Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / The goal of this study is to provide a single source of data that enables the selection of an appropriate voice recognition (VR) application for a decision support system (DSS) as well as for other computer applications. A brief background of both voice recognition systems and decision supports systems is provided with special emphasis given to the dialog component of DSS. The categories of voice recognition discussed are human factors, environmental factors, situational factors, quantitative factors, training factors, host computer factors, and experiments and research. Each of these areas of voice recognition is individually analyzed, and specific references to applicable literature are included. This study also includes appendices that contain: a glossary (including definitions) of phrases specific to both decision support system and voice recognition systems, keywords applicable to this study, an annotated bibliography (alphabetically and by specific topics) of current VR systems literature containing over 200 references, an index of publishers, a complete listing of current commercially available VR systems. / http://archive.org/details/applicationofvoi00drak / Lieutenant, United States Navy

Yes / The concept of smart city is emerging as a key strategy to tackle the problems generated by the urban population growth and rapid development. It is widely recognised that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) play a key role in addressing some of the urban societal challenges such as improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Although there are various ICT tools providing intelligence and services relating to energy consumption and monitoring processes, they mostly tend to work in isolation. Therefore, this paper presents the outcomes and impacts of the concept of DAREED which aims to deliver an integrated ICT service platform to drive energy efficiency and low carbon activities at neighbourhood, city and district levels. Furthermore, the research highlights the need for ICT-driven policy making using platforms such as DAREED in the context of e-Government. This paper contributes to the current understandings of e-Government literature in terms of how ICT can help public authorities and stakeholders such as policy makers to achieve and drive energy efficiency. From a practical stance, the paper offers valuable insights to public administrations on how ICT can be used to address pressing societal challenges such as efficient energy use and facilitate better policy making.

Heavy precipitation events are expected to increase in intensity and frequency, due to global warming. Sewer systems might overload during heavy rainfall, resulting in floods which potentially affect all municipalities in Sweden. Traditionally, stormwater is seen as pipe-related problem, but a transition towards Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) has started. SuDS aim to reduce the quantity of the runoff from the site, slow down the runoff to allow (in)filtration, and provide treatment of the surface water before discharge. In Sweden, municipalities are responsible for the sewer system and realization and implementation of climate change adaptation measures, like SuDS. Tools and models support the highly complex selection, location, and design of SuDS, by systematically providing the most relevant information that represents the actual drainage system in the best way possible. Furthermore, models are used to predict the behaviour of SuDS, which may form Decision Support Systems (DSS). The highest interest in SuDS modelling and DSS lies in water quantity, however existing models are complex and lack flexibility, transferability, and stakeholder inclusion. The aim of this project is to provide a tool for the Municipality of Östersund that aids in the decision-making and design process for the implementation of SuDS, concerning their capacity to store stormwater. The ‘SuDS water storage capacity calculator’ can be used to test what (combinations of) SuDS are able to store the stormwater of a heavy rainfall event.The following SuDS components were included in the calculator: extensive green roofs, underground infiltration systems, infiltration basins, swales, porous pavements, detention basins, ponds, and wetlands. Secondly, the technical criteria forming the basis of the calculator were identified through a literature review. These criteria were used to calculate precipitation and the water storage capacity of each SuDS. The calculator was then built in Microsoft Powerpoint using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). Two case studies were selected in Östersund and explored using the calculator. The water storage capacity of each SuDS component was calculated using scenarios in which 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of the total available area in each case study was used as input. Finally, four combinations of SuDS were tested concerning their water storage capacity. All calculated water storage capacity was compared to the amount of water falling on the case study areas during a heavy precipitation event that only occurs once every 100 years.The developed calculator can be used to calculate water storage capacity of SuDS and precipitation in a simple way. The tool contains user input and default values, which can still be changed. Furthermore, the calculator allows comparison between the amount of precipitation and water storage capacity. The results of the scenarios show that underground infiltration systems and detention basins have the highest potential to store stormwater, followed by infiltration basins, porous pavements, and ponds or wetlands. The calculator has limited design options, due to its simplification of reality. However, its limits are mostly applicable further in the designing process. The4calculator gives a rough estimate of the potential water storage capacity of a variety of SuDS components. The calculator is a useful tool before the design process has started, by providing an indication of the options that are worthwhile to consider in terms of water storage capacity. Furthermore, opportunities for optimization of the tool were recognized. The water storage capacity resulting from the different scenarios was compared to the precipitation falling on each case study area. Realistically, the amount of precipitation that exceeds the capacity of the sewer system might not fall directly where the SuDS are located. Finally, the calculator allows applications of a wider range of combinations of SuDS components. / <p>2022-06.16</p>

Information visualization dashboards are a widely used supportive tool in decision making. These tools can be difficult to create and utilize especially for the novice user. There is an extensive collection of company related data for decision making, resulting in a need of assistive tools. Prototypes were developed to research and identify design guidelines how to support fund managers in their decision making. This was carried out as a qualitative study involving 7 experts in fund management. The results provide insights and guidelines in decision supportive design for dashboards. The results indicate that there is a threshold in the number of displayed elements without limiting the cognitive analysis by the user. Three aspects; size, distribution and time should be included in the generating of suitable graphics. Assistive tools for connecting multiple context domains has been identified as a crucial element of decision support design. These guidelines should be investigated further in larger and more diverse studies in order to prove its full validity. / Information visualiserings dashboards är ett väl etablerat verktyg i beslutsfattning. Sådana verktyg kan vara utmanande att skapa och använda speciellt för en oerfaren användare. Idag samlas det in stora mängder av företagsrelaterad data för beslutsfattning vilket resulterar i ett behov av hjälpande verktyg. I den här studien utvecklades flera prototyper för att undersöka och tag fram designriktlinjer för hur man ska utforma och hjälpa fondförvaltare i sitt beslutsfattande. En kvalitativ studie genomfördes med 7 experter inom fond och kapitalförvaltning i framtagandet av designriktlinjer. Resultaten visar riktlinjer för beslutsstöd i utformningen av dashboards. Resultaten indikerar att det finns en gräns för hur många element man bör presentera för en användare utan att försvåra användarens kognitiva analysförmåga. Tre karaktärsdrag; storlek, distribution och tid påverkar utformningen av passande grafik. Studien har även identifierat behovet av verktyg för sammankopplingen mellan flera olika kontextdomäner i och med den kollaborativa delen av beslutsfattning. Dessa designriktlinjer ligger till grund för fortsatt undersökning i större och mer varierade studier för att styrka dess validitet.

There is a body of evidence indicating that the implementation of current Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry business models and practices have caused negative impacts on global energy supply, ecosystems, and local or regional economies. In order to eliminate such negative impacts, AEC practitioners are seeking new business models in which the Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology can be considered an important technology driver. Despite the fact that the majority of AEC practitioners have used BIM tools for construction-level modeling purposes, some early adopters of BIM technology began to use BIM tools to better inform their design decisions. Corresponding to the increasing demand for decision support functionality, a number of studies showed that a part of BIM technology will be developed toward decision support and artificial intelligence domains. The use of computer-based systems to support decision making processes can usually be found in the business management field. In this field, decision support and business intelligence systems are widely used for improving the quality of managerial decisions. Because of its theories and principles, Decision Support Systems (DSS) can be considered as one of the potential information technologies that can be applied to enhance the quality of design decisions. The DSS also has the potential to be constructed as a system platform for implementing building information contained in BIM models associated with other databases, analytical models, and expert knowledge used by AEC practitioners. This study explores an opportunity to extend the capability of BIM technology toward the decision support and artificial intelligence domains by applying the theories and principles of DSS. This research comprises the development of a prototype BIM interoperable web-based DSS for vegetated roofing system selection. The prototype development can be considered a part of an ongoing research agenda focusing on the development of the integrated web-based DSS for holistic building design conducted within the College of Architecture and Urban Studies (CAUS), Virginia Tech. Through a post-use interview study, the developed prototype is used as a tool for evaluating the possibility for the DSS development and the usefulness of DSS in improving the quality of vegetated roofing system design decisions. The understanding gained from the post-use study is used to create a guideline for developing a fully functional DSS for holistic building design that will be developed in the future. / Ph. D.

As organizações públicas e privadas são constantemente expostas a fatores internos e externos, que podem comprometer sua estabilidade diante das oscilações da economia e dos concorrentes. Nestas empresas, os tomadores de decisão são essenciais para analisar e avaliar todas as variáveis que envolvem estes fatores, com o objetivo de identificar o melhor caminho para os negócios. Entretanto, conseguir gerenciar os dados internos e externos à organização não é uma atividade simples. Neste contexto, os Sistemas de Suporte à Decisão (SSD) tornaram-se fundamentais para auxiliar os tomadores de decisão na solução de problemas mal estruturados ou sem nenhuma estruturação. Porém, a complexidade que envolve os projetos de implantação ou desenvolvimento de um SSD, geralmente compromete a efetividade dos testes que garantem a conformidade do sistema em relação às especificações previamente definidas. Uma solução para esse problema é considerar os atributos ou fatores de testabilidade nestes projetos, pois podem elevar o grau de eficácia e eficiência da atividade de teste e consequentemente contribuírem para redução do tempo e custos do projeto. Portanto, conseguir identificar esses atributos ou fatores que tenham influência na testabilidade dos SSD e algum método que permita analisar e avaliar o quanto estão presentes neste sistema, é essencial para aumentar a qualidade do sistema. Diante desta necessidade, este trabalho investigou e selecionou os principais fatores que podem influenciar no grau de testabilidade de um software e propôs um método para analisar e avaliar o quanto o SSD está considerando esses fatores em sua arquitetura. Com o objetivo de avaliar e validar o método de análise e avaliação, foram realizados testes de aplicabilidade em empresas de pequeno, médio e grande porte, bem como no meio acadêmico. Com os resultados obtidos nos testes, foi possível concluir que o método é específico para SSD, que pode ser usado como um guia durante o processo de desenvolvimento e auxiliar na classificação de SSD quanto a sua testabilidade. / Public and private organizations are constantly exposed to internal and external factors which could compromise their stability in the face of fluctuations in the economy and competitors. In these companies, decision makers are essential to analyze and evaluate all the variables regarding these factors, in order to identify the best way for business. However, managing internal and external data of the organization is not a simple activity. In this context, Decision Support Systems (DSS) have become essential to assist decision makers in solving unstructured problems or lock of structure. However, the complexity involved in the implementation of projects or development of a DSS usually compromises the effectiveness of tests that ensure compliance of the system in relation to previously defined specifications. One solution to this problem is to consider the attributes or testability factors in these projects, since they can raise the level of effectiveness and efficiency of testing activity and thus contribute to reducing the time and project costs. Therefore, the ability to identify these attributes or factors that influence testability of DSS and a process for analyzing and evaluating how much the present in this system, is essential to increase system quality. Given this need, this work investigated and selected the main factors that can influence the degree of testability of software and proposed a way to analyze and assess how the DSS is considering these factors in its architecture. In order to evaluate and validate the analysis and evaluation method, applicability tests were performed in small, medium and large companies, as well as in academy. As results obtained in the tests, it was concluded that the method is specific for DSS, which can be used as a guide during the development process and assist in the DSS classification regarding its testability.

As organizações públicas e privadas são constantemente expostas a fatores internos e externos, que podem comprometer sua estabilidade diante das oscilações da economia e dos concorrentes. Nestas empresas, os tomadores de decisão são essenciais para analisar e avaliar todas as variáveis que envolvem estes fatores, com o objetivo de identificar o melhor caminho para os negócios. Entretanto, conseguir gerenciar os dados internos e externos à organização não é uma atividade simples. Neste contexto, os Sistemas de Suporte à Decisão (SSD) tornaram-se fundamentais para auxiliar os tomadores de decisão na solução de problemas mal estruturados ou sem nenhuma estruturação. Porém, a complexidade que envolve os projetos de implantação ou desenvolvimento de um SSD, geralmente compromete a efetividade dos testes que garantem a conformidade do sistema em relação às especificações previamente definidas. Uma solução para esse problema é considerar os atributos ou fatores de testabilidade nestes projetos, pois podem elevar o grau de eficácia e eficiência da atividade de teste e consequentemente contribuírem para redução do tempo e custos do projeto. Portanto, conseguir identificar esses atributos ou fatores que tenham influência na testabilidade dos SSD e algum método que permita analisar e avaliar o quanto estão presentes neste sistema, é essencial para aumentar a qualidade do sistema. Diante desta necessidade, este trabalho investigou e selecionou os principais fatores que podem influenciar no grau de testabilidade de um software e propôs um método para analisar e avaliar o quanto o SSD está considerando esses fatores em sua arquitetura. Com o objetivo de avaliar e validar o método de análise e avaliação, foram realizados testes de aplicabilidade em empresas de pequeno, médio e grande porte, bem como no meio acadêmico. Com os resultados obtidos nos testes, foi possível concluir que o método é específico para SSD, que pode ser usado como um guia durante o processo de desenvolvimento e auxiliar na classificação de SSD quanto a sua testabilidade. / Public and private organizations are constantly exposed to internal and external factors which could compromise their stability in the face of fluctuations in the economy and competitors. In these companies, decision makers are essential to analyze and evaluate all the variables regarding these factors, in order to identify the best way for business. However, managing internal and external data of the organization is not a simple activity. In this context, Decision Support Systems (DSS) have become essential to assist decision makers in solving unstructured problems or lock of structure. However, the complexity involved in the implementation of projects or development of a DSS usually compromises the effectiveness of tests that ensure compliance of the system in relation to previously defined specifications. One solution to this problem is to consider the attributes or testability factors in these projects, since they can raise the level of effectiveness and efficiency of testing activity and thus contribute to reducing the time and project costs. Therefore, the ability to identify these attributes or factors that influence testability of DSS and a process for analyzing and evaluating how much the present in this system, is essential to increase system quality. Given this need, this work investigated and selected the main factors that can influence the degree of testability of software and proposed a way to analyze and assess how the DSS is considering these factors in its architecture. In order to evaluate and validate the analysis and evaluation method, applicability tests were performed in small, medium and large companies, as well as in academy. As results obtained in the tests, it was concluded that the method is specific for DSS, which can be used as a guide during the development process and assist in the DSS classification regarding its testability.

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) structures long-term plans for Europe's threatened water resources. Owning to the inherent and human-made complexities of the water cycle, stakeholders must move strategically to avoid crisis and restore sustainability. Yet, the reality of water resource management today is falling short on delivery. Stakeholders require strategic tools that will help them to build consensus and take action in the right direction. Using the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD), this study shows how Decision Support Systems can be strategically improved using a whole-systems approach grounded in basic Principles for Sustainability. In this way, stakeholders will be capable of making synchronized moves towards sustainability and thus more likely to realize the WFD’s goal of ‘good status’ for all European waterways by 2015.

Whether it is based on current emissions data or future projections of further growth, the building sector currently represent the largest and singular most important contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. This notion is also supported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change based on projection scenarios for 2030 that emissions from buildings will be responsible for about one-third of total global emissions. As such, improving the energy efficiency of buildings has become a top priority worldwide. A significant majority of buildings that exist now will still exist in 2030 and beyond; therefore the greatest energy savings and carbon footprint reductions can be made through retrofit of existing buildings. A wide range of retrofit options are readily available, but methods to identify optimal solutions for a particular abatement project still constitute a major technical challenge. Investments in building energy retrofit technologies usually involve decision-making processes targeted at reducing operational energy consumption and maintenance bills. For this reason, retrofit decisions by building stakeholders are typically driven by financial considerations. However, recent trends towards environmentally conscious and resource-efficient design and retrofit have focused on the environmental merits of these options, emphasising a lifecycle approach to emissions reduction. Retrofit options available for energy savings have different performance characteristics and building stakeholders are required to establish an optimal solution, where competing objectives such as financial costs, energy consumption and environmental performance are taken into account. These key performance parameters cannot be easily quantified and compared by building stakeholders since they lack the resources to perform an effective decision analysis. In part, this is due to the inadequacy of existing methods to assess and compare performance indicators. Current methods to quantify these parameters are considered in isolation when making decisions about energy conservation in buildings. To effectively manage the reduction of lifecycle environmental impacts, it is necessary to link financial cost with both operational and embodied emissions. This thesis presents a novel deterministic decision support system (DSS) for the evaluation of economically and environmentally optimal retrofit of non-domestic buildings. The DSS integrates the key variables of economic and net environmental benefits to produce optimal decisions. These variables are used within an optimisation scheme that consists of integrated modules for data input, sensitivity analysis and takes into account the use of a set of retrofit options that satisfies a range of criteria (environmental, demand, cost and resource constraints); hierarchical course of action; and the evaluations of ‘best’ case scenario based on marginal abatement cost methods and Pareto optimisation. The steps involved in the system development are presented and its usefulness is evaluated using case study applications. The results of the applications are analysed and presented, verifying the feasibility of the DSS, whilst encouraging further improvements and extensions. The usefulness of the DSS as a tool for policy formulation and developments that can trigger innovations in retrofit product development processes and sustainable business models are also discussed. The methodology developed provides stakeholders with an efficient and reliable decision process that is informed by both environmental and financial considerations. Overall, the development of the DSS which takes a whole-life CO2 emission accounting framework and an economic assessment view-point, successfully demonstrates how value is delivered across different parts of the techno-economic system, especially as it pertains to financial gains, embodied and operational emissions reduction potential.