A lean way of design and production for healthcare construction projects

As a consequence of the lack of solid conceptual foundation, the project management concepts and techniques usually applied within the construction sector are fragmented and have proved to be incapable of solving the complex problems of design management. As a result, healthcare providers have become frustrated with the outcomes such as cost and schedule overruns, accidents, less than expected quality and inadequate functionality. However, an investigation of successful healthcare projects reveals that new approaches have been developed to tackle such problems. This study uses recent data based on six construction projects. The idea is demonstrate how successful projects are dealing with the integration between design, production, and operations, through an appropriate approach to the management of production systems. The paper aims to assist the different parties of the AEC industry to better understand how practices applied into design phase could support the efficiency in the management of production systems

Smart Cities and M³: Rapid Research, Meaningful Metrics and Co-Design

The research described in this paper is undertaken under the banner of the smart city, a concept that captures the way urban spaces are re-made by the incursion of new technology. Much of smart is centred on converting everyday activities into data, and using this data to generate knowledge mediated by technology. Ordinary citizens, those that may have their lives impacted by the technology, usually are not properly involved in the ‘smartification’ process. Their perceptions, concerns and expectations should inform the conception and development of smart technologies at the same extent. How to engage general public with smart cities research is the central challenge for the Making Metrics Meaningful (MMM) project. Applying a rapid participatory method, ‘Imagine’ over a five-month period (March – July) the research sought to gain insights from the general public into novel forms of information system innovation. This brief paper describes the nature of the accelerated research undertaken and explores some of the themes which emerged in the analysis. Generic themes, beyond the remit of an explicit transport focus, are developed and pointers towards further research directions are discussed. Participatory methods, including engaging with self- selected transport users actively through both picture creation and programmatically specific musical ‘signatures’ as well as group discussion, were found to be effective in eliciting users’ own concerns, needs and ideas for novel information systems

Gamification as a Means to Improve Stakeholder Management in Urban Planning Participation

As cities and urban areas grow, the stakeholders involved in urban planning processes increase and diversify. Communication between these different stakeholders is paramount to successful architectural and urban planning. Public participation has gained on significance over the last 60 years as a means to incorporate their local knowledge in planning processes. Public participation forms an essential part as a form of democratic decision-making and in building trust between stakeholders. However, public participation offers do not meet the needs of all stakeholder groups at different planning stages. This is most evident when projects provoke resistance from the general population. This research investigated the misalignment of expert offers and public needs in urban planning public participation at early planning phases as well as the possibility and user acceptance of gamification in addressing these

Are big city urban planners preparing for autonomous vehicles?

Given that our urban centres have been dominated by the private car for a hundred years, this paper asks what is next for Canadian cities. Previous research on the future of urban mobility, and specifically city planning and autonomous vehicles, has been from an American or Australian context. Working from a uniquely Canadian perspective, this paper fills a gap in the research by analyzing data from twenty-six semi-structured interviews with Canadian planning professionals from Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and Toronto. The interviews discuss how Canadian planners are preparing for new technologies, including autonomous vehicles, and increased privatization. We recommend that large cities move forward with autonomous vehicle research with a goal of improving mobility for all, while ensuring a strong agreement framework with all for-profit mobility providers is in place that requires robust data sharing agreements and appropriate consultation with municipalities before, during, and after launching. Further, planners should further embrace the political realities of their positions and advocate for equitable mobility for all residents both in their day-to-day work and in public engagement settings.Vu que nos centres urbains sont dominés depuis une centaine d’années par la voiture privée, le présent article s’interroge sur ce qui s’ensuit pour les villes canadiennes. Jusqu’à date, la recherche sur le futur de la mobilité urbaine et, plus particulièrement, sur l’urbanisme et les véhicules autonomes, s’est effectuée dans un contexte américain ou australien. Le présent article vise à remédier à cette lacune d’une perspective uniquement canadienne en analysant les données ressorties de vingt-six entrevues semi-structurées avec des professionnels canadiens de l’urbanisme de Vancouver, d’Edmonton, de Calgary, de Winnipeg et de Toronto. Les entrevues cherchent à savoir comment leur planification tient compte des nouvelles technologies, dont les véhicules autonomes, et de la privatisation grandissante.Nous recommandons que les grandes villes entament des recherches sur les véhicules autonomes, dans l’optique d’une amélioration de la mobilité pour tous, en assurant en même temps qu’une forte structure d’accord avec tous les fournisseurs de mobilité à but lucratif soit en place qui nécessite des accords robustes de partage de données et une consultation appropriée avec les municipalités avant, durant et après le lancement. En plus, les planificateurs devraient saisir pleinement les réalités politiques de leurs positions et promouvoir une mobilité équitable dans leur travail quotidien et à travers leur engagement publique pour tous les citoyens

Otherness re-examined — A journey to cultural consciousness in spatial planning in Finland in 2018

Post-modern European societies are facing challenges that question the sustainability of the Western way of life. The accelerating flow of people and ideas is resulting in rising inequality (Biiterman, 1994; Hårsman and Quigley, 1995; Murdie and Borgegård 1998), dysfunction of multiculturalism and cold values (Baltzar, 2012); dissapearing sense of borders, rootedness and identity. The marginal role or the total lack of culture and cultural values in spatial planning has concerned a number of researchers (Markusen, Gawda, 2010; Young, 2006; Othengrafen, 2012). Multiculturalism is an urban planning taboo (Lapintie, 2014), while hate speech is being referred to as the new norm (The Guardian, 2017). None of the emerging trends (culturalization, cultural planning, cultural mapping etc.) has succeeded in harnessing the intangible dimensions of the European cultural heritage — all roads lead to an over-dominance of physical-material values. This thesis assumes that art, culture and multiculturality are inseparable concepts that cannot be cultivated if pursued as distinct categories either in theory or in practice. It explores the creative theoretical mixing of the three concepts in spatial planning literature and that of other relevant fields. The aim of the thesis is to find out; firstly, in what way(s) are cultural values perceived and have been considered in culture-oriented strategic spatial planning processes, if ever? And secondly, in what way(s) cultural values could be seen, if allowing contributions from cultures that represent high socio-spiritual cultivation as opposed to physical-material reality? The research has been conducted using qualitative method, by reviewing literature, mapping existing practices, blurring and re-organizing existing theoretical barriers and analyzing information. Based on the findings of the analysis, an interdisciplinary set of codes for future use will be provided. A bridge to multicultural theatre education method called Intercultural Experiential Education (IEE) (Baltzar, 2012) will be utilized in reimagining episodes from recent art or culture oriented strategic spatial planning processes in Finland. As a result, an intellectual framework and guidelines for the use of cultural values in spatial planning will be articulated. In addition, the thesis will indicate qualitative pathways and interconnections that could play an essential role in turning the use of art and culture in spatial planning processes into a comprehensively well-being environment.Postmodernit eurooppalaiset yhteiskunnat ovat haasteiden edessä; haasteiden, jotka uhkaavat kyseenalaistaa länsimaisen elämänmuotomme kestävyyden. Globalisaation myötä ihmisten ja ajatusten kiihtyvä vaihto on johtanut alati kasvavaan eriarvoistumiskehitykseen (Biterman, 1994; Hårsman, Quigley, 1995; Murdie, Borgegård 1998), pahoinvoivaan monikulttuurisuuteen, kylmien ja kovien arvojen johto-asemaan (Baltzar, 2011) sekä rajojen, juurevuuden ja identiteettien hälvenemiseen. Kulttuurin marginaalinen rooli tai täydellinen puute yhdyskunta- ja kaupunkisuunnittelun aloilla on huolestuttanut monia tutkijoita (Markusen, Gawda, 2010; Young, 2006; Othengrafen, 2012). Monikulttuurisuus on tabu (Lapintie, 2014), ja vihapuheeseen viitataan aikamme uutena normina (Guardian, 2017). Yksikään nousevista kulttuuriarvoihin keskittyvistä trendeistä (kultturisaatio, kulttuurisuunnittelu, kulttuurikartoitus) ei ole kyennyt valjastamaan aineettoman ja sosiaalisen kulttuuriperinnön ulottuvaisuuksia suunnittelijoiden käyttöön — kaikki tiet johtavat fyysis-materiaalisten arvojen ylivaltaan. Diplomityön lähtökohtana on olettamus siitä, että taide, kulttuuri ja monikulttuurisuus ovat erottamattomia käsitteitä, joita ei voida ottaa haltuun toisistaan erillisinä kategorioina. Työ hämmentää kyseisten käsitteiden keskinäisiä rajapintoja teoriassa sekä kuvitteellisessa käytännössä poiketen yhdyskuntasuunnittelun alalta myös muille aloille. Työn tarkoituksena on ensisijaisesti selvittää, kuinka kulttuuriarvot nähdään kulttuurilähtöisissä yhdyskuntasuunnitteluprosesseissa, vai nähdäänkö laisinkaan? Toiseksi työ tutkii, kuinka kulttuuriarvot voitaisiin nähdä, mikäli korkean henkis-sosiaalisen sivistyksen omaavien kulttuurien panos hyödynnettäisiin yhdyskuntasuunnittelussa fyysis-materiaalisen todellisuuden vastakohtana, henkisen sisäsiittoisuuden estämiseksi? Tutkimus on luonteeltaan kvalitatiivis-fenomenaalinen. Se on toteutettu analysoimalla alan kirjallisuutta, kokoamalla ja keräämällä tietoa olemassa olevista kulttuurilähtöisistä suunnittelukäytänteistä, sotkemalla ja uudelleen järjestämällä rajapintoja. Prosessin tuloksena syntyy edellä mainitusta aineistosta ammentava ohjekoodisto yhdyskuntasuunnittelun alalle. Alojen välisenä siltana hyödynnetään monikulttuurista teatterialalla syntynyttä kasvatusmetodia Kulttuurienvälistä kokemuspohjaista kasvatusta (Baltzar, 2012). Kyseistä ohjekoodistoa hyödyntäen työn viimeisessä osiossa uudelleen kuvitellaan viimeaikaisten taide- ja kulttuurilähtöisten suunnitteluprosessien osia. Työn tuloksena esitetään henkinen ja arvopohjainen viitekehys kulttuuriarvojen uudelleen soveltamiseen yhdyskuntasuunnittelun alueella tulevaisuudessa. Lisäksi työ osoittaa laadullisia polkuja ja yhtymäpintoja, joilla voisi olla merkittävä rooli taide- ja kulttuurilähtöisten suunnittelumenetelmien jalostamisessa kokonaisvaltaisesti hyvinvoivaksi rakennetuksi ympäristöksi

Smarter choices ?changing the way we travel. Case study reports

This report accompanies the following volume:Cairns S, Sloman L, Newson C, Anable J, Kirkbride A and Goodwin P (2004)Smarter Choices ? Changing the Way We Travel. Report published by theDepartment for Transport, London, available via the ?Sustainable Travel? section ofwww.dft.gov.uk, and from http://eprints.ucl.ac.uk/archive/00001224/