The global importance of and need for sustainable development demand an informed decision-making process from the built environment to ensure optimum service life, which depends on the ability to quantify changes in condition of building materials over time. The objective of this thesis is to develop a model, which translates expert knowledge and reasoning into probability values through the application of Fuzzy Logic Artificial Intelligence to supplement limited historical performance data on degradation of building materials for the development of Markov Chain transitional probability matrices to predict service life, condition changes over time, and consequences of maintenance levels on service life of buildings. The Markov Chain methodology, a stochastic approach used for simulating the transition from one condition to another over time, has been identified as the preferred method for service life prediction by a number of studies. Limited availability of historic performance data on degradation and durability of building materials, required to populate the Markovian transition probability matrices, however restricts the application of the Markov Chain methodology. The durability and degradation factors, defined as design and maintenance levels, material and workmanship quality, external and internal climate, and operational environment, similar to the factors identified in the state-of-the–art ‘Factor Method’ for service life prediction, and current condition are rated on a uniform colour-coded five-point rating system and used to develop “IF-THEN” rules based on expert knowledge and reasoning. Fuzzy logic artificial intelligence is then used to translate these rules into crisp probability values to populate the Markovian transitional probability matrices. Historic performance data from previous condition assessments of six academic hospitals are used to calibrate and test the model. There is good correlation between the transitional probability matrices developed for the proposed model and other Markov applications in concrete bridge deck deterioration and roof maintenance models, based on historic performance data collected over extended periods, which makes the correlation more significant. Proof is presented that the Markov Chain can be used to calculate the estimated service life of a building or component, quantify changes in condition over time and determine the effect of maintenance levels on service life. It is also illustrated that the limited availability of historic performance data on degradation of building materials can be supplemented with expert knowledge, translated into probability values through the application of Fuzzy Logic Artificial Intelligence, to develop transition probability matrices for the Markov Chain. The proposed model can also be used to determine the estimated loss of or gain in service life of a building or component for various levels of maintenance. / Thesis (PhD(Civil Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Civil Engineering / unrestricted

No / The complexity of sustainable building maintenance environment enforces organizations to develop a standardized maintenance quality management system that can be applied in all concerned departments. This Chapter presents a novel conceptual model of a hybrid Knowledge-Based Lean Six Sigma Sustainable Building Maintenance System (Lean6-SBM). The KB model seeks to apply the Lean Six Sigma philosophy to support implementation of an ideal building maintenance system. The conceptual KB model also integrates GAP technique to support benchmarking and decision making. The proposed conceptual model is presented to show the fundamental components of the Lean6-SBM. / This work was supported by the Ministry of Defense Engineering Services 403 (MoDES—Sultanate of Oman) and the University of Bradford (United Kingdom).

Yes / Purpose– This paper develops a Knowledge-based (KB) System for Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Maintenance in environmentally Sustainable Buildings (Lean6-SBM). Design/methodology/approach– The Lean6-SBM conceptual framework has been developed using the rule base approach of KB system and joint integration with Gauge Absence Prerequisites (GAP) technique. A comprehensive literature review is given for the main pillars of the framework with a typical output of GAP analysis. Findings– Implementation of LSS in the sustainable building maintenance context requires a pre-assessment of the organisation’s capabilities. A conceptual framework with a design structure is proposed to tackle this issue with the provision of an enhancing strategic and operational decision making hierarchy. Research limitations/implications– Future research work might consider validating this framework in other type of industries. Practical implications– Maintenance activities in environmentally sustainable buildings must take prodigious standards into consideration and, therefore, a robust quality assurance measure has to be integrated. Originality/value– The significance of this research is to present a novel use of hybrid KB/GAP methodologies to develop a Lean6-SBM system. The originality and novelty of this approach will assist in identifying quality perspectives while implementing different maintenance strategies in the sustainable building context. / Ministry of Defence Engineering Services (Sultanate of Oman)

O impacto do Homem sobre a Terra, desde a extração intensiva dos recursos da natureza, extinção das espécies, emissões para o ar e água, consumo de energia e água até as mudanças climáticas do planeta, exigem medidas de contenção e preservação do meio ambiente. O futuro da humanidade é questionado e algo deve ser feito. Nesse contexto surge o conceito de desenvolvimento sustentável. Responsável pelo consumo de 40 a 50% da matéria-prima mundial, 12% da água e 40% das emissões de gases de efeito estufa, a indústria da construção possui importante papel na mitigação dos efeitos nocivos para o meio ambiente e capacidade de atingir altos índices de sustentabilidade. Dentro do ciclo de vida de uma edificação, a fase de Operação/Uso provoca grandes consequências ao meio ambiente e oferece grandes oportunidades de redução dos efeitos adversos. Nessa fase as atividades de manutenção predial acabam por ter seu valor reconhecido. As diversas estratégias de manutenção, em especial a manutenção preventiva baseada em condição, colaboram efetivamente para a durabilidade, desempenho e função da edificação e seus sistemas prediais. Procedimentos de manutenção estão associados à baixa qualidade do ar. A manutenção de sistemas de ar condicionado tem especial destaque devido às consequências para a saúde, bem-estar e produtividade dos ocupantes do edifício. / Due to extensive extraction of natures resources, extinction of species, emission of gases into the atmosphere, water and power consumption, to climatic changes of the planet, mankinds impact on earth requires containment and preservation of the environment. The future of humanity is being questioned and something must be done. Responsible for the consumption of 40 to 50% of raw materials worldwide, 12% of water and 40% of emissions of gases into the atmosphere causing the greenhouse effect, the construction industry has an important role in alleviating the adverse impacts on the environment and the ability to achieve high sustainable levels. Within the lifecycle of a building, the phase of operation/use causes significant environmental consequences but also offers opportunities to alleviate adverse effects. In this phase, the value of building maintenance activities has been recognized. The various strategies for maintenance, principally preventive condition- based maintenance should collaborate effectively towards the durability, performance, function and systems of a building. Air-conditioning maintenance procedures are associated with poor air quality. The maintenance of air-conditioning systems has a special significance due to the effects on health, well-being and productivity of the occupants of the building.

The complexity of sustainable building maintenance environment requires managers to define and implement appropriate quality benchmark system suitable for this function. Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is one of the most effective process improvement and optimization philosophy that maintenance organisations can implement in their environment. However, literature review has shown that 90% of failures in LSS implementations are due to lack of readiness to change, the unawareness of the required benchmark organisation capabilities, and improper control of priorities. The contribution of the current research approach is in developing a hybrid Knowledge-Based (KB)/GAP/AHP System, consisting of three stages (Planning, Designing and Implementation) and containing over 2500 KB rules. The KB System can assist the decision-makers in identifying the obstacles behind the organisation readiness to change into a benchmark LSS maintenance environment. Thus the KB System will be used to achieve benchmark standards by determining the gap existing between the current environment and the benchmark goal, and then suggest a detailed plan to overcome these hurdles in a prioritised and structured manner, thus achieving cost benefits. To ensure its consistency and reliability, the KB System was validated in three Oman-based maintenance organisations, and one published case study for a UK-based organisation. The results from the validation were positive with the System output suggesting list of top priorities and action plans for achieving benchmark LSS standards for these organisations. The research concludes that the developed KB System is a consistent and reliable methodology for assisting decision-makers in designing, planning, and implementing LSS for benchmark sustainable building maintenance.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / É provável, que num futuro breve, as atividades da indústria da construção sejam dedicadas em grande parte ao reforço, restauro, reutilização e recuperação de diversos edifícios que, construídos em épocas por vezes não muito distantes, encontram-se hoje em precárias condições de conservação e de segurança. Restauração envolve a realização de uma série de operações necessárias na estrutura de uma edificação a fim de restabelecer sua eficiência estrutural original, antes de ocorrer o colapso. Por outro lado, reforço estrutural representa melhorar o desempenho estrutural a fim de permitir que a edificação atenda às novas exigências funcionais, como por exemplo, novo tipo de carregamento. A necessidade de se realizar trabalhos de reparação e reforço estrutural em edifícios urbanos está diretamente relacionada com a oportunidade e a necessidade de se recuperar espaços e volumes não mais utilizados, impedindo a sua completa degradação, possibilitando assim, uma nova utilização. Estas intervenções devem usar todas as possibilidades proporcionadas pelos modernos sistemas de reparação e de reforço estrutural, visando encontrar as melhores soluções para os problemas de perda de resistência, de transporte, de operacionalidade em espaços reduzidos e de compatibilidade funcional e estética diante das estruturas existentes. Este trabalho tem como finalidade principal apresentar as diversas possibilidades e vantagens do uso das estruturas de aço em reformas, restaurações e reforço de estruturas existentes construídas, inicialmente, com diversos tipos de materiais. As vantagens estruturais e arquitetônicas do aço possibilitam a verificação de várias exigências construtivas, das quais se pode citar: a pré-fabricação, a elevada resistência, a reversibilidade, as dimensões e peso reduzidos, a simplicidade de transporte, a facilidade de montagem em obra, a utilização em espaços reduzidos, a disponibilidade em diversas formas e dimensões, o tempo de execução reduzido e a ótima relação custo benefício. / It is probable that, in a very near future, a substantial amount of construction industry activities would be dedicated to the reinforcement, rehabilitation, reuse and repair of buildings that, despite being recently constructed, are already subjected to precarious conservation and safety conditions. The buildings renewal and repair activities involve a set of required structural interventions to re-establish its original structural efficiency before any permanent structural damage occurs. On the other hand, structural reinforcement represents a structural performance improvement to enable the evaluated building to attend its new required functional demands, i.e. additional loads. The need for performing tasks related to urban buildings repair and reinforcement is directly related to the opportunity and necessity of regaining unused spaces and volumes inhibiting its complete degradation and enabling their reuse. These interventions should use all the possibilities created by modern systems of structural repair and reinforcement. Their main objective is to determine the best solutions for problems related to lack of structural strength, transport, operation in reduced spaces and functional and aesthetical compatibility with the existing structures. The main aim of this study is to present the various possibilities and advantages related to the use of steel structures in renewal, restorations, rehabilitations, repair and reinforcement of structures that were originally built with different materials. The steel structural and architectural advantages enable the development of various constructional requirements like: prefabrication, high structural strength, reversibility, reduced dimensions and weight, transport and erection ease, use in reduced spaces, availability in several shapes and dimensions, reduced execution time and an optimum cost-benefit ratio.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:09:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 4472.pdf: 3417469 bytes, checksum: a57b6e0d1b492e13b56e0de18bcf7619 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-22 / To avoid the maintenance, in other words, to look for forms of avoiding the flaws and not of correcting them. This concept summarizes the current scenery of the function maintenance. It is known that the maintenance activities generate great earnings to the productive processes. Being like this, the maintenance contributes in an essential way to the conservation, valorization, increase of the productivity, in addition the lack of the same can generate great economical problems, social and environmental. Regarding the property maintenance, it is verified that this is still on this side of the ideal. The objective of this work is now it of evaluating the processes used in public entities for accomplishment of the activities of property maintenance. For this end, studies of the bibliography were accomplished related to the maintenance in addition case studies in three entities of the indirect public administration, located in the city of São Carlos/SP. The results obtained through the observations, ally to the bibliographical references contributed to map the processes now developed by the studied entities, in addition to identify the "bottlenecks", in other words, limitations of the efficiency capacity inside of the necessary processes for accomplishment of the services of property maintenance. Finally, some points for improvement of the installment of the services of property maintenance were proposed. / Evitar a manutenção, ou seja, buscar formas de se evitar as falhas e não de corrigi-las. Este conceito resume o cenário atual da função manutenção. Sabe-se que as atividades de manutenção geram grandes ganhos aos processos produtivos. Sendo assim, a manutenção contribui de forma essencial para a conservação, valorização, aumento da produtividade, além do que, a falta da mesma pode gerar grandes problemas econômicos, sociais e ambientais. Com relação à manutenção predial, verifica-se que esta ainda está aquém do ideal. O objetivo deste trabalho é o de avaliar os processos atualmente utilizados em entidades públicas para realização das atividades de manutenção predial. Para este fim, foram realizados estudos da bibliografia relacionados à manutenção, além de estudos de caso em três entidades da administração pública indireta, localizadas na cidade de São Carlos/SP. Os resultados obtidos através das observações, aliado às referências bibliográficas contribuíram para mapear os processos atualmente desenvolvidos pelas entidades estudadas, além do que identificar os gargalos , ou seja, limitadores da capacidade de eficiência dentro dos processos necessários para realização dos serviços de manutenção predial. Por fim, alguns pontos para melhoria da prestação dos serviços de manutenção predial foram propostos.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / É provável, que num futuro breve, as atividades da indústria da construção sejam dedicadas em grande parte ao reforço, restauro, reutilização e recuperação de diversos edifícios que, construídos em épocas por vezes não muito distantes, encontram-se hoje em precárias condições de conservação e de segurança. Restauração envolve a realização de uma série de operações necessárias na estrutura de uma edificação a fim de restabelecer sua eficiência estrutural original, antes de ocorrer o colapso. Por outro lado, reforço estrutural representa melhorar o desempenho estrutural a fim de permitir que a edificação atenda às novas exigências funcionais, como por exemplo, novo tipo de carregamento. A necessidade de se realizar trabalhos de reparação e reforço estrutural em edifícios urbanos está diretamente relacionada com a oportunidade e a necessidade de se recuperar espaços e volumes não mais utilizados, impedindo a sua completa degradação, possibilitando assim, uma nova utilização. Estas intervenções devem usar todas as possibilidades proporcionadas pelos modernos sistemas de reparação e de reforço estrutural, visando encontrar as melhores soluções para os problemas de perda de resistência, de transporte, de operacionalidade em espaços reduzidos e de compatibilidade funcional e estética diante das estruturas existentes. Este trabalho tem como finalidade principal apresentar as diversas possibilidades e vantagens do uso das estruturas de aço em reformas, restaurações e reforço de estruturas existentes construídas, inicialmente, com diversos tipos de materiais. As vantagens estruturais e arquitetônicas do aço possibilitam a verificação de várias exigências construtivas, das quais se pode citar: a pré-fabricação, a elevada resistência, a reversibilidade, as dimensões e peso reduzidos, a simplicidade de transporte, a facilidade de montagem em obra, a utilização em espaços reduzidos, a disponibilidade em diversas formas e dimensões, o tempo de execução reduzido e a ótima relação custo benefício. / It is probable that, in a very near future, a substantial amount of construction industry activities would be dedicated to the reinforcement, rehabilitation, reuse and repair of buildings that, despite being recently constructed, are already subjected to precarious conservation and safety conditions. The buildings renewal and repair activities involve a set of required structural interventions to re-establish its original structural efficiency before any permanent structural damage occurs. On the other hand, structural reinforcement represents a structural performance improvement to enable the evaluated building to attend its new required functional demands, i.e. additional loads. The need for performing tasks related to urban buildings repair and reinforcement is directly related to the opportunity and necessity of regaining unused spaces and volumes inhibiting its complete degradation and enabling their reuse. These interventions should use all the possibilities created by modern systems of structural repair and reinforcement. Their main objective is to determine the best solutions for problems related to lack of structural strength, transport, operation in reduced spaces and functional and aesthetical compatibility with the existing structures. The main aim of this study is to present the various possibilities and advantages related to the use of steel structures in renewal, restorations, rehabilitations, repair and reinforcement of structures that were originally built with different materials. The steel structural and architectural advantages enable the development of various constructional requirements like: prefabrication, high structural strength, reversibility, reduced dimensions and weight, transport and erection ease, use in reduced spaces, availability in several shapes and dimensions, reduced execution time and an optimum cost-benefit ratio.

O impacto do Homem sobre a Terra, desde a extração intensiva dos recursos da natureza, extinção das espécies, emissões para o ar e água, consumo de energia e água até as mudanças climáticas do planeta, exigem medidas de contenção e preservação do meio ambiente. O futuro da humanidade é questionado e algo deve ser feito. Nesse contexto surge o conceito de desenvolvimento sustentável. Responsável pelo consumo de 40 a 50% da matéria-prima mundial, 12% da água e 40% das emissões de gases de efeito estufa, a indústria da construção possui importante papel na mitigação dos efeitos nocivos para o meio ambiente e capacidade de atingir altos índices de sustentabilidade. Dentro do ciclo de vida de uma edificação, a fase de Operação/Uso provoca grandes consequências ao meio ambiente e oferece grandes oportunidades de redução dos efeitos adversos. Nessa fase as atividades de manutenção predial acabam por ter seu valor reconhecido. As diversas estratégias de manutenção, em especial a manutenção preventiva baseada em condição, colaboram efetivamente para a durabilidade, desempenho e função da edificação e seus sistemas prediais. Procedimentos de manutenção estão associados à baixa qualidade do ar. A manutenção de sistemas de ar condicionado tem especial destaque devido às consequências para a saúde, bem-estar e produtividade dos ocupantes do edifício. / Due to extensive extraction of natures resources, extinction of species, emission of gases into the atmosphere, water and power consumption, to climatic changes of the planet, mankinds impact on earth requires containment and preservation of the environment. The future of humanity is being questioned and something must be done. Responsible for the consumption of 40 to 50% of raw materials worldwide, 12% of water and 40% of emissions of gases into the atmosphere causing the greenhouse effect, the construction industry has an important role in alleviating the adverse impacts on the environment and the ability to achieve high sustainable levels. Within the lifecycle of a building, the phase of operation/use causes significant environmental consequences but also offers opportunities to alleviate adverse effects. In this phase, the value of building maintenance activities has been recognized. The various strategies for maintenance, principally preventive condition- based maintenance should collaborate effectively towards the durability, performance, function and systems of a building. Air-conditioning maintenance procedures are associated with poor air quality. The maintenance of air-conditioning systems has a special significance due to the effects on health, well-being and productivity of the occupants of the building.

The diploma thesis called "Importance of facility management in the enterprise" examines support services working toward satisfaction and comfort of building users. The thesis is divided into theoretical and practical part. The theoretical part describes importance of facility management, its development and activities. The practical part consists of case study that analyses the implementation of Facility department in multinational hi-tech company dealing with research, development and manufacturing of electron microscopes. Special attention is given to the clean rooms where microscopes and spectroscopes are produced. The thesis concludes with assessment analysis of specific Facility department focused on benefits which this department brings to the company and its employees.