Search results

1 – 10 of 115
Article
Publication date: 14 July 2023

Bowen Zheng, Mudasir Hussain, Yang Yang, Albert P.C. Chan and Hung-Lin Chi

In the last decades, various building information modeling–life cycle assessment (BIM-LCA) integration approaches have been developed to assess the environmental impact of the…

Abstract

Purpose

In the last decades, various building information modeling–life cycle assessment (BIM-LCA) integration approaches have been developed to assess the environmental impact of the built asset. However, there is a lack of consensus on the optimal BIM-LCA integration approach that provides the most accurate and efficient assessment outcomes. To compare and determine their accuracy and efficiency, this study aimed to investigate four typical BIM-LCA integration solutions, namely, conventional, parametric modeling, plug-in and industry foundation classes (IFC)-based integration.

Design/methodology/approach

The four integration approaches were developed and applied using the same building project. A quantitative technique for evaluating the accuracy and efficiency of BIM-LCA integration solutions was used. Four indicators for assessing the performance of BIM-LCA integration were (1) validity of LCA results, (2) accuracy of bill-of-quantity (BOQ) extraction, (3) time for developing life cycle inventories (i.e. developing time) and (4) time for calculating LCA results (i.e. calculation time).

Findings

The results show that the plug-in-based approach outperforms others in developing and calculation time, while the conventional one could derive the most accuracy in BOQ extraction and result validity. The parametric modeling approach outperforms the IFC-based method regarding BOQ extraction, developing time and calculation time. Despite this, the IFC-based approach produces LCA outcomes with approximately 1% error, proving its validity.

Originality/value

This paper forms one of the first studies that employ a quantitative and objective method to determine the performance of four typical BIM-LCA integration solutions and reveal the trade-offs between the accuracy and efficiency of the integration approaches. The findings provide practical references for LCA practitioners to select appropriate BIM-LCA integration approaches for evaluating the environmental impact of the built asset during the design phase.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Abstract

Details

The Significance of Chinatown Development to a Multicultural America: An Exploration of the Houston Chinatowns
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80455-377-0

Article
Publication date: 3 August 2023

Simin An, Bo Li, Minxue Wang and Wei Zheng

This paper explores the effectiveness of using blockchain technology to solve financial constraints faced by small- and medium-sized suppliers in a capital-constrained supply…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper explores the effectiveness of using blockchain technology to solve financial constraints faced by small- and medium-sized suppliers in a capital-constrained supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

To characterize the impact of blockchain on credit period and enterprise credit level, the study formulates a newsvendor model to analyze a supply chain in which a financially constrained supplier sells products to a financially sound manufacturer, subject to uncertain demand. The study investigates three repayment methods: the benchmark case without blockchain and two blockchain-enabled cases with the hybrid repayment mode and single repayment mode (SRM), respectively. The study derives and compares the equilibria under each repayment method to characterize their impact.

Findings

When the bank interest rate is low and the carbon cap is also low, choosing to implement blockchain technology leads to higher profitability for the manufacturer than not utilizing it. Within the framework of blockchain technology, when comparing the two repayment models, the manufacturer exhibits a preference for SRM. Furthermore, under specific conditions of the bank interest rate, blockchain technology can effectively facilitate consensus among supply chain members in terms of channel selection.

Practical implications

The results derived in this paper provide novel managerial implications to the capital-constrained members in terms of pricing decisions and order quantity under demand uncertainty considering blockchain technology, which transfers the creditor's rights to the bank and shortens the collection time. In addition, blockchain technology enables efficient and intelligent collaborative development of supply chains, which can reduce carbon emissions during the transportation of goods.

Originality/value

Few studies incorporate blockchain technology into supply chain finance, and this paper considers the credit period and capital's time value for a capital-constrained supplier facing the adoption of blockchain technology within a stochastic demand environment.

Details

Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. 123 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-5577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 June 2023

Bo Zhou, Abu Bakkar Siddik and Zheng Guang-Wen

One of the best ways to assist China is through infrastructure investment. China might become more resilient to natural calamities by pouring more money into its transport…

Abstract

Purpose

One of the best ways to assist China is through infrastructure investment. China might become more resilient to natural calamities by pouring more money into its transport network. Analyzing the relationship between China's degree of planned expansion and the country's current network of transport hubs can help with city development estimates. A wide range of factors were taken into consideration while evaluating China's dominance and the caliber of its transportation infrastructure. Using a geographical autocorrelation model and a coupling coordination model, the dynamic link between China's adaptability and the caliber of its transportation infrastructure is examined.

Design/methodology/approach

China's northwest is underdeveloped in comparison to the southeast, which has a high level of resilience and development of its transportation infrastructure. The relationship between the levels of resilience upheld by China's transport infrastructure is suggested to be coordinated.

Findings

The authors find a positive geographical autocorrelation between the degree of coupling coordination and the degree of agglomeration, despite the fact that the distance between cities increases with time. They now believe that there is a connection between an area's population density and the degree of interspousal cooperation within. The consequence is an improvement in both national security and economic prosperity. The facilities for disaster management and transportation in China have received several proposals for improvement.

Practical implications

The authors' Practical Implications suggests that scale inefficiency is a major contributor to the relatively poor efficiency of China's primary inland river ports. Different types of inland river ports may have vastly different water system efficiencies. Input and output congestion at China's important interior river ports has reached 51%, making it very clear that massive amounts of valuable port resources are being wasted.

Originality/value

Many variables, such as climate and human error, affect the total amount of goods that can be moved via inner river ports. Ports situated either higher up or lower down the same canal may perform better or worse, respectively, depending on the circumstances.

Details

International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-0552

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 May 2023

Xiao Wang, Xuan Liang, Bo Wang, Chang-qing Guo, Shan-gui Zhang, Kai Yang, Shi-ya Shao, Yan Sun, Zheng Guo, Xue-yan Yu, Donghai Zhang, Tai-jiang Gui, Wei Lu, Ming-liang Sun and Rui Ding

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of graphene, basalt flakes and their synergy on the corrosion resistance of zinc-rich coatings. As the important heavy-duty…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of graphene, basalt flakes and their synergy on the corrosion resistance of zinc-rich coatings. As the important heavy-duty anticorrosion coatings, zinc-rich coatings provided cathodic protection for the substrate. However, to ensure cathodic protection, a large number of zinc powder made the penetration resistance known as the weakness of zinc-rich coatings. Therefore, graphene and basalt flakes were introduced into zinc-rich coatings to coordinate its cathodic protection and shielding performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Three kinds of coatings were prepared; they were graphene modified zinc-rich coatings, basalt flakes modified zinc-rich coatings and graphene-basalt flakes modified zinc-rich coatings. The anticorrosion behavior of painted steel was studied by using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique in chloride solutions. The equivalent circuit methods were used for EIS analysis to obtain the electrode process structure of the coated steel system. Simultaneously, the corrosion resistance of the three coatings was evaluated by water resistance test, salt water resistance test and salt spray test.

Findings

The study found that the addition of a small amount of graphene and basalt flakes significantly improved the anticorrosion performance of coatings by enhancing their shielding ability against corrosive media and increasing the resistance of the electrochemical reaction. The modified coatings exhibited higher water resistance, salt water resistance and salt spray resistance. The graphene-basalt flakes modified zinc-rich coatings demonstrated the best anticorrosion effect. The presence of basalt scales and graphene oxide in the coatings significantly reduced the water content and slowed down the water penetration rate in the coatings, thus prolonging the coating life and improving anticorrosion effects. The modification of zinc-rich coatings with graphene and basalt flakes improved the utilization rate of zinc powder and the shielding property of coatings against corrosive media, thus strengthening the protective effect on steel structures and prolonging the service life of anticorrosion coatings.

Originality/value

The significance of developing graphene-basalt flakes modified zinc-rich coatings lies in their potential to offer superior performance in corrosive environments, leading to prolonged service life of metallic structures, reduced maintenance costs and a safer working environment. Furthermore, such coatings can be used in various industrial applications, including bridges, pipelines and offshore structures, among others.

Details

Pigment & Resin Technology, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0369-9420

Keywords

Content available
Book part
Publication date: 7 December 2023

Zen Tong Chunhua Zheng and Yali Zou

Abstract

Details

The Significance of Chinatown Development to a Multicultural America: An Exploration of the Houston Chinatowns
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80455-377-0

Article
Publication date: 27 October 2022

Yiwen Xu, Qingyan Zheng, Yang Yang and Wei Li

World Heritage Sites (WHSs), as crucial tourist attractions, have been demonstrated to promote inbound tourism development; however, no study has analyzed its impact on the origin…

Abstract

Purpose

World Heritage Sites (WHSs), as crucial tourist attractions, have been demonstrated to promote inbound tourism development; however, no study has analyzed its impact on the origin distribution of inbound tourist flows (ODITFs), leaving a research gap. This study aims to apply power law to assess ODITFs and explore the impact of WHSs on ODITFs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applied the power law of rank-size distribution to calculate ODITFs in 167 countries/regions from 1997 to 2018 and used the panel data model to analyze the effect of WHSs on ODITFs.

Findings

WHSs could positively impact ODITFs to be more even. Among them, a cultural WHS shows a more pronounced effect on ODITFs, while the effect of natural WHSs is negligible.

Originality/value

This study advances knowledge about the impact of WHSs on inbound tourism from the standpoint of ODITFs, contributing to the inbound tourist flows theory and tourist attraction theory. In a realistic sense, WHSs, as crucial tourist attractions, could make ODITFs more even, implying that destination management organizations could gain higher growth of incremental tourists from tail markets rather than head markets when increasing tourist attractions.

全球视角下联合国教科文组织世界遗产(whs)对入境游客源地分布的影响

研究目的

世界遗产地(WHS)作为重要的旅游景点, 已被证明可以促进入境旅游的发展。然而, 目前没有研究分析其对入境游客源地分布(ODITF)的影响。本文旨在应用幂律评估入境游客源地分布, 并探讨世界遗产对入境游客源地分布的影响。

研究设计/方法/途径

本研究应用序位-规模分布的幂律计算1997年至2018年167个国家/地区的入境游客源地分布, 并使用面板数据模型分析世界遗产对入境游客源地分布的影响。

研究结果

世界遗产可以对入境游客源地分布产生积极影响, 使入境游客源地分布更加均匀。其中, 世界文化遗产对入境游客源地分布的影响更为显着, 而世界自然遗产的影响可以忽略不计。

独创性

本文从入境游客源地分布的角度, 推进了世界遗产对入境旅游影响的认识, 为入境旅游流理论和旅游景点理论做出了贡献。在现实意义上, 世界遗产作为重要的旅游景点, 可以使入境游客源地分布更加均衡, 这意味着目的地管理组织在增加旅游景点时, 可以从尾部市场获得更多的游客增量。

El impacto del Patrimonio de la Humanidad de la UNESCO en la distribución del origen de los flujos turísticos entrantes desde una perspectiva global

Resumen

Propósito

se ha demostrado que el Patrimonio de la Humanidad de la UNESCO, como atracciones turísticas cruciales, promueven el desarrollo del turismo receptor; sin embargo, ningún estudio ha analizado su impacto en la distribución del origen de los flujos turísticos entrantes (DOFTE), lo que deja un vacío en la investigación. Este documento tiene como objetivo aplicar la ley de potencias para evaluar la DOFTE y explorar el impacto del Patrimonio sobre ella.

Diseño/metodología/enfoque

este estudio aplicó la ley de potencias de la distribución del tamaño del rango para calcular la DOFTE en 167 países/regiones desde 1997 hasta 2018 y utilizó el modelo de datos de panel para analizar el impacto del Patrimonio de la Humanidad en la DOFTE.

Hallazgos

el Patrimonio de la Humanidad podría influir positivamente en la DOFTE para que sea más uniforme. Entre ellos, el Patrimonio cultural muestra un efecto más pronunciado sobre la DOFTE, mientras que el efecto del Patrimonio natural es insignificante.

Originalidad/valor

este artículo avanza en el conocimiento del impacto del Patrimonio de la Humanidad en el turismo entrante desde la perspectiva de la DOFTE, contribuyendo a la teoría de los flujos turísticos entrantes y a la teoría de la atracción turística. En un sentido realista, el Patrimonio de la Humanidad, como atracciones turísticas cruciales, podrían hacer que la DOFTE fuera más uniforme, lo que implica que las organizaciones de gestión de destinos (OGD) podrían obtener un mayor crecimiento de turistas incrementales procedentes de los mercados secundarios en lugar de los mercados principales al aumentar las atracciones turísticas.

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 2 June 2023

Junru Zhang, Yumeng Liu and Bo Yan

This study aims to research the large cross-section tunnel stability evaluation method corrected after considering the thickness-span ratio.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to research the large cross-section tunnel stability evaluation method corrected after considering the thickness-span ratio.

Design/methodology/approach

First, taking the Liuyuan Tunnel of Huanggang-Huangmei High-Speed Railway as an example and taking deflection of the third principal stress of the surrounding rock at a vault after tunnel excavation as the criterion, the critical buried depth of the large section tunnel was determined. Then, the strength reduction method was employed to calculate the tunnel safety factor under different rock classes and thickness-span ratios, and mathematical statistics was conducted to identify the relationships of the tunnel safety factor with the thickness-span ratio and the basic quality (BQ) index of the rock for different rock classes. Finally, the influences of thickness-span ratio, groundwater, initial stress of rock and structural attitude factors were considered to obtain the corrected BQ, based on which the stability of a large cross-section tunnel with a depth of more than 100 m during mechanized operation was analyzed. This evaluation method was then applied to Liuyuan Tunnel and Cimushan No. 2 Tunnel of Chongqing Urban Expressway for verification.

Findings

This study shows that under different rock classes, the tunnel safety factor is a strict power function of the thickness-span ratio, while a linear function of the BQ to some extent. It is more suitable to use the corrected BQ as a quantitative index to evaluate tunnel stability according to the actual conditions of the site.

Originality/value

The existing industry standards do not consider the influence of buried depth and span in the evaluation of tunnel stability. The stability evaluation method of large section tunnel considering the correction of overburden span ratio proposed in this paper achieves higher accuracy for the stability evaluation of surrounding rock in a full or large-section mechanized excavation of double line high-speed railway tunnels.

Article
Publication date: 30 May 2022

Ying Liu, Yongmei Liu and Bo Sophia Xiao

This study explored whether crowdsourcing work characteristics are associated with perceived work effort in competitive crowdsourcing markets. The study also investigated the…

Abstract

Purpose

This study explored whether crowdsourcing work characteristics are associated with perceived work effort in competitive crowdsourcing markets. The study also investigated the important contextual variables and internal mechanisms related to perceived work effort.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was posted as a crowdsourcing task on China's Time Fortune website. Data from 231 valid questionnaires were analyzed using SmartPLS 3.

Findings

Crowdsourcing workers' intrinsic and extrinsic motivations were significantly and positively correlated with their perceived work effort. Task autonomy and feedback were significantly and positively correlated with intrinsic motivation. Skill variety, task significance, task identity, and task clarity had no significant correlations with intrinsic motivation. However, task clarity was significantly and positively correlated with perceived work effort. Moreover, the relationship between workers' trust in task requesters and perceived work effort was fully mediated by intrinsic motivation.

Originality/value

This study extended the job characteristic model into the virtual competitive crowdsourcing market. The authors verified the relationship between task clarity/trust in task requesters and workers' motivation and perceived work effort.

Book part
Publication date: 28 June 2023

Seyyed Mohammadreza Ayazi, Ali Zamani Babgohari and Mohammadreza Taghizadeh-Yazdi

Many European businesses are small and medium enterprises (SMEs), contributing significantly to the well-being of local economies and regions. Even so, SMEs face many challenges…

Abstract

Many European businesses are small and medium enterprises (SMEs), contributing significantly to the well-being of local economies and regions. Even so, SMEs face many challenges in fostering innovation and improving performance. Furthermore, the raw material consumption is increasing globally, necessitating the development of strategies that will reduce the number of raw materials extracted and imported while improving the sustainability of small and medium-sized businesses. Consequently, promoting circular economy (CE) strategies, such as industrial symbiosis (IS) partnerships, whereby waste products from other industries serve as a source of raw materials for companies, is critical. Identifying and analysing enablers or drivers that support IS collaborations among SMEs is necessary to achieve this goal. In this regard, the purpose of this study will explore the enablers of IS among SMEs considering sustainability dimensions (environmental, social and economic). As facing a decision-making (DM) problem, the multiple attribute decision-making (MADM) approach was applied in a hesitant fuzzy (HF) environment in this research to answer the research questions. In this regard, in phase 1, IS enablers were identified and extracted using a literature review and experts’ opinions. In phase 2, the hesitant fuzzy Delphi (HFD) method was implemented to screen and finalise the enablers identified. In phase 3, casual relations among final enablers were determined using the hesitant fuzzy ANP (HF-ANP) method. Finally, in phase 4, the relative importance of enablers was calculated using the hesitant fuzzy best–worst method (HF-BWM). Consequently, this study provided potential strategies for IS that can be implemented quickly and used by local authorities to support SMEs in achieving circular waste management.

Details

Decision-Making in International Entrepreneurship: Unveiling Cognitive Implications Towards Entrepreneurial Internationalisation
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80382-234-1

Keywords

1 – 10 of 115