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Work sampling had its origin in industrial engineering; however, its use in construction has increased greatly during the 1970's and 1980's. Research would suggest that most of the innovation in this field is taking place in the United States. The basic methods of Work Sampling have been developed to suit the peculiarities of the construction site as opposed to the production line or factory where it was first used. The objectives of this report are as follows: 1. To review the existing methods of Construction Work Sampling as well as discuss further aspects and problems which should be considered when undertaking a Work Sampling study. 2. To compare Construction Work Sampling with other methods of measuring productivity. 3. To evaluate by means of a case study the ease of applicability of the sampling methods to a South African construction site, and at the same time to identify differences between the description of the methods in theory and their use in practice. 4. To establish by means of a questionnaire the extent to which Construction Work Sampling methods are already in use in South Africa as well as other related information. Information for this report was obtained from journals, manuals, text books, interviews, and the case study and questionnaires mentioned.

The topic of the thesis is an in-depth study of the issues and solutions for a more sustainable regeneration of the small centres on the Italian territory. The followed path starts from a first overview of the phenomenon of minor centres. The first step has been that to describe the evolution of the concept of the minor centres, presenting the different visions born over time. After this first step, the thesis focused on the verification of their consistency on the territory, checking objectively if there is a really need to carry out their regeneration. At the same time, has been presented the sectorial legislation, with which are currently managed the different towns, highlighting the various points in which it is possible to see problems. Subsequently, has been presented and reviewed the available management tools, from which gave rise the various ideas for improving the regeneration of the centres. Another aspect studied has been this to study economic aids and economic programs proposed to sustain initiatives from people and communities, with the aim to underline that the regeneration of the centres is economically possible, only if these actions are well framed through some tools that make easier to choose the locations in which do the regeneration. The proactive part of the thesis has dealt with the possibility of setting up a system through which facilitate the choice methods to implement the regeneration of the minor centres. In particular, the proposal followed by the thesis, is to build a management infrastructure, capable to support administrations in choosing where to act and how to act, allowing to optimizing available resources, avoiding wasting them and achieving the regeneration of the minor localities as soon as possible. Every centre is unique in itself, with its own characteristics that distinguish it, a uniqueness that objectively however, makes difficult to establish easily where it is necessary and possible to start with the regeneration. The proposed method define and use a series of values, through which to go to measure and know the centres objectively and in a shared way, in order to obtain indications on the places that deserve greater attentions. The proposed system provide to use a series of indicators through which local characteristics are measured, taking into account different sectors, through a multiscalar and multidisciplinary approach. From this has been studied a system for the management of information of the localities, with a series of practical modules that can be provided to the administrators, to manage the flow of the actions and information necessary to establish the priorities for the regeneration of Italian minor centres.

Yes / Energy consumption (EC) of consumers primarily depends on comfort level (CL) affirmed by brain sensations of the central nervous system. Environmental parameters such as surroundings, relative humidity, air temperature, solar irradiance, air pressure, and cloud cover directly influence consumer body temperature that in return affect blood dynamics perturbing brain comfort sensations. This CL (either in summer, winter, autumn, or spring season) is a function of external environment and internal body variations that force a consumer toward EC. To develop a new concept of consumer's EC, first the authors described environment parameters in detail with relation to surroundings and EC. Considering this, they tabulated a generic relation of consumer's CL with EC and environment temperature. Second, to build an inter-related bond between the environmental effects on consumer body dynamics, they analysed theoretically and mathematically above mutual relations between medical and environmental sciences. Finally, they present their conceptual EC model based on a closed-loop feedback system. This model is a complex non-linear adaptive system with environmental and surrounding parameters as input to the system resulting in an optimised EC, considering consumer CL as a key parameter for the system.

Capes / O presente estudo tem como objetivo identificar e analisar comparativamente os principais processos de negócio de empresas de pequeno porte do subsetor de edificações da construção civil. Para tanto, foi utilizado o método de pesquisa qualitativa e estudo de casos múltiplos como técnica principal. Participaram deste trabalho, cinco empresas que estão localizadas na cidade de Curitiba, Paraná. Para a coleta de dados, foram realizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas, análises de documentos e observações diretas. A partir das informações obtidas, desenvolveu-se graficamente o mapeamento dos processos de negócio de cada empresa utilizando-se a notação BPMN. O estudo mostrou que os processos e as atividades das empresas deste setor apresentam características comuns, facilitando assim, a padronização das melhores práticas. Com o estudo de outros casos, surgirão outros aspectos semelhantes que poderão ser utilizados na elaboração de um modelo de referência que apresenta orientação específica sobre como os processos de negócio podem ser gerenciados nas organizações do subsetor de edificações. / The present study has as objective to identify and analyze comparatively the main business processes of small companies of the subsector of edifications of the civil construction. Therefore, was used the qualitative research method and multiple case study as the main technique. Participated of this work, five companies that are located in the city of Curitiba, Paraná. For data collection were performed semi-structured interviews, document analysis and direct observations. From the information obtained, developed graphically mapping the business processes of each company using the BPMN notation. The study showed that the processes and activities of companies in this sector present common characteristics, thus facilitating the standardization of best practices. With the study of other cases will arise other similar aspects that could be used in the preparation of a reference model that provide specific guidance on how business processes can be managed in organizations of the subsector of edifications.

Capes / O presente estudo tem como objetivo identificar e analisar comparativamente os principais processos de negócio de empresas de pequeno porte do subsetor de edificações da construção civil. Para tanto, foi utilizado o método de pesquisa qualitativa e estudo de casos múltiplos como técnica principal. Participaram deste trabalho, cinco empresas que estão localizadas na cidade de Curitiba, Paraná. Para a coleta de dados, foram realizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas, análises de documentos e observações diretas. A partir das informações obtidas, desenvolveu-se graficamente o mapeamento dos processos de negócio de cada empresa utilizando-se a notação BPMN. O estudo mostrou que os processos e as atividades das empresas deste setor apresentam características comuns, facilitando assim, a padronização das melhores práticas. Com o estudo de outros casos, surgirão outros aspectos semelhantes que poderão ser utilizados na elaboração de um modelo de referência que apresenta orientação específica sobre como os processos de negócio podem ser gerenciados nas organizações do subsetor de edificações. / The present study has as objective to identify and analyze comparatively the main business processes of small companies of the subsector of edifications of the civil construction. Therefore, was used the qualitative research method and multiple case study as the main technique. Participated of this work, five companies that are located in the city of Curitiba, Paraná. For data collection were performed semi-structured interviews, document analysis and direct observations. From the information obtained, developed graphically mapping the business processes of each company using the BPMN notation. The study showed that the processes and activities of companies in this sector present common characteristics, thus facilitating the standardization of best practices. With the study of other cases will arise other similar aspects that could be used in the preparation of a reference model that provide specific guidance on how business processes can be managed in organizations of the subsector of edifications.

This research presents the results of a qualitative and quantitative investigation to understand the challenges of public sector facilities management and maintenance to include the negative impact of deferred maintenance, it’s history, the current industry practices and the potential to reverse the negative impact of the current trend. History has been known to speak loudly, and with accuracy relative to the expansion of public facilities and the challenge to maintain them. The challenge to keep pace with the growing population and the ever-changing requirements for contemporary designs are felt in every sector of our public facilities. Regardless, we, the public trust that those responsible are managing these assets effectively and efficiently. Research indicates that this doesn’t appear to be the case. This study serves as a measurement against the historical performance of public facilities management practice. There have been decades of growth in public assets. During that time, innovation within operational practice and technology offer new opportunities for organizations to address issues of efficiency that translate directly in a measure of effectiveness. Given the continued outcry for additional funding, it seems that there are challenges that continue to exist despite the innovation offered. This study focuses on those challenges. Further analysis, based on successful models of public facilities management, provides insights as to what practices, if adopted, may drive the lesser achieving programs toward greater effectiveness. This paper also includes the results of a study that focuses on the current practices of public facilities management programs. The intent is to identify elements that either support or detract from efficiently operated, effective facilities departments. Given the nature of this industry, both objective and subjective elements were addressed. Objectively the organizational hierarchy and the associated communications pathways were identified. Subjectively, the lifecycle of the facilities mission was dissected and discussed throughout an interview process. Fifteen specified data points were addressed, which included questions related to accountability, effective communication, data driven program development, allocation of resources, documentation of work performed, continuous training and education and the use of technology. In order to reverse the declining momentum, we must first identify the most common areas that challenge facilities managers and understand how they currently address those challenges. This research will address the following questions: What do facilities managers perceive to be the greatest obstacles to ensuring their facilities are properly maintained? What factors do facilities mangers perceive to be the greatest challenge to ensuring sufficient resources are allocated to current maintenance? To what degree do facilities managers perceive that more effective communications would positively impact the effectiveness of facilities management and maintenance. The results of this research presents a comprehensive understanding of the challenges that face public sector facilities leadership teams, the history and creation of excessive deferred maintenance and finally, future opportunities that identifies best practices and presents an artifact that reflects a means to resolve those deficiencies identified within the current facilities management environment.

Envelopes with low thermal performance are common characteristics in European historic buildings resulting in insufficient thermal comfort and higher energy use compared to modern buildings. There are different types of applications for the European historic buildings such as historic churches, historic museums, historic theatres, etc. In historic buildings refurbished to offices, it is vital to improve thermal comfort for the staff. Improving thermal comfort should not increase, preferably reduce, energy use in the building. The overall aim in this research is to explore how to improve thermal comfort in historic buildings without increasing, preferably reducing, energy use with the application of non-intrusive methods. This is done in form of a case study in Sweden. Thermal comfort issues in the case study building are determined through a field study. The methods include field measurements with thermal comfort equipment, data logging on BMS, and evaluating the occupant’s perception of a summer and a winter period indoor environment using a standardized questionnaire. According to questionnaire and thermal comfort measurements results, it is revealed that the summer period has the most dissatisfied occupants, while winter thermal comfort is satisfactory – but not exceptionally good. Accordingly, natural heat sinks could be used in form of NV, as a non/intrusive method, in order to improve thermal comfort in the building. For the historic building equipped with mechanical ventilation, NV strategy has the potential to both improve thermal comfort and reduce the total electricity use for cooling (i.e. electricity use in the cooling machine + the electricity use in the ventilation unit’s fans). It could decrease the percentage of exceedance hours in offices by up to 33% and reduce the total electricity use for cooling by up to 40%. The optimal (maximum) NV rate (i.e. the potential of NV strategy) is dependent on the thermal mass capacity of the building, the available NV cooling potential (dependent on the ambient air temperature), COP value of the cooling machine, the SFP model of the fans (low SFP value for high NV rate is optimal), and the offices’ door scheme (open or closed doors).