Ruwini Edirisinghe

Cross-Layer Contextual Interactions in Wireless Networks

Future wireless networks should facilitate efficient communication for rapidly growing bandwidth intensive applications. The existing layered protocol stack lacks efficiency in handling such applications. Cross-layer interactions can operate within the existing protocol stack and are a promising solution. In this article we present a survey of cross-layer interactions in wireless networks. We classify the cross-layer solutions based on the nature of the adaptation using a systematic evaluation of existing approaches. We identify critical criteria applicable to generic cross-layer framework design. Further, we analyze the existing generic cross-layer frameworks and qualitatively compare them based on the identified criteria. Context awareness is an essential and important element of future pervasive and wireless technologies. We propose to consider the context awareness as an essential and important aspect in cross-layer interactions and adaptations. We discuss context parameters with respect to adaptations that can be enabled at the layered protocol stack. Finally, we discuss open research challenges and gaps to be filled in cross-layer interactions in wireless networks.

Markov model based building deterioration prediction and ISO factor analysis for building management

AbstractWhile the Markov chain was successfully used for predicting the average condition of a network of assets under one influencing factor, incorporating the effect of a number of factors into a Markov chain model requires a separate analysis of each factor. In particular, modeling building deterioration is overly complicated due to the complexity in number and hierarchy of building components. The research study reported in this paper aims to combine the Markov chain with ISO factor method–based framework to offer a more reliable deterioration forecasting approach for buildings. This paper identifies major influencing factors for building deterioration. It investigates the ability to use Markov chain for deterioration modeling of a selected critical building component. The building condition inspection data from a local government agency in the State of Victoria, Australia, is used to calibrate a Markov deterioration model considering a number of influencing factors. To help demonstrate the concept, t...

Council Building Management Practices, Case Studies and Road Ahead

Community building assets in Australia represent a vast investment built up over many generations, and are valued at approximately 15 billion dollars. Further, the second largest class of infrastructure assets owned by councils is the community buildings. It is vital to develop strategic directions for efficient management of these buildings to guarantee the best value and the maximum benefit to the community by delivering the best possible service to the community. Efficient building management should address the aspects of assessing long term performance and developing long term management strategies. This paper investigates the significant aspects of efficient building management through a holistic look at the whole of life infrastructure management process. The contribution of this paper is threefold. First, the paper presents a typical building management process together with the identification of specific elements and/or various stages of the process. This can be easily converted to be applicable to any other infrastructure system. Second, the initial study and data collection conducted at six Victorian city councils covering the council building management practices are presented. These six current practices are analysed and presented as case studies. Third, the paper identifies knowledge/practice gaps between the theoretical foundation of building management process and current practices in the industry. The paper highlights the lessons learnt through the analysis of case studies. Further, it proposes the road ahead of council building management strategy through a holistic analysis of the whole of life infrastructure management process.

Looking and learning: using participatory video to improve health and safety in the construction industry

Construction health and safety (H&S) is usually managed using a top-down approach of regulating workers’ behaviour through the implementation and enforcement of prescriptive rules and procedures. This management approach privileges technical knowledge over knowledge based on workers’ tacit and informal ways of knowing about H&S. The aim is to investigate the potential for participatory video to: (1) identify areas in which formal policies and procedures do not reflect H&S as practised by workers; (2) encourage creative thinking and elicit workers’ ideas for H&S improvements; and (3) provide an effective mechanism for capturing and sharing tacit H&S knowledge in construction organizations. Interviews were conducted in two case study organizations (CSOs) in the Australian construction industry. The results suggest reflexive participatory video enabled workers and managers to view their work practices from a different perspective. Workers identified new hazards, reflected about the practical difficulties in performing work in accordance with documented procedures and reframed their work practices and developed safer ways of working. Workers described how the participatory video capturing the way they work enabled them to have more meaningful input into H&S decision-making than they had previously experienced. Workers also expressed a strong preference for receiving H&S information in a visual format and commented that video was better suited to communicating H&S ‘know how’ than written documents. The research is significant in providing initial evidence that participatory video has the potential to improve H&S in construction.

Application of Gamma Process for Building Deterioration Prediction

AbstractDeterioration trends derived using discrete condition data are commonly used in management of civil infrastructure assets. However, the high variability of condition data often makes the derivation of deterministic models difficult and unreliable. Therefore, reliability-based methods such as Markov chain have been used to establish trends using highly variable condition data. Although these methods have been explored in assets such as bridges and roads, the use of reliability-based methods in deterioration prediction of buildings is less common. The second-largest class of infrastructure assets owned by the local governments in Australia is community buildings. Because most existing community buildings are maturing, the local government agencies seek more reliable asset management strategies. Physical condition–based forecasting is a major component of such asset management approaches. This paper presents the development of a reliability-based methodology for the deterioration prediction of commun...

Exploring the potential for the use of video to communicate safety information to construction workers: case studies of organizational use*

Legislation requires employers to provide health and safety (H&S) training to workers and communicate safety rules, policies and procedures to them in a way they understand. As the construction industry has an increasingly multicultural and multilingual workforce, conventional written and verbal safety communication is of limited effectiveness. CodeSafe Solutions, has developed an innovative method of communicating H&S information to field-based workers using digital media. The potential of the system was explored and two organizations in the Australian construction industry were used. Qualitative data from in-depth interviews of safety managers and workers involved in system implementation and quantitative data such as incident reports and video usage were analysed. Managers perceived the CodeSafe system to be beneficial and well received by workers. In one organization, the introduction of the CodeSafe system coincided with a reduction in injury rates. However, causal inferences about the impact of the system cannot be made. Workers involved in making the films believed films would be an effective communication tool. However, barriers to implementation of the technology include workers’ reluctance to use personal smart phones, limited internet connectivity, and organizational and national regulations on mobile phone use on construction sites.

Building information modelling for facility management: are we there yet?

Building information modelling (BIM) is increasingly being adopted during construction projects. Design and construction practices are adjusting to the new system. BIM is intended to support the entire project life-cycle: the design and construction phases, and also facility management (FM). However, BIM-enabled FM remains in its infancy and has not yet reached its full potential. The purpose of this paper is to identify major aspects of BIM in order to derive a fully BIM-enabled FM process.,In total, 207 papers were classified into main and subordinate research areas for quantitative analysis. These findings were then used to conceptualise a BIM-enabled FM framework grounded by innovation diffusion theory for adoption, and for determining the path of future research.,Through an extensive literature review, the paper summarises many benefits and challenges. Major aspects of BIM are identified in order to describe a BIM-enabled FM implementation process grounded by innovation diffusion theory. The major research areas of the proposed framework include: planning and guidelines; value realisation; internal leadership and knowledge; procurement; FM; specific application areas; data capture techniques; data integration; knowledge management; and legal and policy impact. Each element is detailed and is supported by literature. Finally, gaps are highlighted for investigation in future research.,This paper systematically classifies and evaluates the existing research, thus contributing to the achievement of the ultimate vision of BIM-enabled FM. The proposed framework informs facility managers, and the BIM-enabled FM implementation process. Further, the holistic survey identifies gaps in the body of knowledge, revealing avenues for future research.

Information visualisation for the wicked problem of safe construction design

ABSTRACT Prevention through Design has been identified as an effective means to enhance construction safety. However, design professionals, clients and other stakeholders often have limited experience of construction processes. Although processes and tools have been advanced to support stakeholders, very few have been adopted in practice. The complexities inherent in designing for safe construction suggest this to be a wicked problem using criteria advanced by Rittel and Weber. Approaches advanced to solve wicked problems outside construction are not applicable for solving construction design problems, largely because they require that stakeholders expend an impractical amount of time and energy to arrive at amenable solutions. Instead, an approach that utilises information visualisation addresses criteria for wicked problem resolution. The promise of information visualisation for this wicked problem has been illustrated through a case study involving façade design. An infographic was generated following structured interviews with building designers and safety experts. A workshop involving 20 designers, engineers and safety experts demonstrated that the infographic prompted participants to identify risks not previously considered and stimulated discussion about mitigation or reduction. There was unanimous agreement that the information visualisation could feasibly be adopted within the construction industry’s tight time and resource constraints.

Device Free Detection to Improve Construction Work Health and Safety

The Australian construction industry is identified as one among five industries to receive priority attention under the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022. Among the recorded construction fatalities in 2012, vehicle incidents accounted for 15% and being hit by moving objects accounted for 10%. Tracking of individuals on-site could provide a technological solution to improve safety. This paper proposes a novel non-tagging based wireless networking solution called device free localization to enhance safety on site. Device free localization techniques use radio signal propagation effects such as multi-path fading and shadowing caused by the obstruction(s). The proposed solution defines zones in the construction site. Zone identification is based on the risk associated with the location map of the site. Defining risk profiles considers the activities associated with the geographic location such as loading/unloading areas, truck, and vehicle entering area. The presence of workers entering a particular zone is detected based on this device free detection technique, which will later be extended to localization. This paper proposes a framework for defining risk associated zones for the construction sites for the effective implementation of device-free detection systems. Feasibility of the proposed device free detection technique is verified by preliminary experiments done in an indoor environment with high multi-path fading.

Thermal Environments in the Construction Industry: A Critical Review of Heat Stress Assessment and Control Strategies

In the light of climate change predictions, the increasing number of hot days will cause a significant impact on public health, mortality rates, energy demand and economy of Australia. Heat is also an occupation hazard, which is a growing concern in many industries. Heat stress hazards can be categorized as clinical, human performance diminishing and accident causing. The risk can be exaggerated in certain industries, including the construction industry, due to specific environmental conditions, work characteristics and occupational settings. This chapter discusses the main problems and risks associated with heat stress, with a particular emphasis on the construction industry. Various heat stress indices and advances in the assessment of heat stress in recent years are discussed. Finally, this chapter discusses the strategies and controls that can be implemented to mitigate the impact of heat stress in the construction industry. Various acclimatization protocols, hydration, self-pacing and exposure time limits or temperature risk control regimes are discussed by analysing standards, guidelines and policies and practices. This chapter contributes to resolving a timely and strategic occupational hazard through a holistic view of the thermal environment in construction industry settings.