Geo Data Science for Tourism

This reprint describes the recent challenges in tourism seen from the point of view of data science. Thanks to the use of the most popular Data Science concepts, you can easily recognise trends and patterns in tourism, detect the impact of tourism on the environment, and predict future trends in tourism. This reprint starts by describing how to analyse data related to the past, then it moves on to detecting behaviours in the present, and, finally, it describes some techniques to predict future trends. By the end of the reprint, you will be able to use data science to help tourism businesses make better use of data and improve their decision making and operations.

Global Perspectives on China's Belt and Road Initiative

This edited volume discusses the question of how different actors give shape to BRI projects. It outlines how, rather than treating nation states as singular, monolithic actors, this volume teases apart the way different people and organizations insert themselves into BRI decision-making and implementation

Evolutionary Computation 2020

Intelligent optimization is based on the mechanism of computational intelligence to refine a suitable feature model, design an effective optimization algorithm, and then to obtain an optimal or satisfactory solution to a complex problem. Intelligent algorithms are key tools to ensure global optimization quality, fast optimization efficiency and robust optimization performance. Intelligent optimization algorithms have been studied by many researchers, leading to improvements in the performance of algorithms such as the evolutionary algorithm, whale optimization algorithm, differential evolution algorithm, and particle swarm optimization. Studies in this arena have also resulted in breakthroughs in solving complex problems including the green shop scheduling problem, the severe nonlinear problem in one-dimensional geodesic electromagnetic inversion, error and bug finding problem in software, the 0-1 backpack problem, traveler problem, and logistics distribution center siting problem. The editors are confident that this book can open a new avenue for further improvement and discoveries in the area of intelligent algorithms. The book is a valuable resource for researchers interested in understanding the principles and design of intelligent algorithms

Information knowledge and technology for Development in Africa

Information, knowledge, and technology occupy significant space in the information and knowledge society and ongoing debates on development such as sustainable development goals (SDGs) agenda 2030 and the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Disruptive technologies and cyber-physical systems, obscuring the lines between the physical, digital and biological, escalated by the COVID-19 pandemic, present a ‘new normal’ that profoundly affects the nature and magnitude of responses required to sustain and benefit from the new developments. Africa, known for late adoption of new technologies and innovations, is leapfrogging development stages in several enviable ways. This book, Information knowledge and technology for development in Africa’, written by eminent African scholars, comprises chapters that satisfactorily address information access, artificial intelligence, information ethics, e-learning, library and information science education (LISE) in the 4IR, data literacy and e-scholarship, and knowledge management, which are increasingly essential for information access, services, and LISE in Africa. We expect the book to support research, teaching and learning in African higher education and worldwide for comparative scholarship

Information knowledge and technology for Development in Africa

Information, knowledge, and technology occupy significant space in the information and knowledge society and ongoing debates on development such as sustainable development goals (SDGs) agenda 2030 and the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Disruptive technologies and cyber-physical systems, obscuring the lines between the physical, digital and biological, escalated by the COVID-19 pandemic, present a ‘new normal’ that profoundly affects the nature and magnitude of responses required to sustain and benefit from the new developments. Africa, known for late adoption of new technologies and innovations, is leapfrogging development stages in several enviable ways. This book, Information knowledge and technology for development in Africa’, written by eminent African scholars, comprises chapters that satisfactorily address information access, artificial intelligence, information ethics, e-learning, library and information science education (LISE) in the 4IR, data literacy and e-scholarship, and knowledge management, which are increasingly essential for information access, services, and LISE in Africa. We expect the book to support research, teaching and learning in African higher education and worldwide for comparative scholarship

Green architecture and sustainability apllied on buildings evaluation systems for"blank" smart cities and "converted" smart cities

Tese de Doutoramento em Arquitetura, com a especialização em Tecnologias e Gestão da Construção apresentada na Faculdade de Arquitetura da Universidade de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Doutora.O desenvolvimento sucessivo de Cidades Inteligentes pelo mundo, tem criado uma atitude negativa e prejudicial que resulta na dificuldade de atração de habitantes para estes espaços. As novas tecnologias não são suficientemente impulsionadoras para garantir uma taxa de adoção sustentável dentro destas novas cidades. O conceito de Cidades Inteligentes Climáticas visam resolver esta questão tendo em conta aspectos relacionados na base da habitabilidade e da sustentabilidade. Enquanto o papel da arquitetura nas Cidades Inteligentes Climáticas é ainda mais importante do que Cidades Inteligentes, os princípios que se encontram subjacentes na sua concepção e, em última instância, no seu sucesso, não foram ainda sistematicamente estudados e avaliadas. Este trabalho sistematiza e valida as necessidades de Cidades Inteligentes Climáticas e propõe um conjunto de princípios para a sua planificação, concepção e manutenção. As necessidades foram validadas com os casos de estudo da cidade de ‘Songdo City’ em Incheon, na Coreia do Sul, em Ulaanbaatar na Mongólia e em Minsk na Bielorrúsia. Com a definição dos princípios orientadores subjacentes à concepção de Cidades Inteligentes Climáticas, o quadro proposto permitirá que arquitetos, engenheiros, governos, e organizações internacionais afiram soluções a serem implementadas mundialmente. Estes princípios podem ser facilmente implementados em intervenções em cidades europeias, nas cidades emergentes e, em países subdesenvolvidos que estão sujeitos a um mau planeamento estratégico.ABSTRACT: Successive deployments of Smart Cities around the world are hindered by the difficulty in attracting a critical mass of inhabitants. New technology is not enough as a driver to guarantee a sustained adoption rate within the new cities. The concept of Climate Smart City aims at solving this issue by putting aspects related to liveability and sustainability at the centre. While the role of architecture in Climate Smart Cities is even more important than in Smart Cities, the principles that underlie their design and, ultimately, their success, have never been systematically studied and assessed. This research work systematises and validates the needs of Climate Smart Cities and then proposes a framework of principles for their planning, design and maintenance. The needs are validated with field studies of Songdo City in Incheon, South Korea, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and Minsk, Belarus. By defining the guiding principles underlying the design of Climate Smart Cities, the proposed framework will also enable architects, engineers, decision-makers and, international organisations to benchmark the solutions to be implemented. These principles can be readily implemented in interventions planned for European cities, emerging cities and, underdeveloped cities subject to poorly strategic planning.N/

Study on open science: The general state of the play in Open Science principles and practices at European life sciences institutes

Nowadays, open science is a hot topic on all levels and also is one of the priorities of the European Research Area. Components that are commonly associated with open science are open access, open data, open methodology, open source, open peer review, open science policies and citizen science. Open science may a great potential to connect and influence the practices of researchers, funding institutions and the public. In this paper, we evaluate the level of openness based on public surveys at four European life sciences institute

Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards and Market Performance of Listed Banks in Nigeria

Abstract. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of the adoption of IFRS on the market performance of banks in Nigeria. Secondary data were acquired from the financial statement of 15 money deposit banks listed on floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) while regression and paired sample test analyses were used to determine the association between the adoption of IFRS and the market performance of listed money deposit Banks in Nigeria. The study found a positive and significant relationship between the adoption of IFRS and the market performance of listed money deposit banks in Nigeria proxy by Dividend pay-out (DPO) and Dividend Yield (DY). Furthermore, the paired sample test result indicates a significant difference exists between Dividend pay-out (DPO) and the adoption of IFRS while no significant difference exists between Dividend Yield (DY) and the adoption of IFRS. Thus, the study recommends that the global adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards particularly in developing economies like Nigeria should be properly implemented and studied, so as to keep abreast with the various changes the would likely affect the market performance of the Nigerian Banking industry