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1 – 10 of 126
Article
Publication date: 22 December 2023

Dezhi Li, Huan Zhou, Shenghua Zhou, Guanying Huang, Xiaoming Ma, Yongheng Zhao, Wentao Wang and S. Thomas Ng

The study aims to pioneer an innovative approach for the evaluation of government portal websites (GPWs) by introducing an eye-tracking-based method. The research meticulously…

Abstract

Purpose

The study aims to pioneer an innovative approach for the evaluation of government portal websites (GPWs) by introducing an eye-tracking-based method. The research meticulously pinpoints and analyses the distinct usability issues and challenges that users encounter while navigating and interacting with GPWs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study devises an eye-tracking-based GPW usability evaluation approach, which focuses on the major functions (i.e. government information disclosure, government services and interactive responses) of GPWs. An Entropy Weighted Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (EW-TOPSIS) method is employed to process eye-tracking indicator results for deriving GPW usability results.

Findings

The proposed approach is demonstrated to assess the usability of 12 GPWs in pilot smart cities in China, and it is found that most GPWs have lower-than-average usability. GPWs with low usability require more cognitive load that exhibit increased fixation and saccade. The comparisons among the GPW usability results from (1) the eye-tracking experiment, (2) questionnaire surveys and (3) the ready-made performance evaluation report validate the effectiveness of eye-tracking-based GPW usability evaluation.

Originality/value

The work contributes to shifting the GPW usability evaluation approach from a subjective judgment paradigm to an objective paradigm, as well as provides implications for enhancing GPW usability, including improving search function, reducing website complexity and prioritizing user needs.

Details

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

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 April 2024

Cheng Xiong, Bo Xu and Zhenqian Chen

This study aims to investigate the rarefaction effects on flow and thermal performances of an equivalent sand-grain roughness model for aerodynamic thrust bearing.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the rarefaction effects on flow and thermal performances of an equivalent sand-grain roughness model for aerodynamic thrust bearing.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a model of gas lubrication thrust bearing was established by modifying the wall roughness and considering rarefaction effect. The flow and lubrication characteristics of gas film were discussed based on the equivalent sand roughness model and rarefaction effect.

Findings

The boundary slip and the surface roughness effect lead to a decrease in gas film pressure and temperature, with a maximum decrease of 39.2% and 8.4%, respectively. The vortex effect present in the gas film is closely linked to the gas film’s pressure. Slip flow decreases the vortex effect, and an increase in roughness results in the development of slip flow. The increase of roughness leads to a decrease for the static and thermal characteristics.

Originality/value

This work uses the rarefaction effect and the equivalent sand roughness model to investigate the lubrication characteristics of gas thrust bearing. The results help to guide the selection of the surface roughness of rotor and bearing, so as to fully control the rarefaction effect and make use of it.

Details

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0036-8792

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 January 2024

Yi-Hsin Lin, Ruixue Zheng, Fan Wu, Ningshuang Zeng, Jiajia Li and Xingyu Tao

This study aimed to improve the financing credit evaluation for small and medium-sized real estate enterprises (SMREEs). A financing credit evaluation model was proposed, and a…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to improve the financing credit evaluation for small and medium-sized real estate enterprises (SMREEs). A financing credit evaluation model was proposed, and a blockchain-driven financing credit evaluation framework was designed to improve the transparency, credibility and applicability of the financing credit evaluation process.

Design/methodology/approach

The design science research methodology was adopted to identify the main steps in constructing the financing credit model and blockchain-driven framework. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP)–entropy weighting method (EWM)–set pair analysis (SPA) method was used to design a financing credit evaluation model. Moreover, the proposed framework was validated using data acquired from actual cases.

Findings

The results indicate that: (1) the proposed blockchain-driven financing credit evaluation framework can effectively realize a transparent evaluation process compared to the traditional financing credit evaluation system. (2) The proposed model has high effectiveness and can achieve efficient credit ranking, reflect SMREEs' credit status and help improve credit rating.

Originality/value

This study proposes a financing credit evaluation model of SMREEs based on the FAHP–EWM–SPA method. All credit rating data and evaluation process data are immediately stored in the proposed blockchain framework, and the immutable and traceable nature of blockchain enhances trust between nodes, improving the reliability of the financing credit evaluation process and results. In addition, this study partially fulfills the lack of investigations on blockchain adoption for SMREEs' financing credit.

Article
Publication date: 9 October 2023

Zhijie Yuan, Hao Wang, Rou Li, Jianxiao Mao and Hui Gao

This paper aims to investigate the equivalent relationship between accelerated corrosion tests and real environmental spectrum of suspenders in long-span suspension bridge…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the equivalent relationship between accelerated corrosion tests and real environmental spectrum of suspenders in long-span suspension bridge considering multiple factors action.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on Faraday's law, corrosion current was used as a measure of metal corrosion, and the equivalent conversion relationship between laboratory environment and real service environment was established. The equivalent conversion method for bridge structural steel had been determined under different temperature, humidity, pH value and NaCl concentration conditions. The compilation of environmental spectra for large span bridges considering multiple factors and the principle of equivalent conversion have been proposed.

Findings

Environmental factors, including temperature, humidity, pH value and NaCl concentration, have significant impact on the corrosion degree of suspension steel wires, and only considering these two factors for equivalent conversion cannot accurately reflect the true service environment of the bridge. The 33.8-h salt spray accelerated corrosion test using the standard conditions can be equivalent to one year of suspenders corrosion in a real service environment.

Originality/value

The equivalent accelerated corrosion method for steel wires proposed in this study can effectively predict the corrosion degree of the suspenders, which has been verified to be correct and can provide theoretical guidance for the development of corrosion test plans for steel wires and engineering technical basis for anti-corrosion control and calendar life research of suspension bridge suspenders.

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 70 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 June 2023

Yuting Sun, Jieyu Ren, Gang Jin and Hanhui Hu

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the most comprehensive and substantial international cooperation platform, creating a new market influenced by economic and political…

Abstract

Purpose

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the most comprehensive and substantial international cooperation platform, creating a new market influenced by economic and political factors. In this paper, the authors aim to examine whether and how the BRI impacts the Chinese enterprises' corporate environmental responsibility (CER).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on China's listed firms' database from 2011 to 2018, the authors use the PSM-DID method, an econometrics method combined with propensity score matching (PSM) and difference-in-differences (DID), to conduct causal inference between the BRI and Chinese enterprises' CER and conduct a series of robustness analyses. Moreover, the authors explore the mechanisms underlying the main effect from both market and non-market perspectives.

Findings

The results suggest that the BRI significantly increases Chinese enterprises' CER. Further analyses show that market competition and government support are two possible mechanisms through which the BRI has an effect on the enterprises' CER.

Originality/value

The research study supplements existing work on the environmental effects of the BRI at a microlevel and adds to the literature on the drivers of CER. The findings offer valuable insights into governments and scholars by demonstrating that CER is a crucial tool for Chinese enterprises to gain a competitive advantage in the increasingly competitive markets along the BRI.

Details

Marketing Intelligence & Planning, vol. 41 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-4503

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 August 2023

Donghui Yang, Yan Wang, Zhaoyang Shi and Huimin Wang

Improving the diversity of recommendation information has become one of the latest research hotspots to solve information cocoons. Aiming to achieve both high accuracy and…

Abstract

Purpose

Improving the diversity of recommendation information has become one of the latest research hotspots to solve information cocoons. Aiming to achieve both high accuracy and diversity of recommender system, a hybrid method has been proposed in this paper. This study aims to discuss the aforementioned method.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper integrates latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) model and locality-sensitive hashing (LSH) algorithm to design topic recommendation system. To measure the effectiveness of the method, this paper builds three-level categories of journal paper abstracts on the Web of Science platform as experimental data.

Findings

(1) The results illustrate that the diversity of recommended items has been significantly enhanced by leveraging hashing function to overcome information cocoons. (2) Integrating topic model and hashing algorithm, the diversity of recommender systems could be achieved without losing the accuracy of recommender systems in a certain degree of refined topic levels.

Originality/value

The hybrid recommendation algorithm developed in this paper can overcome the dilemma of high accuracy and low diversity. The method could ameliorate the recommendation in business and service industries to address the problems of information overload and information cocoons.

Details

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

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 May 2023

Dezhi Li, Lugang Yu, Guanying Huang, Shenghua Zhou, Haibo Feng and Yanqing Wang

To propose a new investment-income valuation model by real options approach (ROA) for old community renewal (OCR) projects, which could help the government attract private…

Abstract

Purpose

To propose a new investment-income valuation model by real options approach (ROA) for old community renewal (OCR) projects, which could help the government attract private capital's participation.

Design/methodology/approach

The new model is proposed by identifying the types of options private capital has in the OCR project, selecting the option model most suitable for private capital investment decisions, improving the valuation model through the triangular fuzzy numbers to take into account the uncertainty and flexibility, and demonstrating the feasibility of the calculation model through an actual OCR project case.

Findings

The new model can valuate OCR projects more accurately based on considering uncertainty and flexibility, compared with conventional methods that often underestimate the value of OCR projects.

Practical implications

The investment-income of OCR projects shall be re-valuated from the lens of real options, which could help reveal more real benefits beyond the capital growth of OCR projects, enable the government to attract private capital's investment in OCR, and alleviate government fiscal pressure.

Originality/value

The proposed OCR-oriented investment-income valuation model systematically analyzes the applicability of real option value (ROV) to OCR projects, innovatively integrates the ROV and the net present value (NPV) as expanded net present value (ENPV), and accurately evaluate real benefits in comparison with existing models. Furthermore, the newly proposed model holds the potential to be transferred to various social welfare projects as a tool to attract private capital's participation.

Details

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

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 August 2022

Zhao Xu, Yangze Liang, Hongyu Lu, Wenshuo Kong and Gang Wu

Construction schedule delays and quality problems caused by construction errors are common in the field of prefabricated buildings. The effective monitoring of the construction…

Abstract

Purpose

Construction schedule delays and quality problems caused by construction errors are common in the field of prefabricated buildings. The effective monitoring of the construction project process is one of the key factors for the success of a project. How to effectively monitor the construction process of prefabricated building construction projects is an urgent problem to be solved. Aiming at the problems existing in the monitoring of the construction process of prefabricated buildings, this paper proposes a monitoring method based on the feature extraction of point cloud model.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses Trimble X7 3D laser scanner to complete field data collection experiments. The point cloud data are preprocessed, and the prefabricated component segmentation and geometric feature measurement are completed based on the PCL platform. Aiming at the problem of noisy points and large amount of data in the original point cloud data, the preprocessing is completed through the steps of constructing topological relations, thinning, and denoising. According to the spatial position relationship and geometric characteristics of prefabricated frame structure, the segmentation algorithm flow is designed in this paper. By processing the point cloud data of single column and beam members, the quality of precast column and beam members is measured. The as-built model and as-designed model are compared to realize the visual monitoring of construction progress.

Findings

The experimental results show that the dimensional measurement accuracy of beam and column proposed in this paper is more than 95%. This method can effectively detect the quality of prefabricated components. In the aspect of progress monitoring, the visualization of real-time progress monitoring is realized.

Originality/value

This paper proposed a new monitoring method based on feature extraction of the point cloud model, combined with three-dimensional laser scanning technology. This method allows for accurate monitoring of the construction process, rapid detection of construction information, and timely detection of construction quality errors and progress delays. The treatment process based on point cloud data has strong applicability, and the real-time point cloud data transfer treatment can guarantee the timeliness of monitoring.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 30 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 April 2024

Fatimah De’nan, Chong Shek Wai, Tong Teong Yen, Zafira Nur Ezzati Mustafa and Nor Salwani Hashim

Brief introduction on the importance and the need for plastic analysis methods were presented in the beginning section of this review. The plastic method for analysis was…

Abstract

Purpose

Brief introduction on the importance and the need for plastic analysis methods were presented in the beginning section of this review. The plastic method for analysis was considered to be the more advanced method of analysis because of its ability to represent the true behaviour of the steel structures. Then in the following section, a literature analysis has been carried out on the previous investigations done on steel plates, steel beams and steel frames by other authors. The behaviour of them under different types of loading were presented and are under the investigation of innovative new analysis methods.

Design/methodology/approach

Structure member connections also have the potential for plastic failure. In this study, the authors have highlighted a few topics to be discussed. The three topics in this study are T-end plate connections to a square hollow section, semi-rigid connections and cold-formed steel storage racks with spine bracings using speed-lock connections. Connection is one of the important parts of a structure that ensures the integrity of the structure. Finally, in this technical paper, the authors introduce some topics related to seismic action. Application of the Theory of Plastic Mechanism Control in seismic design is studied in the beginning. At the end, its in-depth application for moment resisting frames-eccentrically braced frames dual systems is investigated.

Findings

When this study involves the design of a plastic structure, the design criteria must involve the ultimate load rather than the yield stress. As the steel behaves in the plastic range, it means the capacity of the steel has reached the ultimate load. Ultimate load design and load factor design are the methods in the range of plastic analysis. After the steel capacity has reached beyond the yield stress, it fulfills the requirement in this method. The plastic analysis method offers a consistent and logical approach to structural analysis. It provides an economical solution in terms of steel weight, as the sections designed using this method are smaller compared with elastic design methods.

Originality/value

The plastic method is the primary approach used in the analysis and design of statically indeterminate frame structures.

Details

World Journal of Engineering, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1708-5284

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 April 2024

Lili Gao, Xicheng Zhang, Xiaopeng Deng, Na Zhang and Ying Lu

This study aims to investigate the relationship between individual-level psychological resources and team resilience in the context of expatriate project management teams. It…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between individual-level psychological resources and team resilience in the context of expatriate project management teams. It seeks to understand how personal psychological resources contribute to team resilience and explore the dynamic evolution mechanism of team resilience. The goal is to enhance team resilience among expatriates in a BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible) world, where organizations face volatile and uncertain conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was applied for data collection, and 315 valid samples from Chinese expatriates in international construction projects were utilized for data analysis. A structural equation model (SEM) examines the relationships between personal psychological resources and team resilience. The study identifies five psychological factors influencing team resilience: Employee Resilience, Cross-cultural Adjustment, Self-efficacy, Social Support, and Team Climate. The hypothesized relationships are validated through the SEM analysis. Additionally, a fuzzy cognitive map (FCM) is constructed to explore the dynamic mechanism of team resilience formation based on the results of the SEM.

Findings

The SEM analysis confirms that employee resilience, cross-cultural adjustment, and team climate positively impact team resilience. Social support and self-efficacy also have positive effects on team climate. Moreover, team climate is found to fully mediate the relationship between self-efficacy and team resilience, as well as between social support and team resilience. The FCM model provides further insights into the dynamic evolution of team resilience, highlighting the varying impact effects of antecedents during the team resilience development process and the effectiveness of different combinations of intervention strategies.

Originality/value

This study contributes to understanding team resilience by identifying the psychological factors influencing team resilience in expatriate project management teams. The findings emphasize the importance of social support and team climate in promoting team resilience. Interventions targeting team climate are found to facilitate the rapid development of team resilience. In contrast, interventions for social support are necessary for sustainable, long-term high levels of team resilience. Based on the dynamic simulation results, strategies for cultivating team resilience through external intervention and internal adjustment are proposed, focusing on social support and team climate. Implementing these strategies can enhance project management team resilience and improve the core competitiveness of contractors in the BANI era.

Details

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

Keywords

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