An Investigation of Problem Gambling and Young Sports Players in an Irish Amateur Sporting Organisation.

The gambling industry is huge in Ireland. The betting firm Paddy Power alone had an operating profit of €163.8million in 2014. The activity has become more popular and accessible in recent years due to its move online. In fact, anybody with a smartphone can gamble wherever they may be. While research within Ireland has been limited, there are some startling statistics related to gambling addiction in Ireland with roughly 7% of gamblers at risk of developing a gambling problem and approximately 30-35% of the gambling industry’s revenues coming from those who have gambling issues. According to the Institute of Public Health in Ireland, gambling addiction affects young people at 2-3 times the rate of adults. This research aims to investigate the extent of gambling and problem gambling in an amateur sporting organisation (Gaelic Athletic Association – GAA) in Ireland using the Health Belief Model

The application of social marketing in reducing road traffic accidents amoung young male drivers: an investigation using physical fear threat appeals

There were 338 road fatalities on Irish roads in 2007. Research in 2007 by the Road Safety Authority in Ireland states that young male drivers (17 – 25 years) are seven times more likely to be killed on Irish roads than other road users. The car driver fatality rate was found to be approximately 10 times higher for young male drivers than for female drivers in 2000. Young male drivers in particular demonstrate a high proclivity for risky driving behaviours. These risky behaviours include drink driving, speeding, rug-driving and engaging in aggressive driving. Speed is the single largest contributing factor to road deaths in Ireland. Approximately 40% of fatal accidents are caused by excessive or inappropriate speed. This study focuses on how dangerous driving behaviours may be addressed through social marketing. This study analyses the appropriate level of fear that needs to be induced in order to change young male driving behaviour

The Problem of Masculinity for Male Health

Men’s health has historically received little attention in terms of consultation, planning, strategy development or project implementation, but in recent years there has been an increased focus on gender in the context of men’s health. Whilst in the past the focus on gender and health in Ireland has tended to be synonymous with women’s health, the significance of gendered health practices (particularly gendered patterns of help-seeking) have more recently come to the forefront in the context of men. Men’s reluctance to seek help and use health services is a concern across most Western cultures. Some commentary has suggested that men are victims of their own behaviour and the concept of masculinity. When forming a male-specific policy, health service providers and policy makers need to take men’s self-monitoring behaviour into account, when attempting to engage men within the health system. This paper forms part of a wider study into men’s health and focuses on masculinity as a potential problem in the socialisation of men

Integration of HBIM and 3D GIS for Digital Heritage Modelling

This paper outlines a new approach for digitally recording cultural heritage sites from laser scan data or photogrammetric data. This approach involves 3D modelling stage and the integration of the 3D model into a 3D GIS for further management and analysis. The modelling stage is carried out using a new concept; Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM). HBIM uses Building Information Modelling (BIM) software with parametric and procedural modelling techniques to automate the modelling stage. The HBIM process involves a reverse engineering solution whereby parametric objects representing architectural elements are mapped onto laser scan or photogrammetric survey data. A library of parametric architectural objects has been designed from historic manuscripts and architectural pattern books. These parametric objects were built using an embedded scripting language within the BIM software called Geometric Descriptive Language (GDL). Using this embedded scripting language, elements of procedural modelling have also been replicated to automatically combine library objects based on architectural rules and proportions. If required the position of elements can be manually refined while overlaying the automatically generated model with the original survey data. After the 3D model has been generated the next stage involves integrating the 3D model into a 3D GIS for further analysis. The international framework for 3D city modelling, CityGML has been adopted for this purpose. CityGML provides an interoperable framework for modelling 3D geometries, semantics, topology and appearance properties. CityGML enables further historical information to be added to the model and allows for efficient management and analysis of all data relating to a heritage site. The aim of this research is to bridge the gap between parametric CAD modelling and 3D GIS while using benefits from both systems to help document and analyse cultural heritage sites

Building Information Modelling Incorporating Technology Based Assessment

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is currently being developed as a virtual learning tool for construction and surveying students in the Technological University Dublin. This advanced technology is also used to develop a technology based assessment practice for enhancing the learning environment of construction and surveying students. A theoretical design framework is presented in this paper, which combines advanced technology and assessment theory to create a virtual learning environment. This is based on the move from teacher-centered to student-centered learning, which attaches a higher degree of importance on what students know, understand, and can do as a result of their educational experiences. The design framework consists of three levels: the first incorporates student access for initial assessment, secondly student motivation is enhances using self-assessment techniques and finally formative assessment through information sharing is introduced using student-teacher WEB-based interaction inside the virtual learning environment

Current State of the Art Historic Building Information Modelling

In an extensive review of existing literature a number of observations were made in relation to the current approaches for recording and modelling existing buildings and environments: Data collection and pre-processing techniques are becoming increasingly automated to allow for near real-time data capture and fast processing of this data for later modelling applications. Current BIM software is almost completely focused on new buildings and has very limited tools and pre-defined libraries for modelling existing and historic buildings. The development of reusable parametric library objects for existing and historic buildings supports modelling with high levels of detail while decreasing the modelling time. Mapping these parametric objects to survey data, however, is still a time-consuming task that requires further research. Promising developments have been made towards automatic object recognition and feature extraction from point clouds for as-built BIM. However, results are currently limited to simple and planar features. Further work is required for automatic accurate and reliable reconstruction of complex geometries from point cloud data. Procedural modelling can provide an automated solution for generating 3D geometries but lacks the detail and accuracy required for most as-built applications in AEC and heritage fields

Community Engagement in Cultural Heritage A Digital Context

A series of case studies outlining the application of virtual reality and digital technologies for cultural heritage is presented in this article with an aim to examine the role for community engagement and SMEs in cultural heritage within a digital context. Digital technologies can be a repository and tool for telling local stories in relation to place and time on site and virtually off-site. In a series of case studies, tools and technologies for virtual reality experiences are outlined to identify the appropriate tools which can best facilitate this community engagement. In addition, community-based digital heritage initiatives will be discussed with reference to the Faro Convention. These technologies include applying BIM or GIS for historic structures involves initially data capture of the geometry and texture using laser scanning or digital photogrammetry, and then converting the digital survey data to solid Building Information Models (BIM). The process is described as Historic BIM or Historic GIS and, in this paper, several virtual reconstruction case studies of Irish Megalithic and Romanesque structures are presented

Systemic Behaviour Change: Irish Farm Deaths and Injuries

While the Irish agricultural sector accounts for just 6% of the working population of Ireland, it consistently has the highest proportion of fatal incidents of any sector - generally ranging from between 35% and 45% of all workplace fatalities in any given year. This was again evident in 2014 where 55% (30 of the 56) of the fatal workplace incidents were in the agricultural sector. Agriculture has an ageing workforce with the average age of an Irish farmer now standing at fifty-seven and farmers are eight times more likely to be fatally injured in a farm accident than the general working population. Interviews were conducted with farmers and farm safety advisory bodies. The findings from this research show that a systems social marketing approach should be adopted to eliminate farm deaths and injuries and that interventions should be co-created with the farming community. A grass-roots mentoring system needs to be established to advise farmers on best practice. This needs to be modelled on 3 main pillars (individual farm visits, courses in safe farming, and group farm walks) delivered by and for farmers. Live testimonials from farmers who have been involved in farming accidents also need to be incorporated into all farm safety talks and demonstrations. These need to show farmers the physical, emotional and financial consequences of a farming accident. These farm accident victims should attend individual farm visits, courses in safe farming and group farm walks. Practical workshops need to be set up so farmers learn specific skills appropriate to their farming situation. Lecture-based teaching where farmers sit and listen about safe farming practices should be avoided as farmers like to learn by doing. The issue of farm safety needs to be addressed at a macro marketing level and needs to involve a broadening of the traditional 4Ps to include People, Policy and Partnership

The Use of Mentoring To Effect Cultural Change: Irish Farm Deaths And Injuries

Agriculture is the most dangerous occupation in Ireland. For every fatality in the sector, more than 125 farm workers are injured, many of them so seriously that the viability of the farm is undermined. These terrible and largely hidden figures have remained constant for the past decade, despite legal requirements, awareness-raising events and inspections by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). The agricultural sector accounts for just 6% of the working population of Ireland, yet it consistently has the highest proportion of fatal incidents of any sector. This was again evident in 2017 where 51% (24 of the 47) of all fatal workplace incidents in Ireland were in the agricultural sector. Of those 24 deaths, 14 were of men aged over 65. A further 2,500 people were injured, many of them seriously. Interviews were conducted with farmers and farm safety advisory bodies. The findings from this research show that a systems social marketing approach should be adopted to eliminate farm deaths and injuries and that interventions should be co-created with the farming community. A grass-roots mentoring system needs to be established to advise farmers on best practice. The issue of farm safety needs to be addressed at a macro marketing level and needs to involve a broadening of the traditional 4Ps to include People, Policy and Partnership