21436 research outputs found
Sort by
Construction projects status tracking : a real-time data-driven framework for delay management and analysis : a thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Building and Construction, School of Built Environment, College of Science, Massey University, New Zealand
No full textChapters 3, 4 and 5 are reproduced under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC BY 4.0).Construction delays remain one of the most critical challenges in project delivery, often resulting in cost overruns, schedule slippages, and weakened stakeholder confidence. Traditional delay management methods are largely reactive, relying on periodic reporting and fragmented communication across project teams. In contrast, the increasing availability of digital tools offers the opportunity to adopt more proactive, data-driven approaches. This study introduces a framework that centralises and analyses real-time project data from multiple stakeholders, including head contractors, subcontractors, consultants (via Building Information Modelling—BIM), and on-site teams. By integrating these diverse inputs into a unified Power BI dashboard, the framework enhances early detection of delays, improves coordination, and supports timely decision-making. Earned Value (EV) metrics are embedded as key control points, providing early signals of deviations and potential risks. Despite these advances, several research gaps remain. Existing systems are often costly and complex, highlighting the need for simple, inexpensive, and user-friendly solutions. Real-time data acquisition and centralisation are still underdeveloped, limiting the speed and reliability of insights. Current practice focuses heavily on retrospective reporting, with limited capability for real-time analytics or predictive forecasting. Stakeholder communication and coordination remain fragmented, while systematic early notification systems for emerging delays are rarely implemented. Ultimately, it is necessary to integrate historical and real-time data to facilitate predictive delay analytics. Addressing these gaps would help shift construction delay management from reactive intervention towards proactive risk mitigation. Guided by these gaps, the research is shaped around three central questions: (1) What causes delays in major construction projects, and how do these delays affect stakeholder collaboration? (2) How are digital technologies currently being deployed to improve project performance in relation to delays and risks? (3) How can a new framework be designed and evaluated to strengthen early delay detection and enhance project outcomes? To answer these questions, five objectives are established. First, to identify and analyse the key project stakeholders and the principal causes of delay. Second, to review and assess the role of digital technologies in construction projects. Third, to develop a framework that integrates real-time data for enhanced monitoring, reporting, and early detection of delays. Finally, to evaluate this framework in practice, assess its effectiveness in enhancing transparency, facilitating stakeholder coordination, and improving overall project performance. In doing so, this research contributes to the advancement of digital construction management by embedding real-time analytics into live project environments. The proposed framework not only enhances transparency and resource allocation but also lays the groundwork for predictive delay management, thereby aligning construction practices with the broader objectives of Industry 4.0
Valorization of Sacha Inchi press cake: Technological advances, market, and regulatory considerations for sustainable food applications
No full textSacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) press cake (SP), the nutrient-dense by-product of oil extraction, is rich in high quality proteins, essential fatty acids, and bioactive compounds. However, its use remains constrained by processing, regulatory and market acceptance barriers. This review summarizes recent advances in processing strategies to improve SP's nutritional, functional, and sensory qualities. Physical treatments (dry/wet fractionation, steaming, autoclaving, roasting and extrusion) increase protein digestibility and solubility while reducing heat-stable antinutrients. Emerging methods, including high-pressure processing, high-pressure homogenization, ultrasonication, microwave treatment, electroconductivity (Ohmic/PEF), and cold plasma technologies enhance extractability and bioactivity while preserving sensitive compounds. Chemical and chemo-enzymatic approaches (e.g., alkaline soaking, cyclodextrin complexation) suppress flavor precursors, whereas enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation improve bioactive peptide release, digestibility, and functionality. Functional additives (sweeteners, salts, polysaccharides, flavor enhancers) help mask bitterness, while paired with consumer-preferred flavors increase acceptance. Beyond processing, safety approvals (e.g., Thai FDA, EU novel food approval) and consumer perception on sensory, nutritional, and sustainability factors shape its market potential. Currently, SP shows potential across a wide range of food applications and its valorization supports sustainable protein supply chains. Future opportunities depend on integrating processing, safety, and regulatory strategies with consumer-driven innovation.fals
Investigating situation awareness transition in construction hazard recognition: A multimodal study of cognitive and neural mechanisms
No full textConstruction sites are dynamic and hazardous environments where workers often struggle to maintain high levels of situation awareness (SA), essential for effective hazard recognition. While technologies exist to aid hazard perception, limited research has explored how external environmental stimuli and internal safety goals jointly influence the SA transition across perception (SA1), comprehension (SA2), and projection (SA3). This study investigates the effects of augmented stimuli and safety goals setting on SA levels, SA transition and hazard recognition. A multimodal experimental approach was employed, integrating virtual reality (VR), eye tracking, modified Situation Awareness Global Assessment Technique (SAGAT) and event-related potentials (ERPs). A novel Temporal Hybrid Situation Awareness Measurement (THSAM) method was introduced to quantify SA by linking eye-tracking data with SAGAT responses. SAGAT data showed that both augmented stimuli and safety goals improved SA across all levels. SAGAT and THSAM indicated that the combination of the two interventions led to the largest improvements across SA1, SA2, and SA3. SA transition analysis revealed that augmented stimuli effectively facilitated the shift from unawareness (SA0) to SA1. THSAM and SA transition analysis confirmed safety goals primarily enhanced SA2. ERPs analyses further indicate distinct brain activity patterns (P2 and N400) associated with each SA level. This study contributes to construction safety research by providing quantitative evidence on the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying SA transition. It also introduces THSAM as a methodological advancement for capturing real-time SA dynamics and offers practical implications for designing integrated safety interventions that align with workers’ goals and environmental demands.fals
Temporal reconstruction of a Salmonella Enteritidis ST11 outbreak in New Zealand
No full textOutbreaks caused by Salmonella Enteritidis are commonly linked to eggs and poultry meat internationally, but this serovar had never been detected in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) poultry prior to 2021. Locally designated genomic cluster Salmonella Enteritidis_2019_C_01, was implicated in a 2019 outbreak associated with a restaurant in Auckland. Four Enteritidis_2019_C_01 sub-clusters have since been identified, two retrospectively, in the Auckland region. Authorities initiated a formal outbreak investigation after genomically indistinguishable S. Enteritidis was isolated from the NZ poultry production environment. This study analysed 231 S. Enteritidis genomes obtained from the outbreak using Bayesian phylodynamic tools to gain insight into the outbreak's dynamics and origin. We used Bayesian integrated coalescent epoch plots to estimate the change of the Enteritidis ST11 population size over time and marginal structured coalescent approximation to estimate transmission between poultry producers. We investigated human and poultry isolates to elucidate the time and location of the most recent common ancestor of the outbreak and transmission pathways. The median most recent common ancestor was estimated to be February 2019. We found evidence of amplification and spread of strain Enteritidis_2019_C_01 within the poultry industry, as well as transmission events throughout the production chain. The intervention by the public health and food safety authorities coincided with a drop in the effective population size of the S. Enteritidis ST11 as well as notified human cases. This information is crucial for understanding and preventing the transmission of S. Enteritidis in NZ poultry to ensure poultry meat and eggs are safe for consumption.fals
Factors affecting in vitro oocyte maturation in Southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum)
No full textBackground: Population numbers of free-roaming rhinoceros are dwindling while natural breeding in captive populations is challenged by sub-optimal fertility. When natural breeding programmes fail and population numbers continue to decline, the use of assisted reproduction technologies (ART) as a conservation tool to save wildlife species from extinction is imperative. Assisted breeding programmes in rhinoceros are challenging and attempts to develop species-specific ART beyond artificial insemination have been limited. This study evaluates various ex- and in-situ factors that could potentially affect in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM) in the Southern white rhinoceros (SWR).
Objectives: To identify predictors of oocyte maturation following ovum pick-up (OPU) procedures performed on a large number of rhinoceros under different management conditions.
Methods: Data from 85 OPU procedures between November 2018 and June 2023 were obtained for this study. A total of 23 factors (three animal, four environmental, 16 laboratory) were evaluated as potentially affecting IVM success.
Results: Of the 85 procedures performed on 59 SWR, a total of 265 oocytes were collected with a median of two oocytes (range 0–18) per OPU. Eighteen (18) of the procedures yielded 0 oocytes. The overall maturation rate was 30% (80/265), and six identified factors had significant univariate associations with maturation outcome, of which three remained in the multivariable model.
Conclusion: Farming system, season and oocyte density in maturation medium (> 100 ul/oocyte) were independently associated with improved maturation success (p < 0.05).fals
Payouts smoothing and income growth
No full textWe quantify the extent and drivers of payout smoothing by employing 34,966 US firms’ data from 1975 to 2022. We report that payout growth is almost insensitive to year-by-year net income growth, in line with preceding literature suggesting payout smoothing. Novel to the literature, we incorporate the dynamics of payout smoothing, permanent, and aggregate net income growth into the depiction. Though payout growth is mostly immune to annual income growth shocks, it is significantly affected by net income growth of 5- or 10-year periods. Firms also consider the aggregate-sectoral and/or country-level-income growth in payout decisions. Since both permanent and aggregate income growths take over the role of year-by-year income growth, we further investigate if firms’ financial positions impact the magnitude of the smoothing. Annual payout growth depends more on permanent income growth for firms with higher profits and lower leverage positions. Notably, more financially vulnerable firms with higher leverage adjust payouts more in line with aggregate economic conditions.fals
The relationship between New Zealand primary school teachers’ experiences of balancing work and leisure and their career intentions : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Arts (Psychology) at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
No full textTeacher attrition is a critical issue worldwide, with many primary school teachers struggling to manage the balance between their professional and personal lives due to conflicting priorities. While work-life balance research is extensive, the work-life balance of primary school teachers and the effect of this on their career intentions is significantly underexplored, particularly within the New Zealand context. Research that has been conducted has often investigated the balance between teachers’ work and personal life from a work-family balance perspective, neglecting other aspects of personal life such as leisure. The aim of this research was to explore New Zealand primary school teachers’ experiences of balancing work and leisure and the potential effect of this on their career intentions. A qualitative study was conducted in the form of semi-structured interviews on a sample of 16 New Zealand primary school teachers. The findings were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis approach. The study identified a variety of factors hindering participants ability to balance work and leisure. These included workload, teaching experience, dual roles, personal priorities, job intensity and workplace support. While many participants indicated struggling to engage in regular leisure activity, their responses highlighted that engagement in leisure was not a primary factor affecting their career intentions. A significant factor influencing participants' career intentions was a desire to make a difference to their students. However, the study found that this came at a cost to their personal well-being and time, chosen priorities, role responsibilities and leisure engagement. Participants identified areas which may assist them to achieve their ideal work-life balance, such as meaningful workplace support and a simplification of work-related tasks. Further research is recommended on ways to support teachers in these areas in order to address the work-life balance of New Zealand primary school teachers and the critical issue of teacher attrition
Investigating the factors that define and influence safety culture: perspectives from expert professionals
No full textReducing the number of harmed workers in the construction sector has proven to be a challenging task. While promoting a Safety Culture (SC) is crucial for achieving that goal, defining it and pinpointing the key factors that influence it is difficult. SC has been defined in many different ways, and there is no consensus on what it exactly entails. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the factors that define and influence SC in the New Zealand construction sector. This goal was achieved through a modified Delphi study conducted in two rounds to gather experts’ views and reach a consensus. Data collection included in-depth interviews and survey questionnaires. A total of 32 experienced construction safety professionals participated in the first round, and 26 of them continued in the second round. Data were analyzed using Thematic Analysis and Relative Importance Index (RII). The main findings are twofold. First, they indicate the need for a holistic definition of SC incorporating its various defining factors. Second, they indicate that the top-ranked influencing factors are ‘Level of Leadership Commitment,’ followed by ‘Level of Experience and Mindset,’ and ‘Level of Communication.’ Furthermore, the results show the dual nature of these influencing factors, as they can either facilitate or hinder SC depending on whether their level is low or high. The results of this study offer valuable insights that enable practitioners to assess and promote SC in their organizations.fals
Evaluation of a text-mining application for the rapid analysis of free-text wildlife necropsy reports
No full textThe ability to efficiently derive insights from wildlife necropsy data is essential for advancing conservation and One Health objectives, yet close reading remains the mainstay of knowledge retrieval from ubiquitous free-text clinical data. This time-consuming process poses a barrier to the efficient utilisation of such valuable resources. This study evaluates part of a bespoke text-mining application, DEE (Describe, Explore, Examine), designed for extracting insights from free-text necropsy reports housed in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Wildbase Pathology Register. A pilot test involving nine veterinary professionals assessed DEE’s ability to quantify the occurrence of four clinicopathologic findings (external oiling, trauma, diphtheritic stomatitis, and starvation) across two species datasets by comparison to manual review. Performance metrics—recall, precision, and F1-score—were calculated and analysed alongside tester-driven misclassification patterns. Findings reveal that while DEE (and the principals underlying its function) offers time-efficient data retrieval, its performance is influenced by search term selection and the breadth of vocabulary which may describe a clinicopathologic finding. Those findings characterized by limited terminological variance, such as external oiling, yielded the highest performance scores and the most consistency across application testers. Mean F1-scores across all tested findings and application testers was 0.63–0.93. Results highlight the utility and limitations of term-based text-mining approaches and suggests that enhancements to automatically capture this terminological variance may be necessary for broader implementation. This pilot study highlights the potential of relatively simple, rule-based text-mining approaches to derive insights natural language wildlife data in the support of One Health goals.fals
Ka Hura te Tai (The Tides of Transition) : former refugees finding a sense of belonging within Kaupapa Māori organisations : a research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of International Development at Massey University, Manawatū, Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textResearch ReportRefugees experience stressful, dangerous and overall life-changing events from the cause of their flight from home to their transit, and even through till their (re)settlement. It is through their difficult journeys where their sense of belonging needs to be renegotiated, even when they may be perceived as ‘safe’ and out of danger within their new place of settlement, and a sense of belonging may not occur automatically. With New Zealand taking in 1500 quota refugees annually through the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the country seeks to help these refugees (re)settle and make Aotearoa New Zealand their new home and regain a sense of belonging. Within the context of New Zealand, while there are various organisations involved in refugee (re)settlement this research focuses on Kaupapa Māori organisations that have set out to support former refugees to eventually lead healthier, happier and self-sufficient lives within their communities. Therefore, the aim of this research is to explore whether, and how former refugees’ sense of belonging is supported by interacting with Kaupapa Māori led organisations. Through this research, qualitative approaches were utilised by way of one-on-one interviews with staff members that work with former refugees from a Kaupapa Māori organisation based in Auckland, New Zealand called Kahui Tū Kāha. Through application of a value-based approach and belonging conceptual lens, this research highlights the various cross-cultural connections that can be seen between the diverse cultures of former refugees and how these then intersect with Kaupapa Māori framings. These findings support the idea that Kaupapa Māori values and cultural factors help refugees better connect to a new country and respective community, while also highlighting the role of belonging as a key contributor to positive well-being outcome