management of the cost control techniques, good site organization and reporting and adequate supervision of Construction projects should be adopted and implemented.

Development and implementation of a Sezer gastrostomy care bundle using the Knowledge to Action framework.

This project aimed to develop an evidence-based nursing care bundle after gastrostomy feeding tube insertion and implement it into clinical practice using the Knowledge to Action (KTA) framework. This mixed-method design project was conducted in a university hospital between December 2021 and June 2022. The project was carried out in four phases: (1) development of an evidence-based care bundle, (2) education for care bundle training, (3) implementation of the care bundle, (4) evaluation of the care bundle. Nurses' compliance with bundles was measured using All-or-None measurement. The analysis of the qualitative interview conducted was performed using the content analysis method of Graneheim and Lundman. The developed Sezer gastrostomy care bundle consists of three parameters (peristomal area care, tube feeding, and medication administration through the feeding tube) and a total of 14 elements to be applied by nurses under these parameters. Compliance rates for peristomal area care, tube feeding, and medication administration through feeding tube parameters were 100%, 98.66%, and 98.66%, respectively. Two themes and six subthemes emerged: (1) reflection of using the Sezer gastrostomy care bundle on nursing care and (2) adoption of Sezer gastrostomy care bundle. The gastrostomy care bundle was developed in accordance with the Institute of Healthcare Improvement's recommendations. The KTA framework provided an appropriate structure to transform evidence into practice, meticulously address barriers, evaluate outcomes, and ensure sustainability. The project found that nurses complied with all its parameters. Studies evaluating the effect of the gastrostomy care bundle on patient outcomes are recommended.

Physical Test and Numerical Analysis of Damage Mechanism of Rocky Foundation with Parallel Structural Surfaces

The growth of rock structural surfaces makes the deformation and stability analysis of rock pits more complex and challenging than that of soil pits. To investigate the damage mechanism of this foundation and provide ideas for foundation support, the paper constructed a simplified model by approximate plane analysis and dimensionless analysis of the similarity principle. The physical model was constructed from a mixture of materials, and then foundation excavation and loading tests were completed. The strain value of the strain gauges increased in stages in the range of 0–250. Excavation of the structural surface resulted in an increased number of deformation mutations. This type of rocky foundation damage underwent three stages: overburden crack development, cumulative deformation of the S-S, and collapse of the sliding body. Furthermore, numerical simulations corresponding to the physical model tests were set and used to validate and complement the physical tests. When the line loads reached 70.83 kN/m and 127.5 kN/m, the plastic zone of the structural surface was completely penetrated and the sliding body collapsed. The results of the studies can serve as a useful reference and guide for the excavation and support design of real-world rock foundation projects that are similar.

A Mixed Integer Linear Programming Model for Rapid Rescheduling in Ship and Offshore Unit Design Projects

Shipbuilding and offshore projects frequently require schedule adjustments due to unforeseen factors such as material supply delays, technical issues, and adverse weather conditions. These adjustments are often managed manually, resulting in significant time consumption and an increased risk of human error. Unlike production scheduling, little attention has been given to design scheduling, particularly in the context of rescheduling. To address this gap, this paper presents an optimization model that automates the rescheduling process for shipbuilding and offshore unit design projects. The model generates updated schedules that accommodate necessary changes while minimizing deviations from the initial schedule. In a real-world case involving 857 tasks, the model generated a schedule in under one second, preserving approximately 80% of the original schedule and achieving a 20% improvement in adherence compared to the original scheduling method. Furthermore, the model demonstrated exceptional scalability by efficiently generating optimized schedules for 108,700 tasks in under three minutes. These results demonstrate the model’s capability to provide rapid, efficient, and scalable rescheduling solutions, enabling quick and iterative refinement processes.

Fostering criticality in architecture, construction management, and quantity surveying undergraduate students through digital interdisciplinary collaboration

ABSTRACT This study addresses the challenge of preparing architecture, construction management, and quantity surveying students for this evolving information technology landscape by evaluating the impact of Building Information Modelling (BIM) on students’ critical thinking abilities. The research employed an observational cohort comparison study. Students completed a design project in 2022 using the traditional design process and in 2023 using the BIM process. Criticality is assessed through the lenses of critical reasoning, action, and self-reflection, comparing the levels demonstrated by both cohorts. The findings reveal that the 2023 cohort exhibited significantly higher levels of criticality than the 2022 cohort did. This heightened criticality is attributed to increased communication, exposure to diverse perspectives, and the application of higher-order thinking skills facilitated by the BIM environment. These findings underscore the imperative of built environment education to adapt to the digital age by integrating BIM as a transformative tool that nurtures critical thinking skills among students.

Analysis of satisfaction with hospitalization in the gynecology department: service design project

Aim of the study. Analysis of satisfaction with hospitalization in the gynecology department using service design.Materials and methods. The study used a service design, including observation and interviews with 18 respondents (12 patients and 6 nurses) in the gynecological department of the Municipal State Enterprise on the Right of Economic Management «Multidisciplinary hospital named after prof. Kh. Zh. Makazhanov». The study, conducted from October to December 2023, included data analysis by a team of two researchers using content analysis.Results and discussion. The study revealed problems in organizing hospitalizations of patients in the gynecological department. In order to improve the efficiency of hospitalization, a solution to problems with long waits and inconvenience for patients, as well as improving communication and empathy of medical staff, was proposed.Conclusion. Increasing patient awareness, ensuring comfort and confidentiality, optimizing admission processes and providing psychological support are highlighted as priority areas.

MnROAD SHRP2 R21 Composite Concrete Section Performance after Five-Years of Service

The Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) R21 project “Composite Pavements,” completed in 2010 at MnROAD I-94, included both long-term full-scale pavement experiments and the development of new tools for pavement design and analysis. The R21 research focused on both asphalt-over-concrete and concrete-over-concrete (PCC-PCC) pavement systems. This paper focuses on the full-scale PCC-PCC results of the R21 project. Results show that these sections performed very well with no transverse or longitudinal cracking, minimal joint faulting, low IRI values and no obvious durability problems after five years of I-94 traffic. This evaluation also includes analysis of pavement data and a comparison of the PCC-PCC response relative to a conventional single-lift slab. Results indicate very similar performance for similar PCC total thickness and joint design. In addition, the paper also presents the predicted performance of these sections using the AASHTO M-E procedure to the field results at the MnROAD R21 PCC-PCC field sections. This discussion highlights challenges and opportunities in M-E design and performance modeling for PCC-PCC projects.

Field Monitoring and Analysis of Factors Influencing Existing Tunnels Laterally Adjacent to Foundation Pit Excavations

To investigate the factors influencing existing tunnels adjacent to foundation pit excavations, this paper focuses on a case of excavation of MTR station foundation pits near an existing tunnel. Monitoring data are collected and analyzed, and a two-dimensional numerical model of the pit–tunnel system is established using ABAQUS (2022) software. This study examines the effect of excavation factors on the tunnel, including excavation depth, horizontal spacing between pit and tunnel, support pile wall dimensions, support structure insertion ratio, horizontal support stiffness, and geological conditions. The research results indicate that for tunnels in silty clay formations, the depth of pit excavation should be limited to 20 m. When the horizontal spacing between a foundation pit and tunnel in a silty clay formation is within 1.5 times the depth of excavation, the tunnel is more significantly affected by tunnel excavation works in the adjacent pits. Increasing the horizontal support stiffness has the greatest effect on controlling deformation and stress in the tunnel structure. The degree of influence on deformation and stress in the tunnel due to laterally adjacent excavation of a foundation pit varies with geological conditions. Among them, tunnels in muddy-silty clay and silty soils are the most affected, and it is recommended that reinforcement measures be optimized and monitoring be strengthened. The conclusions of the present study can provide a reference point and guidance for the optimal design of similar pit projects.

Analyzing the Influence of Residents’ Sociocultural Reflections on the Spatial Configuration of Historical Persian Residential Architecture

This research investigates the relationship between socio-cultural reflections of residents and spatial diversity in historic Persian residential architecture. Despite the rich architectural heritage of Persian houses, there is limited understanding of how residents’ socio-cultural background influences their spatial arrangements. To address this gap, this study employs space syntax analysis, including axial, visibility graph analysis (VGA), agent-based analysis, and isovist approaches, to explore the genotype of 15 recognized Persian historic residential architectures. The findings reveal that the spatial configurations of these houses are deeply rooted in socio-cultural values, reflecting the diverse societal roles of residents. Variations in spatial arrangements highlight the adaptability of Persian historical houses in balancing privacy and sociability, influenced by the socio-cultural attributes of their occupants. The study also emphasizes the significance of transitional spaces in controlling social interactions with strangers to support cultural practices. This research contributes to the body of knowledge by providing a syntactic analysis of the socio-cultural underpinnings of Persian architectural typologies, offering insights that extend beyond Shiraz to the broader central Iranian context. The study concludes by advocating for practical policy implications and culturally rooted architectural design guidelines for Iranian construction engineering organizations to implement in their housing design projects. These insights can ultimately inform the development of contemporary housing in Iran, fostering a new wave of housing that is both culturally resonant and functionally innovative, while supporting socially sustainable living environments.

Design and Key Points Analysis of the Intermediate-depth Geothermal Central Heating Project in Pingyuan County

Design and Key Points Analysis of the Intermediate-depth Geothermal Central Heating Project in Pingyuan County

Internal and external influences on role stereotype adherence and gender dynamics on engineering design teams

BackgroundEven among women who persist in the gender-imbalanced engineering fields, women on engineering design teams tend to take on non-technical roles. Understanding the mechanisms that inform this phenomenon is important for encouraging more women in STEM in order to close the gender gap. Although factors such as self-efficacy, task allocation, and occupational prestige have previously been examined through a gender-based lens, this study considers all of these factors together in order to better understand the role of internal and external effects on role stereotype adherence in engineering design teams. A survey was administered to computer science and engineering students in the United States presenting a scenario in which they are members of an engineering design team. Participants reported their interest, self-efficacy, and anticipated contribution to the project. All participants were then assigned a documentation role by a teammate and asked the same questions again after a brief reflection.ResultsWhile all participants exhibited higher interest in a more socially impactful project, participants’ interest in the project decreased significantly after they were assigned the non-technical, feminine-stereotyped role of documentation. Women reported significantly higher experience, interest, and self-efficacy levels in documentation compared to men. After being assigned the documentation role, men anticipated that their contribution to the project would be significantly lower compared to women, indicating a decrease in interest or a devaluation of their role on the team. Perceived sexism may have also played a part in how women reacted to role allocation, as it is hypothesized that reactance theory led women’s interest in a mechanical design role to increase post-role allocation.ConclusionsThese results support existing literature related to the likelihood of (1) women taking on non-technical roles on engineering teams and (2) society devaluing work that is stereotypically associated with feminine stereotypes. Participants’ reactions to role allocation were most closely related to internal factors, such as self-efficacy and the implicit devaluation of femininity. Findings can be used to inform curriculum development in hands-on design project courses and management of design groups in industry.

Restoration of Concrete Pavement Using the NCHRP 1-37A Design Guide

Concrete pavement restoration (CPR) of jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) has evolved over the past 40 years into a major preservation treatment. These projects often involve several different types of activities such as replacement and/or repair of cracked slabs, spall repair, joint load transfer restoration, joint resealing, subdrainage improvement, diamond grinding, and shoulder replacement. These projects have usually been successful in extending the service life of the pavement for many years into the future. However, these projects have been developed based on practical experience and guidelines, as there has not been a formal design procedure available. The new NCHRP 1-37A Mechanistic-Empirical (ME) Pavement Design Guide includes a formal design procedure for CPR that can be used to assist highway agencies in the evaluation of feasible applications of CPR and the design of more reliable restoration projects. This paper provides an overview of this design procedure by means of a case study.

Encouraging creativity in medical design contexts via a two-stage briefing process

Briefing designers to encourage creativity in medical or healthcare contexts is challenging, because of significant additional constraints. Previous work on the content of design briefs was analysed, and seven key scales for design brief characteristics were identified. Each scale ranged from the more normative, when targeting iterative improvement, to the more radical, when pursuing significant innovation. We present an action research design project that successfully navigated the additional constraints of a medical context. We evaluate the success of the project as having been dependent on a briefing process that operated at the more radical ends of these scales and suggest that similar benefits might be obtained in future, through a deliberate re-configuration of what would conventionally be pre-brief phases, into what we term ‘primary briefing’. A primary brief founds the use of design itself and has the secondary brief, or conventional product design brief, as its explicit aim. This is a technique for translating relevant aspects of design research techniques into commercial practice, towards ensuring strategic coherence.