Building information modeling (BIM) and green building index (GBI) assessment framework for non-residential new construction building (NRNC)

The global construction industry endorsed Building Information Modeling (BIM) and its many advantages. However, despite this endorsement, BIM still failed to attract Malaysian companies to use BIM in green building assessment, especially for the assessment of Green Building Index (GBI), and maintain GBI certification during building occupancy using BIM features. The main issue of utilizing BIM as a GBI assessment tool is the applicability of BIM Tools to digitalize GBI credit by design team, which results in the digitization of GBI criteria into BIM Model. This study aims to identify common components related to the capability of BIM to digitalize and assess GBI criteria. These components include BIM uses and tools and GBI criteria and processes. This study applied quantitative and qualitative approaches to collect data. The quantitative approach used questionnaires, which were distributed to 900 GBI members, i.e. GBI certifiers and facilitators. The survey generated a response rate of 32% during eight months of data collection. The results were analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS. Four model categories were identified, namely, BIM uses, BIM tools, GBI criteria and GBI certification process. These categories were used to assess the BIM–GBI framework. The results obtained from the questionnaire showed that only 16 BIM uses must be included in the BIM execution plan of the GBI project for assessment purposes. The results also showed that the BIM tools present different levels of effect on the GBI criteria. The capability of BIM to assess GBI could be stronger in the design assessment (DA) than in the operation assessment, which supports the suggested BIM–GBI assessment framework. The second data collection was conducted through a focus group interview with BIM and GBI experts. Two interview sessions were conducted. Results show that the assessment method has a significant correlation in the BIM– GBI framework. The following categories were identified for the BIM assessment framework: BIM uses, BIM tools, and control, which were based on the GBI criteria for scoring and certification. Findings from the BIM and GBI assessment method framework show that GBI credits can be digitalized using different BIM uses directly and indirectly assessed by BIM tools for each GBI credit in both GBI assessment process. Based on the qualitative result of this research showed that BIM can help the design team to achieve 55% point in design assessment (DA) only and this helps the building to achieve GBI certification in level 4 of certified rating. On the other hand, 45% points of GBI credits can be digitals in completion and verification assessment (CVA). The framework provides a guide for the design team and facility management in digitalizing and assessing GBI criteria using BIM application during design assessment (DA) and completion and verification assessment (CVA) for new nonresidential constructions. The framework also offers and provides insights that will enable designers to understand the relationship between BIM and GBI criteria, which will contribute to BIM integration in Stage 3 and automate GBI assessment for the Malaysian construction industry

Evaluating the Effectiveness of ISO 9001:2000 Training in Certified Manufacturing Companies in Malaysia

With more Malaysian manufacturing companies upgrading from previous standards ISO 9000: 1994 to the ISO 9001: 2000 standards, employee readiness is an important component for successful implementation. The Implementation Team tasked with implementation and maintenance of the standards is trained to facilitate the required transformation. The purpose of this research is to obtain feedback from Implementation Team Members who are responsible for implementation of ISO 9001:2000 standards in their companies. 87 respondents from 27 Malaysian (small and big) Manufacturing companies which had recently implemented the ISO 9001:2000 standards in their work agreed to participate in the this study. The aim of the research was to evaluate training programs conducted to support the implementation of the system. Using Kirkpatrick’s Model this study evaluated the training programs and their influence on the success or failure of quality standards implementation. Analysis of the results showed a high incidence of positive feedback for the reaction, knowledge and attitude levels. The evaluation of the Implementation Team members, skill levels for implementation of clause 6.2.2, considered critical to the success of implementation of the system however was less positive and registered only average ratings. This indicates that training needs for Implementation Team Members need to be given more attention to ensure that they are well prepared to carry out their roles in the implementation process. Additionally, in attempting to investigate the necessity for training on additional skills required to establish and maintain the system the general consensus among them was the requirement for additional training

Comparative analysis between FPA and COCOMO techniques for software cost estimation

Software cost estimation is the process of predicting the effort required to develop a software system. The basic inputs for the software cost estimation are programs, size and set of cost drivers, while the output is effort in the form of person-month and cost. In this thesis, Function Point Analysis (FPA) and Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO) have been used to estimate software project cost of two case studies. They are Web-Based Dog’s Diseases Diagnosis System (WBDDDS) and Sugar Bun Online Bakery System (SBOBSE). By using FPA, it was shown that for the WBDDDS, the person-month was 12.506 with the total cost of USD65,031.2 were estimated. While using COCOMO, it was shown that 16.286 persons-month with the total cost of USD 84,687.2 were estimated. However, for the SBDBSE, by using FPA, 19.62 persons-month with the total cost of USD102,024 were estimated. It also shown that 19.354 persons-month with the total cost of USD100,640.8 were estimated by using COCOMO. In conclusion, there are no best techniques to estimat 3 e cost for a project. It al 77$ l depends on the parameters of a syste

A CFD study on two-phase frozen flow of air/water through a safety relief valve

The air-water two phase critical flows through a safety relief valve commonly used in the refrigeration industry is examined with particular emphasis on the prediction of the critical mass flowrates using CFD based approaches. The expansion of the gas through the valve and the associated acceleration is coupled to the liquid phase and results in changes to the velocity slip with the possibility of influencing the choking conditions and the magnitude of the critical mass flows. These conditions are poorly reported in the literature for safety valves. This paper presents a study where the ability of established two phase multi-dimensional modelling approaches to predict such conditions are investigated. Comparison with the simplified mixture model will show that this model tends to underestimate mass flowrates for medium to high liquid mass fraction. However, the two fluid model can adequately account for the thermal and mechanical non equilibrium for these complex flow conditions with the use of simplified droplet sizing rules

The Marrakesh declaration: a Muslim call for protection of religious minorities or freedom of religion?

In January last year more than 300 Sunni and Shia leaders from all over the world gathered in Marrakesh to formulate a Muslim call for protection of religious minorities. It is the first time in modern history that Muslim leaders have formulated such a clear rejection of religiously legitimated persecution and discrimination within the framework of international human rights. As important and unique as this call for protection of religious minorities’ rights is, Marie Juul Petersen and Osama Arhb Moftah argue that the declaration also has its weaknesses, pointing to four areas of concern

Performance evaluation of an RDB and an ORDB: A comparative study using the BUCKY benchmark

This paper highlights the functionality of object-based database systems by comparing the performance of relational database (RDB) and object-relational database (ORDB) systems. The study focuses on assessing the efficiency of database systems based on query processing and object complexity. We conducted an experiment that includes running the queries on the RDB and ORDB that were used in the BUCKY benchmark and implemented on Oracle 11g. The findings of this research show that the performance of both database systems depends on various factors, such as the size and type of databases, the schema and query structures, the number of tuples scanned in tables, indexes as well as the environment, in which the experiment was carried out

A CFD study of two-phase frozen flow of air/water through a safety relief valve

The air-water two phase critical flows through a safety relief valve commonly used in the refrigeration industry is examined with particular emphasis on the prediction of the critical mass flowrates using CFD based approaches. The expansion of the gas through the valve and the associated acceleration is coupled to the liquid phase and results in changes to the velocity slip with the possibility of influencing the choking conditions and the magnitude of the critical mass flows. These conditions are poorly reported in the literature for safety valves. This paper presents a study where the ability of established two phase multi-dimensional modelling approaches to predict such conditions are investigated. Comparison with the simplified mixture model will show that this model tends to underestimate mass flowrates for medium to high liquid mass fraction. However, the two fluid model can adequately account for the thermal and mechanical non equilibrium for these complex flow conditions with the use of simplified droplet sizing rules