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Article
Publication date: 28 October 2014

Sardar Kashif Ashraf Khan, Jonathan Loo, Aboubaker Lasebae, Muhammad Awais Azam, Muhammad Adeel, Rehana Kausar and Humaira Sardar

This paper aims to propose an algorithm, location-aware opportunistic content forwarding (LOC), to improve message directivity using direction vectors in opportunistic networks…

136

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to propose an algorithm, location-aware opportunistic content forwarding (LOC), to improve message directivity using direction vectors in opportunistic networks. The LOC is based on the assumption that if approximate location of the destination node is known, then overall message delivery and cost can be improved. Efficient message delivery with low communication cost is a major challenge in current opportunistic networks. In these networks, nodes do not have prior knowledge of their recipients, and message forwarding can be achieved by selecting suitable forwarder based on some forwarding criteria, as compared to its ancestor mobile ad hoc networks.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors tested LOC in two sets of mobility models, synthetic movement model and real mobility data sets. In the first set, working day movement is used as synthetic movement model, where proposed algorithm is compared against Lobby Influence (LI) and Epidemic algorithms. In the second set of experiments, the new algorithm is tested in three mobility data sets, namely, Cambridge, Reality and Sassy, and results compared against LI algorithm. The reason of using various movement models is to establish strengths and weaknesses of the proposed algorithm in different scenarios.

Findings

The experimental results show that the new algorithm performed extremely well in different scenarios, not only in terms of overall message delivery but also successfully managed to reduce the communication cost.

Originality/value

The new contribution increases the overall energy and storage efficiency of nodes by targeting relevant forwarding nodes in the network.

Details

International Journal of Pervasive Computing and Communications, vol. 10 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1742-7371

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Article
Publication date: 25 November 2013

Muhammad Awais Azam, Jonathan Loo, Usman Naeem and Muhammad Adeel

Recognizing daily life activities and human behaviour from contextual information is a challenging task. The purpose of the research work in this paper is to develop a system that…

245

Abstract

Purpose

Recognizing daily life activities and human behaviour from contextual information is a challenging task. The purpose of the research work in this paper is to develop a system that can detect indoor and outdoor daily life activities of low entropy mobile people such as elderly people and patients with regular routines using non-intrusive sensor and contextual information.

Design/methodology/approach

A framework is proposed that utilises a hierarchical approach in which high-level activities are divided into sub-activities and tasks and recognises the high-level outdoor and indoor activities of daily life. Tasks are recognised at lower level from sensor data and then used by the “activity recogniser” at higher level to recognise the high-level activities. For outdoor activities recognition, wireless proximity data are used, whereas for indoor activities, object usage data obtained through radio frequency identification sensors are used.

Findings

For outdoor tasks, results have shown 100 per cent recognition for experiment 1 and a decrease in recognition from 100 to 82.7 per cent, respectively, for experiment 2-9 due to increase in the entropy of individual tasks. Outdoor activity recognition ranges from 84.1 to 100 per cent. For indoor tasks, generating alternative tasks sequences approach effectively recognised the single tasks that were conducted with objects without any order. Average indoor activity recognition rate remains above 90 per cent. The reason why this approach is able to detect the activities without their distinct features is the planning capability of the Asbru that is used in the modelling of high-level activities.

Originality/value

The novelty of this research work is a framework that utilises different types of sensor data and recognises both indoor and outdoor daily life activities of individuals.

Details

International Journal of Pervasive Computing and Communications, vol. 9 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1742-7371

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Article
Publication date: 29 March 2013

Muhammad Awais Azam and Jonathan Loo

The aim of the research work presented in this paper is to investigate a mechanism that can recognise high level activities (for example, going for a walk, travelling on the bus…

222

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the research work presented in this paper is to investigate a mechanism that can recognise high level activities (for example, going for a walk, travelling on the bus, doing evening activity, etc.) and behaviour of low entropy people (people with regular daily life routines, e.g. elderly people with dementia, patients with regular routines) in order to help them improve their health related daily life activities by using wireless proximity data (e.g. Bluetooth, Wi‐Fi).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopted a tiered approach to recognise activities and behaviour. Higher level activities are divided into sub‐activities and tasks. Separating the tasks from the raw wireless proximity data is achieved by designing task separator (TASE) algorithm. TASE takes wireless proximity data as an input and separates it into different tasks. These detected tasks and the high level daily activity plans that are made in a planning language Asbru, are then fed into the activity recogniser that compares the detected tasks with the plans and recognises the high level activities that the user is performing.

Findings

The paper provides an insight to how only wireless proximity data can be utilised to recognise high level activities and behaviour of individuals. A number of scenarios and experiments are designed to prove the validity of the proposed methodology.

Research limitations/implications

This paper focussed on relatively low entropy individuals with regular routines and behavioural patterns which can be improved by increasing the level of entropies in behavioural routines.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for the utilisation in health care environments for elderly people and physically impaired individuals.

Originality/value

This paper provides a detailed and original study of algorithms and techniques that can be used to recognise high level activities and behaviour of individuals by using only wireless proximity data.

Details

International Journal of Pervasive Computing and Communications, vol. 9 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1742-7371

Keywords

Available. Content available
Article
Publication date: 25 November 2013

Ismail Khalil

140

Abstract

Details

International Journal of Pervasive Computing and Communications, vol. 9 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1742-7371

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Abstract

Subject Area

Social Entrepreneurship, Organizational Behavior.

Study Level

This case is suitable to be used in advanced undergraduate and MBA/MSc level.

Case Overview

This case teaches about green organization, its opportunity, challenges, and attitude toward sustainable agriculture. The Babylon Vertical Farms (BVF) is an agricultural and technological company that grew high-quality hydroponic vegetables and herbs with minimum use of sunlight, soil, and pesticides. BVF used recycled water through reverse osmosis process with the target to decrease cultivated time to less than six hours, when compared to the typical 18 hours, apart from minimizing water usage up to 90%. Knowing its potential, Stuart Thomas, the founder and his team planned to increase the farm production to 2,000–3,000 kg a month from 1,000 kg a month. The farm required RM150,000 to acquire resources and to extend its farm infrastructure. Stuart and his team had to make feasible and practical decision in gaining their funds to execute the business to be one that is sustainable and green. As a social entrepreneur, Stuart also wanted to address poverty-related hunger. A group of investors was ready to invest and asked for 30% equity. Stuart was tempted to take the offer. If he rejected the offer, the farm could lose the opportunity to scale-up its operation. At the same time, if he accepted the offer, he might lose control over the business one day.

Expected Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes are as follows:

  • to expose students to the various forms of urban farming that a social entrepreneur can venture into;

  • to expose students to the benefits of green business;

  • to evaluate potential opportunities and threats of a green organization using SWOT analysis; and

  • to recommend a possible strategy to build a sustainable agriculture farm that is economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially responsible.

to expose students to the various forms of urban farming that a social entrepreneur can venture into;

to expose students to the benefits of green business;

to evaluate potential opportunities and threats of a green organization using SWOT analysis; and

to recommend a possible strategy to build a sustainable agriculture farm that is economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially responsible.

Details

Green Behavior and Corporate Social Responsibility in Asia
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78756-684-2

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 13 April 2018

Jonathan K.M. Lian and Florence Y.Y. Ling

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the job satisfaction level of quantity surveyors (QSs); identify the personal characteristics that influence their job satisfaction;…

783

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the job satisfaction level of quantity surveyors (QSs); identify the personal characteristics that influence their job satisfaction; and provide recommendations to employers on how to enhance job satisfaction of QSs with different personal characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire to QSs in Singapore.

Findings

QSs feel that they have significantly high passion for the job, are significantly satisfied with task variety and are treated fairly. However, they are significantly dissatisfied with their workload, hours worked, and lack of work-life balance. QSs in upper management have significantly higher job passion. Those in mid-management are more dissatisfied with their income. QSs who are married/attached, older, and more experienced are significantly more dissatisfied with their workload and hours worked than singles, younger, and less experienced QSs.

Research limitations/implications

Some dimensions of job satisfaction were not measured. Non-personal characteristics such as type of projects handled and type of clients were not investigated.

Practical implications

Employers should investigate what goes into QSs’ workload, and weed out those that are of low value and unproductive in order to reduce their workload and hours worked, and thereby increase their job satisfaction.

Social implications

The study contributes to human resource management by identifying the type of QSs who are more likely to be dissatisfied with their jobs.

Originality/value

This study shows that personal differences of QSs affect different dimensions of their job satisfaction. To maximize job satisfaction, employers could choose QSs who have specific characteristics, make changes to the work environment or redesign their jobs.

Details

Built Environment Project and Asset Management, vol. 8 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2044-124X

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 16 August 2013

Jonathan Houdmont

Stress research in the UK policing has largely neglected to account for variance in the type of psychosocial hazard officers are exposed to across policing roles, highlighting the…

1523

Abstract

Purpose

Stress research in the UK policing has largely neglected to account for variance in the type of psychosocial hazard officers are exposed to across policing roles, highlighting the need for role‐specific research that is capable of informing similarly specific stress reduction interventions. This study aimed to develop and assess exposure to a taxonomy of psychosocial hazards specific to the UK police custody work, consider the burnout profile of custody officers, explore relations between psychosocial hazard exposure and burnout, and compare the exposures of burned out and non‐burned out custody officers.

Design/methodology/approach

Preliminary focus groups identified a series of psychosocial hazards specific to the custody officer role. A questionnaire administered to custody officers within a UK territorial police force assessed exposure to these psychosocial hazards and burnout.

Findings

Twenty‐six custody‐specific psychosocial hazards were identified, across nine themes. The proportion of custody officers who reported a high degree of burnout was above that found in normative data. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that exposures were positively related to emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation. Unrelated t‐tests showed that respondents who reported high burnout also reported significantly higher exposures across all nine psychosocial hazard themes than those with sub‐threshold burnout scores.

Originality/value

This is the first study to investigate the stress‐related working conditions of the UK custody officers. It provides a foundation for future large‐scale longitudinal studies concerned with validating the current findings and improving the health of officers engaged in this unique policing role.

Details

Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, vol. 36 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1363-951X

Keywords

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Book part
Publication date: 19 June 2019

Antonietta Bonello

Abstract

Details

Understanding the Investor: A Maltese Study of Risk and Behavior in Financial Investment Decisions
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78973-705-9

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Book part
Publication date: 8 August 2022

John Preston and Simon Blainey

This book has reviewed the sustainability of rail engineering and operations with respect to both existing assets and new build in terms of the three pillars of economic, social

Abstract

This book has reviewed the sustainability of rail engineering and operations with respect to both existing assets and new build in terms of the three pillars of economic, social and environmental sustainability. It is argued that the composition of a sustainable railway is well understood, but there are practical issues with delivery. These issues may be overcome with an emphasis on infrastructure provision, finance (and funding), top-down governance and bottom-up participation.

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Article
Publication date: 1 March 2001

K.G.B. Bakewell

Compiled by K.G.B. Bakewell covering the following journals published by MCB University Press: Facilities Volumes 8‐18; Journal of Property Investment & Finance Volumes 8‐18;…

19372

Abstract

Compiled by K.G.B. Bakewell covering the following journals published by MCB University Press: Facilities Volumes 8‐18; Journal of Property Investment & Finance Volumes 8‐18; Property Management Volumes 8‐18; Structural Survey Volumes 8‐18.

Details

Structural Survey, vol. 19 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-080X

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