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Enhanced Construction Project Duration Estimation Using Artificial Neural Networks: Initial Design and Planning Stages
Full text linkMaintaining efficiency and quality control during the early phases of construction projects depends on accurate duration estimation. However, because there is not enough data available in the initial stages of project planning, traditional methodologies suffer. To address these challenges, this study presents an innovative approach using artificial neural networks (ANNs) through Python. This method offers reliable predictions for early-stage duration estimation. ANN models were created and validated with 53 design parameters using data from 100 different construction projects in Jordan. Furthermore, the study refined the models to 43 parameters using a questionnaire-driven approach. The average duration estimation accuracy of the ANN models was 90% during the initial stage and 95% during the planning stage, demonstrating their great accuracy. Its uniqueness comes in its application of ANN to early-stage building, an area that has not been extensively studied in the literature to date, and in its demonstration that reliable predictions may be generated in the absence of abundant data. This study demonstrates ANN\u27s effectiveness in enhancing early-stage construction planning by providing stakeholders with a more accurate duration estimation tool than traditional methods. The findings contribute significantly to improving decision-making and project planning in the early phases
The Southeast Asia Major within the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at UTS 1996–2007
No full textBetween 1996 and 2007, the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (BAIS) at the University of Technology Sydney offered students the opportunity to engage in transformative In-Country Study (ICS) experiences in Southeast Asia. These transformative experiences broadened students’ intellectual horizons, fostered meaningful connections, and inspired successful careers in fields such as diplomacy, journalism, and academia. These are my reflections as the coordinator of the program
Looking Ahead with the New International Studies
Full text linkAs I write this, the world seems to be in a more precarious position than it was 30 years ago, when the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (BAIS) at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) was established. In 1994, the Cold War appeared to have come to an end. That year an Accord was signed between Israel and Palestine, and Yasir Arafat, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin won the Nobel Peace Prize. The discourse around global climate crisis had not yet emerged. The sharpened international geopolitical situation since 1994 cannot be sheeted home to our program, of course. But in 2024 the need for graduates with the skills, insights and cultural intelligence that language and culture learning and an immersive overseas experience gives—that our international studies students possess in spades—has clearly not diminished, hence the evolution of the BAIS into the Bachelor of International Studies and its exciting new options for international education
Interacting possibilities between off-site manufacturing and building information modelling for performance improvement
No full textBuilding information modelling (BIM) and Off-site manufacturing (OSM) have been extensively studied as separate concepts, yet few studies have examined their combined application as a hybrid approach. The current immature level of BIM adoption and OSM\u27s limited success in Australia urged this research to investigate the innovative simultaneous interactions of building information modelling (BIM) and off-site manufacturing (OSM) in the Australian construction industry, while its novel application in the larger global construction industry environment is equally considered crucial for the advancement of research in this sector. Structural equation modelling was applied to investigate complex relationships between dependent and independent variables. In this empirical study, 105 academic publications were reviewed to build a solid foundation to support the findings. The findings show that OSM and BIM are not widely used in Australia. Individually, these capabilities have had no considerable impact on the overall performance of projects. Also, BIM and OSM have constructively interacted when they are concurrently applied. The study concluded that systematic implementation of OSM–BIM interactions could improve key productivity indicators, followed by the performance improvement of projects. Implementing this OSM–BIM hybrid approach that aligns with the Diffusion of Innovation Theory is best applied at the planning and managerial stages to ensure a practical operating system in OSM-based projects supported by BIM
Achieving Zero Waste: Circular Economy Strategies in Australian Higher Education
Full text linkThe circular economy concept, which aims to minimise waste and make the most of resources, has gained global traction as a sustainable alternative to the traditional linear economy. In recent years, Australian universities have increasingly adopted these principles to align with global sustainability goals to reduce environmental impact, enhance resource efficiency, and foster a culture of sustainability within their communities. This study examined the implementation of circular economy protocols in Australian universities to achieve zero waste and promote sustainable practices. Specifically, it assessed universities\u27 commitment to circular economy strategies, waste reduction, resource optimisation, and the net-zero agenda. The research involved a systematic literature review of 70 sources from 2012-2022. Text mining techniques, including co-occurrence analysis, were applied to a secondary dataset to reveal the relationships between circular economy principles and universities, thereby enhancing our understanding of these connections. between circular economy principles and universities. Emergent themes centered around sustainability-oriented economic models like circular and sharing economies. The analysis underscored the importance of sustainability, collaboration, and locality in achieving waste minimisation goals. Significantly, there was an overlap between circular economy principles and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Universities showed a growing commitment to these goals through sustainable practices. Region-specific strategies, dynamic collaborations, and community engagement played key roles in waste minimisation. The adoption of sustainable economic models, including circular economy, was prominent. In conclusion, the study provides insights into universities\u27 roles in waste reduction, resource optimisation, and supporting the transition to a net-zero, circular economy
Tsunamis in the Japan Major: Shifting Tides and Resilience
Full text linkThis reflective piece on the Japan Major at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) marks three decades of the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (BAIS), now the Bachelor of International Studies (BIS) since 2022. The past 15 years have been especially transformative for the Japan Major, shaped by two significant events: the devastating tsunami on 11 March 2011 and the declaration of a global pandemic on 11 March 2020. Remarkably connected by a single date, these events frame a reflection on resilience, adaptability, and the evolving practices of global education, with student experiences at the forefront. Using the word ‘tsunami’ both literally and metaphorically, this essay explores how such shifts challenge and inspire pedagogical approaches
A Transcultural Experiment: U.S. Latino Studies at UTS
Full text linkIn 2001, shortly after I joined as a newly minted academic the Institute for International Studies at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), the then founder and Director of the program, Professor David Goodman, approached me to canvas the possibility of a Latino USA Major in the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (BAIS) degree. These are my reflections on this transcultural experiment in international studies at UTS
El Estallido Social and ICS Chile 2019
Full text linkThis reflection recounts the extraordinary experiences of the 2019 In-Country Study (ICS) Chile cohort during Chile’s Estallido Social, a period of intense social and political unrest. Despite facing immense challenges, including civil unrest and disruptions to their studies, the students demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to their host communities. Through their collective efforts and independent explorations of Chilean society, they exemplified the global citizenship and intercultural skills nurtured in the International Studies program
The Global Classroom in Action: Thirty Years of International Studies at the University of Technology Sydney
Full text link2024 marks a significant milestone for the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (BAIS) and its successor, the Bachelor of International Studies (BIS), at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS): 30 years of pioneering global education and the fostering of international and transcultural understanding. To commemorate this anniversary in this issue of Portal: Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies, a selection of academic staff, past and present, who have contributed to the program, share their memories and insights through short essays and reflective pieces. This initiative seeks to honour the diverse experiences and pedagogical innovations that have shaped the program’s success over the decades. It also aims to explain the inevitable evolution of international studies at UTS in the wake of the global pandemic whose associated travel restrictions forced a rethink of how UTS might better deliver international studies with an array of new “internationalised/ising” experiences some of which start right here, where we are now.
 
A curated walk with peer researchers and their communities: Engaging a research journey toward meaningful impact
Full text linkAs a collective of peer researchers, scholars and members of a non-profit organisation, we have come together to share a curated walk through low-income communities in Cape Town and London. We do so with the intent of exploring the embodied and social experiences of walking and writing research differently through a collaborative process of listening, co-creating and sharing knowledge about the pedestrian mobilities of young men as mediated by the precarities of urban life. Our walking-writing practices are a hybrid of the actual practices of walking and potential for enacting change by valuing the everyday experiences and knowledge of peer researchers. The curated walk that we share guides readers on the research journey that we have taken together from the homes of those involved to the metaphorical centre of power in the cities/regions where our work takes place, with the intention of long-term, meaningful impact
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