In an aging society,the interface design of smart home products is crucial to the quality of life of the elderly.This paper combines Quality Function Deployment(QFD)and Human-Computer Interaction(HCI)theories,taking s...In an aging society,the interface design of smart home products is crucial to the quality of life of the elderly.This paper combines Quality Function Deployment(QFD)and Human-Computer Interaction(HCI)theories,taking smart washing machines as an example,to explore new paths for the interface design of smart home products for the elderly.An interdisciplinary approach is adopted to construct a design process centered on elderly users,introduce the Kano model to classify requirements,realize the mapping and sorting of requirements to design parameters,and adopt the PUGH model for comprehensive evaluation.This study provides practical and theoretical support for the interface design of smart home products for the elderly.展开更多
The energy retrofit of public buildings is an effective strategy to achieve carbon neutrality goals,with educational buildings representing a significant proportion of this sector.This paper presents an in-depth analy...The energy retrofit of public buildings is an effective strategy to achieve carbon neutrality goals,with educational buildings representing a significant proportion of this sector.This paper presents an in-depth analysis of energy retrofitting policies for educational buildings and examines the design case of the“Plus Energy School”demonstration project in Rostock,Germany.The study reveals innovative approaches in several key areas:overall layout optimization,creation of climate buffer zones,enhancement of building envelope performance,ventilation and heating system design,integration of diverse renewable energy sources,and formulation of energy balance schemes with corresponding calculations.The holistic theory and methodology of this energy strategy synergy offer valuable insights for the retrofitting of existing educational buildings in China.The project successfully transformed two aging school buildings into a single“plus energy”facility through coordinated architectural and technological interventions.Notable features include the compact redesign reducing the form factor from 0.38 to 0.21,the implementation of climate buffer zones maintaining 15℃without active heating,and the integration of photovoltaic panels and wind turbines.The combination of district heating with an Organic Rankine Cycle(ORC)system further optimized energy utilization.Post-retrofit calculations demonstrate a two-thirds reduction in annual unit energy consumption,with the building generating an energy surplus.This case study provides a comprehensive framework for achieving high energy performance in educational building retrofits,offering valuable lessons for similar initiatives in China and globally.The paper concludes by discussing the potential for widespread application of these strategies in China’s existing educational buildings,considering the country’s vast building stock and increasing energy efficiency requirements.展开更多
In China, the heating energy consumption patterns of rural housing are changing due to economic development. This study investigated domestic heating in rural areas of Dalian, a city in northeast China. In rural areas...In China, the heating energy consumption patterns of rural housing are changing due to economic development. This study investigated domestic heating in rural areas of Dalian, a city in northeast China. In rural areas of the country, heating devices such as coal boiler, radiator, and/ or air-conditioner are typically used. The Kang, as the main heating system, has been used together with other heating methods for a long time in detached houses, one-story buildings, and quadrangles. Use of the Kang in collective housing is no longer observed. In addition to coal, agricultural wastes have been used to fuel the Kang; the associated CO2 emissions with agricultural fuels are lower than from other heating equipment. Even when a combination of the Kang and other equipment is used, with agricultural waste as fuel, CO2 emissions remain relatively low.展开更多
During the assembly of internal combustion engines, the specific size of crankshaft shell bearing is not known until the crankshaft is fitted to the engine block. Though the build requirements for the engine are consi...During the assembly of internal combustion engines, the specific size of crankshaft shell bearing is not known until the crankshaft is fitted to the engine block. Though the build requirements for the engine are consistent, the consumption profile of the different size shell bearings can follow a highly volatile trajectory due to minor variation in the dimensions of the crankshaft and engine block. The paper assesses the suitability of time series models including ARIMA and exponential smoothing as an appropriate method to forecast future requirements. Additionally, a Monte Carlo method is applied through building a VBA simulation tool in Microsoft Excel and comparing the output to the time series forecasts.展开更多
Arboricultural research focusing on transport land use was lacking in Hong Kong.Some highway slopes were registered in the Systematic Identification of Maintenance Responsibility of Slopes in the Territory(SIMAR),abbr...Arboricultural research focusing on transport land use was lacking in Hong Kong.Some highway slopes were registered in the Systematic Identification of Maintenance Responsibility of Slopes in the Territory(SIMAR),abbreviated as SIMAR slopes.We aimed to analyze patterns in the structure and species composition of the tree stock along a highway in Hong Kong and examined how a slope registration system could help explain the characteristics of urban forests.The 53 slopes and 52 verges along San Tin Highway,Hong Kong were randomly selected.The trees on each slope and verge were collectively sampled as a tree stand.Six variables,namely tree abundance,species richness,maximum tree height,Shannon-Wiener diversity,Simpson's dominance,and Pielou's evenness were measured for each stand.In addition,a limited visual tree risk assessment was performed.The 7,209 trees in 23 species were recorded.Species richness was low,ranging from one to eight species per stand.SIMAR and non-SIMAR slopes were compared.SIMAR slopes had significantly higher species richness,diversity,evenness but lower dominance,with mean difference of 1.41 species,0.17,0.17 and-0.28respectively.SIMAR slopes were associated with lower tree risk rating.When training regression models,boosting as an ensemble method arbitrarily raised the explanatory power and the predictive accuracy of some models.Slope height,length,angle and area could be significant predictors of the biodiversity-related variables.Future research can sample more habitat characteristics related to the structure and species composition of slopes and verges which were important components of urban forestry.展开更多
To investigate the effect of the application of rice husk (RH) and rice husk charcoal (RHC) on soil properties and rice production, pot experiment comprising of five treatments was conducted. Soil was mixed at the rat...To investigate the effect of the application of rice husk (RH) and rice husk charcoal (RHC) on soil properties and rice production, pot experiment comprising of five treatments was conducted. Soil was mixed at the rate of 0 (control), 2% and 4% (w/w) with RH and RHC, respectively with randomized complete block design (RCBD). RHC incorporation had a potential to reduce the acidity of the soil, whereas, RH incorporation had almost no effect on the pH of the soil. RH and RHC amendment both increased the saturated hydraulic conductivity, saturated water content, plant available water and field capacity but decreased the bulk density of soil. Crop growth components at harvest revealed that the highest plant height was recorded in RH4%. However, for the panicle length, panicle weight and number of tillers, the highest value was found in RHC2%, 14.2 cm, 4.0 g and 28.8 cm, respectively. Furthermore, number of panicle, 1000-grains weight and grain yield were also found highest in RHC2%, 22.4 g and 4.41 t/ha, respectively. However, for the number of grain per panicle and percentage of filled grain, the highest value was found in RH4%, 79.0 and 88.5, respectively. The grain yield increased by 38%, 28%, 18% and 22% and the biological yield increased by 27%, 18%, 14%, and 16% for RHC2%, RHC4%, RH2%, and RH4%, respectively, compared to that of the control;however, the significant difference was found only for RHC2% for both. The harvest index increased under all application rates of RH and RHC compared to that of control.展开更多
The original purpose of FGMs was the development of super resistant materials for propulsion systems. In the present work, numerical and experimental techniques are used to investigate the dynamic behavior of generall...The original purpose of FGMs was the development of super resistant materials for propulsion systems. In the present work, numerical and experimental techniques are used to investigate the dynamic behavior of generally laminated composited beams. In the numerical analysis, the laminated beam is modeled using the commercial finite element software ANSYS. In the experimental study the core and face materials of sandwich beam specimens are nylon/epoxy FGMs and pure epoxy laminates respectively. The dynamic behavior of the sandwich composite beam specimens with different fiber orientation was carried out using two dynamic excitation techniques, harmonic using harmonic response and impulse using hammer. The specimens were prepared in the following configurations, different orientation angles, different layers, and different thickness. The results reveal that the natural frequencies of sandwich beam were affected directly by the face materials. The natural frequency decreases with increasing fiber orientations of the nylon/epoxy face laminates. Increasing the thickness increases natural frequencies. This study concluded that it is useful for the designers to select the fiber orientation angle to shift the natural frequencies as desired or to control the vibration level.展开更多
Residents have chosen to be living in urban regions in recent years largely due to the accessibility of job opportunities and public services.These led to a fast increase in the amount of people live in urban regions ...Residents have chosen to be living in urban regions in recent years largely due to the accessibility of job opportunities and public services.These led to a fast increase in the amount of people live in urban regions and cities.As a result,a large amount of the property used for agricultural activities was transformed into factories,housing units,and highways.This also resulted in a decrease in food production,growth in food prices and food import bills as the country now relies on food imports especially rice,fruits and vegetables,that can prevent the fostering of urban farming activities and then provide beneficial information essential to form it into a more consumer friendly program.Moreover,studies on urban farming are somewhat few in Malaysia and this study can become helpful for future research.The study focused on small-scale agriculture projects,such as community gardens,and community-level programs such as community supported agriculture and farmers markets.The study found that how urban agriculture enhances community resilience and wellbeing.This is the necessity for the Malaysian urban authorities to provide more proper identification and support to city residents and promote them to develop the practice of urban farming.展开更多
The present study investigated the effects of touch button size on touchscreen operability and compared these effects between young adult and elderly participants. A total of 21 young adults （aged 22.3 ± 1.5 ye...The present study investigated the effects of touch button size on touchscreen operability and compared these effects between young adult and elderly participants. A total of 21 young adults （aged 22.3 ± 1.5 years） and 20 elderly adults （aged 68.1 ±4.9 years） were recruited and asked to press square number buttons （from 0 to 9） on an experimental touchscreen with their right index finger. The buttons＇ size changed during the experiment with six conditions （6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 mm）. It was found that a decrease of the button size to l0 mm or below tended to increase the operation time and error rate, whereas it decreased the subjective overall operability of the touchscreen. Such effects were greater in the elderly adults than in the young adults. In addition, the reaction positions on the buttons were found to be close to the right side of them, which led the fingertip to approach the right outline of the buttons. These findings suggest that the use of small touch buttons should be minimised on touchscreens, especially for elderly users.展开更多
This paper is a hypothetical exploration of the connections between teleological evolution,the Omega Singularity,and the future of cities,weaving together insights from a diverse array of disciplines.Our investigation...This paper is a hypothetical exploration of the connections between teleological evolution,the Omega Singularity,and the future of cities,weaving together insights from a diverse array of disciplines.Our investigation delves into the possibility that cities are evolving towards a Singularity,a state characterized by infinite knowledge,intelligence,and adaptability,which would bring about a radical transformation of urban environments and their underlying dynamics in the 21st century and beyond.At the heart of this exploration lies the role of language and time as crucial dimensions of the Urban Singularity.Moreover,we examine how linguistic developments and cross-cultural exchanges can foster more inclusive,adaptable,and resilient urban environments,while also highlighting the need for advanced technologies and communication modalities that can support the dynamic needs of future cities.Furthermore,the paper investigates the profound implications and transformative potential of merging human consciousness with the urban Singularity.By examining the interplay between these concepts,we seek for a deeper understanding of the potential trajectories and implications of these concepts for the transformation of human society and our relationship with the built environment.展开更多
Transformers utilizing HTS （high temperature superconductors） are considered as a timely invention. The number of power transformers age more than 30 years old and nearing retirement is increasing. If this window of...Transformers utilizing HTS （high temperature superconductors） are considered as a timely invention. The number of power transformers age more than 30 years old and nearing retirement is increasing. If this window of opportunity is not grabbed, there would be great reluctance to replace recently installed highly priced capital asset. Major projects of developing HTS transformers are well making progress in the United States, Europe, Japan, Korea and China which indicate the interest. The efforts must have been appropriately verified through the economic interest of the discounted losses. Consequently, it is very important to develop an understanding of the fundamental HTS transformer design issues that can provide guidance for developing practical devices of interest to the electric utility industry. The parameters of HTS transformer need to be validated before any effort is to carry out to model the behaviour of a distribution network under a range of conditions. The predicted performance and reliability of HTS transformers can then be verified through the network modelling and analysis calculation. The ultimate purpose is to furnish electric utilities precise information as to which HTS transformers work under various applications with greater technical efficiency and proven reliability.展开更多
In this paper, a novel flexible robot system with a constrained tendon-driven serpentine manipulator(CTSM) is presented. The CTSM gives the robot a larger workspace, more dexterous manipulation, and controllable stiff...In this paper, a novel flexible robot system with a constrained tendon-driven serpentine manipulator(CTSM) is presented. The CTSM gives the robot a larger workspace, more dexterous manipulation, and controllable stiffness compared with the da Vinci surgical robot and traditional flexible robots. The robot is tele-operated using the Novint Falcon haptic device. Two control modes are implemented, direct mapping and incremental mode. In each mode, the robot can be manipulated using either the highest stiffness scheme or the minimal movement scheme. The advantages of the CTSM are shown by simulation and experimental results.展开更多
We examined the effect of sleep deprivation on self-motion perception (vection). We measured the strength of vection, its latency, and its duration in two conditions: Sleep-Deprivation and Normal-Sleep (by using the b...We examined the effect of sleep deprivation on self-motion perception (vection). We measured the strength of vection, its latency, and its duration in two conditions: Sleep-Deprivation and Normal-Sleep (by using the between-subject design). For the Sleep-Deprivation condition, participants did not sleep for about 20 hours. We also recorded subjective sleepiness with a subjective rating scale that was filled out by the participants. Results showed that vection strength did not differ between the two conditions. Sleep deprivation did not have any clear effect on vection. As expected, subjective sleepiness significantly increased following sleep deprivation. Further, subjective sleepiness significantly correlated with vection latency and duration only in the Normal-Sleep condition. Vection was immune to sleep deprivation. We conclude that when people are not deprived of sleep, sleepiness can enhance the perceived strength of vection.展开更多
Sustainable building in China has gained attention both domestically and abroad. Despite the fast increase in sustainable assessment tools developed locally or adopted from overseas, there are still criticisms about t...Sustainable building in China has gained attention both domestically and abroad. Despite the fast increase in sustainable assessment tools developed locally or adopted from overseas, there are still criticisms about the current situation of weak implementation and lack of comprehensive consideration. The lack of consideration of economic and social aspects or building performance on whole building life cycle all lead to departure from the true meaning of sustainable development. And lack of participation on the part of stakeholders makes it too theoretical to be carried out. This research aims to develop a model to address this problem. This research started with review of current sustainable assessment tools applied in China. As the assessment indicators have clear regional disparities, and almost no current tool considers all three pillars of environmental, economic and social in building life cycle. An industry survey was therefore designed for generation of indicators at different building stages, and personal interviews relevant to different occupation in building industry were conducted to complement the questionnaire survey. After that, the model Building Sustainable Score (BSS) was developed based on the stakeholders’ participation. Finally, the model is verified by a case study.展开更多
Decentralize in forest management policies towards more people-oriented approaches has become major policy trends in many of the world’s developing countries during the last decade. However, the power of important ac...Decentralize in forest management policies towards more people-oriented approaches has become major policy trends in many of the world’s developing countries during the last decade. However, the power of important actors to misuse the participatory forestry (PF) approach for their self-interests has been stated as a main problem to success. So, this study attempted to identify the most powerful actors and the extent at which they influence the outcomes of PF, and also to measure the impact of PF on livelihood assets of participants. The empirical data were collected from the well-established PF programs at Madhupur Sal forests area of Bangladesh. The results showed that the forest department (FD) proved itself as the most powerful and influential actor in every element of power analysis in PF. Regarding to livelihood analysis, the results revealed that the overall value of participants’ livelihood assets was 0.85 and it was significantly differed from the non-participants value of 0.66. However, the development of human, physical and financial assets was not indicating a decent improvement like as natural and social assets of participants. So, it is necessary to pay more attention to boost up participants’ human and financial assets through intensive training and adopting proper tree-crop production techniques, and also ensuring alternative livelihoods approaches to the local people. In addition, the local government will need to pay more emphasis on constructing village roads and infrastructure so as to enhance physical assets of the local people. Finally, the study would recommend promoting PF with apposite government facilities and also empowering local participants in order to balance the power among different actors, and this will facilitate the participants in governing all of their development activities efficiently.展开更多
Understanding the historical evolution of spatial layout and architectural styles in a historic area is imperative for its preservation and rejuvenation.However,conventional methods such as document collation and feld...Understanding the historical evolution of spatial layout and architectural styles in a historic area is imperative for its preservation and rejuvenation.However,conventional methods such as document collation and feld surveys are time-and resource-intensive.This research focuses on the historic area of Dujiangyan city(Dujiangyan Old Town)and uses computer vision techniques to increase the efciency and accuracy of architectural information capture.Semantic segmentation techniques are employed to derive building footprints from remote sensing satellite images captured from three points in time over a period of nearly fve decades,facilitating the comparison of spatial patterns and the identifcation of diferent architectural styles in panoramic street views.The distribution of architectural styles is analysed from urban planning and architectural perspectives.The experimental fndings illustrate well-preserved spatial patterns and discernible development strategies across various periods.Image-processing methods have emerged as efective tools for analysing urban spatial dynamics and identifying architectural styles,thereby yielding quantifable data essential for obtaining a nuanced understanding of historic areas.These insights can contribute to planning,management,and preservation eforts aimed at historic areas.展开更多
Metro stations,as essential public spaces,not only serve as vital transportation hubs but also form part of the broader built environment that shapes people's perceptions of insecurity.An important concern for pas...Metro stations,as essential public spaces,not only serve as vital transportation hubs but also form part of the broader built environment that shapes people's perceptions of insecurity.An important concern for passengers in these environments is safety,particularly in underground public space where the design and organization of the physical surroundings play a crucial role.Despite various modern renovations in older metro stations,newer stations are generally perceived as safer.To understand this discrepancy,this research compares how visual factors in the built environments of old and new metro stations influence people's perceptions of insecurity.By examining two cities—Milan and Beijing,which follow distinct urban development models—this research also explores how differences in urbanization processes affect the contrast between old and new stations.This research introduces a novel methodology for analyzing underground public space by integrating 360-degree image capture,an enhanced semantic segmentation process,and predictive modeling using XGBoost and SHAP to reveal the complex relationships between these visual factors and safety perceptions.The results indicate that while factors like artificial light,floor,and the presence of people are significant across all stations,certain factors are particularly influential in specific contexts—for example,exposed pipes are more negatively associated with safety perception in Beijing's old stations,and platform doors have a strongly positive effect in Milan's new stations.The findings provide valuable insights for guiding the modernization of metro stations in the future,and offering an innovative approach to studying underground public space.展开更多
The quality of outdoor space is becoming increasingly important with the growing rate of urbanization.Visual,acoustic,and thermal balance degradation are all negative impacts associated with outdoor comfort in dense u...The quality of outdoor space is becoming increasingly important with the growing rate of urbanization.Visual,acoustic,and thermal balance degradation are all negative impacts associated with outdoor comfort in dense urban fabrics.Urban morphology thus needs assessment and optimization to ensure favorable outdoor thermal comfort(OTC).This study aims to evaluate the thermal performance of streets in residential zones of Liverpool,NSW,Australia,and tries to improve their comfort index(Physiological Equivalent Temperature)to reveal optimum urban configurations.This evaluation is done by investigating the following urban design factors affecting OTC using computational simulation techniques:street orientation,aspect ratio,building typology,and surface coverage.Our findings reveal that street canyon orientation is the most influential factor(46.42%),followed by aspect ratio(30.59%).Among the influential meteorological parameters(air temperature,wind speed,humidity and solar radiation),wind velocity had the most significant impact on the thermal comfort of the outdoor spaces in this coastal region,which typically experiences intense airflow.The results of our analysis can be utilized by multiple stakeholders,allowing them to understand and extract the most vital design factors which contextually influence the thermal comfort of outdoor spaces.Outdoor thermal comfort has a direct effect on the health and wellbeing of occupants of outdoor spaces.展开更多
Smooth communication is essential for the success of construction projects. As an easy-to-use, context-rich, and high-capacity communication tool, blogging is gaining popularity in construction industry. In this paper...Smooth communication is essential for the success of construction projects. As an easy-to-use, context-rich, and high-capacity communication tool, blogging is gaining popularity in construction industry. In this paper, the features of blogging technology and how it could benefit construction organizations are presented. To further improve the effectiveness of blogging technology in information and knowledge sharing, an ontology-based semantic blogging system is proposed. Semantic blogging is an extension of conventional blogging and ontology is the key enabling technology for it. Domain-ontology-based semantic blogging site is composed of a network of concepts, which are clearly defined and interlinked according to their context and bound to certain behaviors. This paper reports how the e-Cognos ontology was implemented into a blogging system and how the system functions to process its contents. The paper concludes that using on-tology-based semantic blogging site can greatly enhance information sharing between construction professionals and it is a very promising tool for construction communities to publish and share their experience.展开更多
Climate change within the urban contexts is a crisis that cities are confronting globally.This issue poses numerous negative consequences such as thermal discomfort and increased energy usage within the building secto...Climate change within the urban contexts is a crisis that cities are confronting globally.This issue poses numerous negative consequences such as thermal discomfort and increased energy usage within the building sector.This is especially the case in Western Sydney,Australia,where the average maximum temperature has risen by 7—8℃ within the past 30 years.This increase in temperature is highly concerning,since this region is witnessing rapid urban and infrastructural development and is proposed as the third-largest economy of Australia.Temperature changes in this region will also result in considerably increasing the electricity used for cooling purposes.This paper presents a parametric approach driven multi-objective optimization methodology to discover optimum design solution based on the urban microclimate and cooling energy demand of multi-functional buildings within this urban context.Mitigation measures including a range of design factors at both building(typology and window to wall ratio)and urban scales(aspect ratio and urban grid rotation)are further suggested for developing context sensitive optimum urban layouts.The resultant solutions indicate an improvement in urban thermal comfort,cooling and heating energy use by up to 25.85%,72.76%,and 93.67%,respectively.展开更多
文摘In an aging society,the interface design of smart home products is crucial to the quality of life of the elderly.This paper combines Quality Function Deployment(QFD)and Human-Computer Interaction(HCI)theories,taking smart washing machines as an example,to explore new paths for the interface design of smart home products for the elderly.An interdisciplinary approach is adopted to construct a design process centered on elderly users,introduce the Kano model to classify requirements,realize the mapping and sorting of requirements to design parameters,and adopt the PUGH model for comprehensive evaluation.This study provides practical and theoretical support for the interface design of smart home products for the elderly.
文摘The energy retrofit of public buildings is an effective strategy to achieve carbon neutrality goals,with educational buildings representing a significant proportion of this sector.This paper presents an in-depth analysis of energy retrofitting policies for educational buildings and examines the design case of the“Plus Energy School”demonstration project in Rostock,Germany.The study reveals innovative approaches in several key areas:overall layout optimization,creation of climate buffer zones,enhancement of building envelope performance,ventilation and heating system design,integration of diverse renewable energy sources,and formulation of energy balance schemes with corresponding calculations.The holistic theory and methodology of this energy strategy synergy offer valuable insights for the retrofitting of existing educational buildings in China.The project successfully transformed two aging school buildings into a single“plus energy”facility through coordinated architectural and technological interventions.Notable features include the compact redesign reducing the form factor from 0.38 to 0.21,the implementation of climate buffer zones maintaining 15℃without active heating,and the integration of photovoltaic panels and wind turbines.The combination of district heating with an Organic Rankine Cycle(ORC)system further optimized energy utilization.Post-retrofit calculations demonstrate a two-thirds reduction in annual unit energy consumption,with the building generating an energy surplus.This case study provides a comprehensive framework for achieving high energy performance in educational building retrofits,offering valuable lessons for similar initiatives in China and globally.The paper concludes by discussing the potential for widespread application of these strategies in China’s existing educational buildings,considering the country’s vast building stock and increasing energy efficiency requirements.
基金Supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(JSPS KAKENHI(B),22300247)
文摘In China, the heating energy consumption patterns of rural housing are changing due to economic development. This study investigated domestic heating in rural areas of Dalian, a city in northeast China. In rural areas of the country, heating devices such as coal boiler, radiator, and/ or air-conditioner are typically used. The Kang, as the main heating system, has been used together with other heating methods for a long time in detached houses, one-story buildings, and quadrangles. Use of the Kang in collective housing is no longer observed. In addition to coal, agricultural wastes have been used to fuel the Kang; the associated CO2 emissions with agricultural fuels are lower than from other heating equipment. Even when a combination of the Kang and other equipment is used, with agricultural waste as fuel, CO2 emissions remain relatively low.
文摘During the assembly of internal combustion engines, the specific size of crankshaft shell bearing is not known until the crankshaft is fitted to the engine block. Though the build requirements for the engine are consistent, the consumption profile of the different size shell bearings can follow a highly volatile trajectory due to minor variation in the dimensions of the crankshaft and engine block. The paper assesses the suitability of time series models including ARIMA and exponential smoothing as an appropriate method to forecast future requirements. Additionally, a Monte Carlo method is applied through building a VBA simulation tool in Microsoft Excel and comparing the output to the time series forecasts.
基金funded by the Highways Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government。
文摘Arboricultural research focusing on transport land use was lacking in Hong Kong.Some highway slopes were registered in the Systematic Identification of Maintenance Responsibility of Slopes in the Territory(SIMAR),abbreviated as SIMAR slopes.We aimed to analyze patterns in the structure and species composition of the tree stock along a highway in Hong Kong and examined how a slope registration system could help explain the characteristics of urban forests.The 53 slopes and 52 verges along San Tin Highway,Hong Kong were randomly selected.The trees on each slope and verge were collectively sampled as a tree stand.Six variables,namely tree abundance,species richness,maximum tree height,Shannon-Wiener diversity,Simpson's dominance,and Pielou's evenness were measured for each stand.In addition,a limited visual tree risk assessment was performed.The 7,209 trees in 23 species were recorded.Species richness was low,ranging from one to eight species per stand.SIMAR and non-SIMAR slopes were compared.SIMAR slopes had significantly higher species richness,diversity,evenness but lower dominance,with mean difference of 1.41 species,0.17,0.17 and-0.28respectively.SIMAR slopes were associated with lower tree risk rating.When training regression models,boosting as an ensemble method arbitrarily raised the explanatory power and the predictive accuracy of some models.Slope height,length,angle and area could be significant predictors of the biodiversity-related variables.Future research can sample more habitat characteristics related to the structure and species composition of slopes and verges which were important components of urban forestry.
文摘To investigate the effect of the application of rice husk (RH) and rice husk charcoal (RHC) on soil properties and rice production, pot experiment comprising of five treatments was conducted. Soil was mixed at the rate of 0 (control), 2% and 4% (w/w) with RH and RHC, respectively with randomized complete block design (RCBD). RHC incorporation had a potential to reduce the acidity of the soil, whereas, RH incorporation had almost no effect on the pH of the soil. RH and RHC amendment both increased the saturated hydraulic conductivity, saturated water content, plant available water and field capacity but decreased the bulk density of soil. Crop growth components at harvest revealed that the highest plant height was recorded in RH4%. However, for the panicle length, panicle weight and number of tillers, the highest value was found in RHC2%, 14.2 cm, 4.0 g and 28.8 cm, respectively. Furthermore, number of panicle, 1000-grains weight and grain yield were also found highest in RHC2%, 22.4 g and 4.41 t/ha, respectively. However, for the number of grain per panicle and percentage of filled grain, the highest value was found in RH4%, 79.0 and 88.5, respectively. The grain yield increased by 38%, 28%, 18% and 22% and the biological yield increased by 27%, 18%, 14%, and 16% for RHC2%, RHC4%, RH2%, and RH4%, respectively, compared to that of the control;however, the significant difference was found only for RHC2% for both. The harvest index increased under all application rates of RH and RHC compared to that of control.
文摘The original purpose of FGMs was the development of super resistant materials for propulsion systems. In the present work, numerical and experimental techniques are used to investigate the dynamic behavior of generally laminated composited beams. In the numerical analysis, the laminated beam is modeled using the commercial finite element software ANSYS. In the experimental study the core and face materials of sandwich beam specimens are nylon/epoxy FGMs and pure epoxy laminates respectively. The dynamic behavior of the sandwich composite beam specimens with different fiber orientation was carried out using two dynamic excitation techniques, harmonic using harmonic response and impulse using hammer. The specimens were prepared in the following configurations, different orientation angles, different layers, and different thickness. The results reveal that the natural frequencies of sandwich beam were affected directly by the face materials. The natural frequency decreases with increasing fiber orientations of the nylon/epoxy face laminates. Increasing the thickness increases natural frequencies. This study concluded that it is useful for the designers to select the fiber orientation angle to shift the natural frequencies as desired or to control the vibration level.
文摘Residents have chosen to be living in urban regions in recent years largely due to the accessibility of job opportunities and public services.These led to a fast increase in the amount of people live in urban regions and cities.As a result,a large amount of the property used for agricultural activities was transformed into factories,housing units,and highways.This also resulted in a decrease in food production,growth in food prices and food import bills as the country now relies on food imports especially rice,fruits and vegetables,that can prevent the fostering of urban farming activities and then provide beneficial information essential to form it into a more consumer friendly program.Moreover,studies on urban farming are somewhat few in Malaysia and this study can become helpful for future research.The study focused on small-scale agriculture projects,such as community gardens,and community-level programs such as community supported agriculture and farmers markets.The study found that how urban agriculture enhances community resilience and wellbeing.This is the necessity for the Malaysian urban authorities to provide more proper identification and support to city residents and promote them to develop the practice of urban farming.
文摘The present study investigated the effects of touch button size on touchscreen operability and compared these effects between young adult and elderly participants. A total of 21 young adults （aged 22.3 ± 1.5 years） and 20 elderly adults （aged 68.1 ±4.9 years） were recruited and asked to press square number buttons （from 0 to 9） on an experimental touchscreen with their right index finger. The buttons＇ size changed during the experiment with six conditions （6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 mm）. It was found that a decrease of the button size to l0 mm or below tended to increase the operation time and error rate, whereas it decreased the subjective overall operability of the touchscreen. Such effects were greater in the elderly adults than in the young adults. In addition, the reaction positions on the buttons were found to be close to the right side of them, which led the fingertip to approach the right outline of the buttons. These findings suggest that the use of small touch buttons should be minimised on touchscreens, especially for elderly users.
文摘This paper is a hypothetical exploration of the connections between teleological evolution,the Omega Singularity,and the future of cities,weaving together insights from a diverse array of disciplines.Our investigation delves into the possibility that cities are evolving towards a Singularity,a state characterized by infinite knowledge,intelligence,and adaptability,which would bring about a radical transformation of urban environments and their underlying dynamics in the 21st century and beyond.At the heart of this exploration lies the role of language and time as crucial dimensions of the Urban Singularity.Moreover,we examine how linguistic developments and cross-cultural exchanges can foster more inclusive,adaptable,and resilient urban environments,while also highlighting the need for advanced technologies and communication modalities that can support the dynamic needs of future cities.Furthermore,the paper investigates the profound implications and transformative potential of merging human consciousness with the urban Singularity.By examining the interplay between these concepts,we seek for a deeper understanding of the potential trajectories and implications of these concepts for the transformation of human society and our relationship with the built environment.
文摘Transformers utilizing HTS （high temperature superconductors） are considered as a timely invention. The number of power transformers age more than 30 years old and nearing retirement is increasing. If this window of opportunity is not grabbed, there would be great reluctance to replace recently installed highly priced capital asset. Major projects of developing HTS transformers are well making progress in the United States, Europe, Japan, Korea and China which indicate the interest. The efforts must have been appropriately verified through the economic interest of the discounted losses. Consequently, it is very important to develop an understanding of the fundamental HTS transformer design issues that can provide guidance for developing practical devices of interest to the electric utility industry. The parameters of HTS transformer need to be validated before any effort is to carry out to model the behaviour of a distribution network under a range of conditions. The predicted performance and reliability of HTS transformers can then be verified through the network modelling and analysis calculation. The ultimate purpose is to furnish electric utilities precise information as to which HTS transformers work under various applications with greater technical efficiency and proven reliability.
基金supported by FRC Tier I grants R397000156112 and R397000157112,National University of Singapore
文摘In this paper, a novel flexible robot system with a constrained tendon-driven serpentine manipulator(CTSM) is presented. The CTSM gives the robot a larger workspace, more dexterous manipulation, and controllable stiffness compared with the da Vinci surgical robot and traditional flexible robots. The robot is tele-operated using the Novint Falcon haptic device. Two control modes are implemented, direct mapping and incremental mode. In each mode, the robot can be manipulated using either the highest stiffness scheme or the minimal movement scheme. The advantages of the CTSM are shown by simulation and experimental results.
文摘We examined the effect of sleep deprivation on self-motion perception (vection). We measured the strength of vection, its latency, and its duration in two conditions: Sleep-Deprivation and Normal-Sleep (by using the between-subject design). For the Sleep-Deprivation condition, participants did not sleep for about 20 hours. We also recorded subjective sleepiness with a subjective rating scale that was filled out by the participants. Results showed that vection strength did not differ between the two conditions. Sleep deprivation did not have any clear effect on vection. As expected, subjective sleepiness significantly increased following sleep deprivation. Further, subjective sleepiness significantly correlated with vection latency and duration only in the Normal-Sleep condition. Vection was immune to sleep deprivation. We conclude that when people are not deprived of sleep, sleepiness can enhance the perceived strength of vection.
文摘Sustainable building in China has gained attention both domestically and abroad. Despite the fast increase in sustainable assessment tools developed locally or adopted from overseas, there are still criticisms about the current situation of weak implementation and lack of comprehensive consideration. The lack of consideration of economic and social aspects or building performance on whole building life cycle all lead to departure from the true meaning of sustainable development. And lack of participation on the part of stakeholders makes it too theoretical to be carried out. This research aims to develop a model to address this problem. This research started with review of current sustainable assessment tools applied in China. As the assessment indicators have clear regional disparities, and almost no current tool considers all three pillars of environmental, economic and social in building life cycle. An industry survey was therefore designed for generation of indicators at different building stages, and personal interviews relevant to different occupation in building industry were conducted to complement the questionnaire survey. After that, the model Building Sustainable Score (BSS) was developed based on the stakeholders’ participation. Finally, the model is verified by a case study.
文摘Decentralize in forest management policies towards more people-oriented approaches has become major policy trends in many of the world’s developing countries during the last decade. However, the power of important actors to misuse the participatory forestry (PF) approach for their self-interests has been stated as a main problem to success. So, this study attempted to identify the most powerful actors and the extent at which they influence the outcomes of PF, and also to measure the impact of PF on livelihood assets of participants. The empirical data were collected from the well-established PF programs at Madhupur Sal forests area of Bangladesh. The results showed that the forest department (FD) proved itself as the most powerful and influential actor in every element of power analysis in PF. Regarding to livelihood analysis, the results revealed that the overall value of participants’ livelihood assets was 0.85 and it was significantly differed from the non-participants value of 0.66. However, the development of human, physical and financial assets was not indicating a decent improvement like as natural and social assets of participants. So, it is necessary to pay more attention to boost up participants’ human and financial assets through intensive training and adopting proper tree-crop production techniques, and also ensuring alternative livelihoods approaches to the local people. In addition, the local government will need to pay more emphasis on constructing village roads and infrastructure so as to enhance physical assets of the local people. Finally, the study would recommend promoting PF with apposite government facilities and also empowering local participants in order to balance the power among different actors, and this will facilitate the participants in governing all of their development activities efficiently.
基金supported by JST SPRING,Grant Number JPMJSP2136.
文摘Understanding the historical evolution of spatial layout and architectural styles in a historic area is imperative for its preservation and rejuvenation.However,conventional methods such as document collation and feld surveys are time-and resource-intensive.This research focuses on the historic area of Dujiangyan city(Dujiangyan Old Town)and uses computer vision techniques to increase the efciency and accuracy of architectural information capture.Semantic segmentation techniques are employed to derive building footprints from remote sensing satellite images captured from three points in time over a period of nearly fve decades,facilitating the comparison of spatial patterns and the identifcation of diferent architectural styles in panoramic street views.The distribution of architectural styles is analysed from urban planning and architectural perspectives.The experimental fndings illustrate well-preserved spatial patterns and discernible development strategies across various periods.Image-processing methods have emerged as efective tools for analysing urban spatial dynamics and identifying architectural styles,thereby yielding quantifable data essential for obtaining a nuanced understanding of historic areas.These insights can contribute to planning,management,and preservation eforts aimed at historic areas.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(Grant No.52208039)R&D Program of Beijing Municipal Education Commission(Grant No.KM202210009008)the Australian Research Council Linkage Project(Grant No.LP190100089)。
文摘Metro stations,as essential public spaces,not only serve as vital transportation hubs but also form part of the broader built environment that shapes people's perceptions of insecurity.An important concern for passengers in these environments is safety,particularly in underground public space where the design and organization of the physical surroundings play a crucial role.Despite various modern renovations in older metro stations,newer stations are generally perceived as safer.To understand this discrepancy,this research compares how visual factors in the built environments of old and new metro stations influence people's perceptions of insecurity.By examining two cities—Milan and Beijing,which follow distinct urban development models—this research also explores how differences in urbanization processes affect the contrast between old and new stations.This research introduces a novel methodology for analyzing underground public space by integrating 360-degree image capture,an enhanced semantic segmentation process,and predictive modeling using XGBoost and SHAP to reveal the complex relationships between these visual factors and safety perceptions.The results indicate that while factors like artificial light,floor,and the presence of people are significant across all stations,certain factors are particularly influential in specific contexts—for example,exposed pipes are more negatively associated with safety perception in Beijing's old stations,and platform doors have a strongly positive effect in Milan's new stations.The findings provide valuable insights for guiding the modernization of metro stations in the future,and offering an innovative approach to studying underground public space.
基金Each of the authors has substantially contributed to conducting the underlying research.Nastaran Abdollahzadeh conceived the study and was responsible for writing-original draft,software,methodology,data collection and analysis.Dr.Nimish Biloria was responsible for supervision,methodology,data curation and interpretation,review and editing.
文摘The quality of outdoor space is becoming increasingly important with the growing rate of urbanization.Visual,acoustic,and thermal balance degradation are all negative impacts associated with outdoor comfort in dense urban fabrics.Urban morphology thus needs assessment and optimization to ensure favorable outdoor thermal comfort(OTC).This study aims to evaluate the thermal performance of streets in residential zones of Liverpool,NSW,Australia,and tries to improve their comfort index(Physiological Equivalent Temperature)to reveal optimum urban configurations.This evaluation is done by investigating the following urban design factors affecting OTC using computational simulation techniques:street orientation,aspect ratio,building typology,and surface coverage.Our findings reveal that street canyon orientation is the most influential factor(46.42%),followed by aspect ratio(30.59%).Among the influential meteorological parameters(air temperature,wind speed,humidity and solar radiation),wind velocity had the most significant impact on the thermal comfort of the outdoor spaces in this coastal region,which typically experiences intense airflow.The results of our analysis can be utilized by multiple stakeholders,allowing them to understand and extract the most vital design factors which contextually influence the thermal comfort of outdoor spaces.Outdoor thermal comfort has a direct effect on the health and wellbeing of occupants of outdoor spaces.
文摘Smooth communication is essential for the success of construction projects. As an easy-to-use, context-rich, and high-capacity communication tool, blogging is gaining popularity in construction industry. In this paper, the features of blogging technology and how it could benefit construction organizations are presented. To further improve the effectiveness of blogging technology in information and knowledge sharing, an ontology-based semantic blogging system is proposed. Semantic blogging is an extension of conventional blogging and ontology is the key enabling technology for it. Domain-ontology-based semantic blogging site is composed of a network of concepts, which are clearly defined and interlinked according to their context and bound to certain behaviors. This paper reports how the e-Cognos ontology was implemented into a blogging system and how the system functions to process its contents. The paper concludes that using on-tology-based semantic blogging site can greatly enhance information sharing between construction professionals and it is a very promising tool for construction communities to publish and share their experience.
文摘Climate change within the urban contexts is a crisis that cities are confronting globally.This issue poses numerous negative consequences such as thermal discomfort and increased energy usage within the building sector.This is especially the case in Western Sydney,Australia,where the average maximum temperature has risen by 7—8℃ within the past 30 years.This increase in temperature is highly concerning,since this region is witnessing rapid urban and infrastructural development and is proposed as the third-largest economy of Australia.Temperature changes in this region will also result in considerably increasing the electricity used for cooling purposes.This paper presents a parametric approach driven multi-objective optimization methodology to discover optimum design solution based on the urban microclimate and cooling energy demand of multi-functional buildings within this urban context.Mitigation measures including a range of design factors at both building(typology and window to wall ratio)and urban scales(aspect ratio and urban grid rotation)are further suggested for developing context sensitive optimum urban layouts.The resultant solutions indicate an improvement in urban thermal comfort,cooling and heating energy use by up to 25.85%,72.76%,and 93.67%,respectively.
