Search results
1 – 10 of 294Ali Rashidi, George Lukic Woon, Miyami Dasandara, Mohsen Bazghaleh and Pooria Pasbakhsh
The construction industry remains one of the most hazardous industries worldwide, with a higher number of fatalities and injuries each year. The safety and well-being of workers…
Abstract
Purpose
The construction industry remains one of the most hazardous industries worldwide, with a higher number of fatalities and injuries each year. The safety and well-being of workers at a job site are paramount as they face both immediate and long-term risks such as falls and musculoskeletal disorders. To mitigate these dangers, sensor-based technologies have emerged as a crucial tool to promote the safety and well-being of workers on site. The implementation of real-time sensor data-driven monitoring tools can greatly benefit the construction industry by enabling the early identification and prevention of potential construction accidents. This study aims to explore the innovative method of prototype development regarding a safety monitoring system in the form of smart personal protective equipment (PPE) by taking advantage of the recent advances in wearable technology and cloud computing.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed smart construction safety system has been meticulously crafted to seamlessly integrate with conventional safety gear, such as gloves and vests, to continuously monitor construction sites for potential hazards. This state-of-the-art system is primarily geared towards mitigating musculoskeletal disorders and preventing workers from inadvertently entering high-risk zones where falls or exposure to extreme temperatures could occur. The wearables were introduced through the proposed system in a non-intrusive manner where the safety vest and gloves were chosen as the base for the PPE as almost every construction worker would be required to wear them on site. Sensors were integrated into the PPE, and a smartphone application which is called SOTER was developed to view and interact with collected data. This study discusses the method and process of smart PPE system design and development process in software and hardware aspects.
Findings
This research study posits a smart system for PPE that utilises real-time sensor data collection to improve worksite safety and promote worker well-being. The study outlines the development process of a prototype that records crucial real-time data such as worker location, altitude, temperature and hand pressure while handling various construction objects. The collected data are automatically uploaded to a cloud service, allowing supervisors to monitor it through a user-friendly smartphone application. The worker tracking ability with the smart PPE can help to alleviate the identified issues by functioning as an active warning system to the construction safety management team. It is steadily evident that the proposed smart PPE system can be utilised by the respective industry practitioners to ensure the workers' safety and well-being at construction sites through monitoring of the workers with real-time sensor data.
Originality/value
The proposed smart PPE system assists in reducing the safety risks posed by hazardous environments as well as preventing a certain degree of musculoskeletal problems for workers. Ultimately, the current study unveils that the construction industry can utilise cloud computing services in conjunction with smart PPE to take advantage of the recent advances in novel technological avenues and bring construction safety management to a new level. The study significantly contributes to the prevailing knowledge of construction safety management in terms of applying sensor-based technologies in upskilling construction workers' safety in terms of real-time safety monitoring and safety knowledge sharing.
Details
Keywords
Zhaozhao Tang, Wenyan Wu, Po Yang, Jingting Luo, Chen Fu, Jing-Cheng Han, Yang Zhou, Linlin Wang, Yingju Wu and Yuefei Huang
Surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors have attracted great attention worldwide for a variety of applications in measuring physical, chemical and biological parameters. However…
Abstract
Purpose
Surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors have attracted great attention worldwide for a variety of applications in measuring physical, chemical and biological parameters. However, stability has been one of the key issues which have limited their effective commercial applications. To fully understand this challenge of operation stability, this paper aims to systematically review mechanisms, stability issues and future challenges of SAW sensors for various applications.
Design/methodology/approach
This review paper starts with different types of SAWs, advantages and disadvantages of different types of SAW sensors and then the stability issues of SAW sensors. Subsequently, recent efforts made by researchers for improving working stability of SAW sensors are reviewed. Finally, it discusses the existing challenges and future prospects of SAW sensors in the rapidly growing Internet of Things-enabled application market.
Findings
A large number of scientific articles related to SAW technologies were found, and a number of opportunities for future researchers were identified. Over the past 20 years, SAW-related research has gained a growing interest of researchers. SAW sensors have attracted more and more researchers worldwide over the years, but the research topics of SAW sensor stability only own an extremely poor percentage in the total researc topics of SAWs or SAW sensors.
Originality/value
Although SAW sensors have been attracting researchers worldwide for decades, researchers mainly focused on the new materials and design strategies for SAW sensors to achieve good sensitivity and selectivity, and little work can be found on the stability issues of SAW sensors, which are so important for SAW sensor industries and one of the key factors to be mature products. Therefore, this paper systematically reviewed the SAW sensors from their fundamental mechanisms to stability issues and indicated their future challenges for various applications.
Details
Keywords
Jinwei Zhao, Shuolei Feng, Xiaodong Cao and Haopei Zheng
This paper aims to concentrate on recent innovations in flexible wearable sensor technology tailored for monitoring vital signals within the contexts of wearable sensors and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to concentrate on recent innovations in flexible wearable sensor technology tailored for monitoring vital signals within the contexts of wearable sensors and systems developed specifically for monitoring health and fitness metrics.
Design/methodology/approach
In recent decades, wearable sensors for monitoring vital signals in sports and health have advanced greatly. Vital signals include electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram, electromyography, inertial data, body motions, cardiac rate and bodily fluids like blood and sweating, making them a good choice for sensing devices.
Findings
This report reviewed reputable journal articles on wearable sensors for vital signal monitoring, focusing on multimode and integrated multi-dimensional capabilities like structure, accuracy and nature of the devices, which may offer a more versatile and comprehensive solution.
Originality/value
The paper provides essential information on the present obstacles and challenges in this domain and provide a glimpse into the future directions of wearable sensors for the detection of these crucial signals. Importantly, it is evident that the integration of modern fabricating techniques, stretchable electronic devices, the Internet of Things and the application of artificial intelligence algorithms has significantly improved the capacity to efficiently monitor and leverage these signals for human health monitoring, including disease prediction.
Priyanka Kumari Bhansali, Dilendra Hiran and Kamal Gulati
The purpose of this paper is to secure health data collection and transmission (SHDCT). In this system, a native network consists of portable smart devices that interact with…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to secure health data collection and transmission (SHDCT). In this system, a native network consists of portable smart devices that interact with multiple gateways. It entails IoMT devices and wearables connecting to exchange sensitive data with a sensor node which performs the aggeration process and then communicates the data using a Fog server. If the aggregator sensor loses the connection from the Fog server, it will be unable to submit data directly to the Fog server. The node transmits encrypted information with a neighboring sensor and sends it to the Fog server integrated with federated learning, which encrypts data to the existing data. The fog server performs the operations on the measured data, and the values are stored in the local storage area and later it is updated to the cloud server.
Design/methodology/approach
SHDCT uses an Internet-of-things (IoT)-based monitoring network, making it possible for smart devices to connect and interact with each other. The main purpose of the monitoring network has been in the collection of biological data and additional information from mobile devices to the patients. The monitoring network is composed of three different types of smart devices that is at the heart of the IoT.
Findings
It has been addressed in this work how to design an architecture for safe data aggregation in heterogeneous IoT-federated learning-enabled wireless sensor networks (WSNs), which makes use of basic encoding and data aggregation methods to achieve this. The authors suggest that the small gateway node (SGN) captures all of the sensed data from the SD and uses a simple, lightweight encoding scheme and cryptographic techniques to convey the data to the gateway node (GWN). The GWN gets all of the medical data from SGN and ensures that the data is accurate and up to date. If the data obtained is trustworthy, then the medical data should be aggregated and sent to the Fog server for further processing. The Java programming language simulates and analyzes the proposed SHDCT model for deployment and message initiation. When comparing the SHDCT scheme to the SPPDA and electrohydrodynamic atomisation (EHDA) schemes, the results show that the SHDCT method performs significantly better. When compared with the SPPDA and EHDA schemes, the suggested SHDCT plan necessitates a lower communication cost. In comparison to EHDA and SPPDA, SHDCT achieves 4.72% and 13.59% less, respectively. When compared to other transmission techniques, SHDCT has a higher transmission ratio. When compared with EHDA and SPPDA, SHDCT achieves 8.47% and 24.41% higher transmission ratios, respectively. When compared with other ways it uses less electricity. When compared with EHDA and SPPDA, SHDCT achieves 5.85% and 18.86% greater residual energy, respectively.
Originality/value
In the health care sector, a series of interconnected medical devices collect data using IoT networks in the health care domain. Preventive, predictive, personalized and participatory care is becoming increasingly popular in the health care sector. Safe data collection and transfer to a centralized server is a challenging scenario. This study presents a mechanism for SHDCT. The mechanism consists of Smart healthcare IoT devices working on federated learning that link up with one another to exchange health data. Health data is sensitive and needs to be exchanged securely and efficiently. In the mechanism, the sensing devices send data to a SGN. This SGN uses a lightweight encoding scheme and performs cryptography techniques to communicate the data with the GWN. The GWN gets all the health data from the SGN and makes it possible to confirm that the data is validated. If the received data is reliable, then aggregate the medical data and transmit it to the Fog server for further process. The performance parameters are compared with the other systems in terms of communication costs, transmission ratio and energy use.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this study is to prepare a state-of-the-art review on advanced ceramic materials including their fabrication techniques, characteristics, applications and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to prepare a state-of-the-art review on advanced ceramic materials including their fabrication techniques, characteristics, applications and wettability.
Design/methodology/approach
This review paper presents the various types of advanced ceramic materials according to their compounding elements, fabrication techniques of advanced ceramic powders as well as their consolidation, their characteristics, applications and wetting properties. Hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of advanced ceramic materials are described in the paper with their state-of-the-art application areas. Optical properties of fine ceramics with their intrinsic characteristics are also presented within. Special focus is given to the brief description of application-based manipulation of wetting properties of advanced ceramics in the paper.
Findings
The study of wetting/hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of ceramic materials is important by which it can be further modified to achieve the required applications. It also makes some sense that the material should be tested for its wetting properties when it is going to be used in some important applications like biomedical and dental. Also, these advanced ceramics are now often used in the fabrication of filters and membranes to purify liquid/water so the study of wetting characteristics of these materials becomes essential. The optical properties of advanced ceramics are equally making them suitable for many state-of-the-art applications. Dental, medical, imaging and electronics are the few sectors that use advanced ceramics for their optical properties.
Originality/value
This review paper includes various advanced ceramic materials according to their compounding elements, different fabrication techniques of powders and their consolidation, their characteristics, various application area and hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties.
Details
Keywords
Francis O. Uzuegbunam, Fynecountry N. Aja and Eziyi O. Ibem
This research aims to investigate the influence of building design on the thermal comfort of occupants of naturally ventilated hospital (NVH) wards to identify the aspects with…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to investigate the influence of building design on the thermal comfort of occupants of naturally ventilated hospital (NVH) wards to identify the aspects with the most significant influence on the thermal comfort of hospital buildings during the hot-dry season in the hot-humid tropics of Southeast Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
Field measurements, physical observations and a questionnaire survey of 60 occupants of the wards of the Joint Presbyterian Hospital, Uburu in Ebonyi State, Nigeria were undertaken. The data were analysed using Humphreys' neutral temperature formula, descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis.
Findings
The results revealed that the neutral temperature for the wards ranges from 26.2 °C to 29.9 °C, the thermal condition in the wards was not comfortable because it failed to meet the ASHRAE Standard 55 as only 65% of the occupants said the thermal condition was acceptable. The number and sizes of windows, building orientation, the presence of high-level windows and higher headroom significantly influenced the occupants' thermal comfort vote.
Practical implications
This research is valuable in estimating comfort temperature and identifying aspects that require attention in enhancing the capacity of NVH wards to effectively meet the thermal comfort needs of occupants in the hot-humid tropics of Southeast Nigeria and other regions that share similar climatic conditions.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study of this nature that provides valuable feedback for building design professionals on the performance of existing hospital buildings in meeting users' thermal comfort needs in the hot-dry season of the hot-humid tropics in Southeast Nigeria.
Details
Keywords
Kabir Ibrahim, Fredrick Simpeh and Oluseyi Julius Adebowale
Construction organizations must maintain a productive workforce without sacrificing their health and safety. The global construction sector loses billions of dollars yearly to…
Abstract
Purpose
Construction organizations must maintain a productive workforce without sacrificing their health and safety. The global construction sector loses billions of dollars yearly to poor health and safety practices. This study aims to investigate benefits derivable from using wearable technologies to improve construction health and safety. The study also reports the challenges associated with adopting wearable technologies.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted a quantitative design, administering close-ended questions to professionals in the Nigerian construction industry. The research data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Findings
The study found that the critical areas construction organizations can benefit from using WSDs include slips and trips, sensing environmental concerns, collision avoidance, falling from a high level and electrocution. However, key barriers preventing the organizations from adopting wearable technologies are related to cost, technology and human factors.
Practical implications
The time and cost lost to H&S incidents in the Nigerian construction sector can be reduced by implementing the report of this study.
Originality/value
Studies on WSDs have continued to increase in developed countries, but Nigeria is yet to experience a leap in the research area. This study provides insights into the Nigerian reality to provide directions for practice and theory.
Details
Keywords
Diego Espinosa Gispert, Ibrahim Yitmen, Habib Sadri and Afshin Taheri
The purpose of this research is to develop a framework of an ontology-based Asset Information Model (AIM) for a Digital Twin (DT) platform and enhance predictive maintenance…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to develop a framework of an ontology-based Asset Information Model (AIM) for a Digital Twin (DT) platform and enhance predictive maintenance practices in building facilities that could enable proactive and data-driven decision-making during the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) process.
Design/methodology/approach
A scoping literature review was accomplished to establish the theoretical foundation for the current investigation. A study on developing an ontology-based AIM for predictive maintenance in building facilities was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with industry professionals to gather qualitative data for ontology-based AIM framework validation and insights.
Findings
The research findings indicate that while the development of ontology faced challenges in defining missing entities and relations in the context of predictive maintenance, insights gained from the interviews enabled the establishment of a comprehensive framework for ontology-based AIM adoption in the Facility Management (FM) sector.
Practical implications
The proposed ontology-based AIM has the potential to enable proactive and data-driven decision-making during the process, optimizing predictive maintenance practices and ultimately enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability in the building industry.
Originality/value
The research contributes to a practical guide for ontology development processes and presents a framework of an Ontology-based AIM for a Digital Twin platform.
Details
Keywords
Siv Elisabeth Rosendahl Skard, Herbjørn Nysveen and Per Egil Pedersen
Ambient-assisted living (AAL) is one solution to the challenges of healthcare systems in an aging population. Using the “ecosystem adoption of practices over time” (EAPT) as a…
Abstract
Purpose
Ambient-assisted living (AAL) is one solution to the challenges of healthcare systems in an aging population. Using the “ecosystem adoption of practices over time” (EAPT) as a theoretical lens, this study explores and describes three elements of AAL adoption: (1) the AAL practices in which the technology is embedded (i.e. object of adoption), (2) the older adult's adoption ecosystem (i.e. subject of adoption) and (3) the change of adoption practices over time (i.e. temporality of adoption).
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative interviews with three actor groups in the ecosystem: clients, relatives and home nurses.
Findings
The study identifies six categories of AAL practices. Clients, relatives and nurses interact and integrate their resources in carrying out these practices. Some of the practices have developed, or are expected to develop, over time.
Originality/value
The study applies a novel theoretical perspective on how AAL technology is embedded in practices performed by different actors in the adoption ecosystem. This broadens the conceptualization of what is being adopted compared to traditional adoption research.
Details
Keywords
Asad Ullah Khan, Zhiqiang Ma, Mingxing Li, Liangze Zhi, Weijun Hu and Xia Yang
The evolution from emerging technologies to smart libraries is thoroughly analyzed thematically and bibliometrically in this research study, spanning 2013 through 2022. Finding…
Abstract
Purpose
The evolution from emerging technologies to smart libraries is thoroughly analyzed thematically and bibliometrically in this research study, spanning 2013 through 2022. Finding and analyzing the significant changes, patterns and trends in the subject as they are represented in academic papers is the goal of this research.
Design/methodology/approach
Using bibliometric methodologies, this study gathered and examined a large corpus of research papers, conference papers and related material from several academic databases.
Findings
Starting with Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data (BD), Augmentation Reality/Virtual Reality and Blockchain Technology (BT), the study discusses the advent of new technologies and their effects on libraries. Using bibliometric analysis, this study looks at the evolution of publications over time, the geographic distribution of research and the most active institutions and writers in the area. A thematic analysis is also carried out to pinpoint the critical areas of study and trends in emerging technologies and smart libraries. Some emerging themes are information retrieval, personalized recommendations, intelligent data analytics, connected library spaces, real-time information access, augmented reality/virtual reality applications in libraries and strategies, digital literacy and inclusivity.
Originality/value
This study offers a thorough overview of the research environment by combining bibliometric and thematic analysis, illustrating the development of theories and concepts during the last ten years. The results of this study helps in understanding the trends and future research directions in emerging technologies and smart libraries. This study is an excellent source of information for academics, practitioners and policymakers involved in developing and applying cutting-edge technology in library environments.
Details