Statistical evaluation of pre-selection criteria for industrialized building system (IBS)

The Malaysian government has endorsed the use of an industrialized building system (IBS) in domestic projects. These have shifted the focus of the nation's construction industry towards mass production and modular products. A proper study on site selection criteria for new IBS precast manufacturing sites has now become essential. The preliminary study in this research determines the IBS precast manufacturing site selection criteria from literature reviews. Questionnaires pertaining to IBS acceptance and preference criteria were send to manufacturers, policymakers, academicians and contractors. The outcome analyses the respondents’ view towards 15 site selection criteria. The result from the ANOVA statistical test indicates that most respondents agreed with the selected criteria except political and regulation criteria, urban requirement criteria, and personal criteria. However, there is a significant difference within the opinions of the contractors and manufacturers sector. Likewise, the mean ranking analysis of criteria shows significant difference in their preferences. The ideal rank of criteria preferred by the correspondents are costs, transportation and optimum distance, land sites, resources and utilization, infrastructures, economy markets, labour, inter-industry linkage, environmental risk, competition, personal, population, capacity, political and regulatory, and urban criteria

A qualitative multi-attribute model for the selection of the private hydropower plant investments in Turkey: by foundation of the search results clustering engine (Carrot2), hydropower plant clustering, DEXi and DEXiTree

Purpose: The electricity demand in Turkey has been increasing for a while. Hydropower is one of the major electricity generation types to compensate this electricity demand in Turkey. Private investors (domestic and foreign) in the hydropower electricity generation sector have been looking for the most appropriate and satisfactory new private hydropower investment (PHPI) options and opportunities in Turkey. This study aims to present a qualitative multiattribute decision making (MADM) model, that is easy, straightforward, and fast for the selection of the most satisfactory reasonable PHPI options during the very early investment stages (data and information poorness on projects). Design/methodology/approach: The data and information of the PHPI options was gathered from the official records on the official websites. A wide and deep literature review was conducted for the MADM models and for the hydropower industry. The attributes of the model were identified, selected, clustered and evaluated by the expert decision maker (EDM) opinion and by help of an open source search results clustering engine (Carrot2) (helpful for also comprehension). The PHPI options were clustered according to their installed capacities main property to analyze the options in the most appropriate, decidable, informative, understandable and meaningful way. A simple clustering algorithm for the PHPI options was executed in the current study. A template model for the selection of the most satisfactory PHPI options was built in the DEXi (Decision EXpert for Education) and the DEXiTree software. Findings: The basic attributes for the selection of the PHPI options were presented and afterwards the aggregate attributes were defined by the bottom-up structuring for the early investment stages. The attributes were also analyzed by help of Carrot2. The most satisfactory PHPI options in Turkey in the big options data set were selected for each PHPI options cluster by the EDM evaluations in the DEXi. Originality/value: The recommended DEXi PHPI selection model by the search results clustering engine within a country wise case offered the possibility of easy, meaningful and satisfying continental or worldwide applications for the private investors and the international financial institutions such as the African Development Bank, or the World Bank was the main contribution.Peer Reviewe

Waste Management Law and Policy in Taiwan: A Case Study in Comparative Environmental Law.

The purpose of the thesis is twofold. First, the dissertation examines the state of waste management laws and regulations in Taiwan (the Republic of China). Secondly, it considers whether the waste management laws and regulations of England and Wales may serve as effective models for assisting Taiwan to develop a more comprehensive waste management law. This study is primarily focused on the legal and practical aspects of waste management laws and regulations in Taiwan, which for many years has been recognised as a significant problem Key areas of legal reform are argued to be the adoption of integrated pollution prevention control towards waste management, liability in relation to contaminated land, concerns regarding duty of care, and the development of an effective and fair system of dispute resolution for resolving environmental disputes. The thesis begins with an overview of the major developments in the waste management field in Taiwan. The current status of environmental protection and the relevant administrative framework will be considered, The thesis then discusses the implementation of environmental laws in Taiwan. Solid waste disposal management and pertinent pollution control will be carefully analysed. Subsequently, consideration is given to the issues of special problem of radioactive waste, dispute settlement and 'sustainable development' in Taiwan. A selective examination of the waste management laws and regulations of England and Wales that might provide inspiration for a more cohesive and integrated environmental protection regime in Taiwan are used as a basis to propose a number of law reforms. For instance, legislative measures for the remediation of contaminated land are suggested. The regime of duty of care is drawn upon to recommend the amendment of existing Taiwanese waste management laws to include a liability section. The integrated pollution prevention control system found in England and Wales is better than that provided by existing environmental legislation in Taiwan. The urgent need for legal development regarding the effective use of alternative dispute resolution to resolve environmental disputes in Taiwan. Further, greater public participation in environmental decision and rule making is also proposed. The thesis advances knowledge through its examination of the current state of waste management laws and regulations in Taiwan. At the same time, the dissertation makes a contribution to comparative law in as much as it considers the manner in which the waste management laws and regulations of England and Wales may serve as effective tools for the reform of the environmental regulatory regime on Taiwan

Tourism in contemporary cities. Proceedings of the International Tourism Studies Association Conference: University of Greenwich, London, UK 17–19 August 2016 Conference Proceedings

The 6th International Tourism Studies Association (ITSA) Biennial conference was held at the University of Greenwich, London, England from 17‐19 August 2016. This was the first time that the conference had been held in Europe and it provided a unique opportunity to meet, hear from and network with tourism scholars and professionals from across Europe, Asia, Australasia, and North and South America. ITSA has a mission to encourage interaction and cooperation between developing and developed countries and the conference was successful in attracting 130 delegates from 29 countries. The main theme of the conference was 'Tourism in Contemporary Cities' with four conference sub‐themes of ‘Tourism Cities and Urban Tourism’, ‘The Chinese Market for European Tourism’, ‘River, Cruise and Maritime Tourism’, and ‘Heritage Tourism in Cities’, The subthemes were chosen to reflect the unique location of the conference on the UNESCO Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, and London which is Europe’s most visited tourist destination. The conference also presented ‘Dark Tourism and Cities’ and ‘Tourism and Communist Heritage’ as special sessions