Semantic-based decision support for remote care of dementia patients

This paper investigates the challenges in developing a semantic-based Dementia Care Decision Support System based on the non-intrusive monitoring of the patient's behaviour. Semantic-based approaches are well suited for modelling context-aware scenarios similar to Dementia care systems, where the patient's dynamic behaviour observations (occupants movement, equipment use) need to be analysed against the semantic knowledge about the patient's condition (illness history, medical advice, known symptoms) in an integrated knowledgebase. However, our research findings establish that the ability of semantic technologies to reason upon the complex interrelated events emanating from the behaviour monitoring sensors to infer knowledge assisting medical advice represents a major challenge. We attempt to address this problem by introducing a new approach that relies on propositional calculus modelling to segregate complex events that are amenable for semantic reasoning from events that require pre-processing outside the semantic engine before they can be reasoned upon. The event pre-processing activity also controls the timing of triggering the reasoning process in order to further improve the efficiency of the inference process. Using regression analysis, we evaluate the response-time as the number of monitored patients increases and conclude that the incurred overhead on the response time of the prototype decision support systems remains tolerable

BIM-based construction simulation modelling

Construction simulation has been widely used in academia for research purposes and its usefulness as a planning and decision-making support tool has been proven. However, it has been neglected by the industry for various reasons, including the amount of data, skills, effort and time required to develop complex simulation models, the difficulty of model reuse, and the abstract and confusing way in which simulation results are usually presented. This thesis proposes a simulation modelling approach that leverages existing simulation modelling paradigms used in the context of construction engineering and management, namely, discrete-event simulation, distributed simulation, hierarchical control structures and parametric modelling. The proposed simulation modelling approach enables an accurate representation of resource allocation and task interdependencies constraints while enabling model reuse to streamline the process of developing complex simulation models. Moreover, the proposed simulation approach provides a mechanism to enhance the visualisation of simulation results by generating simulation-based animations, which can be used for different visualisation purposes. The thesis discusses how the proposed simulation approach could tackle some of the barriers to adopting simulation in the industry. Subsequently, the thesis presents a framework for the semi-automatic generation of a construction simulation model and animations of its results from a building information model (BIM). The development of the proposed conceptual framework was based on the proposed simulation modelling approach. The framework is composed of five main modules: (1) the environment module, preloaded with a library of generic simulation models of different construction activities, (2) the user input, which includes the facility to import existing BIM models, (3) the preprocessing module, which automatically generates a BIM-based simulation model, (4) the simulation module, in which users can experiment with the model, and (5) the visualisation module, which produces reports and simulation-based animations to support planning and decision-making. The proposed conceptual framework and its components were tested by designing a game engine-based application implemented in the Unity game engine. The features of the selected game engine were exploited to achieve the intended functionality of the framework. The feasibility of the framework was assessed through a case study based on a typical masonry construction problem. Results of implementing the framework reveal that BIM-based simulations can reduce the skills, effort and time required to develop simulation models, and enable model reuse. The integration of simulation-based animations provides a model verification and validation mechanism, and a means to communicate model results to stakeholders that are unfamiliar with simulation

BIM-based construction simulation modelling

Construction simulation has been widely used in academia for research purposes and its usefulness as a planning and decision-making support tool has been proven. However, it has been neglected by the industry for various reasons, including the amount of data, skills, effort and time required to develop complex simulation models, the difficulty of model reuse, and the abstract and confusing way in which simulation results are usually presented. This thesis proposes a simulation modelling approach that leverages existing simulation modelling paradigms used in the context of construction engineering and management, namely, discrete-event simulation, distributed simulation, hierarchical control structures and parametric modelling. The proposed simulation modelling approach enables an accurate representation of resource allocation and task interdependencies constraints while enabling model reuse to streamline the process of developing complex simulation models. Moreover, the proposed simulation approach provides a mechanism to enhance the visualisation of simulation results by generating simulation-based animations, which can be used for different visualisation purposes. The thesis discusses how the proposed simulation approach could tackle some of the barriers to adopting simulation in the industry. Subsequently, the thesis presents a framework for the semi-automatic generation of a construction simulation model and animations of its results from a building information model (BIM). The development of the proposed conceptual framework was based on the proposed simulation modelling approach. The framework is composed of five main modules: (1) the environment module, preloaded with a library of generic simulation models of different construction activities, (2) the user input, which includes the facility to import existing BIM models, (3) the preprocessing module, which automatically generates a BIM-based simulation model, (4) the simulation module, in which users can experiment with the model, and (5) the visualisation module, which produces reports and simulation-based animations to support planning and decision-making. The proposed conceptual framework and its components were tested by designing a game engine-based application implemented in the Unity game engine. The features of the selected game engine were exploited to achieve the intended functionality of the framework. The feasibility of the framework was assessed through a case study based on a typical masonry construction problem. Results of implementing the framework reveal that BIM-based simulations can reduce the skills, effort and time required to develop simulation models, and enable model reuse. The integration of simulation-based animations provides a model verification and validation mechanism, and a means to communicate model results to stakeholders that are unfamiliar with simulation

Pemilihan kerjaya di kalangan pelajar aliran perdagangan sekolah menengah teknik : satu kajian kes

This research is a survey to determine the career chosen of form four student in commerce streams. The important aspect of the career chosen has been divided into three, first is information about career, type of career and factor that most influence students in choosing a career. The study was conducted at Sekolah Menengah Teknik Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Thirty six form four students was chosen by using non-random sampling purpose method as respondent. All information was gather by using questionnaire. Data collected has been analyzed in form of frequency, percentage and mean. Results are performed in table and graph. The finding show that information about career have been improved in students career chosen and mass media is the main factor influencing students in choosing their career

Mapping customer needs to engineering characteristics: an aerospace perspective for conceptual design

Designing complex engineering systems, such as an aircraft or an aero-engine, is immensely challenging. Formal Systems Engineering (SE) practices are widely used in the aerospace industry throughout the overall design process to minimise the overall design effort, corrective re-work, and ultimately overall development and manufacturing costs. Incorporating the needs and requirements from customers and other stakeholders into the conceptual and early design process is vital for the success and viability of any development programme. This paper presents a formal methodology, the Value-Driven Design (VDD) methodology that has been developed for collaborative and iterative use in the Extended Enterprise (EE) within the aerospace industry, and that has been applied using the Concept Design Analysis (CODA) method to map captured Customer Needs (CNs) into Engineering Characteristics (ECs) and to model an overall ‘design merit’ metric to be used in design assessments, sensitivity analyses, and engineering design optimisation studies. Two different case studies with increasing complexity are presented to elucidate the application areas of the CODA method in the context of the VDD methodology for the EE within the aerospace secto

Semantic model-driven development of web service architectures.

Building service-based architectures has become a major area of interest since the advent of Web services. Modelling these architectures is a central activity. Model-driven development is a recent approach to developing software systems based on the idea of making models the central artefacts for design representation, analysis, and code generation. We propose an ontology-based engineering methodology for semantic model-driven composition and transformation of Web service architectures. Ontology technology as a logic-based knowledge representation and reasoning framework can provide answers to the needs of sharable and reusable semantic models and descriptions needed for service engineering. Based on modelling, composition and code generation techniques for service architectures, our approach provides a methodological framework for ontology-based semantic service architecture

A virtual environment to support the distributed design of large made-to-order products

An overview of a virtual design environment (virtual platform) developed as part of the European Commission funded VRShips-ROPAX (VRS) project is presented. The main objectives for the development of the virtual platform are described, followed by the discussion of the techniques chosen to address the objectives, and finally a description of a use-case for the platform. Whilst the focus of the VRS virtual platform was to facilitate the design of ROPAX (roll-on passengers and cargo) vessels, the components within the platform are entirely generic and may be applied to the distributed design of any type of vessel, or other complex made-to-order products

CBR and MBR techniques: review for an application in the emergencies domain

The purpose of this document is to provide an in-depth analysis of current reasoning engine practice and the integration strategies of Case Based Reasoning and Model Based Reasoning that will be used in the design and development of the RIMSAT system. RIMSAT (Remote Intelligent Management Support and Training) is a European Commission funded project designed to: a.. Provide an innovative, 'intelligent', knowledge based solution aimed at improving the quality of critical decisions b.. Enhance the competencies and responsiveness of individuals and organisations involved in highly complex, safety critical incidents - irrespective of their location. In other words, RIMSAT aims to design and implement a decision support system that using Case Base Reasoning as well as Model Base Reasoning technology is applied in the management of emergency situations. This document is part of a deliverable for RIMSAT project, and although it has been done in close contact with the requirements of the project, it provides an overview wide enough for providing a state of the art in integration strategies between CBR and MBR technologies.Postprint (published version