The Posterior metric and the Goodness of Gibbsianness for transforms of Gibbs measures

We present a general method to derive continuity estimates for conditional probabilities of general (possibly continuous) spin models sub jected to local transformations. Such systems arise in the study of a stochastic time-evolution of Gibbs measures or as noisy observations. We exhibit the minimal necessary structure for such double-layer systems. Assuming no a priori metric on the local state spaces, we define the posterior metric on the local image space. We show that it allows in a natural way to divide the local part of the continuity estimates from the spatial part (which is treated by Dobrushin uniqueness here). We show in the concrete example of the time evolution of rotators on the q-1 dimensional sphere how this method can be used to obtain estimates in terms of the familiar Euclidean metric.Comment: 32 page

Discrete approximations to vector spin models

We strengthen a result of two of us on the existence of effective interactions for discretised continuous-spin models. We also point out that such an interaction cannot exist at very low temperatures. Moreover, we compare two ways of discretising continuous-spin models, and show that, except for very low temperatures, they behave similarly in two dimensions. We also discuss some possibilities in higher dimensions.Comment: 12 page

Special issue: urban regeneration for sustainable development

Guest editorial&nbsp

Gibbs-non-Gibbs properties for n-vector lattice and mean-field models

We review some recent developments in the study of Gibbs and non-Gibbs properties of transformed n-vector lattice and mean-field models under various transformations. Also, some new results for the loss and recovery of the Gibbs property of planar rotor models during stochastic time evolution are presented.Comment: 31 pages, 6 figure

Discrete approximations to vector spin models

We strengthen a result of two of us on the existence of effective interactions for discretised continuous-spin models. We also point out that such an interaction cannot exist at very low temperatures. Moreover, we compare two ways of discretising continuous-spin models, and show that, except for very low temperatures, they behave similarly in two dimensions. We also discuss some possibilities in higher dimensions.Comment: 12 page

Technology supported learning and pedagogy in times of crisis: the case of COVID-19 pandemic

Online teaching within disciplines such as Engineering require experiential learning that equip future graduates with highly intellectual and professional skills to meet the demands of employers and the industry. The outbreak of COVID-19 however, has shifted the academic community into new landscapes that require educators and students to adapt and manage their expectations. Although literature reports on research attempts to study the implications of Covid-19 on the Higher Education curricular, little has been reported on its impact on Engineering Education. This paper therefore uses the theory of Emergency Management Life Cycle (mitigation, preparedness, response, and recover) as a lens to examine the challenges faced by students and academics and coping mechanism during the COVID period. This study adopts a mixed method approach using a case study from the College of Engineering at a Higher Education Institution in the UAE due to the sudden migration to online teaching amid COVID-19. Data is collected through interviews and surveys with both students and instructors on challenges, strategies and online delivery good practices that enhanced students’ learning experience. The results show that, Technology Supported Learning tools are capable of enhancing students’ experiential learning and associated competencies, however there were a number of pedagogical, technological and psychological challenges that faced students and instructors as a result of the sudden migration online, which are likely to play a role in the impediment of the students’ learning cycle, due to the lack of preparedness in response to the state of emergency created by Covid-19. Despite these challenges, the study found that instructors with effective communication skills and teaching style, competent use of technology, flexible, friendly and supportive attitude towards teaching, played a positive role in mitigating for the lack of preparedness in response to sudden migration online. The study also reveals that by overcoming some of the technical challenges such as slow internet connection and interruptions, lessons learnt from the sudden migration to online delivery amid COVID-19, will help create new opportunities for the use of blended learning approaches to meet the needs of the on-going COVID and future online deliveries

Challenges for implementing the sustainable development goals in the Danish construction industry: Building owners' perspective

The construction sector holds great potential and responsibility in achieving the United Nation's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The aim of this study is to investigate how the SDGs can be implemented in construction projects in a Danish context, and which challenges building owners face working with the SDGs. A focus group workshop was held with 22 professional building owners to investigate which challenges they encounter and what is needed to support successful implementation, along with a survey focusing on their current implementation of the SDGs. The results showed that the five SDGs with the highest prioritization among the building owners were Goal 7 (affordable and clean energy), Goal 11 (sustainable cities and communities), Goal 13 (climate action), Goal 8 (decent work and economic growth), and Goal 12 (responsible consumption and production). 94% of the building owners had implemented, or wished to implement, the SDGs in various degrees. The main challenges experienced by the building owners were a lack of local indicators, tools and methods to support the implementation of the SDGs in construction, knowledge regarding the SDGs among the building owners, and extra costs related to the implementation of the SDGs. The main solutions suggested to overcome the challenges were the development of new tools and methods supporting the practical application of the SDGs in construction, e.g., dialogue tools for goal setting and prioritisation and for measuring performance regarding the SDG in construction, along with practical examples and knowledge aimed towards the actors within the construction industry. This study provides valuable insights of the challenges experienced by professional building owners regarding the implementation of the SDGs, as a point of departure for future research and developing practical solutions to support the implementation of the SDGs

Sustainable Regeneration project delivery in the UK: A qualitative analysis of practitioners’ engagement

PURPOSE: The aim of this paper is to explore the key practitioner’s level of involvement in the delivery of sustainable regeneration projects in the UK. Practitioners’ level of involvement is a major factor which has, and continues to determine the delivery of sustainability outcomes of regeneration projects. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The paper adopted a qualitative study which obtained data from 21 key practitioners’ through a semi-structured interviews in exploring practitioners’ level of involvement in the delivery of sustainable regeneration projects in the UK. The semi-structured interviews are conducted with seven practitioners’ each from the three construction organisations selected through a purposive sampling approach for the study. FINDINGS: The findings identify varied levels of involvement of the key practitioners’ at the three delivery stages - early, construction and post construction of the projects. The findings further reveal that clients’ representatives, commercial managers and architects are the most frequently involved practitioners during the early stages of the projects. The findings also indicate that practitioners who have sustainability assigned to their roles and their responsibilities, such as sustainability managers etc. are the least involved in all the three delivery stages of the projects. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The study involves interview with 21 practitioners from three organisations delivering sustainable regeneration projects; hence this could limit the generalization of the research findings. However, the findings of this study could serve as a useful source of information for future further study in this area. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The paper is of the view that the level of key practitioner’s involvement in the delivery of the projects will have an impact on their knowledge and will determine how sustainability benefits are promoted and delivered from the projects. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Although some studies have been carried out on practitioner’s engagement in the delivery of ‘normal’ construction projects, none has focused on practitioner’s levels of involvement in sustainable regeneration projects. Hence, this study has brought to the fore how the key practitioners’ tasked with the responsibilities of delivering sustainability benefits of regeneration projects have been involved (at various levels of the project lifecycle) in the delivery of these projects