A comparative analysis of web-based GIS applications using usability metrics

With the rapid expansion of the internet, Web-based Geographic Information System (WGIS) applications have gained popularity, despite the interface of the WGIS application being difficult to learn and understand because special functions are needed to manipulate the maps. Hence, it is essential to evaluate the usability of WGIS applications. Usability is an important factor in ensuring the development of quality, usable software products. On the other hand, there are a number of standards and models in the literature, each of which describes usability in terms of various set of attributes. These models are vague and difficult to understand. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study is to compare five common usability models (Shackel, Nielsen, ISO 9241 P-11, ISO 9126-1 and QUIM) to identify usability metrics that have most frequently used in the previous models. The questionnaire method and the automated usability evaluation method by using Loop11 tool were used, in order to evaluate the usability metrics for three case studies of commonly used WGIS applications as Google maps, Yahoo maps, and MapQuest. Finally, those case studies were compared and analysed based on usability metrics that have been identified. Based on a comparative study, four usability metrics (Effectiveness, Efficiency, Satisfaction and Learnability) were identified. Those usability metrics were characterized by consistent, comprehensive, not vaguely and proper to evaluate the usability of WGIS applications. In addition, there was a positive correlation between these usability metrics. The comparative analysis indicates that Effectiveness, Satisfaction and Learnability were higher, and the Efficiency was lesser by using the Loop11 tool compared to questionnaire method for the three case studies. In addition, Yahoo Maps and MapQuest have usability metrics rate lesser than Google Maps by applying two methods. Therefore, Google Maps is more usable compared to Yahoo Maps and MapQuest

Language and tool support for event refinement structures in Event-B

Event-B is a formal method for modelling and verifying the consistency of chains of model refinements. The event refinement structure (ERS) approach augments Event-B with a graphical notation which is capable of explicit representation of control flows and refinement relationships. In previous work, the ERS approach has been evaluated manually in the development of two large case studies, a multimedia protocol and a spacecraft sub-system. The evaluation results helped us to extend the ERS constructors, to develop a systematic definition of ERS, and to develop a tool supporting ERS. We propose the ERS language which systematically defines the semantics of the ERS graphical notation including the constructors. The ERS tool supports automatic construction of the Event-B models in terms of control flows and refinement relationships. In this paper we outline the systematic definition of ERS including the presentation of constructors, the tool that supports it and evaluate the contribution that ERS and its tool make. Also we present how the systematic definition of ERS and the corresponding tool can ensure a consistent encoding of the ERS diagrams in the Event-B models

An operational tool for evaluating poverty outreach of development policies and projects

Development institutions and projects frequently seek to target poorer segments of the population. Yet, existing methods for evaluating their outreach are generally unsuited to most operational settings, since they are either too costly and cumbersome (e.g., detailed income or household surveys), or they produce results that are not comparable between villages or regions within a country (e.g., participatory poverty appraisals). This paper presents a new and operationally suitable method to measure the poverty of clients of development projects in relation to the general population of nonclients. The method was developed in response to demands by donors and development practitioners for a low-cost evaluation instrument that could be used as a regular operational tool for assessing the poverty outreach of a development project or institution. While the method was originally developed for the purpose of assessing the poverty outreach of microfinance institutions (MFIs), we believe the method can be used for any development policy or project that pursues an explicit objective of reaching poorer people. The paper begins by discussing existing methods of poverty assessment. Next, the paper presents heuristic steps for identifying indicators of poverty to be tested in the case studies, including the questionnaire that was field tested in four countries with large differences in poverty-level, socioeconomic, and cultural contexts, and with MFIs that worked either in urban, rural, or mixed areas with different target clientele and financial products. The authors then describe the method of principal component analysis used to construct a poverty score as the measure of relative poverty. The paper concludes with a summary of results from four country case studies (two in Sub-Saharan Africa, one in South Asia, and one in Central America).Poverty Research Evaluation ,

An operational tool for evaluating poverty outreach of development policies and projects

Development institutions and projects frequently seek to target poorer segments of the population. Yet, existing methods for evaluating their outreach are generally unsuited to most operational settings, since they are either too costly and cumbersome (e.g., detailed income or household surveys), or they produce results that are not comparable between villages or regions within a country (e.g., participatory poverty appraisals). This paper presents a new and operationally suitable method to measure the poverty of clients of development projects in relation to the general population of nonclients. The method was developed in response to demands by donors and development practitioners for a low-cost evaluation instrument that could be used as a regular operational tool for assessing the poverty outreach of a development project or institution. While the method was originally developed for the purpose of assessing the poverty outreach of microfinance institutions (MFIs), we believe the method can be used for any development policy or project that pursues an explicit objective of reaching poorer people. The paper begins by discussing existing methods of poverty assessment. Next, the paper presents heuristic steps for identifying indicators of poverty to be tested in the case studies, including the questionnaire that was field tested in four countries with large differences in poverty-level, socioeconomic, and cultural contexts, and with MFIs that worked either in urban, rural, or mixed areas with different target clientele and financial products. The authors then describe the method of principal component analysis used to construct a poverty score as the measure of relative poverty. The paper concludes with a summary of results from four country case studies (two in Sub-Saharan Africa, one in South Asia, and one in Central America).FCND ,Poverty Research Evaluation ,

Case study approach in engineering classes: methodologies, strategies and recommendations for teachers and students – insights from the case “Banco da Amazônia”

Case studies allow readers to have contact with real life business, management or engineering situations, among others. They can be designed with learning objectives in mind. Case studies has become the main teaching method in the most of business schools since the pioneer example of Harvard University. Nevertheless, they represent an important teaching method in other areas namely, in the engineering context. The case study teaching method implies a process of analysis and discussion lead by well-prepared case teachers, which should follow appropriated strategies in order to maximize the results. This paper presents the case study approach as a teaching tool and discusses it in practice through a case study designed by the authors. The case “Banco da Amazônia” is a case on investment appraisal and risk evaluation designed for engineering students. For this purpose, the process of design and implementation of the case “Banco da Amazônia” is explained in detail. Recommendations for both teachers and students are presented and discussed. As a result, several methodologies and strategies are provided

Outcome Based Systems Evaluation to Assess Information Technology Impact Using Arima Methods

A new method of system evaluation that focuses on the impact the system has on a data series serves as the rationale for systems implementation was designed and modeled by the authors. Called outcome-based evaluation, this method is founded on the concept of intervention analysis and employs interrupted time series designs to determine the impact of an information system on specific organizational goals. Based on a review of the literature on the evolution of systems evaluation methods from focusing on user goals to user satisfaction and system usage, we conclude that user satisfaction and system usage are necessary but not sufficient criteria to establish system effectiveness or success. Thus, we establish a need for the proposed new method of system evaluation. Three business case studies are presented in this article that demonstrate and validate an evaluation method using ARIMA models for the analysis. The value of this tool for managers is its means of assessing IT effectiveness and payoff contextually, thereby enabling businesses to clarify both their IT needs and their outcome expectations a priori

An uncertainty-based quality evaluation tool for nanoindentation systems

Instrumented Indentation Test (IIT) is a nonconventional mechanical tests allowing multi-scale mechanical characterisation. It is employed for research and quality control in strategic manufacturing fields for developing edge technologies. The state-of-the-art lacks a robust methodology to assess quality of indentations and benchmark indentation devices. This is limiting the application of IIT for specifying and verifying tolerances. This work proposes an uncertainty-based quality evaluation tool for IIT. A non-parametric uncertainty evaluation of calibration contribution is proposed. The method shows the statistical significance of indentation sets modelled by the bootstrap samples. The uncertainty is then propagated according to the law of uncertainty propagation for the evaluation of mechanical characteristics. The methodology is applied to five case studies. Results show that the uncertainty evaluation model can achieve robust and sensitive quantification of the indentation results and system quality, thus providing a useful practical tool for industrial and academic practitioners within a metrological framework

UPS-SCS weekly forecasting tool.

This thesis develops a forecasting model to predict six different volume measures on a weekly and daily basis for UPS-Supply Chain Solutions (UPS-SCS). The volume measures are used by UPS-SCS to develop business plans, operation plans, and staffing plans. Four different forecasting methods are used to evaluate each volume metric. Moving average, single exponential smoothing, double exponential smoothing and Winter’s additive model are the four forecasting methods that are used to generate forecasts. From the statistical evaluation measures and graphs of the data, decisions of which forecasting method for each volume measure can be made. The demand pattern of the data set will influence which of the forecasting methods should be selected. UPS-SCS currently has a weekly forecasting method but it is not complex or dynamic. Two different case studies of actual data sets showed that the UPS-SCS Weekly Forecasting tool generated 10% more accurate forecasts compared to the current method that UPS-SCS uses. Based on the two different case studies the UPS-SCS Weekly Forecasting tool generated forecasts that were 90% effective or better and the current method that UPS-SCS uses generated forecasts that were 80% effective

A systematic approach to atomicity decomposition in Event-B

Event-B is a state-based formal method that supports a refinement process in which an abstract model is elaborated towards an implementation in a step-wise manner. One weakness of Event-B is that control flow between events is typically modelled implicitly via variables and event guards. While this fits well with Event-B refinement, it can make models involving sequencing of events more difficult to specify and understand than if control flow was explicitly specified. New events may be introduced in Event-B refinement and these are often used to decompose the atomicity of an abstract event into a series of steps. A second weakness of Event-B is that there is no explicit link between such new events that represent a step in the decomposition of atomicity and the abstract event to which they contribute. To address these weaknesses, atomicity decomposition diagrams support the explicit modelling of control flow and refinement relationships for new events. In previous work,the atomicity decomposition approach has been evaluated manually in the development of two large case studies, a multi media protocol and a spacecraft sub-system. The evaluation results helped us to develop a systematic definition of the atomicity decomposition approach, and to develop a tool supporting the approach. In this paper we outline this systematic definition of the approach, the tool that supports it and evaluate the contribution that the tool makes

Appraising psychotherapy case studies in practice-based evidence: introducing Case Study Evaluation-tool (CaSE)

AbstractSystematic case studies are often placed at the low end of evidence-based practice (EBP) due to lack of critical appraisal. This paper seeks to attend to this research gap by introducing a novel Case Study Evaluation-tool (CaSE). First, issues around knowledge generation and validity are assessed in both EBP and practice-based evidence (PBE) paradigms. Although systematic case studies are more aligned with PBE paradigm, the paper argues for a complimentary, third way approach between the two paradigms and their ‘exemplary’ methodologies: case studies and randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Second, the paper argues that all forms of research can produce ‘valid evidence’ but the validity itself needs to be assessed against each specific research method and purpose. Existing appraisal tools for qualitative research (JBI, CASP, ETQS) are shown to have limited relevance for the appraisal of systematic case studies through a comparative tool assessment. Third, the paper develops purpose-oriented evaluation criteria for systematic case studies through CaSE Checklist for Essential Components in Systematic Case Studies and CaSE Purpose-based Evaluative Framework for Systematic Case Studies. The checklist approach aids reviewers in assessing the presence or absence of essential case study components (internal validity). The framework approach aims to assess the effectiveness of each case against its set out research objectives and aims (external validity), based on different systematic case study purposes in psychotherapy. Finally, the paper demonstrates the application of the tool with a case example and notes further research trajectories for the development of CaSE tool.</jats:p