2821 research outputs found
Sort by
Optimising project controls for construction using BIM and Big Data Analytics
Get PDFConstruction projects are the main contributors to economies and the wealth of nations. The
industry is perceived to lead to developments and prosperity in countries. Projects in the
construction industry often have high investment during the construction stage. Advancements in
science and development of human needs lead to more complex designs in response to new
demands by end-users. Sophisticated designs make projects more difficult to manage and
consequently increased the rate of budget and time overruns. A plethora of studies has been
conducted to investigate the causes of delays in construction projects. A considerable proportion of
these studies have reported poor planning, scheduling, and controls as top contributors to delays.
Previous literature exploring project success factors were focused primarily on the cost, time and
quality. The rise of technology has led to an exponential increase in the amount of data produced by
the industry due to using systems for digital engineering, finance, and scheduling or using new
technology that collates data and stores them in a central repository. The increase of data opens the
potential for new horizons to use this data for informed decision-making. However, data within the
industry is fragmented, inconsistent, and hard to link due to different segmentation and structuring
objectives for data creators' objectives.
This research aim is to formulate optimised integrated project controls to improve the success of
projects. The first objective was to explore the factors affecting the success of projects beyond the
traditionally studied cost, time and quality. The association between the efficiency of project
controls and the success of projects was the main focus of objective three. The third objective was to
investigate the relationship between project controls' efficiency and its three pillars: people,
processes, and technology. The research's final objective is to test the impact of new technologies as
BIM and big data analytics on the efficiency of project controls.
The research methodology followed in this study is a sequential mixed method. In the first phase,
literature was reviewed and gaps in knowledge were identified to justify the research. Job
advertisements of project controls roles were analysed to determine the skills and knowledge required. These analyses were followed by a quantitative questionnaire that was developed to
measure and test the hypothesis. The questionnaire was piloted to 25 participants and feedback
incorporated in the final version. The questionnaire was administered online, and 610 participants
completed the survey. Responses were analysed using statistical tools to validate the hypotheses of
the studies. The results of the analysis were used to inform the design of semi-structured interviews.
The research was concluded by conducting four interviews to understand the trends revealed in the
survey.
The correlation between project controls efficiency and projects' success was a modest positive
correlation of value 0.63. The third objective analysis found a high correlation of people, processes,
and systems to project controls' efficiency to be 0.864, 0.860, and 0.804, respectively.
The analysis and results showed a modest correlation between efficient project controls and project
success of value 0.63. The third objective investigated the association of the three pillars of project
controls. Results indicate high correlations between people, processes, and systems and efficiency of
project controls with values of 0.864, 0.860, and 0.804, respectively. The interviews analysis led to
an integrated controls system that uses building information modelling (BIM) to integrate data and
store it in a central repository. This data was then used to apply analytics concepts for enhancing
decision-making. The system implemented under this study demonstrated a proof of concept on big
data analytics and BIM integrations and how it improves accessibility to data in models.
This study used the findings to drive theoretical and practical implementation. BIM and data
analytics were mentioned as drivers for the efficiency of project controls. A conceptual framework
was developed to integrate project controls function with BIM models. The framework was
implemented by integrating BIM into business intelligence as part of the data analytics. A
classification model for BIM elements was developed with high accuracy. The model results showing
a high level of accuracy was implemented as part of this study. The design of semi-structured interview questionnaire. The research was concluded by conducting four interviews to gain in-depth
understanding of trends revealed in survey.
The analysis and results showed a high level of correlation between efficient project controls and
project success. The second objective investigated the importance of the three pillars of project
controls, and results indicate importance between people, systems and processes and efficiency of
project controls. The interviews analysis led to design of an integrated controls system that uses
building information modelling (BIM) to integrate data and store it in a central repository. This data
was then used to apply analytics concepts for enhancing decision-making. The system implemented
under this study is a proof of concept on how big data analytics and BIM can help improve project
delivery
Learner interrupted: understanding the stories behind the codes – a qualitative analysis of HE distance-learner withdrawals
Get PDFSuccessful retention of students through understanding their motivations
and behaviours is a challenge to universities worldwide. Whilst the impact
of withdrawals is an issue for all institutions, attrition for distance-learning
providers is particularly problematic owing to higher non-completion rates,
less physical visibility, and because distance-learners tend to have more
complex lives. This paper examines students’ personal stories explaining
their decisions to withdraw from university study. It considers 641 written
discourses initiated by students as part of their requests to withdraw, covering the challenges they face, and the complex combinations of factors that
contribute to their decisions to give up. This qualitative approach was
adopted as a necessary complement to the quantitative rush of metrics
information that universities now provide on withdrawal figures. Three
themes selected are: deferral/withdrawal, time available, and preparedness
for study. The paper concludes that complementary qualitative insights
both add clarity and detail to institutional understanding and reduces
oversimplification of complex decision-making from unidimensional quantitative approaches
Understanding 'success' and 'failure' in two case studies of collaborative technology : contexts, narrative and lenses
Get PDFAfter first setting the scene for the development of IMS Learning Design (LD), this thesis
details the creation of a LD test environment, along with interviews carried out with some
of those involved in the development, implementation and research use of the
specification. The creation of SPONGE (the Simplest Possible ONline Grouping
Environment), a new software platform developed in response to the LD interview
findings, is then documented. The rejection of SPONGE by teachers in a school
environment provides the catalyst for an in-depth exploration of that school and the
(largely non-technological) reasons for SPONGE's apparent failure. MegaTech and
MiniTech, two explanatory lenses based on the work of van Langenhove and Harré,
Heidegger, and Popper, are then created and used to revisit the rejection of LD and
SPONGE (as two examples of functionally sound educational technologies) by
practitioners.
This research uses a multi-methodology (Mingers) approach, informed by Case Study
(Yin), Realistic Evaluation (Pawson and Tilley) and Narratives (Clough). In addition,
reflective elements are embedded at key moments in the thesis to facilitate a personal
discussion of the challenges faced by this author and which prompted a significant
change in research direction.
This research makes the following contributions to knowledge.
C1 A new analysis of why LD has not been widely adopted beyond the research
community. [Chapters 5, 7, 8 and 9]
C2 The initial validation of the analysis in C1 through its application in a contrasting
educational and technical context (Hazelmere School). [Chapters 7, 8 and 9]
C3 The in-depth picture of the use of educational technology in an extremely
demanding environment (Hazelmere School). [Chapters 7 and 9]
C4 The creation of MegaTech and MiniTech as explanatory lenses. [Chapter 8]
C5 The application of MegaTech and MiniTech to more clearly explain the fate of LD
and SPONGE. [Chapters 8 and 9]
C6 The creation of SPONGE as a homogenous and open-standards compliant
toolbox that focuses on immediacy and facilitates the spontaneous use of
collaborative tools. [Chapter 6]
C7 The creation of a self-contained and easily deployed LD test environment.
[Chapter 4
Estimation of fatigue strength of reinforced complete upper denture using a newly designed testing machine: A laboratory research project
Get PDFIn the present study, an aero pneumatic fatigue testing machine for complete dentures was designed, fabricated, and tested for the evaluation of the fatigue life of reinforced complete upper denture (CUD). On completion and testing, it was observed that the machine has the potential of generating reliable number of cyclic data. The machine’s performance was evaluated using test specimens of identical CUDs that were machined in conformity with standard procedures. The fatigue machine compressed the lower dental arch over the upper denture-specimen in centric occlusion, in the same way that the two masticatory muscles pull the lower jaw over the upper jaw during chewing. The incorporation of glass fibres into the CUD using a sandwich technique quadruples the lifespan of the denture (P = 0.004). The low standard deviation, along with the low coefficient of variation (CV) of the group of unreinforced dentures shows the repeatability of the results and the reliability of the machine. The high standard deviation and coefficient of variation of reinforced dentures was expected, since a high variation of results is usually recorded in fibre reinforcement cases. This research confirmed the view that the crack during denture fracture initiates in the anterior palatal area and propagates to the posterior
Final destination
Get PDFChange is always possible, say Lisa Ogilvie and Jerome Carson, as they share their own journeys to recovery
Leisure, religion and the (Infra)secular city: the Manchester and Salford Whit Walks
Get PDFDrawing on the Manchester and Salford Whit Walks, a Church of England
Whitsuntide procession, this research adopts della Dora’s concept of the
infrasecular to interpret the interstitiality of the religious or civic nature of
leisure experiences in the urban context. Processional walking at
Whitsuntide originated as a pre-industrial custom that was simultaneously
a religious and a leisure practice. However, with the decline of religion the
meanings the Whit Walks have changed in a number of dimensions. Using
the lens of infrasecular geography, this research explored the ways in
which these Walks have remade sacred space in the secular city through
an historical account of their evolution, interviews with participants and
observation. The research re-emphasises the continuing importance of
custom to contemporary leisure practice and through the infrasecular lens
enables new insights into the dynamics of the historical spaces of leisure
practice. The study concludes that religion remains an important influence
on leisure and that the concept of the infrasecular merits further investigation in leisure practices
Individual’s leadership style changes due to different culture in the UK
Get PDFThis paper investigates the effects of cultural dimensions on individuals’ leadership styles. The study focused on two main themes: Culture and Leadership. Two main dimensions considered: Power Distance and Individualism to show their effects on individuals’ two main leadership behaviour: Democratic and Autocratic leadership styles. Considering a
phenomenological approach, the responses of participants were obtained from their replies to an open-ended questionnaire. Data were analysed with Hofstede’s 6D Model. Individuals are from America, Lithuania, India, Italy, and
Sri Lanka. They are currently working in the UK, performing as managerial roles, shared their cultural experiences and leadership styles. The study shows individuals from India and Sri Lanka have completely changed their leadership styles due to the surveillance of different culture in the UK. The individual from Italy slightly modified her leadership style while the other two participants from America and Lithuania remain unchanged as they have
similar cultural dimensions
LEAP Online: Supporting Teaching, Learning and Assessment
Get PDFThis poster will focus on the value and impact of LEAP Online’s approach to support blended and differentiated learning, inclusive assessment and student success. It will highlight sections of LEAP Online specifically developed to support University of Bolton core eLearning systems such as Zoom, Office 365 and Moodle together with approaches to inclusive assessment and differentiated learning. The digital badge data alongside student and staff feedback also demonstrate how LEAP Online is now firmly valued and embedded in the student journey and the University’s learning and teaching strategy
Living Meta-Analysis: what contribution could the living educational theory research literature make as a resource that informs our meta-analytic inquiries?
Get PDFA meta-analysis is the analysis of the results of several
independent studies and offers an opportunity to combine the
outcomes of comparable studies. We define a Living Meta-Analysis as a qualitative meta-analysis with inclusion criteria set
to Living-Educational-Theory research, and suggest two
scenarios:
1. where the researcher proposes to build their own living-educational-theory (let) informed by their meta-analysis
of the living-educational-theories of others, and:
2. where the researcher does not propose to build a living-educational-theory (let) but the influence of Living
Educational Theory (LET) research is still prominent in
the study through the life affirming energy of the other.
We propose an initial classification of the LET research
literature, identify, and explore potential research questions,
and methods of implementation of cases (1) and (2). We
discuss the limitations, choosing a methodology for your
research proposal and the contribution that could be made by
Living Meta-Analysis to spreading the global influence of Living
Educational Theory research
Security of Things intrusion detection system for smart healthcare
Get PDFWeb security plays a very crucial role in the Security of Things (SoT) paradigm for smart
healthcare and will continue to be impactful in medical infrastructures in the near future. This paper
addressed a key component of security-intrusion detection systems due to the number of web security
attacks, which have increased dramatically in recent years in healthcare, as well as the privacy issues.
Various intrusion-detection systems have been proposed in different works to detect cyber threats
in smart healthcare and to identify network-based attacks and privacy violations. This study was
carried out as a result of the limitations of the intrusion detection systems in responding to attacks
and challenges and in implementing privacy control and attacks in the smart healthcare industry.
The research proposed a machine learning support system that combined a Random Forest (RF)
and a genetic algorithm: a feature optimization method that built new intrusion detection systems
with a high detection rate and a more accurate false alarm rate. To optimize the functionality of
our approach, a weighted genetic algorithm and RF were combined to generate the best subset of
functionality that achieved a high detection rate and a low false alarm rate. This study used the
NSL-KDD dataset to simultaneously classify RF, Naive Bayes (NB) and logistic regression classifiers
for machine learning. The results confirmed the importance of optimizing functionality, which gave
better results in terms of the false alarm rate, precision, detection rate, recall and F1 metrics. The
combination of our genetic algorithm and RF models achieved a detection rate of 98.81% and a
false alarm rate of 0.8%. This research raised awareness of privacy and authentication in the smart
healthcare domain, wireless communications and privacy control and developed the necessary
intelligent and efficient web system. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm was applied to examine
the F1-score and precision performance as compared to the NSL-KDD and CSE-CIC-IDS2018 datasets
using different scaling factors. The results showed that the proposed GA was greatly optimized, for
which the average precision was optimized by 5.65% and the average F1-score by 8.2