Organisational and individual Health and Safety (H&S) competence is an essential element to the successful completion of a construction project in a safe way and without hazards to the health of all workforce. Under the Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations 2007, the client should take reasonable steps to ensure that the appointed duty-holders and engaged people are H&S competent to design, build or co-ordinate the project. Although the CDM Regulations 2007 and its Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) have established ‘Core Criteria’ to guide the client to assess duty-holders’ H&S competence in the outset of a project, it is still difficult for most inexperienced clients to discharge the duty of making the key decisions in H&S competence assessment. In order to help the client implement H&S competence assessment, it is important to develop a tool that can effectively and efficiently support the client to make reasonable decisions in the selection of H&S competent duty-holders. According to the findings of the case study of existing formal H&S competence assessment schemes undertaken as part of this work, H&S competence assessment was characterised as a subjective, qualitative and non-linear regulation-compliance checking process. In addition, the case study helped identify the latent shortcomings in the ‘Core Critiera’ and the operational drawbacks in current practice of implementing H&S competence assessment. Based on a review of Information Technology (I.T.) and Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) applications in construction, Knowledge-Based System (KBS) is identified as being a suitable tool to support decision-making in H&S competence assessment, mainly due to its appropriateness to solve regulation-compliance checking problems and support subjective and qualitative decision-making process. Following a decision-making framework for H&S competence assessment, a KBS decision-support model was developed, applying three mechanisms to support the reasonable decision-making for H&S competence assessment. In order to develop an appropriate and practical KBS for H&S competence assessment, a textual knowledge base was developed, specifying the minimum satisfaction standards and a rating indicator system for ‘Core Criteria’. As a result, an online KBS was developed using Java Server Pages (JSP) technology and MySQL. The online KBS applied the textual knowledge base to support the screen, rating, ranking and reporting decision-supporting mechanisms. Simultaneously, the case inquiry and expert inquiry facilities were also included in the KBS for effective decision-making. Finally, construction experts and practitioners in H&S management evaluated the validity and usability of the KBS through a questionnaire survey. The prototype KBS was borne out to be an effective and efficient decision-support tool for H&S competence assessment and have the potential to be applied in practice.

Adoption of a streamlined BIM workflow throughout the AEC projects’ lifecycle will provide the project stakeholders with the rich information embedded in the parametric design models. Users can incorporate this rich information in various activities, improving efficiency and productivity of project activities and potentially enhancing accuracy and reducing errors and reworks. Two main challenges for such a streamlined information flow throughout the AEC projects that haven’t been sufficiently addressed by previous research efforts include lack of semantic interoperability and a large gap and misalignment of information between available BIM information provided by design activities and the required information for performing preconstruction and construction activities. This research effort proposes a framework for a knowledge-based system (KBS) that encapsulates domain experts’ knowledge and represents it through modularized rule set libraries as well as connected design automation and optimization solutions. The research attempts to provide a methodology for automatic semantic enrichment of design models as well as automated detailed design to fill the information gap between design and preconstruction project activities, streamlining BIM workflow and enhancing its value in the AEC projects.

Developing high-end aerospace components is a complex and highly competitive business. Hence methods for decreasing lead-time, while still providing the same quality and at a lower cost, has to be developed. This thesis is conducted at Research & Technology - GKN Aerospace in Trollhättan Sweden. A multidisciplinary analysis system known internally as Engineering Workbench, forms the base for implementation of the methods and tools developed in this thesis work. The system applies set-based engineering approach to develop new components. The evaluation of the design space is performed through parametric studies to find relations between the design parameters and performance metrics of the design. The engineering workbench allows GKN to define and evaluate a large design space within a limited timeframe. This thesis will look to improve the current producibility assessment system within the EWB by increasing the robustness and flexibility of the system. This is done by re-designing the producibility analysis part system and into a modular knowledge-based system that implements various techniques to increase the robustness and flexibility of the system. The re-designed system is automated, flexible and robust and is able to perform user defined weld assessments on a various designs and provides GKN with weld producibility data.

[pt] A presente tese investiga a representação explícita de conhecimento específico na interpretação de imagens de baixa resolução multitemporais adquiridas por satélite. Neste contexto, o termo conhecimento específico, se refere a todo e qualquer tipo de conhecimento que torna um indivíduo capaz de ou mais apto para realizar uma determinada tarefa. Dentro do escopo desta tese, conhecimento específico compreende o conjunto das informações necessárias para a interpretação de imagens de satélite de baixa resolução, como por exemplo: as características das classes presentes, o manejo agronômico e a ecologia da região de interesse. Assim sendo, a presente tese propõe um modelo para a interpretação baseada em conhecimento de imagens de satélite de baixa resolução visando reproduzir o raciocínio empregado pelo foto-intéprete ao realizar a interpretação visual. Neste modelo são empregadas diferentes formas de conhecimento específico: 1) Conhecimento espectral que associa as diversas assinaturas espectrais observadas na imagem de entrada às classes da legenda, agrupando em uma única classe espectral as classes da legenda cujas assinaturas espectrais sejam de difícil discriminação. 2) Conhecimento contextual que indica os diversos contextos relevantes para a discriminação de classes da legenda com assinaturas espectrais semelhantes. 3) Conhecimento multitemporal que relaciona, considerando a classificação anterior, as classificações possíveis no presente momento e a possibilidade de ocorrência de cada uma delas. A potencialidade desta abordagem foi avaliada através de uma série de experimentos, onde, como base de dados, são utilizadas imagens de duas regiões inseridas na Alta Bacia do Rio Taquari ao leste do pantanal mato-grossense. O objetivo primordial destes experimentos foi explicitar a contribuição de cada forma de conhecimento. Os resultados obtidos foram animadores e indicam que o uso de abordagens baseadas em conhecimento pode automatizar grande parte do processo de fotointerpretação, aumentando a produtividade dos foto-intérpretes. No futuro, os resultados da presente pesquisa contribuirão para a construção de sistemas capazes de realizar uma estratégia de interpretação qualquer a ser definida pelo próprio foto-intérprete, acelerando o monitoramento do uso do solo com base em imagens de baixa resolução adquiridas por satélite. / [en] The present thesis investigates the explicit representation of specific knowledge for the automatic interpretation of multitemporal low resolution satellite images. In this context, the term specific knowledge refers to all and any type of knowledge that makes an individual capable or more competent to carry out one determined task. In the scope of this thesis, specific knowledge comprehends the necessary information for the interpretation of low resolution satellite images, for instance: the characteristics of the classes in the legend, the agronomic management, and the ecology of the region under interest. Thus, the present thesis proposes a framework for the knowledge based interpretation of low-resolution satellite images which concerns at reproducing the reasoning used by the photo-interpreter while performing the visual interpretation. This model employs three different kinds of specific knowledge: 1) Spectral knowledge, that associates the diverse observed spectral signatures in the input image to the correspondent classes in the legend, grouping under a single spectral class the classes of the legend whose spectral signatures are difficult to be discriminated. 2) Contextual knowledge, which indicates the diverse contexts for the discrimination of the classes in the legend with similar spectral signatures. 3) Multitemporal knowledge, which relates, considering the previous classification, the possible classifications at the present moment and their respective possibility of occurrence. The potentiality of this methodology was evaluated through a series of experiments. The dataset consisted of images of two regions inserted in the Upper Watershed of the Taquari River, situated at the east of the Brazilian Pantanal, a lowlands ecological sanctuary located in the States of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. The main objective of the experiments was to evaluate the contribution of each sort of knowledge. The results indicate that the use of knowledge based methods can automate great part of the interpretation process, increasing the productivity of the photointerpreters. In the future, the results of the present research can guide the development of systems capable to automatically perform any interpretation strategy, defined by the proper photointerpreter, speeding up the monitoring of land use based on low resolution satellite images.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T16:44:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Valeria Macedo.pdf: 1548754 bytes, checksum: 3fddbce05271b38d5e50f2a3389c0340 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-09-16 / The main objective of this work was to study the typology of the role of the knowledge worker. Theoretical basis of literature devoted to knowledge and knowledge management process-oriented studies of Hädrich (2008) and Reinhardt et al. (2011), this study sought to address the dynamics of activities carried out by the knowledge workers during their work routines and the main processes typical of the articulated knowledge of those professional activities with the support of the (ICT).42 researchers participated in the research and teaching staff engaged in university and research institutes in biotechnology and computer science. Data analysis using quantitative descriptive method has shown that the most important role was the Retriever, and the process of knowledge Acquisition is typical. The results enabled the understanding of differentiated by gender role behavior and by area of actuation. Users are the ICT-intensive to their routines, but the interaction with the networked environment is still small. The overall result of the study reinforces good adhesion of the typology and highlights the use of these tool benefits organizations in the best allocation of knowledge workers to reach important intangible results in their strategic projects / O objetivo central deste trabalho foi estudar a tipologia do papel do trabalhador do conhecimento. Com base teórica na literatura voltada a conhecimento e gestão de conhecimento orientada a processos dos estudos de Hädrich (2008) e Reinhardt et al. (2011), este estudo abordou a dinâmica das atividades realizadas pelos trabalhadores do conhecimento durante as suas rotinas de trabalho e os principais processos típicos do conhecimento articulados as atividades destes profissionais com o apoio das TICs. Participaram da pesquisa 42 pesquisadores e docentes atuantes em centros de ensino e institutos de pesquisas brasileiros na área de biotecnologia e de ciência da computação. A análise dos dados mediante o uso de método quantitativo descritivo demonstrou que o papel mais importante para os respondentes foi o de Recuperador, e o processo de conhecimento típico o de Aquisição. Os resultados possibilitaram a compreensão do comportamento diferenciado do papel por gênero e por área de atuação. Os usuários são intensivos da TICs para suas rotinas, mas a interação com o ambiente em rede ainda é pequena. O resultado geral do estudo reforça boa aderência da tipologia e destaca o uso desse instrumento beneficia organizações na melhor alocação dos trabalhadores do conhecimento para alcance de resultados intangíveis importantes em seus projetos estratégicos

This research sought to establish the nexus between the two management disciplines of strategic management and knowledge management. Through a study of the life cycle of knowledge assets within the Australian Public Sector, this nexus has been established. Over the last three decades, there has been a growing interest in the nascent discipline of knowledge management (Wiig 1997). However, discussion regarding knowledge, knowledge workers and knowledge management started much earlier when Chester Barnard’s management classic The Functions of the Executive (1938) included suggestions made on how to manage knowledge workers. The 1960s saw management authors and researchers such as Peter Drucker (1993; 1994; 1995; 1997a; 1997b), Machlup (1962), and Michael Polanyi (1967) discussing topics such as knowledge work, knowledge workers, and tacit and explicit knowledge. During much the same period, strategic management was also being researched and discussed, with Alfred D. Chandler being among the first scholars to study strategic management. His book Strategy and Structure (1962) described the development of organisations, and showed that the practice of strategic management predated its study as a management discipline. Chandler was followed by other researchers including Igor Ansoff (1965) and Learned, Christensen, Andrews and Guth (1965), Henry Mintzberg (1979; 1985; 1990; 1996a; 1996b; 1999), and Michael E. Porter (1980; 1985). Research continues in both disciplines; however, research on the interface between these two important disciplines is rare, particularly in Australia.The Australian Public Sector was selected as the target industry for this research, and case study as the research strategy. The research strategy combined a variety of methods including interviews, questionnaires and surveys. The approach taken with data analysis was to employ aspects of the approach used in grounded theory. In addition, action research was used as a meta-methodology, in that periods of review and reflection were undertaken that generated improvements to the research methodology. This research has found that there is a marked interdependence between strategic management and the management of knowledge assets. The strategic management process requires skills and capabilities (knowledge assets) for its execution. Moreover, the resultant strategies require the exploitation of knowledge assets to ensure effective implementation. The life cycle of knowledge assets starts and ends when their need or otherwise is identified directly or indirectly by strategic plans. Knowledge assets are acquired, deployed, utilised and maintained until they are no longer needed. They are then disposed of by outsourcing or atrophy when people are redeployed or retrained. This research has focused on the disciplines of strategic management and knowledge management; however, its contribution lies largely in the area of capability management. Corporate strategy theorists, from the RBV (Resource Based View) and KBV (Knowledge Based View) schools, see organisations as a body of knowledge (Spender 1996). From the perspective of knowledge assets, used as the theme of this research, an organisation is a body of capabilities, and to achieve corporate objectives, the capabilities must match the strategies.

Les stratégies de Recherche et Développement (R&D) au sein des entreprises s'orientent aujourd'hui vers l'amélioration de la productivité du processus de développement des produits mécaniques. L'implication des différents acteurs métiers, dans toutes les phases de développement, devient critique pour maintenir les facteurs de compétitivité. Ce constat est en cohérence avec la récente stratégie de gestion du cycle de vie des produits (PLM), qui propose une gestion intégrée de l'ensemble des informations et des processus liés au produit, sur la totalité de son cycle de vie, dans un contexte d'entreprise étendue. Des approches, qualifiées d' " ingénierie intégrée " et " concourante ", ont émergées au carrefour des approches de conception routinière et conception innovante. Ceci a permis l'intégration des contraintes des métiers situés en aval, au plus tôt dans les processus de développement. Ce travail de thèse s'inscrit dans les domaines de la conception intégrée et de la gestion des informations techniques, plus particulièrement centrée sur le couple des informations produit-process. Celui-ci consiste à la mise en place d'une méthodologie baptisé Fabrication Based On Knowledge (FaBK) visant à aider le développement des produits, à l'aide des applications de Knowledge Based Engineering (KBE) dans une démarche de conception orientée pour la fabrication (DFM). Nous avons réalisé des expérimentations au sein d'une entreprise du secteur automobile, afin de valider notre proposition de méthodologie sur des produits tels que des conduits d'air d'un véhicule, et des procédés de fabrication tels que la soudure plastique.

<p>In order that epistemic formulas might be coupled with approximate databases, it is necessary to have a well-defined semantics for the knowledge operator and a method of reducing epistemic formulas to approximate formulas. In this thesis, two possible definitions of a semantics for the knowledge operator are proposed for use together with an approximate relational database: </p><p>* One based upon logical entailment (being the dominating notion of knowledge in literature); sound and complete rules for reduction to approximate formulas are explored and found not to be applicable to all formulas. </p><p>* One based upon algorithmic computability (in order to be practically feasible); the correspondence to the above operator on the one hand, and to the deductive capability of the agent on the other hand, is explored.</p><p>Also, an inductively defined semantics for a"know whether"-operator, is proposed and tested. Finally, an algorithm implementing the above is proposed, carried out using Java, and tested.</p>

We develop a novel autonomous control synthesis strategy called Phase Space Navigator for the automatic synthesis of nonlinear control systems. The Phase Space Navigator generates global control laws by synthesizing flow shapes of dynamical systems and planning and navigating system trajectories in the phase spaces. Parsing phase spaces into trajectory flow pipes provide a way to efficiently reason about the phase space structures and search for global control paths. The strategy is particularly suitable for synthesizing high-performance control systems that do not lend themselves to traditional design and analysis techniques.

This study uses academic literature from peer-reviewed journals to assess the literary consensus of the three perspectives. The literature has been found by using specific keywords and an assortment of scholarly databases. The analysis of the literature is structured according to explanations for alliance formation, the attainment of advantages, and disadvantages according to the perspectives. The study is written in article format. Conclusions: The perspectives both overlap and differ from one another but focus on different aspects and incentives. There are, however, more similarities between the resource-based and knowledge-based views. Transaction cost theory and the knowledge-based view are narrow explanatory models, whereas the resource-based view offers a broader view on alliances.