A knowledge based system for linking information to support decision making in construction

This work describes the development of a project model centred on the information and knowledge generated and used by managers. It describes a knowledge-based system designed for this purpose. A knowledge acquisition exercise was undertaken to determine the tasks of project managers and the information necessary for and used by these tasks. This information was organised into a knowledge base for use by an expert system. The form of the knowledge lent itself to organisation into a link network. The structure of the knowledge-based system, which was developed, is outlined and its use described. Conclusions are drawn as to the applicability of the model and the final system. The work undertaken shows that it is feasible to benefit from the field of artificial intelligence to develop a project manager assistant computer program that utilises the benefit of information and its link

Monitoring systems and their effectiveness for project cost control in construction

This paper reports on a research to investigate the effectiveness of some commonly used monitoring systems, in detecting deviations from the planned cost and performance. The monitoring systems used in this work are:\ud \ud Leading parameter technique\ud \ud Variances method\ud \ud Activity based ratios technique\ud \ud The paper describes these monitoring systems; their characteristics, the measures they use and their effectiveness for assessing performance. The systems are first evaluated on a theoretical basis and then on the basis of results from investigations carried using simulation approach. A project model has been developed which realistically simulates the progress of the project and which generates information relevant to these monitoring systems. Factors affecting the project cost and performance are represented by changes in the project plan and inflation rates. It has been found that some of the earlier monitoring systems have more response to changes than the others. The research has also shown that the Activity based ratio’s technique gives a clearer and simpler indication of the overall progress of the project than the other two techniques

Inheritance of Ten Characters in Barley Crosses

Inheritance of many characters in barley has been studied, and two or more genes have been located in each of the seven pairs of chromosomes. Studies of the mode of inheritance of these characters will aid plant breeders materially in working with plants of diverse genetic make-up. Hybridization followed by selection and testing can improve present varieties by replacing them with new ones having more desirable characters. Barley (Hordeum sp._ is one of the few species of plants widely distributed which is well adapted to genetical analysis. This plant has a lower number of chromosomes, complete self fertility, and a wealth of easily classifiable, hereditary characters. This study represents the data obtained in an investigation of ten characters in barley in the F2 and F3 generations. The nature of the inheritance, genes involved, and possible linkages have been determined

Synthesis and characterization of manganese(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes with new Schiff base derived from 6,7-dimethyl-quinoxaline-2,3(1H,4H)-dione and thiosemicarbazide

New transition metal complexes of quinoxaline-2,3-dione-thiosemicarbazone ligand were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The ligand (LH) was obtained by the reaction of 6,7-dimethyl-quinoxaline-2,3(1H,4H)-dione with thiosemicarbazide. All the complexes are found to be monomer in nature and have tetrahedral geometry. The IR spectra data revealed that the new Schiff base behaved as monobasic tridentate ligand through deprotonation of thiol-SH group, oxygen atom of C=O of pyrazine moiety and nitrogen atom of azomethine -C=N- group. However, the molar conductivity measurements proved the neutral nature of all metal complexes in DMSO solution, as well as the magnetic moment measurements investigated the high spin properties of all complexes

A bayesian belief networks approach to risk control in construction projects

Although risk control is a key step in risk management of construction projects, very often risk measures used are based merely on personal experience and engineering judgement rather than analysis of comprehensive information relating to a specific risk. This paper deals with an approach to provide better information to derive relevant and effective risk measures for specific risks. The approach relies on developing risk models to represent interactions between risk factors and carrying out analysis to identify critical factors on which risk measures must focus. To ameliorate the problem related to the scarcity of risks information often encountered in construction projects, Bayesian Belief Networks are used and expert knowledge is elicited to augment available information. The paper describes proposed modifications to the standard methods used to develop Bayesian Belief Networks in order to deal with divergent information originated from epistemic uncertainty of risks. The\ud capacity of the proposed approach to provide better information to support risk related decision making is verified by means of an illustrative application to risk factors involved in the construction of cross passages between tunnels tubes in soft soils