Degree of Project Utility and Investment Value Assessments

This article recommends a new INVAR Method for a multiple criteria analysis (Degree of Project Utility and Investment Value Assessments along with Recommendation Provisions). Its use can be for a sustainable building assessment. The INVAR Method can additionally assist in determining the investment value of a project under deliberation and provide digital recommendations for improving projects. Furthermore, the INVAR Method can optimize the selected criterion seeking that the project under deliberation would be equally competitive in the market, as compared to the other projects under comparison. The INVAR Method is additionally able to calculate the value that the project under deliberation should be for this project to become the best among those under deliberation. The case studies presented in this research are for demonstrating this developed method

The Life Cycle Process Model for Efficient Construction Manager: Conceptual Modelling at the level of Personality and at Micro, Meso and Macro Levels

The problem is how to define the life cycle of an efficient construction manager when a lot of various stakeholders are involved in his activities, when alternative versions of construction management come to hundreds of thousands and when the efficiency changes with the alterations in the personality traits, the micro, meso and macro conditions and the constituent parts of the process in question. Formalized presentation of the research shows how changes in the personality traits, micro, meso and macro environment and the extent to which the goals pursued by various stakeholders are satisfied cause corresponding changes in the value and utility degree of a construction manager life cycle. For that purpose, we need to analyse versions of a construction manager life cycle, because such analysis helps to find an optimal combination of factors related to the personality and micro, meso and macro environment. The more alternative versions are investigated before making a final decision, the greater is the possibility of a more rational end result. Using the available information it is possible to perform the multiple criteria analysis of the components of a construction manager life cycle and to select the most efficient versions. Afterwards, the resulting compatible and rational components are combined into the alternatives of a construction manager life cycle. Following the multiple criteria analysis of the alternatives obtained in this way, the most efficient alternatives can be selected. Strengths and weaknesses of investigated alternatives are also analysed. The facts determining why and to what extent one version is better than the other are also established. All analyses are based on conceptual and quantitative information

A life dedicated to science: on the occasion of the 70th birthday of Editor-in-Chief Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas

„A life dedicated to science: on the occasion of the 70thbirthday of Editor-in-Chief Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas" Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 20(3), p. 311-31

Civil Engineering Decision Support Systems in Lithuania

Civil engineering decision support systems (construction, building life cycle, refurbishment, total quality management, innovation, etc.) created in Lithuania are described in this paper. The above decision support systems comprise of the following constituent parts: data (database and its management system), models (model base and its management system) and a user interface. Presentation of information in databases may be in conceptual (digital, textual, graphical, photographic, video) and quantitative forms. Quantitative information presented involves criteria systems and subsystems, units of measurement, values and initial weight fully defining the variants provided. The databases were developed providing a multiple criteria analysis of alternatives from economical, infrastructure, technical, technological, qualitative, legislative, social and other perspectives. This information is provided in a user-oriented way. Since the analysis of alternatives is usually performed by taking into account economical, infrastructure, technical, technological, qualitative and other factors, a model-base include models which enable a decision maker to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the variants available and make a proper choice. These systems, related questions and practical case study were analysed the paper

Intelligent mooc for the disaster resilience dprof programme

The CADRE Project offers Intelligent MOOC for the disaster resilience DPROF programme (MOOC-DPROF). MOOC-DPROF aims at unlimited participation and open access via the Virtual Environment for the Built Environment Research to reduce knowledge shortfalls across the EU. PhD students registered in MOOC-DPROF differ by their knowledge levels, preferences, interests, goals, cognitive styles and learning styles. The basis of MOOC-DPROF is individual learning. The design of MOOC-DPROF is for it to run within the Moodle platform. PhD students are offered personalised learning materials in the form of digital textbooks, videos, audios as well as calculators, software, computer learning systems, an intelligent testing system, affective intelligent tutoring system, etc. A personalised MOOC-DPROF adapts the studies to individual needs. Upon completing the analysis of globally developed resilience management MOOCs, it was noticed that there is still no MOOC developed by applying biometric and intelligent systems in an integrated manner, something that has already been implemented with the MOOC-DPROF. The subsystems and a Case Study are briefly analysed in this paper

AUTOMATED SELECTION OF VALUE EFFICIENT BUILDINGS REFURBISHMENT ALTERNATIVES

ABSTRACT It has often been assumed theoretically that refurbishment would enhance the market value of the aged buildings because it can restore and improve the building conditions physically and economically. However, refurbishment should be considered as investment which is not always profitable. In order to select value efficient refurbishment alternatives automated tools are used. The main purpose of this article is to propose automated system for value efficient refurbishment alternatives selection

Database of Best Practices and Decision Support Web-based System for Construction Innovation

Many construction and facilities management Web sites can be found on the Internet. The interested parties on construction and facilities management Web sites can find databases of best practices, calculators, analyzers, software, expert and decision support systems, neural networks, etc. Technological innovation mainly through changes in the availability of information and communication technology inclusive databases of best practices, calculators, analyzers, software, neural networks, decision support and expert systems that have been provided by a variety of new services developed by the construction and facilities management sectors. Most of all calculators, analyzers, software, decision support and expert systems, neural networks and on-line systems seek to find out how to make the most economic decisions and most of all these decisions are intended only for economic objectives. Alternatives under evaluation have to be evaluated not only from the economic position, but take into consideration qualitative, technical, technological and other characteristics as well. Based on the analysis of the existing calculators, analyzers, information, expert and decision support systems, neural networks and in order to determine most efficient versions of best practices a Decision Support Web-Based System for Construction Innovation (IDSS) was developed by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University

Conceptual modelling of sustainable Vilnius development

This research consists of 5 stages: comparative description of the sustainable urban development in developed countries and in Vilnius; a comparison and contrast of sustainable urban development in developed countries and Vilnius; a development of some of the general recommendations as how to improve the efficiency levels for a sustainable Vilnius; submission of particular recommendations for the city of Vilnius; a multiple criteria analysis of sustainable urban development's components and a selection of the most efficient version of sustainable urban development life cycle. The obtained results have partially confirmed the available data, and interesting trends of the development of established cities have been noted. In order to demonstrate the application of the above research, concrete examples of Vilnius will be considered in this paper. Santrauka Šis tyrimas apima penkias pakopas: išsivysčiusių šalių miestų ir Vilniaus darnaus vystymosi lyginamasis aprašymas; išsivysčiusių šalių miestų ir Vilniaus darnaus vystymosi skirtumų nustatymas; bendrų pasiūlymų, kaip pagerinti Vilniaus darnos lygį, kūrimas; konkrečių pasiūlymų pateikimas Vilniaus miestui; miestų darnaus vystymosi komponentų daugiakriterinė analizė ir efektyviausio miesto darnaus vystymosi gyvavimo ciklo varianto parinkimas. Tyrimų rezultatus iš dalies patvirtina turimi duomenys, aprašytos kai kurios žinomų miestų vystymosi tendencijos. Tyrimas iliustruojamas Vilniaus pavyzdžiu. First published online: 21 Oct 2010 Reikšminiai žodžiai: darnus miestų vystymasis, globalinės vystymosi tendencijos, alternatyvos, Vilnius, konceptualus modeliavimas

Reforming HEI to improve skills and knowledge on disaster resilience among construction professionals

The built environment is significantly affected by disasters. Firstly, built facilities are expected to withstand such situations. Secondly, the construction industry is expected to play a pivotal role in reconstruction of damaged property & infrastructure. Such responses also call for technological and managerial innovation. Therefore it is important that construction professionals receive continuous skill development to respond to disaster situations and to a disaster resilient built environment. BELLCURVE research project aims to promote the concept of ‘lifelong university’ in modernising Higher Education Institutes (HEI) to be more responsive to labour market skills needs. BELLCURVE focuses on the role HEIs play in continuous improvement of the skills and knowledge on disaster resilience among the construction professionals. In this paper an overview of the role of built environment professionals in the context of disaster is presented, and the related demand and supply side issues are discussed. The need to improve responsiveness of HEIs through modernisation of higher education to improve the quality and efficiency of education and training is further explained. Initial conceptual framework of the research is presented. Literature reviewed identified peculiarities of post-disaster reconstruction, justifying the need to provide sector and context specific skills and knowledge to the construction professional. The review also cover issues associated with education and training from HEIs to the construction professional, and also focus on integrating the construction labour market skills needs to the modernisation agenda of the HEIs. In this regard, modernisation of HEI through governance reform is highlighted. Disaster resilience is considered as a test case. The initial conceptual model with the methodology adopted to develop, refine and test the model is also briefed. This paper is expected to stimulate debate as well as be a supportive resource to towards improving skills and knowledge on disaster resilience among construction professionals