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1 – 10 of over 1000N. Bajgoric, I.K. Altinel, M. Draman and A.T. Ünal
An application development framework for a software project based on fusion as an object‐oriented application development method is presented. An object‐oriented approach has been…
Abstract
An application development framework for a software project based on fusion as an object‐oriented application development method is presented. An object‐oriented approach has been adopted for the design and implementation of the prototype interactive visual modelling system for building a visual presentation of a refinery process and creation of linear programming model for optimizing production decision variables. The main reason for this selection is the consideration of object‐oriented programming (OOP) as an obvious vehicle for the development of complex visual interactive modelling systems. The main dimensions of the framework are as follows: OO approach, fusion method, computer‐aided software engineering (CASE) tool, application development tool, GUI development tool, and C++ as an implementation language.
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Bushra Mawlood Sabir and Faris Ali Mustafa
This paper aims to investigate the potential role of the Emergency Department (ED) layout in enhancing its functionality. It applies a performance-based building design (PBBD…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the potential role of the Emergency Department (ED) layout in enhancing its functionality. It applies a performance-based building design (PBBD) approach to evaluate emergency department functionality and efficiency as the most important criterion behind the success of the hospital service.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative approach based on space syntax theory was adopted through four syntactic maps (isovist, axial, convex, and visibility graph analysis VGA), to depict three case studies in Erbil city hospitals by analyzing three different layout typologies of ED such as Podular, Ballroom and Linear through measuring wayfinding, accessibility, privacy, visibility, time spend-length of stay and corridor circulation as layout factors.
Findings
This paper provides empirical insights on how the ED layout typology factors significantly affect producing functionally efficient EDs, whereas the Ballroom ED layout typology is the most effective compared to others. Given the importance of ED in enhancing a healthy environment for patients and staff, study findings are valuable resource for health designers, who play a critical role in ensuring patients enjoy a healthy and safe environment.
Originality/value
This paper has attempted to identify the appropriate layout of ED for effective functional performance in hospitals. A syntactical analysis between three different ED layout typologies based on the layout variables has been analysed using the PBBD approach. There has been no attempt carried out so far to analyse the functional performance of the PBBD approach in different ED layouts using layout variables.
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The house not only provides shelter and security but also is a reflection of human privacy. One of the important factors involved in house design is privacy. The current research…
Abstract
Purpose
The house not only provides shelter and security but also is a reflection of human privacy. One of the important factors involved in house design is privacy. The current research is a case study that examines privacy's evolution in contemporary houses in Kerman using space syntax techniques.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on the quantitative approach of space syntax. A total number of 15 houses in Kerman built in three periods of Qajar, Pahlavi and the Islamic Republic, were examined for the space syntax indices using UCL DepthMap. The DepthMap outputs were also analyzed using one-way ANOVA.
Findings
The findings indicated that the arrangement of spaces in houses has altered over time from the 1920s onwards. There is a significant difference between houses of the Qajar, Pahlavi and the Islamic Republic eras, indicating a reduction in the hierarchy of access and reduced privacy in houses in the Islamic Republic.
Research limitations/implications
Numerous factors affect privacy (e.g. confidentiality, interface spaces, quality of openings and visibility). Nevertheless, this study focused on the impact of spatial configuration on privacy. It can be stated that the design of houses from the Pahlavi period was gradually associated with changes in culture and modern architecture, leading to a decrease in privacy.
Originality/value
This study used space syntax to examine the evolution of privacy in contemporary Iranian houses. Since privacy is a substantial issue in the middle east communities, the findings can help designers and relevant organizations consider privacy as much as other comfort factors in the early stages of design.
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Sadrodin Moqadam and Linda Nubani
The present study, based on a comparative analysis of several historic houses in Shiraz, presents a new perspective on uncovering the role of the social lives of homeowners in the…
Abstract
Purpose
The present study, based on a comparative analysis of several historic houses in Shiraz, presents a new perspective on uncovering the role of the social lives of homeowners in the formation of the spatial configurations of their houses.
Design/methodology/approach
Twelve plans were selected and analyzed using space syntax techniques. The spatial characteristics were compared mathematically using integration, intelligibility and axial synergy.
Findings
The results of the research showed that spatial configurations reflected the social identity of their homeowners as well as their cultural and private beliefs. The results further highlighted the syntactical differences between different types of one courtyard houses, two courtyard houses and three courtyard houses. While privacy was maintained across all housing layouts, centralized one-courtyard typography had the highest synergy while the three-courtyard typology had the highest intelligibility.
Originality/value
This research advances the use of space syntax approach in the design of contemporary housing by recognizing the socio-cultural values of its occupants.
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Ali Ghorbanian and Hamideh Razavi
The common methods for clustering time series are the use of specific distance criteria or the use of standard clustering algorithms. Ensemble clustering is one of the common…
Abstract
Purpose
The common methods for clustering time series are the use of specific distance criteria or the use of standard clustering algorithms. Ensemble clustering is one of the common techniques used in data mining to increase the accuracy of clustering. In this study, based on segmentation, selecting the best segments, and using ensemble clustering for selected segments, a multistep approach has been developed for the whole clustering of time series data.
Design/methodology/approach
First, this approach divides the time series dataset into equal segments. In the next step, using one or more internal clustering criteria, the best segments are selected, and then the selected segments are combined for final clustering. By using a loop and how to select the best segments for the final clustering (using one criterion or several criteria simultaneously), two algorithms have been developed in different settings. A logarithmic relationship limits the number of segments created in the loop.
Finding
According to Rand's external criteria and statistical tests, at first, the best setting of the two developed algorithms has been selected. Then this setting has been compared to different algorithms in the literature on clustering accuracy and execution time. The obtained results indicate more accuracy and less execution time for the proposed approach.
Originality/value
This paper proposed a fast and accurate approach for time series clustering in three main steps. This is the first work that uses a combination of segmentation and ensemble clustering. More accuracy and less execution time are the remarkable achievements of this study.
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The social responsibility of a tourism destination results from the combined efforts of the single stakeholders. This needs coordination and harmonization that cannot be achieved…
Abstract
Purpose
The social responsibility of a tourism destination results from the combined efforts of the single stakeholders. This needs coordination and harmonization that cannot be achieved without a deep understanding of the structural and dynamic characteristics of the destination. A tourism destination is a complex dynamic system and requires specific methods to be analyzed and understood in order to better tailor governance actions for steering it along an evolutionary growth path, respectful of the social responsibility towards the community. Many methodological recommendations exist that allow to assess these features, and some have been successfully applied to tourism destinations. This paper aims to explore a new proposal: the visibility graph algorithm (VGA), which is able to provide the required level of information in a fast and simple way.
Design/methodology/approach
VGA is a technique to map a time series into a network. The method and its implementation are relatively simple and straightforward. The mapping allows examining the system's properties by using network analytic methods. An example is worked out using data from two destinations: Italy as a country and the island of Elba, one of its most popular areas.
Findings
The complexity properties of the two destinations are examined and found in agreement with those obtained by using more complicated approaches, thus strengthening the reliability of the method.
Originality/value
This paper provides a new method to examine a tourism destination using a readily available set of data and a simple algorithm. The contribution of this work is mainly methodological. The technique provides insights into the complex structure and dynamics of a tourism destination. This has important implications for those interested in enriching the toolsets used to study a destination from a complex system perspective.
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Elham Mehrinejad Khotbehsara, Hossein Safari, Reza Askarizad and Kathirgamalingam Somasundaraswaran
This study aims to explore the impact of spatial configuration on behavioral patterns of visitors in the ground floor of health-care spaces.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the impact of spatial configuration on behavioral patterns of visitors in the ground floor of health-care spaces.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, the Space Syntax analysis was used to combine visibility graph analysis and axial line analysis with empirical observation of visitors’ activities. Two types of observation methods on visitors were conducted to discover the behavioral patterns of individuals, respectively, named “gate counts” and “people following.”
Findings
The outcomes of this research revealed that the spatial arrangements of pathways, public areas, vertical circulations, entrance space, lobby, emergency department, reception desk and pharmacy have a significant influence on the way that visitors perceive the health-care environment.
Research limitations/implications
The current research is limited to two aspects of effective wayfinding (configuration of health care and geometry). Future work can investigate the other potential factors coupled with the current factor as an integrated research for enhancing wayfinding and sustaining accessibility. Another limitation is that the observation results for this study had been conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic and future studies can compare these results with the current COVID-19 situation within health care environments.
Originality/value
A large amount of research has focused on the needs of populations in developed countries. This topic has not been investigated thoroughly by professionals in developing countries such as Iran. Accordingly, this study benefits environmental psychologists and architects by revealing the effective characteristics of legible spaces in health-care environments.
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Chaham Alalouch and Peter Aspinall
The purpose of this article is to explore the relationship between measures of the plan configuration of buildings (in this case multi‐bed wards), and subjective judgements on…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to explore the relationship between measures of the plan configuration of buildings (in this case multi‐bed wards), and subjective judgements on spatial locations for privacy.
Design/methodology/approach
Measures of plan configuration from six generic ward designs have been made using space syntax software (visibility graph analysis and depth map). Subjective judgements have been assessed by means of a questionnaire.
Findings
Participants' chosen locations for privacy have been shown to have a systematic relationship with spatial properties of the ward plans. At a ward level the designs with low integration and high control were chosen. At the bed location lower values of integration and control were selected.
Research limitations/implications
In this study one facet of privacy (i.e. spatial location) has been investigated. These findings now need to be extended to studies involving environmental simulations, visibility and three‐dimensional awareness of spaces as experienced by hospital users. In addition further analysis will be carried out at an individual design level and the possibility of subgroups of people with different preferences will be explored.
Practical implications
Space syntax has a complicated theoretical and methodological approach to spatial measures. Many designers or architects may not be prepared to try to understand the implications.
Originality/value
At a general level there is little in the literature on the implications of plan form for the subjective experiences of people in buildings. At a specific level about privacy in wards, no evidence could be found that these systematic findings have been reported before.
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Kun Wang, Weihua Zhang, Zhongxiang Feng and Cheng Wang
The purpose of this paper is to perform fine classification of road traffic visibility based on the characteristics of driving behavior under different visibility conditions.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to perform fine classification of road traffic visibility based on the characteristics of driving behavior under different visibility conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
A driving simulator experiment was conducted to collect data of speed and lane position. ANOVA was used to explore the difference in driving behavior under different visibility conditions.
Findings
The results show that only average speed is significantly different under different visibility conditions. With the visibility reducing, the average vehicle speed decreases. The road visibility conditions in a straight segment can be divided into five levels: less than 20, 20-30, 35-60, 60-140 and more than 140 m. The road visibility conditions in a curve segment can be also divided into four levels: less than 20, 20-30, 35-60 and more than 60 m.
Originality/value
A fine classification of road traffic visibility has been performed, and these classifications help to establish more accurate control measures to ensure road traffic safety under low-visibility conditions.
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Shiran Geng, Hing-Wah Chau, Se Yan, Wenyu Zhang and Chunyang Zhang
Spatial arrangement of hospital environments has been proven to have impacts on hospital users such as wayfinding, privacy and operational efficiency. Many studies examined the…
Abstract
Purpose
Spatial arrangement of hospital environments has been proven to have impacts on hospital users such as wayfinding, privacy and operational efficiency. Many studies examined the spatial quality of hospitals, but there is a lack of comparative research between Chinese and Australian hospitals. Hospitals in both countries have salient features that are worth to learn and can inform hospital stakeholders internationally on design decisions. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and compare the spatial quality of hospitals from both countries using space syntax approach and field observation.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses space syntax analysis and observation to provide qualitative and quantitative data. Illustrative case studies from both countries are selected for comparison. The main benchmarks involved in measuring the spatial qualities, such as step depth and visual connectivity, are analysed using Depthmap X before comparing with the results from observation.
Findings
For Chinese hospitals to be more human-centred, public space design and facility management need additional attention. Australian hospitals could learn from Hospital D on how to design highly centralised nursing stations that cope with a high patient flow. Global policy and decision-makers should consider the potential inconsistency between initial design intention and practical use.
Originality/value
Practical implications were made based on the results for bettering hospital environments. It is hoped that the methodology presented in this research is of significance to the enhancement of global healthcare environment research.
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