As Total Building Commissioning (TBCX) gaining acceptance and becoming a required process for federal, state and LEED projects, the required system guidelines are likewise being developed per Guideline 0-2005 recommendations. One of the most essential systems of any construction process is the structural system; however, there has been limited research in developing a guideline dedicated to structural systems. The Owner's Project Requirement (OPR) is the heart and soul of every guideline, in which Owners specify the requirements of the project in each system. A well-developed OPR for any system will guide the project stakeholders to achieve this goal; it will also, identify the responsibility of professionals in each system of the TBCX. To address this need, this fundamental research will develop a framework for the Owner's Project Requirement (OPR) for Total Structural Systems (OPRTSS). The goal of this research is to develop a model for identifying and implementing the major design and construction variables that impact structural performance of a project, especially during project delivery of concrete or steel framed projects; these are variables that are generally not defined or required by contracts, applicable building codes or engineering principles; that need to be outlined at the pre-design stage. Then, these variables are incorporated into the OPR to reduce the design and construction process uncertainty and help to achieve Owner's requirements for the project. Consequently this will increase Owners satisfaction, quality of the built environment and reduce time, cost and litigation.

Commissioning of HVAC systems has potential for significant improvements in occupant satisfaction, comfort and energy consumption, but is very labour-intensive and expensive as practiced at this time. Previous investigators have capitalized on digital control systems' capability of logging and storing data and of interfacing with external computers for open loop control by developing methods of automated fault detection and diagnosis during normal operation. Some investigators have also considered the application of this technique in commissioning. This thesis investigates the possibility of utilizing first principles and empirical models of air-handling unit components to represent correct operation of the unit during commissioning. The models have parameters whose values can be determined from engineering design intent information contained in the construction drawings and other data available at commissioning time. Quasi-dynamic models are developed and tested. The models are tested against design intent information and also against data from a real system operating without known faults. The results show the models agree well with the measured data except for some false positive indications, particularly in the damper and fan models, during transients. A procedure for estimating uncertainty in the instrumentation and the models is developed. The models are also tested against artificial faults and are able to detect all of the faults. Methods of diagnosing the faults are discussed.

This thesis has two aims, both related with simulation programs. The first one is to analyze the viability of using Factory I/O as a tool at the University of Gävle for teaching and understanding the PLCs and the ladder programing. The second one is do a 3D model of the robotics laboratory to use it with the KUKASim and after that find a method to transfer code from KUKASim to the actual robots.Factory I/O has been install and use with a Siemens PLC, which was programed in Siemens TIA Portal. The evaluation of the software as a teaching tool has been done according to a supposition of how much time could it take to an average bachelor degree student in automation to create a functional project. In order to determine that, a demo has been done, which consist on a process in where a box enters by a conveyor. There are two ruts for the box to exit, straight or to the left, and the direction is choose by moving a switcher in the PLC. After analyzing finishing the demo, it has been determinate that it could take around 4 hours to complete a functional project.For the KUKASim part, KUKASim was already installed. However, during the development of this project it was updated from 2.2 to 3.0.4 which caused a minor issues; the SketchUp model could not be imported to 2.2 version and by the time that the upgrade was made the 3D environment of the robotic laboratory was already made in KUKASim.On the other hand, the Office Lite software was needed to be installed in order to transfer the code from KUKASim to the real robots, but due to some license issues, the installation was done at the end period of the project. The connection of both software was not possible to make, still, during the time that Office Lite was not available, an alternative method to transfer the code was found. The program files were download from KUKASim and transfer to the robot with WorkVisual.The conclusion of the thesis is that Factory I/O could be used as a learning and teaching tool because is an easy program to work with. All the same, KUKASim is a multifunctional software, which has make it possible to achieve both of the purposes for corresponding part of the project.

På uppdrag av Projektengagemang AB i Skövde har detta projekt genomförts för att studera möjligheten att kvalitetssäkra automationsprojekt bättre med hjälp av emulering. I projektets sammanhang innebär det att representera hela eller delar av automationssystemet virtuellt. För att lyckas med projektet har forskning inom områden som projektledning och virtuella miljöer studerats för att undersöka vad som i dagsläget är möjligt att genomföra. Med hjälp av litteraturen utformades ett intervjuprotokoll för genomförande av en intervjustudie. Beställande och levererande företag av automationsutrustning har bidragit för att ge en realistisk bild av hur automationsprojekt genomförs, kvalitetssäkras samt vad som idag är problematiskt. Sammanställningen och analysen av intervjustudien tyder på att vikt skall läggas vid planering och nedbrytning av projekt, för att ha en tydlig plan från början. Samt att virtuella miljöer kan användas för att testa programkod tidigare i projekt, alltså i mindre kritiska lägen. Efter en granskning av Projektengagemangs förutsättningar i förhållande till intervjustudien framkom att det finns brister och förbättringspotential gällande programstruktur och kvalitetssäkring. Förslaget för att öka kvalitetssäkringen med hjälp av emulering innefattar skapandet av ett arbetskoncept där en emuleringsmodell tillsammans med en kravspecifikation används för framtagning av ett grundprogram. Samt att företagets konstruktionsgranskning utökas till att inkludera kontroll av både programmering och eventuell emuleringsmodell. I förslaget till Projektengagemang lämnas 2 olika konfigurationer som skulle kunna användas för att inkludera skapandet och användning av emuleringsmodeller i projekt. Vilket skulle öka kvalitetssäkringen markant. I dagsläget påverkas inte ledtiden markant med införandet av emulering, dock finns möjligheten på längre sikt. Ytterligare kravställningar behöver tas i beaktning innan val av mjukvaror sker, eftersom förutsättningarna för varje projekt påverkar byggnationen av en emuleringsmodell.

Volvo Cars Corporation creates robot programs off-line for all new robot implementations for virtual commissioning. These virtually created robot programs are then downloaded to the real robot, after the installation has been carried out, to be tested before they are fully operational. These tests are spanned from robot installation until full production, adjusting the robot programme according to Volvo Cars specification and correcting errors that the robot program may have. Changes of the robot programs will be saved each time it is modified, generating a series of backups for each robot until the robot is correctly adjusted along all the steps of the process. To improve the offline programming there is a necessity for visualize the modifications made during the physical robot commissioning. The objective of this thesis is to identify, categorise, quantify and visualize modifications between each different backup of a robot. A software application has been developed using Microsoft Visual Studio using C#. The application is designed in windows for different types of data. It enables the user to compare two robot programs (two different backup programs from the tests) from one robot and see the result between them graphically. The graphs are designed interactively so that the user can filter the information to see the desired data from the robot programs comparison. Key performance indicators (KPIs) has been specified for RobTargets and Procedures according to Volvo Cars Corporation requests. These KPIs are implemented and visualised in a graphical representation.

The aim of this thesis is to create a custom application to simulate production lines. The first part explains the main reasons, benefits and current trends in the field of virtual commissioning and describes several simulation tools and engineering tools from Siemens. The second part is devoted to a detailed description of features, capabilities and application interface of the PLCSIM Advanced simulation tool. The third part is devoted to design and realization of the custom simulation application, which can be used for create conveyor lines and validate user PLC program in cooperation with PLCSIM Advanced tool. This simulator was created using Unity3D game engine and C# programming language. In the last part of the thesis, a simple simulation task is created in the simulator and is tested using PLC program and visualization created in the TIA Portal engineering framework.

The repertoire for trombone and percussion has grown in popularity since the later 1980s. There are currently more than 110 pieces written for the ensemble. This project follows the commissioning and collaboration of Dr. Blake Tyson, Professor of Percussion at the University of Central Arkansas and well known percussion composer, in the creation of a new piece for trombone and percussion. The project also created a survey of works for trombone and percussion duet that includes 32 works. The survey includes details such as specific percussion instrumentation range, tessitura, grade level, publisher, and a description of each piece.

The traditional procurement and contracting method within the architectural, engineering and construction industry is often criticised for its fragmented approach and its isolation of designers from contractor and Facilities Management(FM). However, adversarial relationships often occur among the project-team members due to disagreements relating to poor communication, processes, specifications, compliance, cost overruns and the extension of times. Therefore, the integration of FM’s specialists into early design development process comes with challenges, such as conflict between the design team and FM’s specialists over the specifications, local statutory compliance, commissioning method statements and the hand-over process. Furthermore, conflicts have critical effects on cost and schedule in complex projects and creates breakdown of relationships among project participants and results in project delays, claims and disputes. The Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to “to explore effective involvement of FM specialists in the early design-development process of complex building projects in South Africa is perceived to be causing conflicts between the multi-disciplinary professional design team members.” Design/methodology: Mixed methods was adopted for this study including extensive related literature review and pilot study. Purposive (8 interviews) and snowballing (102 participants) sampling techniques were used in data collection. Findings: According to descriptive analysis, participants slightly greed that FM specialists should be involved in the early stage of the design development process with mean score ranging from 3.21 (Inception stage) and 3.71 (Concept and Viability stage). Participants agreed that that FM specialists should be involved during design development stage with a mean score of 4.19 and project close out stage with a mean score of 4.29. Furthermore, from 41 causes of conflicts, 10 received mean scores ranging from 2.66 and 2.97 meaning that there is a low possibilities of causing conflicts while 31 variables received mean scores ranging from 3.00 to 3.97 meaning that there is a moderate possibilities of causing conflicts among FM specialists and design team during design development process. Research limitation/Implications: Potential participants are architects, engineers, project managers, property-development managers and facilities managers. Furthermore, the focus of the study is on medium and large complex projects with buildings systems. In addition, this Originality/Value: The high costs of maintenance during operation and non-compliance with the local statutory requirements of the building systems will affect the results and the application thereof. The integration of the design team and FM’s specialists will provide the client with the final product that is functional and safe to occupy and use for its intent. Furthermore, FM’s specialists’ involvement early in the design-development process would reduce operational and maintenance costs during the operational stage of the building; and they would further ensure that the facility complies with the local statutory requirements. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Construction Economics / MSc / Unrestricted

The use of virtual commissioning has increased in the last years, but there are still challenges before the software code validation method is widespread in use. One of the additions to virtual commissioning is basing it on a digital twin to allow for improved accuracy. The aim of this thesis is to review existing standards and approaches to developing virtual commissioning, as well as to explore the definitions. The chosen approach to achieve the aim, is to perform a literature review of existing research papers and interviews with knowledgeable people in the industry. First, the definitions and classifications are reviewed, then the approaches for development of virtual commissioning and digital twins are explored in the literature. In three interviews with people of varying backgrounds and competences, the views of the virtual technologies are assessed to provide insight in the industry. The findings of the literature review and interviews are among others, the apparent need for standardisation in the field and that a sought-after standard in the form of ISO 23247-1 is under way. Furthermore, the digital twin is a concept with a promising future in combination with other technologies of Industry 4.0. In conclusion, this thesis provides a deep review of the challenges and possibilities of virtual commissioning and the digital twin and could be used as starting point for further research in standardisations and improvements sprung from the new standard.

Magister Legum - LLM / Surrogacy on many occasions is referred to a million-dollar industry. Just like many countries, South Africa has prohibited commercial surrogacy, thus South Africa only permits altruistic surrogacy. The prohibition has consequences for third parties such as surrogacy agencies and surrogacy facilitators, as their right to occupation freedom which is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, is limited. No right is absolute, any right can be limited if it can be proved that it is in the best interest of the public. The prohibition on commercial surrogacy is argued to be in the best interest of the public as it can lead to the exploitation of women and the commodification of children.