Substantial step-wise advances and efficient work processes geared towards leveraging the modularization strategy to an optimal extent are needed in industry in order to maximize its potential benefit for capital projects because the industry suffers from low levels of application of the strategy. Due to this, this research focused on what changes to the traditional work processes within the industry as a whole and on individual projects are required. The ideas presented in this thesis seek to guide individual professionals and engineering organizations to create an optimal environment in which broader and more effective use of modularization can occur. / text

The problems associated with the effective design and uses of databases are increasing. The information contained in a database is becoming more complex and the size of the data is causing space problems. Technology must continually develop to accommodate this growing need. An inquiry was conducted in order to find effective guidelines that could support queries in general in terms of performance and productivity. Two database management systems were researched to compare die theoretical aspects with the techniques implemented in practice. Microsoft SQL Sewer and MySQL were chosen as the candidates and both were put under close scrutiny. The systems were researched to uncover the methods employed by each to manage queries. The query optimizer forms the basis for each of these systems and manages the parsing and execution of any query. The methods employed by each system for storing data were researched. The way that each system manages table joins, uses indices and chooses optimal execution plans were researched. Adjusted algorithms were introduced for various index processes like B+ trees and hash indexes. Guidelines were compiled that are independent of the database management systems and help to optimize relational databases. Practical implementations of queries were used to acquire and analyse the execution plan for both MySQL and SQL Sewer. This plan along with a few other variables such as execution time is discussed for each system. A model is used for both database management systems in this experiment. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Computer Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

The problems associated with the effective design and uses of databases are increasing. The information contained in a database is becoming more complex and the size of the data is causing space problems. Technology must continually develop to accommodate this growing need. An inquiry was conducted in order to find effective guidelines that could support queries in general in terms of performance and productivity. Two database management systems were researched to compare die theoretical aspects with the techniques implemented in practice. Microsoft SQL Sewer and MySQL were chosen as the candidates and both were put under close scrutiny. The systems were researched to uncover the methods employed by each to manage queries. The query optimizer forms the basis for each of these systems and manages the parsing and execution of any query. The methods employed by each system for storing data were researched. The way that each system manages table joins, uses indices and chooses optimal execution plans were researched. Adjusted algorithms were introduced for various index processes like B+ trees and hash indexes. Guidelines were compiled that are independent of the database management systems and help to optimize relational databases. Practical implementations of queries were used to acquire and analyse the execution plan for both MySQL and SQL Sewer. This plan along with a few other variables such as execution time is discussed for each system. A model is used for both database management systems in this experiment. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Computer Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

High performance computer clusters have become popular as they are more scalable, affordable and reliable than their centralized counterparts. Database management systems are particularly suitable for distributed architectures / however distributed DBMS are still not used widely because of the design difficulties. In this study, we aim to help overcome these difficulties by implementing a simulation testbed for a distributed query plan processor. This testbed works on our departmental HPC cluster machine and is able to perform select, project and join operations. A data generation module has also been implemented which preserves the foreign key and primary key constraints in the database schema. The testbed has capability to measure, simulate and estimate the response time of a given query execution plan using specified communication network parameters. Extensive experimental work is performed to show the correctness of the produced results. The estimated execution time costs are also compared with the actual run-times obtained from the testbed to verify the proposed estimation functions. Thus, we make sure that these estimation iv functions can be used in distributed database query optimization and distributed database design tools.

To avoid expensive round-trips between the application layer and the database layer it is crucial that data-intensive processing and calculations happen close to where the data resides -- ideally within the database engine. However, each application has its own domain and provides domain-specific languages (DSL) as a user interface to keep interactions confined within the well-known metaphors of the respective domain. Revealing the innards of the underlying data layer by forcing users to formulate problems in terms of a general database language is often not an option. To bridge that gap, we propose an approach to transform and directly compile a DSL into a general database execution plan using graph transformations. We identify the commonalities and mismatches between different models and show which parts can be cherry-picked for direct translation. Finally, we argue that graph transformations can be used in general to translate a DSL into an executable plan for a database.

I en rapport från 2005 framtagen av FoU-Väst i samverkan med Centrum för management i byggsektorn (CMB) konstateras att en betydande del av allt slöseri i byggsektorn är kopplat till fel och konsekvenserna av dessa, med andra ord felkostnader. Studien visar att felkostnader står för cirka 10 % av ett projekts produktionskostnad.   Byggsektorn står nu, år 2012, inför förändringar i sitt arbetssätt för att minska antalet fel, öka kvaliteten och effektiviteten. BIM – Building Information Modeling, möjliggör ett smartare sätt att skapa, använda och förvalta information genom hela bygg- och förvaltningsprocessen. BIM ger möjligheten att anpassa informationen i varje delprocess och därigenom effektivisera arbetet. Det nya arbetssättet innebär ett livscykeltänk där information används på ett systematiskt och kvalitetssäkrat sätt i en objektbaserad 3D-modell.  Studiens syfte är att fastställa vilka arbetssätt som behöver förändras för att implementera BIM i ett av Skanskas distrikt i regionen Hus Stockholm Ombyggnad samt fastställa vilka kostnadsbesparingar beställare gör tack vare implementeringen. BIM består av mer än en datamodell. För att uppnå de nyttor BIM kan ge krävs förändrade processer och gemensamma begreppsmodeller. Processerna, organisationen och modelleringen av produkten måste planeras noggrant. Detta medför att mer resurser läggs i ett tidigt skede i projekteringen vilket krävs för att kravspecifikationen ska uppfyllas i ett BIM-projekt. Flera respondenter i studien ger uttryck för att fler och/eller utförligare informationsleveranser i systemskedet skulle höja kvaliteten på bygghandlingarna. Studien konstaterar att BIM-projektering kräver ett nära och öppet samarbete mellan, de för BIM-användingen aktuella aktörerna. / In a 2005 report written by FoU-Väst in collaboration with Centrum för management i byggsektorn (CMB) it is determined that a significant proportion of wastage in the construction sector is linked to defects and their impact, in other words costs of errors. The study shows that these costs are accounting for about 10 % of a project´s production costs.  Construction sector now, in 2012, face changes in their ways of working to reduce errors, increase quality and efficiency. BIM - Building Information Modeling, provides a smarter way to create, use and manage information throughout the construction and management process. BIM provides the ability to customize the information in each sub- process and thereby improve efficiency. The new ways of working involves a life- cycle thinking in which information is used in a systematic and quality assured manner in an object-based 3D model.  The study aims to determine the ways of working that needs to change to implement BIM in one of Skanska's district in the region Stockholm Hus Ombyggnad and identify cost savings clients make through the implementation. BIM consists of more than one data model. To achieve the benefits that BIM can provide, changes in processes and common conceptual models are required. Processes, the organization and modeling of the product must be carefully planned. This means that more resources are added in the early stages of the design process which is necessary to meet the specification of requirements in a BIM project. A number of respondents in the study reflect on the fact that additional and / or more detailed information deliveries during the schematic design phase would increase the quality of construction documents. The study finds that a BIM design process require near and open cooperation between the, to the BIM-use relevant participants.

Domain-specific query languages (DSQL) let users express custom business logic. Relational databases provide a limited set of options to execute business logic. Usually, stored procedures or a series of queries with some glue code. Both methods have drawbacks and often business logic is still executed on application side transferring large amounts of data between application and database, which is expensive. We translate a DSQL into a hybrid data-flow execution plan, containing relational operators mixed with procedural ones. A cost model is used to drive the translation towards an optimal mixture of relational and procedural plan operators.

Rättsväsendets kapacitet till att rehabilitera kriminella har länge varit ett omdiskuterat ämne, med en betydande del forskning som har kritiserat fängelseverksamhetens utformning och möjlighet till att uppfylla en sådan effekt. I Sverige baseras allt rehabiliterande arbete inom Kriminalvården på en klientunik verkställighetsplan [VSP]. Verktyget innefattar klientens initiala risk- och behovsbedömning, efterföljande rehabiliterande åtgärder samt en dokumentation över processen och eventuella förändringar i den. Trots VSP centralitet för Kriminalvårdens återfallsförebyggande uppdrag är den tidigare forskningen om den begränsad. Således ämnar denna studie till att undersöka kriminalvårdsanställdas upplevelser av arbetet med VSP, samt deras erfarenheter av faktorer som kan påverka tillämpningen. Därigenom avser studien att bistå med fördjupad kunskap om dess tillämpning och aspekter för eventuell vidareutveckling. För detta ändamål utfördes semistrukturerade intervjuer med kriminalvårdsanställda. Materialet transkriberades sedan i enlighet med Jeffersons system för transkribering och avslutningsvis analyserades genom en tematisk analys. Resultatet fann att anställda upplevde att verktygets struktur bidrog till ett förtroende för utförande av VSP. Kriminalvårdsanställda problematiserade även VSP genom deras erfarenhet av omständigheter som påverkar dess utförande; så som skild kunskapsnivå, resurstillgång, klientens motivation till förändring samt kriminalvårdarens professionella insikt och expertis. Med anledning av detta resultat bör således vidare forskning ämna att undersöka omfattningen av de faktorer som utgör ett hinder för implementeringen av VSP, samt tillförlitlighet av det underliggande risk- och behovsbedömnings instrumentet då korrekt identifikation av dessa krävs för effektiv och pålitlig behandling. / The judiciary's capability to rehabilitate criminals is a subject of discourse, with some research criticizing both the structure and the overall possibility of reform in a prison setting. Rehabilitation in the Swedish correctional services employ a per client individualized plan of treatment [VSP]. This plan contains an initial risk and need assessment, planned programs and documentation over the procedure and its potential changes. However, despite VSP's centrality for the Swedish correctional services, research about its effects is limited. Therefore, this study aims to examine the experiences that Swedish correctional service employees have of VSP, and their perception of potential factors that may affect its implementation. In doing so the study seeks to develop the understanding of VSP and to identify areas of development. In pursuit of this aim, semi-structured interviews with employees of the Swedish correctional service were utilized. The material was then transcribed in accordance with Jefferson's transcription system and finally analyzed through a thematic analysis. The study found that employees spoke of an organizational support and structure that inspired faith in VSP. Utilization of VSP was affected due to lacking resource allocation, differences in practitioner knowledge and expertise, and the client level of motivation. In lieu of these results further research should seek to examine the prevalence of these factors, as well as the validity of the underlying risk-need evaluation instrument as correct identification of these factors are required for reliable treatment.