Safety distance awareness system for Malaysian Driver

It is known that the risk of an accident increases exponentially with the speed of the vehicle and most collisions happen when the driver fails to brake at the required time and distance. The objective of this research is to create a Safety Distance Awareness System which aims at warning the driver of the potential frontal collision and to alter Malaysian driver attitudes. This system is to manipulate Malaysian driver attitude that likes to tailgating and to prevent rear-end collision in Malaysia. This is done by using a Sound Navigation and Ranging (SONAR) range finder to determine the distance of the vehicle or obstacle in front of the host vehicle. With the help of microcontroller, the distance of the host vehicle could be determined and a warning will be issued in the form of both visual and hearing so driver could take the correct preventive measure. There will be few stages of warning, the system will intensify the distress warning until the collision occurs. These SDAs do not take any automatic prevention or control to the vehicle to avoid collision. In overall the research hopes to achieve a more convenient driving experience and a safer driving environment by implementing the SDAS to keep drivers aware of the potential hazards ahead of their vehicle. Hopefully the Malaysian government will involve in this research, since the implementation of Safety Distance Awareness System can provide a new alternative in the safety system hence it can reduce accidents in Malaysia

Evolving a software development methodology for commercial ICTD projects

This article discusses the evolution of a “DistRibuted Agile Methodology Addressing Technical Ictd in Commercial Settings” (DRAMATICS) that was developed in a global software corporation to support ICTD projects from initial team setup through ICT system design, development, and prototyping, to scaling up and transitioning, to sustainable commercial models. We developed the methodology using an iterative Action Research approach in a series of commercial ICTD projects over a period of more than six years. Our learning is reflected in distinctive methodology features that support the development of contextually adapted ICT systems, collaboration with local partners, involvement of end users in design, and the transition from research prototypes to scalable, long-term solutions. We offer DRAMATICS as an approach that others can appropriate and adapt to their particular project contexts. We report on the methodology evolution and provide evidence of its effectiveness in the projects where it has been used

Amalgamating sustainable design strategies into architectural curricula

In the era of climate change, rising sea levels, the hole in the ozone layer and current food crisis, sustainability is no longer a matter of choice; it is a must. While the term sustainability manages to embed itself in all aspects of contemporary life, sustainability in the built environment requires special attention. Designs created by architects and planners play a fundamental part in shaping the way we live, behave and interact with our surroundings. Smith (2001) argued that instilling sustainable design in curricula at schools of architecture is a significant method of encouraging sustainable architectural design in practice. This is particularly important in non-sustainable societies such as those of the Middle East. For these reasons, this study aims at exploring ‘sustainability strategies,’ as they may be described, adopted in different schools of architecture. The research surveys architectural curricula at different Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) exempted schools of Architecture, at part 1 and 2 levels. Meanwhile, it also observes the contradiction and difficulties of teaching sustainable architectural design in Egyptian and Middle Eastern societies, whose cultural fabric does not encourage environmental awareness. Finally, the study attempts to investigate, in an increased level of detail, how sustainable design education fits into the undergraduate and postgraduate curricula of the Architectural Engineering and Environmental Design Department (AEED) at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) in Alexandria, Egypt. The paper concludes that the proper application of sustainable design strategies at early stages of architecture education has developed architects with sturdy understanding of their environment, climate and local identity, which can never happen if this is addressed in postgraduate studies or at later stages of the Architecture career