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Article
Publication date: 1 July 2022

Jingkuang Liu, Yuqing Li, Ying Li, Chen Zibo, Xiaotong Lian and Yingyi Zhang

The purpose of this study is to discuss the principles and factors that influence the site selection of emergency medical facilities for public health emergencies. This paper…

410

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to discuss the principles and factors that influence the site selection of emergency medical facilities for public health emergencies. This paper discusses the selection of the best facilities from the available facilities, proposes the capacity of new facilities, presents a logistic regression model and establishes a site selection model for emergency medical facilities for public health emergencies in megacities.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Guangzhou City as the research object, seven alternative facility points and the points' capacities were preset. Nine demand points were determined, and two facility locations were selected using genetic algorithms (GAs) in MATLAB for programing simulation and operational analysis.

Findings

Comparing the results of the improved GA, the results show that the improved model has fewer evolutionary generations and a faster operation speed, and that the model outperforms the traditional P-center model. The GA provides a theoretical foundation for determining the construction location of emergency medical facilities in megacities in the event of a public health emergency.

Research limitations/implications

First, in this case study, there is no scientific assessment of the establishment of the capacity of the facility point, but that is a subjective method based on the assumption of the capacity of the surrounding existing hospitals. Second, because this is a theoretical analysis, the model developed in this study does not consider the actual driving speed and driving distance, but the speed of the unified average driving distance and the driving distance to take the average of multiple distances.

Practical implications

The results show that the method increases the selection space of decision-makers, provides them with stable technical support, helps them quickly determine the location of emergency medical facilities to respond to disaster relief work and provides better action plans for decision makers.

Social implications

The results show that the algorithm performs well, which verifies the applicability of this model. When the solution results of the improved GA are compared, the results show that the improved model has fewer evolutionary generations, faster operation speed and better model than the intermediate model GA. This model can more successfully find the optimal location decision scheme, making that more suitable for the location problem of megacities in the case of public health emergencies.

Originality/value

The research findings provide a theoretical and decision-making basis for the location of government emergency medical facilities, as well as guidance for enterprises constructing emergency medical facilities.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 30 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 February 2022

Fangju Jia, Dong-dong Wang and Lianshui Li

The COVID-19 epidemic is still spreading globally and will not be completely over in a short time. Wearing a mask is an effective means to combat the spread of COVID-19. However…

Abstract

Purpose

The COVID-19 epidemic is still spreading globally and will not be completely over in a short time. Wearing a mask is an effective means to combat the spread of COVID-19. However, whether the public wear a mask for epidemic prevention and control will be affected by stochastic factors such as vaccination, cultural differences and irrational emotions, which bring a high degree of uncertainty to the prevention and control of the epidemic. The purpose of this study is to explore and analyze the epidemic prevention and control strategies of the public in an uncertain environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the stochastic evolutionary game model of the Moran process, the study discusses the epidemic prevention and control strategies of the public under the conditions of the dominance of stochastic factors, expected benefits and super-expected benefits.

Findings

The research shows that the strategic evolution of the public mainly depends on stochastic factors, cost-benefit and the number of the public. When the stochastic factors are dominant, the greater the perceived benefit, the lower the cost and the greater the penalty for not wearing masks, the public will choose to wear a mask. Under the dominance of expected benefits and super-expected benefits, when the number of the public is greater than a certain threshold, the mask-wearing strategy will become an evolutionary stable strategy. From the evolutionary process, the government’s punishment measures will slow down the speed of the public choosing the strategy of not wearing masks. The speed of the public evolving to the stable strategy under the dominance of super-expected benefits is faster than that under the dominance of expected benefits.

Practical implications

The study considers the impact of stochastic factors on public prevention and control strategies and provides decision-making support and theoretical guidance for the scientific prevention of the normalized public.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no research has considered the impact of different stochastic interference intensities on public prevention and control strategies. Therefore, this paper can be seen as a valuable resource in this field.

Article
Publication date: 7 June 2022

Zhen Li, Yutong Jin, Wenjing Li, Qingfeng Meng and Xin Hu

The impacts of COVID-19 on construction projects have attracted much attention in the construction management research community. Nevertheless, a systematic review of these…

2013

Abstract

Purpose

The impacts of COVID-19 on construction projects have attracted much attention in the construction management research community. Nevertheless, a systematic review of these studies is still lacking. The purpose of this paper is to systematically analyze the impacts of COVID-19 on the different stages of a project life-cycle, and comprehensively sort out the epidemic response measures adopted by project participants. In addition, the study also attempts to explore the challenges and opportunities faced by project management practitioners under the context of COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

This study comprehensively demonstrates the systematic review process of COVID-19 related research in the construction industry, systematically summarizes the research status of the impact of COVID-19 on construction projects, and defines the strategies to deal with COVID-19 in project management; and through the visualization research, determines the current key research topics and future research trends.

Findings

This study identifies 11 construction activities in the project management life cycle that are affected by COVID-19 and finds that the COVID-19 epidemic has the greatest impact on construction workers, construction standards, construction contracts and construction performance. The study further summarizes the six main epidemic countermeasures and mitigation measures taken within the construction industry following the arrival of the epidemic. In addition, the results of this study identify opportunities and future trends in intelligent construction technology, rapid manufacturing engineering and project management in the construction industry in the post-epidemic era through literature results, which also provide ideas for related research.

Practical implications

COVID-19 has brought severe challenges to society. It is of great significance for the future sustainable development of the construction industry to identify the impact of COVID-19 on all phases of the project and to promote the development of coping strategies by project stakeholders.

Originality/value

First of all, there is little study comprehensively reviewing the impacts of COVID-19 on the different stages of construction projects and the strategies to deal with the negative impacts. In addition, from a life cycle perspective, the used articles in this study were grouped into different categories based on project stages. This promotes an integrated and comprehensive understanding of historical studies. Moreover, on the basis of a comprehensive review, this paper puts forward future research directions to promote the sustainable development of the construction sector.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 30 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 June 2022

Yue Teng, Zhongfu Li, Jin Cai and Min Ju

This study aims to focus on the sustainability of prefabricated medical emergency buildings (PMEBs) renovation after the epidemic, to address the problem that large numbers of…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to focus on the sustainability of prefabricated medical emergency buildings (PMEBs) renovation after the epidemic, to address the problem that large numbers of PMEBs may be abandoned for losing their original architectural functions. This study develops an evaluation system to identify and measure sustainable factors for PMEBs’ renovation schemes. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of PMEBs’ renovation scheme was conducted based on cloud model evaluation method and selected the renovation scheme in line with sustainable development. The study promotes evaluation methods and decision-making basis for the renovation design of global PMEBs and realizes the use-value of building functions again.

Design/methodology/approach

By referring to the existing literature, design standards and expert visiting a set of evaluation index systems which combines the renovation of the PMEBs and the sustainability concept has been established, which calculates the balanced optimal comprehensive weight of each indicator utilizing combination weighting method, and quantifies the qualitative language of different PMEBs’ renovation schemes by experts through characteristics of the cloud model. This paper takes Huoshenshan hospital a representative PMEB during the epidemic period as an example, to verify the feasibility of the cloud model evaluation method.

Findings

The research results of this paper are that in the PMEBs’ renovation scheme structural reformative (T11) and corresponding nature with the original building (T13) have the most important influence; the continuity of architectural cultural value (T22) and regional development coherence (T23) are the key factors affecting the social dimension; the profitability of renovated buildings (T34) is the key factor affecting the economic dimension; the environmental impact (T41), resource utilization (T42) and ecological technology (T43) are the key factors in the environmental dimension.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by supplementing a set of scientific evaluation methods to make up for the sustainability measurement of PMEBs’ renovation scheme. The main objective was to make renovated PMEBs meet the needs of urban sustainable development, retain the original cultural value of the buildings, meanwhile enhance their social and economic value and realize the renovation with the least impact on the environment.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 30 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 July 2022

Yi Wang, Xiaopeng Deng and Hongtao Mao

This paper aims to explore the key risk factors affecting the Personnel Localization Management of international construction projects under the major public emergencies…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the key risk factors affecting the Personnel Localization Management of international construction projects under the major public emergencies represented by the novel coronavirus pneumonia pandemic (hereinafter COVID-19) and how the public emergency affected the Personnel Localization Management from three levels: staff turnover rate, the number of different personnel, the salary and performance of workers. The paper also helps to enhance the construction enterprises' response capacity of major public emergencies and provides a comprehensive framework of optimization strategies for the Personnel Localization Management of international construction projects (hereinafter projects).

Design/methodology/approach

The main research method of this paper is the case study, and ten representative international construction projects are selected for case study in China construction enterprises (hereinafter CCE). And this study used the failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and comparative analysis to find out all potential risk factors under the COVID-19 and analyze how the epidemic affects the Personnel Localization Management of projects which based on the primary data from 10 projects obtained through in-depth interviews and the secondary data from China First Metallurgical Group and Central South Construction Group's Overseas Enterprise.

Findings

The findings show that the outbreak of the major public emergencies not only greatly increased eight risk factors but also directly led to an increase in staff turnover rate. Meanwhile, the numbers of Chinese and local managers and workers are all affected, and an increase in the number and the salary performance of local workers can be reduced, to a certain extent, to the cost-to-output ratio of the projects. The findings would help construction enterprises better cope with Personnel Localization Management and enhance the response capacity of major public emergencies.

Research limitations/implications

This study will broaden researchers' horizons regarding “Personnel Localization Management under major public emergencies” and “risk factors of Personnel Localization Management in an international context.” Furthermore, construction enterprises looking for a better mechanism of Personnel Localization Management can benefit from research findings and lessons learned from the authors' case study during or before an outbreak of major public emergency. Lastly, the framework of optimization strategies for Personnel Localization Management can be used both for research purposes and practice issues in international construction projects.

Practical implications

The findings from the authors' case study offer the direction for international construction enterprises in China and other countries to formulate effective measures, strengthen overseas business and establish a crisis management mechanism for Personnel Localization Management under major public emergencies, and the findings provide emergency plans for projects to improve the public crisis handling capacity and respond to major public emergencies such as the COVID-19.

Social implications

This study analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 on the Personnel Localization Management of international construction projects from the perspective of personnel. This study provides a theoretical reference for the international construction industry to actively respond to major public emergencies. Besides, the research is conducive to improving the emergency response mechanism in the construction industry, and further promoting the high-quality and globalized development of international construction.

Originality/value

This study provides other researchers with a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors affecting the Personnel Localization Management of projects under the COVID-19 and insight for further research on localization management, risk management, and project management.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 30 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 September 2023

Helong Li, Huiqiong Chen, Guanglong Xu and Weiguo Zhang

According to the Government Response tracker (oxCGRT) index, the overall government response, stringency, economic support, containment and health policies to COVID-19 from…

Abstract

Purpose

According to the Government Response tracker (oxCGRT) index, the overall government response, stringency, economic support, containment and health policies to COVID-19 from January 2020 to December 2022. The main objective of this paper is to explore how stock market performance is affected by these polices, respectively.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ EGARCH and autoregressive distributional lag (ARDL) models to test the impact of epidemic prevention policy implementation on stock market returns, volatility and liquidity and make cross-country comparisons for six important world economies.

Findings

Firstly, the implementation of various preventive policies hurts stock market returns and increases volatility, but there are a few indicators that have no effect or have an easing effect in some countries. Secondly, health policies exacerbate market volatility and have a stronger effect than other policy indicators. Thirdly, In China and the USA, anti-epidemic policies have been shown to worsen liquidity, while in Japan they have been shown to improve liquidity.

Originality/value

First, enrich the growing body of COVID-19 research by comprehensively examining whether and how government prevention policies affect stock market returns, volatility and liquidity. Second, explore the impact of different types of intervention policies on stock market performance, separately.

Details

China Finance Review International, vol. 13 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2044-1398

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2022

Feng Jin, Wenwu Xiang, Zheng Ji and Bochen Zhang

The purpose of this paper is to quantify the evolutionary mechanism of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) impact on international construction multi-projects.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to quantify the evolutionary mechanism of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) impact on international construction multi-projects.

Design/methodology/approach

From three concepts of complexity, stressor and detractor risks, a multi-project simulation model under COVID-19 outbreak is proposed to study the characteristics of contingency with three peaks of ordered and disordered states. Specially, COVID-19 brings forth mitigation fee, epidemic prevention fee, holdup fee and schedule delay fee of multi-projects. By integrating parametric model, Monte Carlo and chaos theory, a comparative analysis of its contingency with or without COVID-19 is conducted. Summarizing the simulated results, their total contingencies at certain risk tolerance are obtained at two status of static at one-time point and dynamic over time. Meanwhile, some major risks including detractors, complexities and stressors are screened out for mitigation, especially for epidemic prevention and control. Eventually, the real case is illustrated to demonstrate its validity.

Findings

It provides a quantitative analysis framework for the impact of epidemic, a once-in-a-century black swan event with a long tail, on construction multi-projects.

Practical implications

It conduct an effective model to quantify impacts of COVID-19 on international construction multi-projects for implementing effective counter-measures, which lay foundation for claims among different stakeholders.

Originality/value

The term of detractor risk is applied to describe COVID-19 and quantify its impact upon international construction multi-projects. Further, a hybrid model by integrating parametric model and Monte Carlo in type I/II model is proposed to simulate their contingencies at disordered states. Finally, the simulated outcomes of these models are used to guide effective risk control to meet the requirements by the client.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 30 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 September 2022

Hongru Lu, Juan Xie, Ying Cheng and Ya Chen

This study aims to investigate how the public formed their need for information in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak. Exploring the formation of information needs can…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how the public formed their need for information in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak. Exploring the formation of information needs can reveal why the public's information needs differ and provide insights on targeted information service during health crises at an essential level.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 46 participants and analyzed using the grounded theory approach. Concepts, sub-categories and categories were developed, and a model was built to examine how the public formed the need for information about the pandemic.

Findings

The authors found that participants were stimulated by information asymmetry, severity of the pandemic and regulations to control the pandemic, which triggered their perceptions of information credibility, threat and social approval. After the participants perceived that there was a threat, it activated their basic needs and they actively formed the need for information based on cognitive activities. Moreover, information delivered by different senders resulted in a passive need for information. Participants' individual traits also influenced their perceptions after being stimulated.

Research limitations/implications

Long-term follow-up research is needed to help researchers identify more detailed perspectives and do comparative studies. Besides, this study conducted interviews through WeChat voice calls and telephone calls, and might be limited compared with face-to-face interviews.

Practical implications

The findings of this study provide theoretical contributions to the information needs research and practical implications for information services and public health management.

Originality/value

There is little systematic research on how the public formed information needs in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Details

Aslib Journal of Information Management, vol. 75 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-3806

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 November 2023

Zhiying Wang and Hongmei Jia

Forecasting demand of emergency supplies under major epidemics plays a vital role in improving rescue efficiency. Few studies have combined intuitionistic fuzzy set with…

Abstract

Purpose

Forecasting demand of emergency supplies under major epidemics plays a vital role in improving rescue efficiency. Few studies have combined intuitionistic fuzzy set with grey-Markov method and applied it to the prediction of emergency supplies demand. Therefore, this article aims to establish a novel method for emergency supplies demand forecasting under major epidemics.

Design/methodology/approach

Emergency supplies demand is correlated with the number of infected cases in need of relief services. First, a novel method called the Intuitionistic Fuzzy TPGM(1,1)-Markov Method (IFTPGMM) is proposed, and it is utilized for the purpose of forecasting the number of people. Then, the prediction of demand for emergency supplies is calculated using a method based on the safety inventory theory, according to numbers predicted by IFTPGMM. Finally, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, a comparative analysis is conducted between IFTPGMM and four other methods.

Findings

The results show that IFTPGMM demonstrates superior predictive performance compared to four other methods. The integration of the grey method and intuitionistic fuzzy set has been shown to effectively handle uncertain information and enhance the accuracy of predictions.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this article is to propose a novel method for emergency supplies demand forecasting under major epidemics. The benefits of utilizing the grey method for handling small sample sizes and intuitionistic fuzzy set for handling uncertain information are considered in this proposed method. This method not only enhances existing grey method but also expands the methodologies used for forecasting demand for emergency supplies.

Highlights (for review)

  1. An intuitionistic fuzzy TPGM(1,1)-Markov method (IFTPGMM) is proposed.

  2. The safety inventory theory is combined with IFTPGMM to construct a prediction method.

  3. Asymptomatic infected cases are taken to forecast the demand for emergency supplies.

An intuitionistic fuzzy TPGM(1,1)-Markov method (IFTPGMM) is proposed.

The safety inventory theory is combined with IFTPGMM to construct a prediction method.

Asymptomatic infected cases are taken to forecast the demand for emergency supplies.

Details

Grey Systems: Theory and Application, vol. 14 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2043-9377

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 May 2023

Yan Pei

The purpose of this paper is to figure out how authoritarian regimes conduct crisis management through application of technology, institutions and people.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to figure out how authoritarian regimes conduct crisis management through application of technology, institutions and people.

Design/methodology/approach

By means of a literature review, this paper briefly reviews the digital governance of authoritarianism and its approach in crisis management. Then, a case study with empirical analysis is conducted to explain how an authoritarian regime would perceive and manage crises in the digital era.

Findings

China’s response towards COVID-19 was mainly based on digitalised grid management. Government’s perception of the crisis directly influences directions of institutions, while technology is developed, applied and iterated with the needs of institutions, rather than the public interests. And for the general public, the level of trust in the government directly affects the acceptance of technology.

Originality/value

Previous studies on crisis management of authoritarian governments in the digital era have mostly been conducted from a techno-ethical perspective. However, this paper verifies that the use of technology in crisis management requires involvement of institutions and public.

Details

Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, vol. 17 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6166

Keywords

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