39 research outputs found
Intelligent Goods : Characteristics and Architectures
The transports of goods are continuously increasing in many regions, for instance within Europe. Often goods travel through many different countries, using several transport modes and involving a number of different actors. As a result, the traffic load on the transport network is increasing, on the roads in particular, and the logistics chains become more and more complex. Implementing some level of intelligence on the goods, which provide them with the capabilities to assist in the logistical activities, is one of the instruments that can be used to make transports and the handling of goods more efficient and controllable. The concept of intelligent goods both opens up for new types of services and may be used to improve currently available services. Our research is mainly focused on the characteristics and possible architectures of intelligent goods systems. In this context, an intelligent goods system refers to a number of interacting components (on-board units (OBU), back-office, RFID tags, etc.), including intelligent goods, which together provide services. The architecture studies are focused on which information and data processing are needed, where they should be stored and which communication links are required. By identifying architectures corresponding to different service solutions, intelligent goods can be valued against other types of solutions, for instance more centralized configurations. In particular, different situations and services put different requirements on a system and the benefits of using intelligent goods vary. We present a framework which can be used to describe intelligent goods systems, including the capabilities of the goods, necessary information entities related to the goods as well as the surrounding entities, primitive functions and the environment around the goods. Additionally, we identify a number of primitive, potential intelligent goods level services which can be used as building blocks when creating more advanced intelligent goods services. The functional and information requirements of these services are also investigated. Based on these findings, a new approach for how to identify and evaluate different architectural solutions for potential intelligent goods services is suggested. Furthermore, a new service description framework is proposed, which can be used to, amongst others, define a service and to perform composition/decomposition analyses. Finally, an investigation of how agent technology can be used to model intelligent goods systems is also presented
Toward intelligent goods : characteristics, architectures and applications
In the context of globalization, the requirements on transport
logistics continuously rise. Often goods travel through many different
countries, using several transport modes and involving a number
of different actors. Implementing some level of intelligence on the
goods, which provide them with the capabilities to assist in the
logistical activities, is one of the instruments that can be used to
improve control and efficiency in transports and goods-handling. The
concept of intelligent goods both opens up for new types of services
and may be used to improve currently available services.
The research is mainly focused on the characteristics, possible
architectures, and applications of intelligent goods systems. In this
context, an intelligent goods system refers to a number of interacting
components, e.g. on-board units, servers, and RFID tags, which
together provide intelligent goods services. Intelligent goods refer
to goods with a higher degree of intelligence than just providing
the ID of the goods, and generally the concept involve information
processing and/or storage on or close to the goods, acting on behalf
of the goods throughout the whole transport. The purpose of the
studies is to investigate how intelligent goods can be used to improve
goods transports in terms of more efficient goods-handling as well as
better control of the goods and the transportation process, but also
in terms of more efficient information sharing, e.g. between different
actors. This may in turn provide reduced costs, environmental
impact and usage of infrastructure. The research is concentrated on
the communication and processing of information before, during
and after transport. Most of the research results are applicable to ii
goods transport by any mode, whereas some of the research has an
emphasis on road transport.
A framework is presented which can be used to describe intelligent
goods systems, including the capabilities of the goods, necessary
information entities related to the goods, as well as a number of
primitive services that can be used as building blocks when creating
more advanced intelligent goods services. Furthermore, a new
approach to service description is proposed, which can be used to,
amongst others, define an intelligent goods service and to perform
architecture analyses. By identifying architectures corresponding to
different service solutions, intelligent goods can be compared with
other types of solutions, for instance more centralized approaches. In
particular, different situations and services put different requirements
on a system and the benefits of using intelligent goods vary. In order
to investigate how intelligent goods may be applied in practice,
two services have been examined in more detail: a dynamic shelf-
life prediction service, and a consignment-level emission allocation
service. These studies involve field tests, interviews and simulations.
Finally, an investigation of how intelligent goods systems can be
modelled as multi-agent systems is also included
Intelligent Goods - Characteristics and Architectures
The transports of goods are continuously increasing in many regions, for
instance within Europe. Often goods travel through many different countries,
using several transport modes and involving a number of different actors. As a
result, the traffic load on the transport network is increasing, on the roads
in particular, and the logistics chains become more and more complex.
Implementing some level of intelligence on the goods, which provide them with
the capabilities to assist in the logistical activities, is one of the
instruments that can be used to make transports and the handling of goods more
efficient and controllable. The concept of intelligent goods both opens up for
new types of services and may be used to improve currently available services.
Our research is mainly focused on the characteristics and possible
architectures of intelligent goods systems. In this context, an intelligent
goods system refers to a number of interacting components (on-board units
(OBU), back-office, RFID tags, etc.), including intelligent goods, which
together provide services. The architecture studies are focused on which
information and data processing are needed, where they should be stored and
which communication links are required. By identifying architectures
corresponding to different service solutions, intelligent goods can be valued
against other types of solutions, for instance more centralized configurations.
In particular, different situations and services put different requirements on
a system and the benefits of using intelligent goods vary.
We present a framework which can be used to describe intelligent goods systems,
including the capabilities of the goods, necessary information entities related
to the goods as well as the surrounding entities, primitive functions and the
environment around the goods. Additionally, we identify a number of primitive,
potential intelligent goods level services which can be used as building blocks
when creating more advanced intelligent goods services. The functional and
information requirements of these services are also investigated. Based on
these findings, a new approach for how to identify and evaluate different
architectural solutions for potential intelligent goods services is suggested.
Furthermore, a new service description framework is proposed, which can be used
to, amongst others, define a service and to perform composition/decomposition
analyses. Finally, an investigation of how agent technology can be used to
model intelligent goods systems is also presented
En komparativ studie av traditionell salstentamen och online-tentamen med fokus på medium och innehåll
Den här studien undersöker effekterna av att ersätta en traditionell salstentamen med en open book online-tentamen innehållande frågor av mer fördjupande diskussions- och problemlösningskaraktär. Den nya tentamensformen innebär således både att ett nytt medium för frågor och svar tillämpas, och att strukturen på frågorna i tentamen förändras. Studien fokuserar dels på vad som testas i relation till lärandemålen (baserat på tentamensfrågor, svar och resultat) och dels studenternas attityder till de olika tentamensformerna (baserat på enkätsvar). Resultaten visar som väntat att den traditionella salstentamen i större utsträckning avslöjar studenternas faktakunskaper medan en djupare förståelse är mer central i den nya tentamensformen. Faktakunskaper kan dock i viss utsträckning även testas i den nya tentamensformen. Studenternas tentamensresultat visar att studenterna har klarat övergången mellan de båda tentamensformerna på ett bra sätt, medan resultaten från enkäterna visar att studenterna är övervägande positiva till den nya tentamensformen men att frågorna upplevdes som svåra och tentamenstiden alltför knapp. Den här typen av frågor introducerar därmed en ny typ av svårighet för studenterna. Studien pekar även på viss problematik med rättssäkerheten i den nya tentamensformen.This study examines the effects of replacing a traditional on-campus exam with an open book online exam containing questions of a more in-depth discussion and problem-solving nature. The new form of examination thereby includes both a new medium for questions and answers, and a changed structure of the questions in the exam. The study focuses partly on what is tested in relation to the learning objectives (based on exam questions, answers and results) and partly on the students' attitudes to the different examination forms (based on questionnaire answers). The results show, as expected, that the traditional on-campus exam to a greater extent reveals the students' factual knowledge, while a deeper understanding is more central in the new form of examination. However, factual knowledge can to a certain extent also be tested in the new examination form. The students' exam results show that the students have managed the transition between the two examination forms in a good way, while the results from the surveys show that the students are predominantly positive about the new examination form but that the questions were perceived as difficult and that time was too short. This type of question thus introduces a new type of difficulty for the students. The study also points to some problems with legal certainty in the new form of examination. Pedagogiskt utvecklingsprojekt vid T
After the Application of Imported Control Forms : A multiple case study of hownurses at Swedish public hospitals perceive their working situation
Bakgrund: Under 1980-talet introducerades begreppet New Public Management som lade grunden för att inom offentlig sektor styra verksamheter på ett nytt sätt, genom en styrning som tydligare ligger i linje med den privata sektorn. Tidigare studier har till stor del fokuserat på implementering och applicering av dessa styrformer, hur detta har påverkat den anställde har dock varit svårt att fastställa. Utifrån detta finns ett behov av att vidare undersöka hur offentligt anställda upplever sin nuvarande arbetssituation, främst med fokus på aspekter kopplade till motivation och psykosocial arbetsmiljö. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att skapa förståelse för hur sjuksköterskor på svenska offentliga sjukhus upplever sin nuvarande arbetssituation. Metod: Detta är en kvalitativ flerfallstudie med ett fenomenologiskt vetenskapsperspektiv. Studien utgår från ett induktivt förhållningssätt och sex semistrukturerade intervjuer har använts för datainsamling. Empirin har analyserats med hjälp av en fenomenologisk analys. Slutsats: Studien visar på en komplex bild av sjuksköterskornas upplevelser av sin arbetssituation där delaktighet och sammanhållning med kollegor leder till en positiv upplevelse av den psykosociala arbetsmiljön. Negativa upplevelser av den psykosociala arbetsmiljön är främst kopplat till minskad kontroll i arbetssituationen. Studien visar även på att sjuksköterskorna motiveras av både inre och yttre motivationsfaktorer, vilket indikerar en motsättning till delar av tidigare teorier om hur offentligt anställda motiveras på arbetsplatsen.Background: During the 1980’s, New Public Management was introduced as a new way of regulating the public sector, by managing more in line with private sector activities. Previous studies have primarily focused on the implementation and application of these control forms, but how this has affected the employees have so far been hard to ascertain. On this basis there is a need to investigate further how public sector employees experience their current working situation, with the main focus on aspects linked to motivation and psychosocial work environment. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to generate an understanding of how nurses at Swedish public hospitals perceive their current working situation. Methodology: This is a qualitative multiple case study using the scientific perspective of phenomenology. The study is based on an inductive approach and six semi-structured interviews have been used to collect data. The empirical data has been analysed through a phenomenological analysis. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a complex view of the nurses’ perception of their working situation, where participation and unity with colleagues lead to a positive perception of the psychosocial work environment. The negative perception of the psychosocial work environment is mainly related to reduced control within the working situation. The study also shows that both inner and outer motivators motivate the nurses, which indicates a contradiction to parts of previous motivation theories regarding public sector employees
Stated opinions and potential travel with DRT – a survey covering three different age groups
Previous research shows that well-grounded knowledge of the intended travellers is essential for achieving successful DRT services. However, there is a lack of understanding of the potential travels in different age groups, and the acceptance of design alternatives that may affect these. Based on surveys conducted in Sweden, this paper investigates these factors in a hypothetical DRT service, in the age groups 6–17, 18–69 and over 70 years. A total of 1241 people answered the questionnaires. The results show that the age groups have similar acceptance regarding delays and departure time intervals. Older adults have lower acceptance of digital solutions, and children and older adults have stronger requirements for value-added services. About 85–90% of the respondents claim they would use the service, at least occasionally. The results also show how a DRT system should be configured to allow room for system efficiency gains, while still being accepted by most travellers
After the Application of Imported Control Forms : A multiple case study of hownurses at Swedish public hospitals perceive their working situation
Bakgrund: Under 1980-talet introducerades begreppet New Public Management som lade grunden för att inom offentlig sektor styra verksamheter på ett nytt sätt, genom en styrning som tydligare ligger i linje med den privata sektorn. Tidigare studier har till stor del fokuserat på implementering och applicering av dessa styrformer, hur detta har påverkat den anställde har dock varit svårt att fastställa. Utifrån detta finns ett behov av att vidare undersöka hur offentligt anställda upplever sin nuvarande arbetssituation, främst med fokus på aspekter kopplade till motivation och psykosocial arbetsmiljö. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att skapa förståelse för hur sjuksköterskor på svenska offentliga sjukhus upplever sin nuvarande arbetssituation. Metod: Detta är en kvalitativ flerfallstudie med ett fenomenologiskt vetenskapsperspektiv. Studien utgår från ett induktivt förhållningssätt och sex semistrukturerade intervjuer har använts för datainsamling. Empirin har analyserats med hjälp av en fenomenologisk analys. Slutsats: Studien visar på en komplex bild av sjuksköterskornas upplevelser av sin arbetssituation där delaktighet och sammanhållning med kollegor leder till en positiv upplevelse av den psykosociala arbetsmiljön. Negativa upplevelser av den psykosociala arbetsmiljön är främst kopplat till minskad kontroll i arbetssituationen. Studien visar även på att sjuksköterskorna motiveras av både inre och yttre motivationsfaktorer, vilket indikerar en motsättning till delar av tidigare teorier om hur offentligt anställda motiveras på arbetsplatsen.Background: During the 1980’s, New Public Management was introduced as a new way of regulating the public sector, by managing more in line with private sector activities. Previous studies have primarily focused on the implementation and application of these control forms, but how this has affected the employees have so far been hard to ascertain. On this basis there is a need to investigate further how public sector employees experience their current working situation, with the main focus on aspects linked to motivation and psychosocial work environment. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to generate an understanding of how nurses at Swedish public hospitals perceive their current working situation. Methodology: This is a qualitative multiple case study using the scientific perspective of phenomenology. The study is based on an inductive approach and six semi-structured interviews have been used to collect data. The empirical data has been analysed through a phenomenological analysis. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a complex view of the nurses’ perception of their working situation, where participation and unity with colleagues lead to a positive perception of the psychosocial work environment. The negative perception of the psychosocial work environment is mainly related to reduced control within the working situation. The study also shows that both inner and outer motivators motivate the nurses, which indicates a contradiction to parts of previous motivation theories regarding public sector employees
System Architectures for Sensor-Based Dynamic Remaining Shelf-life Prediction
Different storage and handling conditions in cold supply chains often cause variations in the remaining shelf life of perishable foods. In particular, the actual shelf life may differ from the expiration date printed on the primary package. Based on temperature sensors placed on or close to the food products, a remaining shelf-life prediction (RSLP) service can be developed, which estimates the remaining shelf life of individual products, in real-time. This type of service may lead to decreased food waste and is used for discovering supply chain inefficiencies and ensuring food quality. Depending on the system architecture, different service qualities can be obtained in terms of usability, accuracy, security, etc. This article presents a novel approach for how to identify and select the most suitable system architectures for RSLP services. The approach is illustrated by ranking different architectures for a RSLP service directed towards the supply chain managers. As a proof of concept, some of the most highly ranked architectures have been implemented and tested in food cold supply chains
Consignment-level allocations of carbon emissions in road freight transport
This paper presents and evaluates a new method for how emissions from freight transport routes with single or several points of loading and unloading, can be allocated to individual consignments. The method, called Dedicated Distance Proportional Allocation (DDPA), has been developed based on a literature review, discussions with logistics providers, and analysis. DDPA is designed to have low data processing requirements and be easy to explain to actors involved. Furthermore, it supports several levels of information availability, and accounts for any set of vehicle-limiting factors, as well as prepositioning/repositioning. DDPA has been evaluated in simulations with different levels of information availability, together with three existent allocation methods: the Equal profit method (EPM), the CEN EN16258:2011 standard and the Greenhouse gas (GHG) protocol. The simulations show that the GHG protocol under-allocates the total amount of emissions, on average. EPM and DDPA achieve equal relative savings, whereas for CEN EN16258:2011 and the GHG protocol, relative savings vary, on average. When DDPA is used with low level of information availability, an error is introduced which can be reduced by applying compensation factors. Since DDPA accepts low information availability, the Intelligent Products concept can be applied for computing and storing emissions allocations, at the time of unloading. The results from this study can be used for further development and implementation of consignment allocation methods. Furthermore, by combining DDPA with other environmental load approaches for other parts of a product’s life cycle, a complete life cycle assessment of the product’s environmental impact can be obtained
Disturbance Management and Information Availability in Public Transport, with Focus on Scania County, Sweden
In order for people to choose public transport over private car usage, public transport systems must be both reliable and accessible, which is not always the case today. Based on interviews with public transport actors, this paper investigates the missing information and communication flows during unplanned disturbances in the public transport system of southern Sweden. Two potential solution approaches to supply the missing information are also identified: an information system common for all public transport actors in the region, and a traveler check-in system, providing traveler specific information to the actors. The information requirements of both systems, and their potential benefits, are presented. The primary objective of the study is to improve the possibilities for both actors and travelers to act during unplanned disturbances by more efficient information sharing and better traveler information