COLLABORATION THROUGH COMICS

This paper examines the role of design comics within business analysis. We first consider background to the use of comics within design work. This leads us to collate a number of advantages to using design comics as an intermediate and user-centric representation within acts of business analysis. We then describe our own use of design comics for making sense of socio-technical organisation and conclude with a discussion of the importance of comics within acts of collaboration between business analyst and organisational actors

Sharing practice, problems and solutions for institutional change

This chapter critiques the roles of different forms of representation of practice as part of an institutional change process. It discusses how these representations can be used both to design and to share learning activities at the various levels of decision-making in a university. We illustrate our arguments with empirical data gathered on change processes associated with an institution-wide change programme: the introduction of a new virtual learning environment (VLE). In particular, we describe a case study of the introduction of the VLE tools in a business course. We focus on two particular forms of representations to describe the essence of the innovation: a pedagogical pattern and a visual learning design. We argue that pedagogical patterns and learning design have emerged as parallel approaches to describing practice in recent years. Despite their very different origins, both provide complementary representations, which emphasize different aspects of the practice being described. We are attempting to combine these approaches. We briefly outline the Open University Learning Design initiative, of which this work is part, and describe its key underpinning philosophies. We believe our approach provides a vehicle for enabling a better articulation of design principles and the discussion of issues concerning the re-use of educational resources and activities

Use of rod compactors for high voltage overhead power lines magnetic field mitigation

In the last decades, strengthening the high voltage transmission system through the installation of new overhead power lines has become critical, especially in highly developed areas. Present laws concerning the human exposure to electric and magnetic fields introduce constraints to be considered in both new line construction and existing systems. In the paper, a technique for passive magnetic field mitigation in areas close to overhead power lines is introduced, fully modelled and discussed through a parametric analysis. The investigated solution, which basically consists in approaching line conductors along the span making use of rod insulators, is applicable on both existing and under-design overhead lines as an alternative to other mitigating actions. Making use of a 3-dimensional representation, the procedure computes both positions of phase conductors and forces acting on insulators, towers, conductors and compactors, with the aim of evaluating the additional mechanical stress introduced by the compactors. Finally, a real case study is reported to demonstrate and quantify the benefits in terms of ground magnetic field reduction achievable by applying the proposed solution, in comparison to a traditional configuration. Furthermore, using compactors to passively reduce the magnetic field is simple to be applied, minimally invasive and quite inexpensive as regards to alternative mitigating actions

Visual scanning as a reference framework for interactive representation design

International audienceWhen designing a representation, the designer implicitly formulates a sequence of visual tasks required to understand and use the representation effectively. This paper aims at making the sequence of visual tasks explicit in order to help designers elicit their design choices. In particular, we present a set of concepts to systematically analyse what a user must theoretically do to decipher representations. The analysis consists of a decomposition of the activity of scanning into elementary visualization operations. We show how the analysis applies to various existing representations, and how expected benefits can be expressed in terms of elementary operations. The set of elementary operations form the basis of a shared language for representation designers. The decomposition highlights the challenges encountered by a user when deciphering a representation and helps designers to exhibit possible flaws in their design, justify their choices, and compare designs. We also show that interaction with a representation can be considered as facilitation to perform the elementary operations

Formulating the design rationale of visual representation

8pWhen designing a representation, a designer implicitly formulates a method required to understand and use the representation effectively. This paper aims at making the method explicit, in order to help designers elicit their design choices. In particular, we present a set of concepts to systematically analyze what a user must theoretically do visually to find information. The analysis consists in a decomposition of the activity of scanning into elementary visualization operations. We show how the analysis applies on various existing representation, and how expected benefits can be expressed in terms of elementary operations. The decomposition highlights the challenges encountered by a user when figuring out a representation, and helps designer to exhibit possible flaws in their design.The set of elementary operations form the basis of a shared, common language for representation designers

A study on schedule management for BIM projects in the construction industry

There is an advance modelling tool that currently been pushed by the industry is BIM. BIM as known as Building Modelling Information is a computerized process that is used to design, understand and establish the key physical and functional characteristic of a building on a ‘virtual’ computerized model basis at its most basic level [4]. Basically the resulting model is a digital representation of the building which the data can be extracted and analyzed to generate information that can be used for decision making and enhance the process of delivering the building and the entire life cycle use of the building [4]. BIM implementation can help to improve the quality of project especially the schedule management. By implementing BIM into construction project, it can provides schedule visualization which can make the construction planning more efficient. Besides that, through the BIM model clash detection can be detected in the preconstruction phase which save a lot of time on rework during construction phase

Model Management Systems: Proposed Model Representations and Future Designs

The availability of microcomputers, modeling langauges and general purpose spreadsheets has resulted in an increase in the use of models for decision making within organizatons. Decision makers with microcomputers on their desks and spreadsheet and modeling software can create models rapidly. Problems with model redundancy, consistency, integrity and security have prompted an increased interest in the design of model management systems (MMS). Several model management designs have been discussed in the literature. Different model representation techniques have been proposed. These include formal logic, semantic inheritance networks, frames, and relational representations. The approaches to model management are evaluated in respect to their model manipulation and model storage functions. A framework for the design of MMS is proposed based on the system design objectives and the system domain complexity. Advantages and disadvantages of each model representation method are identified. Application domains for the classifications are proposed which focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the model representation for supporting model storage and model manipulation functions. An example of the design of a MMS using the classification is presented