The geometrical concept in manuscripts of Funan: a preliminary study

The geometrical concept is not exclusively developed and introduced by the westerners alone. In Asia, the geometrical concept can be traced as early as the existence of the Hinduism and Buddhism in India, much earlier than the Greek, then spread out to Southeast Asian countries before the beginning of Christianity. In this paper we shall discuss the influence of Buddhism geometry to the Malay world in Southeast Asia region during 4th -6th centuries in the era of Funan kingdom. The evidence of the existing Funan manuscripts are parallel to this analysis

Optimal Government Strategies for BIM Implementation in Low-Income Economies: A Case Study in Syria

Building information modeling (BIM) enables substantial improvement in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. As a leading actor in the AEC industry, policymakers have the means to develop appropriate strategies for addressing the factor affecting BIM implementation. However, the lack of empirical investigation on the relationships between factors to implementing BIM and government strategies prevents the strategies from being effective. This study aimed to establish relationships between critical factors and government strategies for implementing BIM using Syria as a case study. A systematic literature review and semistructured interviews with AEC professionals yielded 27 factors and 12 government strategies for implementing BIM. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, a chi-squared test, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The EFA classified the factors into four underlying constructs (technology, project environment, governmental and organizational, and people) and government strategies into two underlying constructs (soft and hard strategies). The structural equation model revealed that soft strategies positively affect technology, project environment, and people. Moreover, hard strategies positively affect technology. These findings provide new insights into the body of knowledge on optimal government strategies for implementing BIM in low-income economies. Policymakers can use the findings of this study to prioritize efforts and resources when promoting BIM implementation in the local AEC industry

Factors affecting BIM implementation in Saudi Arabia: a critical analysis

Purpose: This study examines the underlying relationships between the critical factors of building information modeling (BIM) implementation and the factors’ groupings among architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) organizations in Saudi Arabia. The objectives of the study are to (1) identify the critical factors for BIM implementation, (2) analyze the interrelationships between the critical factors and (3) compare the critical factors between the different organizational characteristics. Design/methodology/approach: First, potential factors were identified through a systematic literature review and interviews with AEC professionals. Then, a questionnaire survey was sent to AEC professionals and the collected data were analyzed using the following techniques and tests: mean score ranking, standard deviation, normalized value, factor analysis (FA), analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc Tukey test. Findings: The analyses show that 14 factors are critical for BIM implementation in Saudi Arabia. The top critical factors include the existence of standard contracts on data security and user confidentiality, consistent views on BIM among stakeholders and the availability of guidelines for implementing BIM. Of the 14 critical factors, 9 can be grouped into 4 underlying factors: environmental, governmental, legal and organizational. The analysis shows that the criticality of the most critical factors grouped by the FA varies between different levels of BIM competency. Finally, the presence of public–private partnerships (PPPs) in realizing BIM projects is a new and emerging critical factor for BIM implementation in Saudi Arabia. Originality/value: This study differs from prior works on BIM implementation in Saudi Arabia by using FA to explore the underlying relationships among factors of BIM implementation and the factors’ groupings. Based on the FA results, a roadmap for implementing the BIM was developed. These findings will help to purposefully and efficiently customize BIM implementation strategies and initiatives to ensure successful BIM implementation in Saudi Arabia

Critical Factors Affecting BIM Implementation in India: Multivariate Analysis

There is an increasing trend in Building Information Modelling (BIM) implementation worldwide. However, its implementation in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry in India is low. This paper aims to identify the critical factors to BIM implementation and their underlying relationships. First, 19 potential factors to BIM implementation were identified using literature review and verified by interviews with AEC professionals. Then, a questionnaire survey was sent to AEC practitioners in India to rate the importance of these factors. The mean score, standard deviation, and the normalized value method were employed to identify the critical factors. ANOVA test was performed to reveal any significant difference in the factors’ criticality. Factor analysis was then used to reveal the underlying relationships between the factors. The results indicate that 13 factors are critical to BIM implementation in India. Also, there are consistent views among the respondents towards the critical factors to BIM implementation. In addition, 17 out of 19 factors to BIM implementation can be grouped into two major components: (a) environment, legal, and resources; and (b) organizational. Therefore, stakeholders should address these two components and commit resources to increase the BIM implementation rate in India

Bilateral facial nerve palsy secondary to an atypical presentation of Gullain-Barré syndrome

Bilateral simultaneous facial nerve palsy is an extremely rare clinical entity and may occur in association with a variety of neurological, infectious, neoplastic or degenerative disorders. We describe a patient, who presented with facial diplegia and normal reflexes on examination. During the entire hospitalization, he developed no motor weakness and remained ambulatory. Whether treatment is warranted for this and other milder variants of Gullain-Barré syndrome is also discussed. Atypical presentations with preserved or brisk reflexes, can be a diagnostic dilemma

Experiential Learning in Introducing Information Systems

Introducing new knowledge with certain depth such as “Information Systems” to pre-university level has always been challenging. Majority of the students came from pure sciences background, and there are some among them with IT sciences in SPM yet still have limited exposure to the ICT field. To tackle this issue, experiential learning was implemented. The students undergo a series of activities for them to experience the workflow of a System Analyst before facing the assessment for this learning unit. A System Analyst expertise and specialize in Information Systems building and designing

Feature extraction from oil palm in vitro shoot images

The feature extraction techniques are discussed in this article. The algorithms and methods developed are robust and advanced enough to be used in combination with a machine vision algorithm and automation system. The subject under study is oil palm in vitro shoot images. The potential features extracted from the images could be used as a vision sensor to replace human expertise via an automation system. Two main categories of the in vitro shoots could be visually identified, namely the normal and abnormal groups. Image interpretation can categorize the in vitro shoot automatically in its group. The techniques proposed are not influenced by the shape or orientation of the in vitro shoot. The feature vector is plotted to prove the separability of both normal and abnormal in vitro shoots

Robocow Enterprise: Portable Milking Machine /Mohammad Kamaruzaman Shamsuddin ...[et al.]

This endeavor is expected to flourish and become more profitable in the long run. Furthermore, the product that this company manufactures has an unlimited potential for innovation

Online Monitoring Water Level in Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) Storage Tank

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) system has gained recognition as one of the sustainable means to manage a water crisis in the future. Due to the increase of global population demand, problems related to the water scarcity slowly become a serious issue in Malaysia as well as other countries. The implementation of RWH system aims to supply adequate water resources to consumers with a significant reduction of costs. The significant economic savings of RWH is related to the rainwater tank capacity. Typically, the size of the rainwater harvesting system is determined based on the size of the roof catchment area and the rainfall data from the existing rain gauge. However, a problem arises when sometimes the dependency of design analysis on monthly rainfall data are likely to overestimate the sizing of water tank recommended for daily use. In this study, the integration between the RWH system and automatic water level detection was done to improve the current system of RWH. Water level detection system was installed in the rainwater storage tank to detect and monitor water level; hence, it will help to estimate the available water in the rainwater storage tank and to avoid any overdesign problems. The results showed that the automatic water level detection system operated efficiently during the one month with hourly output data

Simulation and control of a six degree of freedom lower limb exoskeleton

In this paper, the development of controlling a six Degree of Freedom (DOF) Lower Limb Exoskeleton (LLE) model using the Robot Operating System (ROS) is presented. Moreover, this work proposes a method to analyze kinematic properties and control of the LLE before the prototype. The model of the LLE is described using Extensible Markup Language (XML) programming in the Unified Robot Description Format (URDF). The dynamic equation of the six-DoF LLE is determined by using Newton-Euler. In addition, a Proposition-Integral- Derivative (PID) controller is established in a feedback closed-loop control system. The PID controller is tuned via Ziegler-Nichols (Z-N). The tuned PID controller is tested in the Gazebo environment to confirm the performance of the proposed method. The nodes and topics flow chart of the programmed 3-D model of the LLE is described. Furthermore, a desired angular trajectory based on the phase on walking is defined for each joint of the LLE. The result shows that the actual pursue the desired angular trajectory for each joint. The average and maximum error of the angular trajectories for all the joints are less than 0.05 radian. It can be ascertained that our developed LLE model in the Gazebo simulator can be used for giving an overview of the walking pattern