A Multipurpose Collapsible Scaffold for Flat and Irregular Surfaces

The construction industry heavily relies on scaffolding to facilitate work at elevated heights. This study presents a new and innovative design for a collapsible, multifunctional scaffold that is suitable for both flat and irregular surfaces. The design of the scaffold was evaluated using a Likert scale survey, which revealed high acceptability across all evaluated categories. The scaffold was fabricated using a combination of steel and aluminum materials and designed using computer-aided design CAD software. The fabrication process, portability, performance, and safety of a prototype scaffold were thoroughly assessed. The evaluation methodology employed a Likert-scale questionnaire and a descriptive research approach. A total of 30 engineers, architects, and construction laborers participated in the evaluation, assessing four essential aspects of the scaffold. The results indicated a consistently high level of acceptability, with weighted mean scores ranging from 4.69 to 4.94 out of a maximum score of 5.0 in all categories. The design parameters of the scaffold, such as the footing mechanism and working platform design, were determined based on industry standards and the intended usage of the scaffold. However, this study did not include a sensitivity analysis to explore the impact of different parameter values on the scaffold's performance. This study introduces a collapsible, multifunctional scaffold that effectively addresses the limitations of traditional scaffolds by offering enhanced portability, safety, and adaptability to flat and irregular surfaces. The widespread adoption of this scaffold design is expected to have significant implications for the construction industry, improving productivity and safety in construction projects. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-SP2023-09-09 Full Text: PD

Critical Incidents and Librarian Professional Identity in LIS Pedagogy: Research Methodology as Pedagogical Tool Embedded in Reflexive Practice

Traditional conceptualisations of the library profession have been challenged due to persistent societal change, similarly affecting professional education. Challenges resulting from such change can be understood as uncertainty of definition and fit in society, and thus a questioning of professional identity. Examinations of professional identity offers potential in practice when introduced in the educational context. This paper outlines a pedagogical tool adapted from a method used in research investigating public librarian professional identity in New Zealand. The tool leverages the elicitation of critical incidents, along with guided questions, to prompt examination of professional identity. The tool is embedded within reflexive practice, creating a framework to understand and engage within increasingly interconnected and changing contexts

A framework for integrating syntax, semantics and pragmatics for computer-aided professional practice: With application of costing in construction industry

Producing a bill of quantity is a knowledge-based, dynamic and collaborative process, and evolves with variances and current evidence. However, within the context of information system practice in BIM, knowledge of cost estimation has not been represented, nor has it been integrated into the processes based on BIM. This paper intends to establish an innovative means of taking data from the BIM linked to a project, and using it to create the necessary items for a bill of quantity that will enable cost estimation to be undertaken for the project. Our framework is founded upon the belief that three components are necessary to gain a full awareness of the domain which is being computerised; the information type which is to be assessed for compatibility (syntax), the definition for the pricing domain (semantics), and the precise implementation environment for the standards being taken into account (pragmatics). In order to achieve this, a prototype is created that allows a cost item for the bill of quantity to be spontaneously generated, by means of the semantic web ontology and a forward chain algorithm. Within this paper, ‘cost items’ signify the elements included in a bill of quantity, including details of their description, quantity and price. As a means of authenticating the process being developed, the authors of this work effectively implemented it in the production of cost items. In addition, the items created were contrasted with those produced by specialists. For this reason, this innovative framework introduces the possibility of a new means of applying semantic web ontology and forward chain algorithm to construction professional practice resulting in automatic cost estimation. These key outcomes demonstrate that, decoupling the professional practice into three key components of syntax, semantics and pragmatics can provide tangible benefits to domain use

BLOCKS, a Component Framework with Checking Facilities for Knowledge-Based Systems

équipe PULSARInternational audienceBLOCKS is an answer to the software engineering needs of the design of knowledge-based system engines. It is a framework composed of reusable and adaptable software components. However , its safe and correct use is complex and we supply formal models and associated tools to assist using it. These models and tools are based on behavioral description of components and on model checking techniques. They ensure a safe reuse of the components, especially when extending them through inheritance, owing to the notion of behavioral refinement