Morteza Asadi and Jalal Karami
The aim of this study was to determine the number of shelters, specify some optimal paths among building blocks towards shelters, and assign population to shelters.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study was to determine the number of shelters, specify some optimal paths among building blocks towards shelters, and assign population to shelters.
Design/methodology/approach
Imperialist competition algorithm (ICA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) were used to optimize the objectives of this study.
Findings
The optimal value for PSO objective function was with the number of function evaluations (NFE) of 5300 and the optimal value of ICA objective function was with NFE of 1062. Repetition test for both algorithms showed that imperialist competition algorithm enjoys better stability and constancy and higher speed of convergence compared to particle swarm algorithm. This has been also shown in larger environments. 92% of the existing populations have access to shelters at a distance of less than600 meters. This means that evacuation from the building blocks to shelters takes less than 8 minutes. The average distance from a block (for example, a residential complex) to an optimal shelter is approximately273meters. The greatest risk of route and shelter has been 239 and 121, respectively.
Research limitations/implications
To address these goals, four following objective functions were considered: a) minimization of the distance for getting all the people to shelters b) the lowest total risk of the discharge path c) minimization of the total time required to transfer people to shelters or hospitals if necessary, and d) the lowest total risk in shelters.
Social implications
Over the recent decades, the frequency of so-called ‘natural’ disasters has increased significantly worldwide and resulted in escalating human and economic losses. Among them, the earthquake is one of the major concerns of the various stakeholders related to urban planning.
Originality/value
In addition, the maximum time of discharge from the helter to the hospital has been 17 minutes, which means the presence of good access to selected shelters.
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Hassan Tavakoli, Mohsen Karami, Jalal Rezai, Khalil Esfandiari and Patricia Khashayar
The purpose of this paper is to present a remarkable medical equipment‐induced adverse event and to suggest ways to prevent similar problems.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a remarkable medical equipment‐induced adverse event and to suggest ways to prevent similar problems.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses a case study to discuss when it is necessary to renew medical equipment.
Findings
The paper finds that repairing medical equipment using inappropriate parts causes severe iatrogenic problems.
Research limitations/implications
Events like this may be underestimated because well‐organized reporting strategies in health care units are inappropriate.
Practical implications
Defining expiry dates for medical equipment may prevent unsatisfactory repair, especially when original parts are unavailable.
Originality/value
The paper highlights the fact that simple errors cause severe patient injuries.
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Oluseyi Julius Adebowale and Justus Ngala Agumba
Labour productivity in construction has fallen behind other industries in most of the world and has declined continuously for decades. Although several scholarly research projects…
Abstract
Purpose
Labour productivity in construction has fallen behind other industries in most of the world and has declined continuously for decades. Although several scholarly research projects have been conducted to salvage the prevalent low labour productivity in construction, contractors in the construction industry have continued to grapple with the devastating impact of low productivity. The purpose of this study is to determine key areas of focus necessary to promote productivity growth in construction.
Design/methodology/approach
Bibliometric and scientometric assessments were conducted to map the existing construction labour productivity (CLP) studies and establish key focus areas in the research domain. The keywords “Construction Productivity” OR “Construction Labour Productivity” OR “Construction Labor Productivity” OR “Construction Worker Productivity”.
Findings
Emerging trends in the CLP research field are reported. The study also determined the most productive authors and collaboration among authors, most productive journals, most active regions and publications with the highest impact in CLP research.
Research limitations/implications
Documents published in the Scopus database were considered for analysis because of the wider coverage of the database. Journal and conference articles written in English language represent the inclusion criteria, while articles in press, review, book chapters, editorial, erratum, note, short survey and data paper were excluded from analysis. The study is also limited to documents published from 2012 to 2021.
Practical implications
The study brought to the awareness of the industry practitioners and other construction stakeholders, the key knowledge areas that are critical to promoting productivity growth in construction.
Originality/value
Except bibliometric analysis, previous research studies have used different approaches to investigate productivity in construction. The study presented future research directions through the emerging knowledge areas identified in the study.
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Prathamesh Churi, Ambika Vishal Pawar and Amir A. Abdulmuhsin
Focusing on the Indian context, with the increase in the amount of data and its analysis in health-care knowledge management (KM), the privacy concerns rise which results in loss…
Abstract
Purpose
Focusing on the Indian context, with the increase in the amount of data and its analysis in health-care knowledge management (KM), the privacy concerns rise which results in loss of trust of an individual in e-health-care systems. Privacy issues in health care, specific to India, are caused by prevalent complacency, culture, politics, budget limitations, large population and infrastructures. Because of these factors, data security requires a backseat that allows easy access to confidential information. Furthermore, the prevalent culture affects health-care disclosure in India. In many cultures, disclosing sensitive personal health-care data is considered ill mannered. This leads to discrepancies in the recorded health-care data and a decrease in the level of treatment meted out. The results and statistics of treatments given do not match the records because of inaccurate data reporting. With the significant rise in the analysis and use of technology in health-care KM systems, it is important to understand the perception of KM in terms of its use and awareness about data sharing in the KM system. The purpose of the paper is to measure the perception of privacy issues in the context of Indian healthcare management systems.
Design/methodology/approach
To measure the perception of the use of the KM system, a set of 20 questions was circulated with a sample size of 337 which includes health-care researchers, doctors, practitioners and patients. The questions focused upon the use, share the sensitive health data in the KM platform. All the demographic information such as age, sex, religion, occupation is recorded. The privacy of the individual is maintained while circulating the questionnaire. The usage of health KM system and its privacy is measured through means and t-test.
Findings
The results of the t-test were found positive. This research study finds that the privacy factor is important among the Indians to share the information with the KM repository. It is also found that medical practitioners or data custodians are not much serious about sensitive data is being stored for analysis. From the statistical perception of usage of KM and its privacy, new architecture and privacy guidelines were suggested which can be considered in future research.
Research limitations/implications
From the literature review, the questionnaire has developed which can help policymakers and hospital administrators collect information about KM processes in health-care organizations, and this can result in higher performance of health organizations. The privacy factor can also be included in typical health KM architecture ensure that while knowledge acquisition process, privacy of individual or organization can be maintained.
Social implications
KM enhances the value of corporations and business industries through knowledge production, distribution and provides reliable access to the knowledge resources. KM in health care can comprise a confluence of formal methodologies and techniques to facilitate the creation, identification, acquisition, development, preservation, dissemination and finally the utilization of the various facets of a health-care enterprise’s knowledge assets. According to IBM Global executive report in the year 2012, the entire health-care system has changed from diseases-centric to patient-centric. India is emerging in terms of revenue and employment in the health-care field. The advances of information and communication technology help the health-care sector streamline for data structure and access and health analytics.
Originality/value
In India, the KM is frequently used in health-care industries majorly by health-care practitioners and professionals. As health-care data and knowledge are considered to be sensitive, the privacy of an individual while using the data cannot be compromised. The proposed empirical work will provide a solution in determining the main barriers of implementing privacy policies that need to be solved first and to ensure effective implementation of KM in the health care of India.
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This study aims to demonstrate the numerical application of differential quadrature (DQ) methods and show the experimental application of free vibration analysis of fiber-metal…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to demonstrate the numerical application of differential quadrature (DQ) methods and show the experimental application of free vibration analysis of fiber-metal laminated composite (FML) plates with various boundary conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
The FMLs are hybrid structures consisting of fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites such as carbon, glass, aramid and different metal sheets, and are currently widely used in the automobile, aircraft and aerospace industries. Thus, free vibration analysis of these hybrid materials is necessary for the design process. The governing equations of motion are derived based on the classical plate theory. The DQ, generalized DQ (GDQ) and harmonic DQ (HDQ) differential quadrature methods have been used to solve the governing equations of an FML composite plate numerically. The accuracy and convergence of the numerical model have been verified by comparing the results available in the published literature with the results obtained from these methods. Moreover, an experimental procedure has been performed in order to compare the results against those of the numerical methods.
Findings
It is noteworthy that a high degree of similarity and accuracy was observed between the numerical results obtained by the DQ methods and the experimental results. Thus, the present study validates the applicability of the DQ methods for designing the FML composite plates.
Originality/value
In this study, the advantages of the DQ methods have been demonstrated differently from previous studies on the vibration analysis of the FML plates.
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Mohammed Hamza Momade, Serdar Durdyev, Dave Estrella and Syuhaida Ismail
This study reviews the extent of application of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the construction industry.
Abstract
Purpose
This study reviews the extent of application of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the construction industry.
Design/methodology/approach
A thorough literature review (based on 165 articles) was conducted using Elsevier's Scopus due to its simplicity and as it encapsulates an extensive variety of databases to identify the literature related to the scope of the present study.
Findings
The following items were extracted: type of AI tools used, the major purpose of application, the geographical location where the study was conducted and the distribution of studies in terms of the journals they are published by. Based on the review results, the disciplines the AI tools have been used for were classified into eight major areas, such as geotechnical engineering, project management, energy, hydrology, environment and transportation, while construction materials and structural engineering. ANN has been a widely used tool, while the researchers have also used other AI tools, which shows efforts of exploring other tools for better modelling abilities. There is also clear evidence of that studies are now growing from applying a single AI tool to applying hybrid ones to create a comparison and showcase which tool provides a better result in an apple-to-apple scenario.
Practical implications
The findings can be used, not only by the researchers interested in the application of AI tools in construction, but also by the industry practitioners, who are keen to further understand and explore the applications of AI tools in the field.
Originality/value
There are no studies to date which serves as the center point to learn about the different AI tools available and their level of application in different fields of AEC. The study sheds light on various studies, which have used AI in hybrid/evolutionary systems to develop effective and accurate predictive models, to offer researchers and model developers more tools to choose from.
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Shubham Dixit, Shiwangi Singh, Sanjay Dhir and Swati Dhir
This study aims to identify the antecedents of strategic thinking and its relationship with competitive advantage. Further, this study analyses the mediating effect of strategic…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify the antecedents of strategic thinking and its relationship with competitive advantage. Further, this study analyses the mediating effect of strategic thinking between its antecedents and competitive advantage.
Design/methodology/approach
A self-reported questionnaire with 51 questions was floated among 220 professionals from various industries in India. The response was analysed using the partial least squares-structural equation modelling methodology using SmartPLS software.
Findings
The direct effect of creativity, corporate culture and knowledge management are established with strategic thinking, as well as a competitive advantage. Also, the study finds a significant relationship between strategic thinking and competitive advantage. The study finds no mediation (direct effect) in the case of creativity, corporate culture and knowledge management. Further, no mediation (no relationship) is found in the case of vision.
Practical implications
Business must start adopting strategic thinking practices in their decision-making process to create a competitive advantage. Further, the influence of corporate culture, creativity and knowledge management on strategic thinking highlights their importance.
Originality/value
The study establishes the impact of antecedents of strategic thinking on competitive advantage. The study highlights the importance of other factors along with strategic thinking for achieving competitive advantage.