Although many disaster resettlement programs are implemented throughout the world, their ramifications continue to challenge our understanding of scope, impact, context, and…
Abstract
Purpose
Although many disaster resettlement programs are implemented throughout the world, their ramifications continue to challenge our understanding of scope, impact, context, and nature of efforts to rebuild livelihoods. The purpose of this paper is to examine involved rural farmers’ livelihood risk perceptions (LRPs) in Southern Shaanxi Disaster Resettlement based on the case of Ziyang County.
Design/methodology/approach
Utilizing a livelihood risk perspective, this paper identified factors contributing to LRPs. The research categorized the involved rural farmers into groups and explored the factors affecting their LRPs using decision tree (DT).
Findings
Analyzing LRPs of different groups, this paper derived influential factors and the decision rules followed by groups. Additionally, critical factors were discussed according to their relative importance for decision making and to propose some intervention measures for effectiveness.
Originality/value
The results and implications enhance understanding on how local community members perceive the problem or risk in disaster resettlement. The application of a DT also provides methodological contributions for risk analysis and disaster preparedness.
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The purpose of this paper is to propose a modified network performance assessment method to address issues of coordination among organizations in the context of disaster response…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a modified network performance assessment method to address issues of coordination among organizations in the context of disaster response.
Design/methodology/approach
The study introduces affiliation networks to map disaster response system integrated with task/function and unit identifications. The study also assesses performance in two successive procedures including ineffective networks identification and assessment on organizational effectiveness.
Findings
The study emphasizes problems in the current emergency management system in China with a focus on Sichuan earthquake experience. Specifically, some problems with the traditional central planning and control mechanisms in coordination across boundaries are highlighted, including participants’ inexact perception of information or resource accessibility, confusion of functional designation of organizations.
Originality/value
The study builds network performance assessment method to other contexts where different emergency management systems exist and modifies them to facilitate quick complex networks evaluation. The theoretical insights from affiliation networks and cognitive accuracy provide additional contributions to the literature.
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Rui Jia, Zhimin Shuai, Tong Guo, Qian Lu, Xuesong He and Chunlin Hua
This study aims to analyze the influence of farmers’ degree of participation in collective action on their adoption decisions and waiting time regarding soil and water…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze the influence of farmers’ degree of participation in collective action on their adoption decisions and waiting time regarding soil and water conservation (SWC) measures.
Design/methodology/approach
The Probit model and Generalized Propensity Score Match method are used to assess the effect of the degree of participation in collective action on farmers’ adoption decisions and waiting time for implementing SWC measures.
Findings
The findings reveal that farmers’ engagement in collective action positively influences the decision-making process regarding terrace construction, water-saving irrigation and afforestation measures. However, it does not significantly impact the decision-making process for plastic film and ridge-furrow tillage practices. Notably, collective action has the strongest influence on farmers’ adoption decisions regarding water-saving irrigation technology, with a relatively smaller influence on the adoption of afforestation and terrace measures. Moreover, the results suggest that participating in collective action effectively reduces the waiting time for terrace construction and expedites the adoption of afforestation and water-saving irrigation technology. Specifically, collective action has a significantly negative effect on the waiting time for terrace construction, followed by water-saving irrigation technology and afforestation measures.
Practical implications
The results of this study underscore the significance of fostering mutual assistance and cooperation mechanisms among farmers, as they can pave the way for raising funds and labor, cultivating elite farmers, attracting skilled labor to rural areas, enhancing the adoption rate and expediting the implementation of terraces, water-saving irrigation technology and afforestation measures.
Originality/value
Drawing on an evaluation of farmers’ degree of participation in collective action, this paper investigates the effect of participation on their SWC adoption decisions and waiting times, thereby offering theoretical and practical insights into soil erosion control in the Loess Plateau.
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Zhou Xuesong, Luo Guo, Wang Yi Hu Jian and Zheng Chisong
In order to improve the interfacial adhesion between PBO fiber and epoxy resin, the surface modification method of chemical treatment was employed. It was demonstrated that the…
Abstract
In order to improve the interfacial adhesion between PBO fiber and epoxy resin, the surface modification method of chemical treatment was employed. It was demonstrated that the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the micro-composite system increased by 24% compared with the control sample, which was measured by the singer fiber pull-out test. Furthermore, the surface morphology of the fiber was investigated by SEM and the wettability between the sample and water was characterized by the droplet-shape profile.
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Xichen Chen, Alice Yan Chang-Richards, Antony Pelosi, Yaodong Jia, Xuesong Shen, Mohsin K. Siddiqui and Nan Yang
With interest in modern construction methods and new technologies on the rise, construction companies globally are increasingly looking at how to embrace new ideas and engage with…
Abstract
Purpose
With interest in modern construction methods and new technologies on the rise, construction companies globally are increasingly looking at how to embrace new ideas and engage with new approaches to do things better. A significant amount of work has been carried out investigating the use of individual technologies in the construction sector. However, there is no holistic understanding of the new and emerging technologies that have had proven benefits for construction projects. To fill this gap, this paper aims to provide a landscape of technologies that have been implemented in the construction industry and the benefits associated with their implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic review approach and PRISMA guidelines were used. A total of 175 articles published between 2001 and 2020 were identified and thoroughly reviewed.
Findings
The results show that a total of 26 technologies were identified from the literature, and these can be categorised into five groups in terms of their functionality in construction process, namely: (1) data acquisition, (2) analytics, (3) visualisation, (4) communication and (5) design and construction automation. Digital technologies, especially for data acquisition and visualisation, generally appear to underpin and enable innovation in many aspects of construction. Improvements in work efficiency, health and safety, productivity, quality and sustainability have been cited as being the primary benefits of using these technologies. Of these, building information modelling (BIM) appears to be the single most commonly used technology thus far. With the development of computer technology, BIM has constantly been used in combination with other technologies/tools such as unmanned aerial vehicles/systems (unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)/UAS), geographic information systems (GIS), light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and multidimensional modelling to realise a specifically defined benefit.
Practical implications
The findings from this review would help construction practitioners identify the types of technologies that can be implemented in different stages of construction projects to achieve desired outcomes, and thus, make appropriate decisions on technology investment and adoption. This review also suggests that to reap the full potential that these technologies offer, aside from construction companies changing their culture and business models, corresponding changes in the construction sector’s operating systems related to building regulation, education and training, as well as contracting and procurement are required.
Originality/value
This paper undertakes a comprehensive systematic review of studies on technology implementation in the construction sector published between 2001 and 2020. It is the first attempt internationally to provide a holistic picture of technologies that have been studied and implemented in construction projects.
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Weipeng Ke, Yiyao Kang, Baojun Dong, Wei Liao, Xiaolong Ji, Jianchao He, Xuesong Leng and Hongsheng Chen
This study aims to investigate the corrosion behavior of Cu-containing 3Ni steel in simulated marine environments and to provide basic guidance for improving the corrosion…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the corrosion behavior of Cu-containing 3Ni steel in simulated marine environments and to provide basic guidance for improving the corrosion resistance of marine high-strength steels.
Design/methodology/approach
The corrosion properties of Cu-containing 3Ni steel were evaluated in five different NaCl concentrations by alternating wet and dry cycling method. The corrosion behavior was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The mechanism of the influence of Cl ion concentrations on the corrosion behavior of Cu-containing 3Ni steel in marine environments was analyzed.
Findings
The results showed that the corrosion resistance of Cu-containing 3Ni steel decreased with NaCl concentration increasing. With the increase of NaCl concentration, the number of FeOOH particles decreased and their size increased, resulting in an increase in the porosity and a decrease in the density of corrosion products. High NaCl concentration could inhibit the formation of NiFe2O4 and disrupt the electronegativity of the inner film of corrosion products, which further weakened the enrichment of Ni and Cu, and enhanced the permeability of Cl ions.
Originality/value
The influence of NaCl concentrations on the corrosion behavior of Cu-containing 3Ni steel was systematically studied and the influence laws of corrosion behavior were obtained in this paper, providing basic data for the optimal design of Cu-containing 3Ni steels.
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Liu Yang, Nannan Yu, Xuesong Li and Jian Wang
In public health emergencies, seeking confirmed cases’ activity trajectory information (CCATI) is crucial to the public’s efforts to combat the epidemic. The public can stabilize…
Abstract
Purpose
In public health emergencies, seeking confirmed cases’ activity trajectory information (CCATI) is crucial to the public’s efforts to combat the epidemic. The public can stabilize their sentiments and mitigate the risk of cross-infection by obtaining CCATI. We investigated the factors influencing users' intentions to seek CCATI to enhance the government’s risk communication capabilities and improve information platform services.
Design/methodology/approach
We analyzed how information ecological factors affect the intention to seek CCATI through perceived value. Data was collected from 429 Chinese citizens during the fourth wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We used the structural equation model technology and bootstrap mediation effect test to examine the model.
Findings
Information understandability, information relevance, perceived severity and perceived vulnerability directly and positively affect the intention of seeking CCATI. While, the above relationships are also partially mediated by emotional value and functional value. Social support directly and negatively affects the intention of seeking CCATI, while the relationship is also partially mediated by emotional value and functional value. Curiosity directly and positively affects the intention of seeking CCATI, while the relationship is also partially mediated by emotional value. The relationship between the quality of the search service and the intention of seeking CCATI is not significant, instead, it is fully mediated by functional value. The influence effect of information relevance on the intention of seeking CCATI is the greatest, followed by perceived vulnerability. The mediating effect of functional value is higher than emotional value.
Practical implications
The findings may help governments enhance their risk communication capabilities and improve epidemic prevention and control measures, enhancing the appeal of information platforms.
Originality/value
We focused on CCATI, an area with limited scholarly attention. We analyzed CCATI-seeking factors using an information ecology theory, introducing perceived value as a mediator, thus offering novel perspectives and models.
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Users' continuance intention is vital to the future of mobile social networking service (SNS) with rapid development and intensive competitions among its providers. The purpose of…
Abstract
Purpose
Users' continuance intention is vital to the future of mobile social networking service (SNS) with rapid development and intensive competitions among its providers. The purpose of this research is to identify the factors affecting mobile SNS users' continuance intention.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from an online survey administered to 228 mobile SNS users are used to test the research model through the use of structural equation modelling.
Findings
The results show that flow, perceived usefulness and satisfaction determine continuance intention of mobile SNS. Moreover, the authors found that referent network size and perceived complementarity are the main factors affecting flow, whereas information quality is the main factor affecting perceived usefulness. Only system quality significantly affects satisfaction.
Practical implications
The results imply that mobile service providers need to take the functional characteristics of the mobile SNS (e.g. system quality and information quality), network externalities (referent network size and perceived complementarity) and flow experience into consideration when encouraging users' continuance intention towards mobile SNS.
Originality/value
Extant research has focused on initial adoption and usage of mobile SNS and has seldom considered post-adoption usage, which is critical to mobile service providers' success. This research tries to fill the gap by examining continuance intention to use mobile SNS. The theory embedded within the IS success model, network externalities and flow theory articulated that these three research domains can be integrated to better understand the factors that influence mobile SNS users' continuance intention.
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Wen Liu, Shuangchao Huang, Hongfeng Qi, Xin Zhao, Shulin Liang and Xuesong Jin
Dynamic low adhesion (DLA) has become an urgent problem for the high-speed wheel-rail system because of continuous decrease of adhesion redundancy in the past decades. This…
Abstract
Purpose
Dynamic low adhesion (DLA) has become an urgent problem for the high-speed wheel-rail system because of continuous decrease of adhesion redundancy in the past decades. This article aims to provide a simulation method to reveal the mechanism of DLA under high-frequency vibrations.
Design/methodology/approach
A transient wheel-rail rolling contact model is developed for a typical Chinese high-speed railway system using the explicit finite element (FE) method. Instantaneous adhesion exploitation levels are studied in the time domain, for which driving cases over corrugated rails are taken as an example. A speed up to 500 km/h is considered together with different traction coefficients and corrugation dimensions. DLA is expected when the instantaneous adhesion exploitation level reaches 1.0, that is adhesion saturates and full sliding contact occurs.
Findings
The instantaneous adhesion exploitation level can be very high in the presence of corrugation, even at low traction coefficients. DLA is found to occur as great vertical unloading takes place and causes a significant increase of creepage. An approach is further developed to determine the critical depth of corrugation over which DLA occurs.
Originality/value
This study employs the transient wheel-rail rolling contact model to predict the instantaneous adhesion exploitation level under high-frequency vibrations. The presented results reveal a mechanism of DLA being beneficial to guidelines for future railway practice.
Details
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Qunsheng Wang, Bin Zhu, Fubin Zhang, Xuesong Jiang and Jie Wang
While the normal wheel–rail contact model cannot be accurately used for light rail transit (LRT) wheel wear analysis with large wheelset lateral displacement and wheelset yaw…
Abstract
Purpose
While the normal wheel–rail contact model cannot be accurately used for light rail transit (LRT) wheel wear analysis with large wheelset lateral displacement and wheelset yaw angle, a modified semi-Hertzian contact model (MSHM) is proposed in the paper.
Design/methodology/approach
MSHM was first proposed to consider the wheelset motion with the lateral displacement and the yaw angle. Then, a dynamic model of an LRT was established and the influence of some key factors on wheel wear is analyzed. At last, after operating for a certain mileage, the predicted wheel wear is compared with the tested wheel wear.
Findings
Compared with the tested wheel wear, the predicted wheel wear shows a good agreement with the measured result, verifying the accuracy of MSHM.
Originality/value
Considering larger wheelset lateral displacement and yaw angle, MSHM can be used to calculate the wheel wear of the LRT with high accuracy.