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1 – 10 of over 1000The purpose of this paper is to investigate the vehicle-based sensor effect and pavement temperature on road condition assessment, as well as to compute a threshold value for the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the vehicle-based sensor effect and pavement temperature on road condition assessment, as well as to compute a threshold value for the classification of pavement conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
Four sensors were placed on the vehicle’s control arms and one inside the vehicle to collect vibration acceleration data for analysis. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tests were performed to diagnose the effect of the vehicle-based sensors’ placement in the field. To classify road conditions and identify pavement distress (point of interest), the probability distribution was applied based on the magnitude values of vibration data.
Findings
Results from ANOVA indicate that pavement sensing patterns from the sensors placed on the front control arms were statistically significant, and there is no difference between the sensors placed on the same side of the vehicle (e.g., left or right side). A reference threshold (i.e., 1.7 g) was computed from the distribution fitting method to classify road conditions and identify the road distress based on the magnitude values that combine all acceleration along three axes. In addition, the pavement temperature was found to be highly correlated with the sensing patterns, which is noteworthy for future projects.
Originality/value
The paper investigates the effect of pavement sensors’ placement in assessing road conditions, emphasizing the implications for future road condition assessment projects. A threshold value for classifying road conditions was proposed and applied in class assignments (I-17 highway projects).
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Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman, Poh Ling Chong, Tze San Ong, Boon Heng Teh and Tze Chin Ong
The aim of this paper is to characterise the association between business network and the balanced scorecard used by Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as a method for…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to characterise the association between business network and the balanced scorecard used by Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as a method for assessing firm efficiency. The business network takes into account both the dimensions of stability and efficiency. The business network can help SMEs, with fewer resources to remain competitive. By having a secure business network, the performance of SMEs in Malaysia can be further improved. A business network can facilitate swift coordination amongst distant geographies to create new competitive advantages by accessing market segments, resources as well as building strategic business alliances.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 404 sets of data collected by using stratified random sampling and structured questionnaire as an instrument. The list of SMEs collected from the Malaysia Foreign Trade Growth Corporate Directory (MATRADE) directories. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was utilised to analyse the data.
Findings
The findings show that the business network plays a role in the balanced scorecard (BSC) outcomes of Malaysian SMEs.
Originality/value
This article provides the owners and managers with an awareness to rapidly achieve the company's efficiency. Finally, the new article often has some consequences for decision-makers and regulators.
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Ehsan Aghakarimi, Hamed Karimi, Amir Aghsami and Fariborz Jolai
Considering the direct impact of retailers' performance on the economy, this paper aimed to propose a comprehensive framework to evaluate the performance of different branches of…
Abstract
Purpose
Considering the direct impact of retailers' performance on the economy, this paper aimed to propose a comprehensive framework to evaluate the performance of different branches of a retailer.
Design/methodology/approach
Through a case study, the weights of indicators were calculated by the best-worst method (BWM) and the branches' performance was appraised using data envelopment analysis (DEA).
Findings
The branches were ranked in terms of performance, and sensitivity analysis and statistical tests were conducted to realize the weaknesses and strengths of the branches. Then, some strategies were proposed using strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis to improve the performance of the weak branches.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to previous studies on the evaluation of retailers' performance by proposing a triple framework based on resilience, sustainability and sales-marketing indicators. This paper focused on branches' operations and branches' optimization by improving performance in terms of these three indicators. This paper also offers a qualitative and quantitative analysis of retailers' performance, which has received less attention in previous studies.
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The purpose of the article is to gain more insight into factors that can explain students' success in business subjects. The focus is on the connection between performance in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the article is to gain more insight into factors that can explain students' success in business subjects. The focus is on the connection between performance in introductory courses in business mathematics (BM) and business statistics (BS) and success in various business subjects.
Design/methodology/approach
Use of a regression model with administrative data from a business school in Norway over a period of 10 years.
Findings
The findings show a strong correlation, especially in quantitative subjects. The results suggest that statistical skills are more strongly related to academic success than mathematical skills.
Research limitations/implications
The data are collected from only one school. No information on undergraduates' personalities and behaviours is available.
Originality/value
There are limited published studies that have explored the relationship between success in statistics and later achievements in business courses. This is useful knowledge for planning the content of the bachelor's programme.
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Anil Kumar Maddali and Habibulla Khan
Currently, the design, technological features of voices, and their analysis of various applications are being simulated with the requirement to communicate at a greater distance…
Abstract
Purpose
Currently, the design, technological features of voices, and their analysis of various applications are being simulated with the requirement to communicate at a greater distance or more discreetly. The purpose of this study is to explore how voices and their analyses are used in modern literature to generate a variety of solutions, of which only a few successful models exist.
Design/methodology
The mel-frequency cepstral coefficient (MFCC), average magnitude difference function, cepstrum analysis and other voice characteristics are effectively modeled and implemented using mathematical modeling with variable weights parametric for each algorithm, which can be used with or without noises. Improvising the design characteristics and their weights with different supervised algorithms that regulate the design model simulation.
Findings
Different data models have been influenced by the parametric range and solution analysis in different space parameters, such as frequency or time model, with features such as without, with and after noise reduction. The frequency response of the current design can be analyzed through the Windowing techniques.
Original value
A new model and its implementation scenario with pervasive computational algorithms’ (PCA) (such as the hybrid PCA with AdaBoost (HPCA), PCA with bag of features and improved PCA with bag of features) relating the different features such as MFCC, power spectrum, pitch, Window techniques, etc. are calculated using the HPCA. The features are accumulated on the matrix formulations and govern the design feature comparison and its feature classification for improved performance parameters, as mentioned in the results.
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This article summarizes the international scientific research output of global forest product models, infers future research trends and provides reference for quantitative…
Abstract
Purpose
This article summarizes the international scientific research output of global forest product models, infers future research trends and provides reference for quantitative analysis and mathematical modeling of Chinese forest product problems, with the aim of contributing to promoting domestic production of Chinese forest products and strengthening international trade competitiveness of forest products.
Design/methodology/approach
In 1999, Joseph Buongiorno, a scholar at the University of Wisconsin in the United States of America, proposed the global forest products model (GFPM), which was first applied to research in the global forestry sector. GFPM is a recursive dynamic model based on five assumptions: macroeconomics, local equilibrium, dynamic equilibrium, forest product conversion flow and trade inertia. Using a certain year from 1992 to present as the base period, it simulates and predicts changes in prices, production and import and export trade indicators of 14 forest products in 180 countries (regions) through computer programs. Its advantages lie in covering a wide range of countries and a wide variety of forest products. The data mainly include forest resource data, forest product trade data, and other economic data required by the model, sourced from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Bank, respectively.
Findings
Compared to international quantitative and modeling research in the field of forest product production and trade, China's related research is not comprehensive and in-depth, and there is not much quantitative and mathematical modeling research, resulting in a significant gap. This article summarizes the international scientific research output of global forest product models, infers future research trends, and provides reference for quantitative analysis and mathematical modeling of Chinese forest product problems, with the aim of contributing to promoting domestic production of Chinese forest products and strengthening international trade competitiveness of forest products.
Originality/value
On the basis of summarizing and analyzing the international scientific research output of GFPM, sorting out the current research status and progress at home and abroad, this article discusses potential research expansion directions in 10 aspects, including the types, yield and quality of domestic forest product production, international trade of forest products, and external impacts on the forestry system, in order to provide new ideas for global forest product model research in China.
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Hamed Kamelnia, Pirouz Hanachi and Mina Moayedi
In response, this study developed a mathematical and computational method, through spatial configurations with justified plan graph (JPG), drawn from Space Syntax to extract…
Abstract
Purpose
In response, this study developed a mathematical and computational method, through spatial configurations with justified plan graph (JPG), drawn from Space Syntax to extract essential information of the spatial topology of 13 valuable traditional courtyard houses located in Toon historical city of Iran.
Design/methodology/approach
Historical vernacular housing has always been designed to incorporate and reflect the local lifestyle and cultural conditions. “Courtyard” is a fundamental part of traditional Iranian houses. This traditional building type includes a walled boundary and a complex of open, semi-enclosed and enclosed spaces. This study investigates the traditional houses in Toon historical town. Toon is one of the ancient towns in southeast Iran, including old courtyard houses in its heritage context. The spatial influence of the courtyard contributes to the formation of this famous architectural type.
Findings
The results show the remarkable impact of this space on dominating the plan of traditional Toon houses configuration compared to other spaces in all cases. Furthermore, spatial accessibility has changed over time, and the Safavid period had a higher level of integration and lower level of accessibility (mean i = 7.03) rather than the Qajar period (mean i = 6.34); also, privacy has decreased progressively.
Originality/value
The knowledge of characteristics of this historical architecture needs to be gathered for the preservation and conservation of the built heritage. Hence, the principle behind traditional Iranian courtyards was investigated to recognize the difference between the spatial influence of the courtyard and other spaces and the changes in the courtyard over time.
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Priyanka Gupta, Adarsh Anand, Yoshinobu Tamura and Mangey Ram
The ideology of this article is to study the performance concerns of SDN Controllers, with the help of developed SRGM and thereby obtain its optimal testing duration. The effect…
Abstract
Purpose
The ideology of this article is to study the performance concerns of SDN Controllers, with the help of developed SRGM and thereby obtain its optimal testing duration. The effect of undetected uncertainty in the parameter values have also been catered in the proposal.
Design/methodology/approach
These uncertainties in the parameter values are studied as the risk of not meeting desired set of requirements, whose removal causes additional cost. Considering these two constructs as attributes of MAUT, the controller's optimal testing duration is obtained.
Findings
The article focuses towards obtaining the optimal duration for which the SDN Controllers must be tested. It was observed that the inculcation of risk-attribute has provided the higher utility value as compared to any other existing scenarios.
Originality/value
Plenty of SRGM have been proposed in the literature which talks about the testing stop time determination problems. But, none of them have considered the impact of risk of not meeting the requirements (reliability) along with cost to obtain its testing stop time. Further, validation of the proposed model in presented with the help of two releases versions of SDN controller platform, ONOS, entitled as “Kingfisher” and “Loon” and has acquired promising results.
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Xin Fan, Yongshou Liu, Zongyi Gu and Qin Yao
Ensuring the safety of structures is important. However, when a structure possesses both an implicit performance function and an extremely small failure probability, traditional…
Abstract
Purpose
Ensuring the safety of structures is important. However, when a structure possesses both an implicit performance function and an extremely small failure probability, traditional methods struggle to conduct a reliability analysis. Therefore, this paper proposes a reliability analysis method aimed at enhancing the efficiency of rare event analysis, using the widely recognized Relevant Vector Machine (RVM).
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing from the principles of importance sampling (IS), this paper employs Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO) to ascertain the optimal design point. This approach not only guarantees precision but also facilitates the RVM in approximating the limit state surface. When the U learning function, designed for Kriging, is applied to RVM, it results in sample clustering in the design of experiment (DoE). Therefore, this paper proposes a FU learning function, which is more suitable for RVM.
Findings
Three numerical examples and two engineering problem demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Originality/value
By employing the HHO algorithm, this paper innovatively applies RVM in IS reliability analysis, proposing a novel method termed RVM-HIS. The RVM-HIS demonstrates exceptional computational efficiency, making it eminently suitable for rare events reliability analysis with implicit performance function. Moreover, the computational efficiency of RVM-HIS has been significantly enhanced through the improvement of the U learning function.
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Paulo Alberto Sampaio Santos, Breno Cortez and Michele Tereza Marques Carvalho
Present study aimed to integrate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) in conjunction with multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) to enhance…
Abstract
Purpose
Present study aimed to integrate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) in conjunction with multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) to enhance infrastructure investment planning.
Design/methodology/approach
This analysis combines GIS databases with BIM simulations for a novel highway project. Around 150 potential alternatives were simulated, narrowed to 25 more effective routes and 3 options underwent in-depth analysis using PROMETHEE method for decision-making, based on environmental, cost and safety criteria, allowing for comprehensive cross-perspective comparisons.
Findings
A comprehensive framework proposed was validated through a case study. Demonstrating its adaptability with customizable parameters. It aids decision-making, cost estimation, environmental impact analysis and outcome prediction. Considering these critical factors, this study holds the potential to advance new techniques for assessment and planning railways, power lines, gas and water.
Research limitations/implications
The study acknowledges limitations in GIS data quality, particularly in underdeveloped areas or regions with limited technology access. It also overlooks other pertinent variables, like social, economic, political and cultural issues. Thus, conclusions from these simulations may not entirely represent reality or diverse potential scenarios.
Practical implications
The proposed method automates decision-making, reducing subjectivity, aids in selecting effective alternatives and considers environmental criteria to mitigate negative impacts. Additionally, it minimizes costs and risks while demonstrating adaptability for assessing diverse infrastructures.
Originality/value
By integrating GIS and BIM data to support a MCDM workflow, this study proposes to fill the existing research gap in decision-making prioritization and mitigate subjective biases.
Details