Data Analysis on Complicated Construction Data Sources: Vision, Research, and Recent Developments

Compared with construction data sources that are usually stored and analyzed in spreadsheets and single data tables, data sources with more complicated structures, such as text documents, site images, web pages, and project schedules have been less intensively studied due to additional challenges in data preparation, representation, and analysis. In this paper, our definition and vision for advanced data analysis addressing such challenges are presented, together with related research results from previous work, as well as our recent developments of data analysis on text-based, image-based, web-based, and network-based construction sources. It is shown in this paper that particular data preparation, representation, and analysis operations should be identified, and integrated with careful problem investigations and scientific validation measures in order to provide general frameworks in support of information search and knowledge discovery from such information-abundant data sources.

Sensitivity of wear rates in the micro-scale abrasion test to test conditions and material hardness

Micro-scale abrasion (ball cratering) tests were performed with different combinations of ball and bulk specimen materials, under different test conditions, such as load and abrasive slurry concentration. Wear modes were classified into two types: with rolling particle motion and with grooving particle motion. Wear rates observed with rolling particle motion were relatively insensitive to test conditions, whereas with grooving motion they varied much more. It is suggested that rolling abrasion is therefore a more appropriate mode if reproducible test results are desired. The motion of the abrasive particles can be reliably predicted from the knowledge of hardnesses and elastic properties of the ball and the specimen, and from the normal load and the abrasive slurry concentration. General trends in wear resistance measured in the micro-scale abrasion test with rolling particle motion are similar to those reported in tests with fixed abrasives with sliding particle motion, although the variation in wear resistance with hardness is significantly smaller. © 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.

High mobility N-channel and P-channel nanocrystalline silicon thin-film transistors

We report high hole and electron mobilities in nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) top-gate staggered thin-film transistors (TFTs) fabricated by direct plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) at 260°C. The n-channel nc-Si:H TFT with n+ nc-Si:H ohmic contacts shows a field-effect electron mobility (μnFE) of 130 cm2/Vs, which increases to 150 cm2/Vs with Cr-silicide contacts, along with a field-effect hole mobility (μhFE) of 25 cm2/Vs. To the best of our knowledge, the hole and electron mobilities reported here are the highest achieved to date using direct PECVD. © 2005 IEEE.

The retrieval of structured design rationale for the re-use of design knowledge with an integrated representation

Design knowledge can be acquired from various sources and generally requires an integrated representation for its effective and efficient re-use. Though knowledge about products and processes can illustrate the solutions created (know-what) and the courses of actions (know-how) involved in their creation, the reasoning process (know-why) underlying the solutions and actions is still needed for an integrated representation of design knowledge. Design rationale is an effective way of capturing that missing part, since it records the issues addressed, the options considered, and the arguments used when specific design solutions are created and evaluated. Apart from the need for an integrated representation, effective retrieval methods are also of great importance for the re-use of design knowledge, as the knowledge involved in designing complex products can be huge. Developing methods for the retrieval of design rationale is very useful as part of the effective management of design knowledge, for the following reasons. Firstly, design engineers tend to want to consider issues and solutions before looking at solid models or process specifications in detail. Secondly, design rationale is mainly described using text, which often embodies much relevant design knowledge. Last but not least, design rationale is generally captured by identifying elements and their dependencies, i.e. in a structured way which opens the opportunity for going beyond simple keyword-based searching. In this paper, the management of design rationale for the re-use of design knowledge is presented. The retrieval of design rationale records in particular is discussed in detail. As evidenced in the development and evaluation, the methods proposed are useful for the re-use of design knowledge and can be generalised to be used for the retrieval of other kinds of structured design knowledge. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Policy as a struggle for meaning: disentangling knowledge translation across international health contexts

Over the last decade, research in medical science has focused on knowledge translation and diffusion of best practices to enable improved health outcomes. However, there has been less attention given to the role of policy in influencing the translation of best practice across different national contexts. This paper argues that the underlying set of public discourses of healthcare policy significantly influences its development with implications for the dissemination of best practices. Our research uses Critical Discourse Analysis to examine the policy discourses surrounding the treatment of stroke across Canada and the U.K. It focuses in specific on how concepts of knowledge translation, user empowerment, and service innovation construct different accounts of the health service in the two countries. These findings provide an important yet overlooked starting point for understanding the role of policy development in knowledge transfer and the translation of science into health practice. © 2011 Operational Research Society. All rights reserved.

Exploring prior experience and the effects of age on product interaction and Learning

The purpose of this research was to investigate the extent to which prior technological experience of products is related to age, and if this has implications for the success of subsequent product interaction. The contribution of this work is to provide the design community with new knowledge and a greater awareness of the diversity of user needs, and particularly the needs and skills of older people. The focus of this paper is to present how individual's mental models of products and interaction were developed through experiential learning; what new knowledge was acquired, and how this contributed to the development of mental models and product understanding. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Advances in nanodevices and nanofabrication: Selected publications from symposium of nanodevices and nanofabrication in ICMAT2011

A variety of devices at nanometer scale / molecular scale for electronic, photonics, optoelectronics, biological and mechanical applications have been created through a rapid development of materials and fabrication technology. Further development of nanodevices strongly depends on the state-of-the-art knowledge of science and technology at the sub-100nm length scale. This symposium proceedings serves as a nice platform on which scientists and engineers can present and highlight some of the key advances in the following topics: Electronic and optoelectronic devices of nanometer scale / molecular scale. Nanomechanics and NEMS. Electromechanical coupled devices. Manipulation and aligning processes at nanometer scale / molecular scale. Quantum phenomena. Modeling of nanodevices and nanostructures. Fabrication and property characterization of nanodevices. Nanofabrication with focused beam technology, e.g., focused ion beam, laser and proton beam. © 2012 by Pan Stanford Publishing Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved.