bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Women's Economic Empowerment in the Developing Countries
Authors: Zakuan Ummu Atiyah Ahmad , Hassan Kalthum
Published: October 2018

It is an established fact that women's empowerment is primary to the socio-economic and political development of a nation. It will be meaningless, if women that constitute half of the population of the globe do not have access to education, healthcare, employment and political decision making bodies. A nation benefits fully when both men and women contribute rigorously in social cohesion, economic growth, peace and prosperity. Findings from countries and reputable institutions such as World Bank and the United Nations revealed that greater gender equality correlates positively with national economic growth. The World Economic Forum recently reported that across the 135 countries examined, greater gender equality correlates positively with per capita gross national product. Countries with greater equality between women and men have economies that are more competitive and fast growing. Hence, removing barriers on empowering women stimulates economic development. This chapter commences with the meaning of women empowerment followed by the identification of various barriers on women empowerment, and investigation on women economic empowerment in the developing countries. The patriarchal system is also introduced to explain how it influences women empowerment. Finally, this chapter argues that women empowerment in general can only be achieved if the patriarchal system is transformed or reengineered to foster more equality between both groups.
Picking the People up From Poverty
Authors: Sowad Abu Saleh Mohammad
Published: October 2018

Being a multidimensional phenomenon, it is hard to confine poverty within any definitive parameters and even harder to send the word poverty back to dictionary. Poverty eradication needs both short and long term strategic interventions; policies regarding employment opportunities should also be planned in such way. As an economic strategy, deregulation targets to eliminate the regulating authorities of labour market and decrease the interference of legal aspects within the relationship between companies and individuals to a minimum level with a great decline in the cases of collective bargaining. Labour market deregulation creates ample employment opportunities for poor people especially women. This paper looks for an effective and efficient way to alleviate poverty between Urban Labour Market Deregulation and the development of micro-enterprises with a sketch of possibilities and vulnerabilities of both approaches and a comparative approach to find the best possible way within these two to remove poverty's shadow from humankind.
A National Crisis and a Call to Action
Authors: Greene H. Carol , Manner Jane C.
Published: October 2018

Well over 16,000,000 children live in poverty in the United States. One of the widest achievement gaps in education today exists between children from lower and upper income families. Our nation's teachers are woefully unprepared to work with children from poverty and the current soaring poverty rate is serving to exacerbate an already bad situation into a major educational crisis. Considerable dispute exists between and among differing approaches related to identifying an optimum way of perceiving and working with children of poverty, but the literature is clear that high quality professional development programs are critical for preparing teachers to work with these students. This chapter describes a program for preparing teachers to work with children of poverty that could be adapted for use in both preservice programs and also as professional development.
National Migration Policy as a Principle for Economic System Structuring in the Modern States
Authors: Andreeva Ekaterina
Published: October 2018

This chapter covers three actual problems of the modern economy: immigration processes in developed countries and their “economic effect,” current migration problems of Russian regions, as well as the specifics of economic space structuring considering the overall impact of migration processes on the territorial economy and the labour market. In the chapter, the assessment of the economic role of immigration in developed countries is justified, economic effects of migration processes are established, the analysis of the structure of the economic space of the modern state is conducted, regions of the Russian Federation in line with migration problems and conceptual substantiation of formation mechanisms of the Russian economic space are classified. The recommendations on the modernization of the Russian migration policy related to the use of positive foreign experience are suggested as conclusions. The given problem seems to be especially actual in the light of the strengthening of the latest migration processes, connected with the crisis in the Ukraine.
Political Consumption as Supplement to Conventional Political Participation in Promoting Social Change
Authors: Adugu Emmanuel
Published: October 2018

Research indicates that individual consumers with food safety, environmental and ethical concerns regarding the provisioning of food may be motivated to use the marketplace as a site for political action to promote social change—a phenomenon known as political consumption (PC). Using data from Ohio 2007 Survey of Food, Farming and Environment, this research examined individual level attributes shaping engagement in PC and conventional political action. Findings based on logistic regression analyses, reveal that engagement in conventional political behavior is positively related to the likelihood of engagement in political consumption. This suggests that engagement in conventional political action and political consumption are not mutually exclusive. The main factors associated with engagement in political consumption are: knowledge about food production, environmental and food safety concerns. These findings suggest that consumers with concerns about the organization and character of food production believe they can create social changes via their consumptive decisions.
On the Road to SME Sector Development in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Syed Abidur , Ahmad Noor Hazlina , Taghizadeh Seyedeh Khadijeh
Published: October 2018

Entrepreneurship has been deliberated as multidimensional and multidisciplinary study. From the economic point of view entrepreneurship is the central force for economic development for any nation. Scholars and policy makers now have started to see entrepreneurship as panacea for inclusive growth. Entrepreneurships are most widely popular and discussed area. Study on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) has been maturing for the last decade as it has been regarded as significant player for the social development along with the economic development. In Bangladesh, SMEs account for a large proportion of the total establishments in various sectors. Considering the importance of the SME sector in Bangladesh, this study intends to explore and sketch-out the landscape of current SME setting in Bangladesh. With this aim the study has extensively carried out literature review, observed and understood the secondary data obtained from various organizations, and finally presented a policy driven recommendation (micro and macro level) which would enable to develop the SME sector in a developing country like Bangladesh.
Zakat and Its Socio-Economic Merits
Authors: Al-Banna Mohammed Abdul Karim , Michael Ian
Published: October 2018

The chapter investigates the role Zakat (alms giving) in eradicating poverty around the world. It (Zakat) is one of the five main pillars of Islam; it is the practice of charitable giving by Muslims based on accumulated wealth and is expected to be paid by all practicing Muslims having the financial means. As part of the study, a questionnaire that consisted of five questions to enquire about how Zakat can eradicate poverty was administered to 200 Muslim people living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Further, the questions were designed targeting the core goals of a Zakat institution that also reflected the Muslims psychometric behavioural aspects. Islam has 1.57 billion followers, making up over 23 percent of the world population (Pew Research, 2011). With such a vast population, the role of Zakat in alleviating poverty is an achievable objective.
Children and Youth Making Digital Media for the Social Good
Authors: Denner Jill , Martinez Jacob
Published: October 2018

This chapter describes how children and youth are using digital media to address inequity in their schools, communities, and in society. The chapter begins with a review of the historical and cultural roots of children making digital media for the social good, and situates the approach in the context of other civic and community-based movements. The next section focuses on the range of ways that children and youth are making digital media, including who is participating, and the social and institutional factors involved. The next sections describe the benefits for the participants and for society, as well as the barriers to broader participation. Two case studies highlight key strategies for engaging marginalized youth in making digital media for the social good, and ways to expand the popularity of this approach. The chapter concludes with suggestions for future research, and the broader implications for education, civic engagement, social practice and policy.
The Inter-Linkage Between Governance and Poverty
Authors: Adhikary Maniklal , Sinha Dyuti
Published: October 2018

This chapter aims at assessing the impact of governance on the country's economic and human well-being in the selected South Asian countries. The study finds that for the countries-India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, over the years 1990-2012, the growing rate of GDP per capita (PPP) and growing employment to population ratio has a significant negative impact on the Global Hunger Index as expected. Also the panel regression run for the eight SAARC countries over the period 2007-13 to find out the impact of each of the six governance indicators on the per capita GDP showed that political stability and absence of violence, government effectiveness and regulatory quality have very strong and significant role in augmenting the economic output besides the remaining indicators. The trends for each of the indicators across countries over time show that except Bhutan, none of the countries are exhibiting good performance of the governance indicators.
Games for Social Change
Authors: Keating Paul
Published: October 2018

Building on the use of the internet and social media as sites for activism, this paper highlights the emergence of political activism and collective protest in the online gaming environment. Referencing social movement theory and the rapidly evolving capacity of multiplayer online games to facilitate the development of strong group identities and real-time, real-world collaboration, the paper explores the potential of such games to create a space and a mechanism for enabling the emergence of movements for social change. Highlighting the growing number of social activist games designers, building values of equality and social justice into their gameplay, the paper draws an epistemological link between the work of these “conscientious designers” and the process of Conscientization within youth and community work inspired by the critical analysis of political activists such as Paulo Freire and Augusto Boal.
Poverty Reduction, Wealth Creation, and Tourism in Ethnic Minority Communities in Mainland Southeast Asia
Authors: Hipsher Scott A.
Published: October 2018

This article describes how there is a debate over the benefits and costs of international tourism and engagement with international trading networks for people living in areas where poverty continues to affect a large percentage of the population. An examination of the perspectives of ethnic minority micro-entrepreneurs on the impact of tourism on their lives and communities is presented. It was found most individuals from these communities find tourism increases livelihood opportunities and neither want to be isolated from the global economy nor want to abandon their traditional cultural values; instead it is preferred to have additional the additional livelihood options which tourism creates.
The Social Economy and Role of Government in South Africa
Authors: Okeke-Uzodike O. E. , Subban Mogie
Published: October 2018

Social economy, as a relatively new concept, is considered the ‘third sector' of the economy in government discourse. It plays significant roles in socio-economic and political spheres of any nation. Emphasis on social economy has been as a result of the global recession which caused economic depression in several countries all over the world. In South Africa, the impact of the economic recession has reflected mostly in increased unemployment and poverty levels resulting in maximization of discrepancies between the rich and poor with inequalities, creating disenabling environments for foreign investments. These social problems have called for an examination of the role of the social economy in liberating the South African economy from its current dire state. This chapter on tracing the developmental agenda of the South African government, will examine how the social economy has fed into the National Development Plan and the impact of implementation of government policies and regulatory frameworks to ensure achievement of various national imperatives aligned to the Millennium Development Goals in the context of the social economy. The authors state that whilst there is a growing trend towards the social economy in the current context of government, multi-faceted effects of poverty needs to be targeted through robust entrepreneurial opportunities for growth and development of the economy.
The Crossroads That Were Never Meant to Be
Authors: Modise Oitshepile MmaB , Lekoko Rebecca Nthogo
Published: October 2018

Today's world faces challenges of increased number of orphans. In Botswana, HIV/AIDS scourge widens figures and poverty increases vulnerability. Beyond existing empowerment supporting schemes, and policies, orphans are responsible for complementing government's efforts. In this chapter, the orphan had hoped for economic empowerment through his old barber shop. His hope was drowned when he got a kiosk instead of barber equipment. The kiosk in his yard stands as a promise of government support, on the other hand, it is a symbol of no voice and choice over improvement of his future life. Challenges to improvement include government's prescriptive procedures and bureaucracy. These challenges have in turn created self-doubt, bitterness and a feeling of betrayal on his part. This chapter illustrates that for empowerment strategies to succeed, there should be synergy between beneficiaries' needs and government support. Monitoring too is an essential part of successful practices.
Functional Effectiveness and Modern Mechanisms for National Urban Systems Globalization
Authors: Arkhipov Alexey , Ushakov Denis
Published: October 2018

Cities' transformation into active actors of international economic relations and their participation in international competition form a complex of relevant problems about efficiency of relationships between business and government, global competitive advantages of urban economies, quality of municipal governance, and development and international integration of the urban system of the modern countries (including Russia). This chapter examines a development of the modern features of the urban system in Russia, analyzes its macroeconomic indicators, actual problems, and evaluates various scenarios for the development of both individual urban economies and the entire urban system of Russia.
Social Media for Promoting Grassroots Political Movements and Social Change
Authors: Manzoor Amir
Published: October 2018

In light of many recent Internet-led revolutions, the Internet and its tools of social media have been heralded as instrumental in facilitating the uprisings. This chapter provides a close examination of the social media role in grass roots political and social change movements. The chapter discusses the ways activists have used social media tools for organizing and generating awareness of political mobilization and the characteristics of social networking that can be harnessed in a particular cultural and historical context to achieve collective political actions. The chapter also discusses long-established theories of communication to explain how social networking tools became appealing to the activists in these Internet-led movements. The chapter will look at various Internet-led political movements around the globe to demonstrate the enormous potential of social networking tools to facilitate and expedite political mobilization.
Current Trends of Education and Social Change in Balochistan
Authors: Erum Naveeda , Saeed Naima , Rehman Tansif Ur
Published: October 2018

This article focuses on the current trends of education and social change in Balochistan. This article aims to point out the issues related to globalization and geopolitical changes around the region. Balochistan is the most backward area in terms of social development in Pakistan, as it has tribal societies. The political turmoil and war in Afghanistan has been present since 1979, and has brought refugees and donor agencies into the province. This article highlights the important of understanding the impact of social change in Balochistan. The modes of employment and economic activities have witnessed major changes. Education has played a crucial role in bringing about social change in Balochistan, as it is evident in many ways in the context of employment patterns. A large number of people are now in jobs which required a certain level of education, when compared to three decades ago. It is vital to understand the very dynamics of social change at this crucial juncture, when rapid social changes are taking place.
Reflections From Inside the World of Empowered Women
Authors: Morolong Bantu Lulu K
Published: October 2018

Poverty is one of the most critical problems facing developing regions. In Lesotho, poverty is more deeply entrenched in the rural areas and closely linked to severe degradation of land on which rural livelihoods depend. Landlessness affects Basotho women more adversely than men who have better employment opportunities as mine labour migrants in South Africa. This chapter therefore, presents the case of Thota-ea-Moli Multi-Purpose Cooperative as a response to further threats of poverty to a community that lost its land to a government project. The chapter maps the historical trends of Basotho women's empowerment and their pivotal role in development and poverty alleviation through cooperatives. Having outlined the project design and implementation processes, its achievements and challenges are highlighted and their impact on Thota-ea-Moli women's economic and socio cultural empowerment. Future trends that hold promise for women's further empowerment are also presented.
Agriculture, Trade Liberalization and Poverty in the ACP Countries
Authors: Rajack-Talley Theresa Ann
Published: October 2018

This chapter looks specifically at the impact of the ACP agriculture trade agreements on issues of food production, food security and poverty and how they relate in some ways to each other. It is divided into four distinct but inter-related sections. First, poverty in the ACP regions is briefly described. Secondly, the importance of agriculture, particularly the role of small farming systems to economic growth, employment, food production, food security and poverty reduction in the ACP countries is examined. Thirdly, the impact of the acceleration of trade liberalization and agriculture protectionism on ACP countries is reviewed and analyzed. Here, the trade arrangements and networks in the three ACP regions are described and include international, regional and local agricultural trade and market agreements. Further, the paradoxes and dilemmas that emerge are interrogated and their outcomes discussed. Particular attention is paid to small producers and women. The fourth and final section of the chapter concludes that while the impact of agriculture trade liberalization remains a mixed bag of positive and negative possibilities, one thing that is clear is that while trade liberalization is promoted as a cure for food security and world poverty, the jury is still out on whether it has helped or hindered this endeavour. Trade policies and arrangements do substantially change the lives of people in developing countries, but in very complex ways. Recommendations are made to support the South-South initiatives of the ACP and others as well as enhance regional and domestic agriculture production and trade policies. The author, however, warns that agriculture and trade policies must be linked closer to food security and the healthy diets of local populations.
The Social Impact of the Financial Crises in the Recent Past and Evidence Thereof
Authors: Karmakar Asim Kumar , Jana Sebak Kumar
Published: October 2018

Financial crises have significant short-term and long-term social costs. As a result, economic and social indicators have dwindled significantly since 2007. The soar in the unemployment rate has been most marked in so called advanced economies, reaching alarming levels in the tangential Europe with more than half of the young labour force unemployed in Greece and Spain. What is more, the crises, one global and another Euro zone financial crisis, have inexplicably hurt the poor. The progress in poverty alleviation has been not smooth across regions, and the pace has slowed since 2007 across the board. The crisis has also created challenges to the achievement of other development targets, including reduction of the occurrence of malnutrition and mortality rates, and civilizing gender equality in education and access to hygienic water and sanitation. This also suggests a significant loss or a reversal of the progress in development. In the above background, this paper presents evidence on the extent to which the global financial crisis and other crises since 2007 has been associated with deteriorating economic and social well-being indicators with a special focus on India. The results clearly indicate that poverty levels have been falling before the pre-crisis period but the post-crisis period witnessed a jump in the poverty rates across India.
International Migration Through the Tourism Industry
Authors: Henama Unathi Sonwabile , Sifolo Portia Pearl Siyanda
Published: October 2018

The tourism industry has advantages and disadvantages that are evident in South Africa. One of the disadvantages in Cape Town is the growth of particularly urban tourism that has displaced domestic tourists due to the high prices charged. The development of the domestic tourism market is challenged by the dominant unemployment, poverty, and inequality that are affecting the South African economy. Yet, tourism consumption requires the availability of discretionary income as a necessary condition to afford to procure and consume tourism offerings. Government support is visible in the industry as it has the ability to create jobs and opportunities for entrepreneurs. Even though three cities in South Africa, Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg, dominate the urban tourism market, this can also be reflected in the flight frequencies via Johannesburg, which is the regional hub for Southern Africa.
Can Zakat Institutions Adopt Consumer-Centric Knowledge Management Successfully to Alleviate Poverty?
Authors: Hussain Abu Baker Ramadan Mohamed
Published: October 2018

Drawing upon Consumer-Centric Knowledge Management (CCKM) approach and poverty alleviation efforts, this chapter elaborates the adoption of these approaches in Zakat Institutions (ZI) in their search to alleviate poverty. It assesses the interrelationships of the two approaches in ZI considering the poor and needy as the main envisioned stakeholders. The investigation deliberates the landscape of poverty alleviation by key agents of knowledge change, reviewing their contributions to establish communities of practices in creating and sharing knowledge on poverty alleviation. Similarly, it relates major strategic focus of poverty alleviation to CCKM processes. It explores knowledge management gaps that could affect ZI outreach highlighting the main internal and external challenges. The substances of outreach stipulate the importance of poverty intelligence portfolio that utilizes key elements of CCKM, namely poor and needy intelligence, demand intelligence, situational intelligence, and networking intelligence. As a result, the effective engagement of ZI in the two approaches is valued with respect to knowledge on poverty alleviation.
Finding Inner Strength in the Face of Adversity Kgopolano GROW Group Empowerment Journey
Authors: Nthomang Keitseope
Published: October 2018

This article describes how numerous studies in Botswana have found high levels of poverty among women, in particular, those in female-headed households. Extreme poverty among women continues despite government programme interventions designed to end poverty. This article reports the findings of an initially donor-funded women's empowerment project in an urban village, Molepolole, Botswana. At the center of this project are 14 women who are experimenting with the GROW model to transform their lives. Through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions the women's views on the past, present, and future of the project were solicited. Content and thematic analysis were utilized on the data. The results confirm the potential of the GROW model in transforming the lives of women facing insurmountable hardships. The Grow model inspired women to gather inner strength and break the cycle of poverty by continuing the project beyond donor funding.
Global Economy Urbanization and Urban Economy Globalization
Authors: Ushakov Denis , Chich-Jen Shieh
Published: October 2018

World economy globalization fundamentally changes the role of urban business systems. Now, they are the main actors of global production and trade. A dominant share of international business activity is now concentrated within a frame of global urban net. This trend transforms mechanisms and patterns of market economy institutes' functioning and stimulates the appearance of new economical, social, and political problems. This chapter includes statistical and comparative analysis of modern cities, their economical performance, and position in global economic affairs, and also an original methodology for urban business structure evaluation. It allows setting some theoretical findings about internal and external sources of urban business system competitiveness and effectiveness in a globalizing economy and the formation of an original approach to modern cities' global hierarchy evaluation.
E-Government for Rural Development in Tanzania
Authors: Kisusu R. W. , Bahati D. M. , Kisusu G. R.
Published: October 2018

This chapter presents the importance of developing rural areas with an emphasis on good governance and poverty alleviation through the use of electronic government in Tanzania. With such concern, the authors show that rural areas are as significant as the economy of most of the developing countries, including Tanzania. As such, putting sufficient efforts on rural development is unavoidable for rapid development. Further, the authors note how Tanzania improves its rural areas through the use of e-government, but efforts are constrained by the existence of poor Information Communication Technology service providers, ineffective policy, and unreliability of rural electricity. In order to address such shortfalls, the authors propose several solutions that could motivate the increase in the use of rural e-government and revise rural development policy.
Historical and Methodological Approaches to the Analysis of International Labor Migration in a Globalizing World Economy
Authors: Rubinskaya Eteri
Published: October 2018

International labor migration is a multi-level, multi-dimensional, social phenomenon studied by specialists of different branches of science. The scientific views on the content of the concept, causes and factors, consequences, etc. have been developing together with the progress of the phenomenon and are developing until now. The chapter is devoted to the influence of the world economic trends (globalization, integration, transnationalization) on the international labor movement and change of theoretical approaches to its analysis in the historical development of society on the example of modern concepts.
Drawing, Information, and Design
Authors: Fiorani Donatella , Acierno Marta
Published: October 2018

Although widely employed within the Architectural Heritage conservation process, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) techniques still present many serious issues for the discipline. Current research highlights a possible methodological approach to devise an ICT instrument that could support activities for Cultural Heritage conservation, while maintaining full respect for the specifics of the discipline. Reviewing current ICT and Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC) applications, it is possible to note that the proposed approach is at the moment reversed: modelling does not arise as the projection of a future object, but rather from the knowledge needed to represent an existing site as accurately as possible. The proposed goal, reflecting the operative methodology of the conservation process, seems to offer a greater range of representativeness and to resolve, at least, some of the critical topics that have arisen from the application of ICT to Cultural Heritage to date.
BIM Application in Documenting and Recreating Lost Architectural Heritage
Authors: Casu Paola , Pisu Claudia
Published: October 2018

The digital archiving process of complex historical architectural 3D models is a key point in the field of tangible cultural heritage. A lot of research focus on the definition of methodologies and tools that exploit the full potential of ICT applied to the documentation of cultural heritage. This chapter illustrates a part of a study in this line of investigation. It focuses on the use of BIM for the reconstruction of lost architectural heritage. BIM will be applied to virtual reconstruct the nineteenth-century covered food market of Cagliari that was demolished in 1957. Thanks to the properties of BIM to enter information related to each element constituting a building, every part of the model will be accompanied by information on the degree of reliability and references adopted for its creation. In this way, each family of elements could more easily and knowingly be reused for other similar projects.
Model 3D in Service of Preservation, Restoration, Structural Analyses of the Architectural Heritage
Authors: Marchis Elena Teresa Clotilde
Published: October 2018

This contribute aims to explore 3D modelling and its practical applications investigating scales of representation and scales of contents from architecture to landscape. The goal of this approach is to test the flexibility of modelling tools to different fields of application and to draw shared methods, even if they are applied in so different context. Changing the scale, is obvious, the language changes – because it is necessary to recompose symbolic and iconographic elements – themes and scales of representation change. So is possible to pave the way to strictly disciplinary thinking on outcomes and on instrumental and methodological guidelines for further research. The topic focuses on developing guidelines and creating a simple three-dimensional model designed to represent both the complexity of the “cultural heritage” morphology, as well as the need to manage the process of restoration in all its phases: from first findings to the restored final output.
Digital Reconstruction of Demolished Architectural Masterpieces, 3D Modeling, and Animation
Authors: Spallone Roberta
Published: October 2018

This chapter reviews methods and techniques of digital reconstruction of disappeared architectural masterpieces. Through the overview of theoretical positions are explored heuristic values and communicative potentials of three-dimensional reconstruction, and prerogatives of animation in the interaction with three-dimensional data. Different critical approaches related to the architectures remained on paper are then brought to light. The examination of several case studies, also personally conducted, is extended to unbuilt architectures and minor architectures subject to demolition or transformation in order to highlight the different strategies used for the preservation of the memory of such heritage. Finally, the case study of Turin Horse-Racing Society Building by Carlo Mollino is extensively presented through the analysis of contemporary critical bibliography concerning the project, a description of archival sources and illustration of methods and techniques of the digital reconstruction.
Use of Laser Scanner for Digital Surveying of the Sarnicli Inn and the Byzantine Cistern Underneath
Authors: Benli Gülhan , Ekizce Eylem Görmüş
Published: October 2018

Measurement methods including traditional measurement methods, topographic and photogrammetric measurement methods, measurements via laser scanning devices and aerial photogrammetric measurement methods obtained using model airplane or model helicopters are used in documentation of the cultural heritage and protected areas in our country. Although data obtained by Aerial Lidar technology accepted as advanced technology over the past decade, enables faster data comparing to others as data obtained by terrestrial laser scanners provide millimetre level accuracy close-range scanning methods are preferred in architectural facades scanning during the process of surveying of a single building. Inclusion process of a Byzantine cistern in Istanbul, Turkey, which was undiscovered for centuries, in our cultural heritage as well as surveying stages of the cistern along with the inn structure built over, using 3D scanning technology shall be described within this study.
A Critical Overview of Net Zero Energy Buildings and Fuzzy Cognitive Maps
Authors: Vergini Eleni S. , Groumpos Peter P.
Published: October 2018

ZEBs (zero energy buildings) and more specifically “net Zero Energy Building” (nZEB) have become a prominent wording to describe the synergy of energy efficient building and renewable energy utilization to reach a balanced energy budget over a yearly cycle. The lack of a common and accepted definition or even a good understanding of ZEB makes the approach of this problem very challenging. In this paper there is an evaluation of the criteria in the definition framework and selection of the related options. Also a methodology is approached, to set nZEB definitions in a systematic way. Today's different ZEB technologies, challenges and problems are identified and analyzed. For the first time the overall operation of nZEB and its performance is investigated and modeled using FCMs and learning algorithms. A set of low energy buildings using extensive energy and environmental data are simulated for all four seasons of a year. Interesting results are obtained, presented and discussed. Useful conclusions are drawn and future research challenging topics are presented.
A Feasibility Study on Occupants' Behaviour and Energy Usage Patterns and Its Potential Integration With Building Information Modelling
Authors: Han Liangxiu , Altan Haşim , Noguchi Masa
Published: October 2018

Understanding how occupants manage their energy use in homes and how their behaviour influence household energy consumption in domestic environments has been challenging. There seems to be several major factors contributing towards achieving optimal performance in designing, constructing and maintaining a sustainable home using Building Information Modelling (BIM) based approaches. This study focuses on investigating the relationship between user behaviour and energy consumption through the in-depth analysis of energy usage patterns collected from a selected affordable terraced house in Prestwick, Scotland, as an initial attempt towards the future integration with BIM systems. For the purpose of this feasibility study, indoor temperature, relative humidity and CO2 sensors, as well as a gas-electricity-water utility monitor were installed in the selected home occupied by a working class nuclear household. The study encompasses the analyses of energy usage patterns in their daily life. It is confirmed that domestic energy consumption is affected by the occupants' presence and behaviour. Moreover, this paper discusses a possibility that the energy prediction approach taken in this study could work alongside BIM systems applied for housing suppliers' design decision-making on the delivery of energy efficient homes of the future.
Valid Space Description in BIM for 3D Indoor Navigation
Authors: Abou Diakité Abdoulaye , Zlatanova Sisi
Published: October 2018

The BIM paradigm, supplied by appropriate standards like IFC, became unavoidable in recent construction projects. Several applications (e.g. indoor navigation, energy analysis ...) find in it a source of information on which they can rely. However, practices reveal that BIM models are not always directly reliable for applications and the latter have to ensure the validity of the data by their own. In the case of indoor navigation, the calculations will highly rely on the IfcSpace objects describing the rooms, in addition to their spatial relationships with their surrounding components. Unfortunately, it is common to face IFC models in which IfcSpace objects contain wrong geometric and topological description. In this paper, the authors discuss the issues related to BIM models validation for indoor navigation. Furthermore, they present a method to generate valid indoor spaces in IFC models. The approach relies on the structural components of the building (walls, slabs, etc.) and uses topological operations, supported by the combinatorial map data structure, to produce watertight space volumes.
Economic Potentials of Energy-Efficient Residential Building Envelope Retrofitting in Turkey
Authors: Erdoğdu M. Mustafa , Karaca Coşkun , Kurultay Ali
Published: October 2018

The amount of energy consumption in the residential buildings has a very significant share with nearly 30 percent in the total amount of energy consumption. Therefore, residential sector is identified in this chapter as being one of the areas with a large potential for energy savings. Inefficient dwelling construction and design methods are widely used in Turkey and only about five percent of residential buildings are insulated. Concerning the importance and immediate need in Turkey for energy-efficient residential building retrofitting, this chapter identifies economic benefits of such retrofitting by particularly focusing on heat transfers by conductivity, where the rate can be determined by surface size, thermal resistance of the building materials and their thickness.
Managing Real-Time Information Within BIM-Based Processes for Assessing Building Behaviours in Operation
Authors: Pasini Daniela , Ciribini Angelo Luigi Camillo , Daniotti Bruno
Published: October 2018

Considering the remarkable shift that the digitalisation is nowadays bringing about in the building sector, the paper focuses on how the great amount of data collected around assets is changing the way buildings are operated, particularly for what concerns innovation on products, processes and technologies. By establishing a connection between as-designed virtual models and as-delivered physical assets, the paper presents methods and tools based on information management and developed for assessing building behaviours in operation and for defining control strategies for satisfying user needs. The research aims to investigate how the building process could benefit from the availability of multi-faceted information collected in real time (e.g. through sensors) during the operational stages of buildings. Digitally-enabled practices and technologies have been developed and tested for improving a data-driven asset management, by enriching Building Information Models through data gathered through Building Management Systems, according to the Industry Foundation Classes schema.
Building Information Model for Existing Buildings for Facilities Management
Authors: Carbonari Giulia , Stravoravdis Spyridon , Gausden Christine
Published: October 2018

The use of Building information modelling for the design and construction phase of a building has been thoroughly looked into by researchers and practitioners and there is evidence to support that it is beneficial for reducing cost, time and improving communication. Yet the potential use of BIM for the operational and management phase (Facilities management), besides maintenance schedules and equipment information and location, is still not clearly identified. The UK Government, institutional clients and major private owners are now demanding for BIM for new construction and major refurbishment but given that 70-75% of the current UK building stock will still be in use in 2050, a significant part of the existing facilities will not have an information model till the next major refurbishment, creating a major gap in the built environment. This paper presents a new framework aimed at creating information models for facilities management requiring minimal BIM skills and discusses the impact that models created for the operational stage would have on the whole life cycle of a building.
Design and Implementation of PropertySafety
Authors: Arslan Muhammad , Riaz Zainab , Kiani Adnan Khalid
Published: October 2018

Each year millions of dollars are spent for the prevention of flooding, fire, and burglaries in vacant properties. Keeping a vacant property secure is the most important aspect in preventing damage and one of the most crucial tasks for property owners and facility managers. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an emerging technology platform that has the potential to be explored in safety-planning solutions for vacant properties. In an attempt to reduce vacant property hazards, this chapter reports upon an integrated system architecture that utilizes BIM and wireless sensor technology to produce a proactive safety and emergency management system entitled PropertySafety. The proposed solution collects real-time temperature, activity, and water detection data remotely; notifies property owners and facility managers through effective visualizations of a building using the BIM platform; and ultimately attempts to contribute in reducing property hazards during the facility management phase of a building lifecycle.
Numerical Methods for the Seismic Performance Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Buildings
Authors: Tugsal Ulgen Mert , Taskin Beyza
Published: October 2018

Considering the fact that similar structural and construction deficiencies which are exposed during the recent destructive earthquake events are existing in many southern European, Middle Eastern and west Asian countries settling on highly seismic zones, designating the seismic adequacy of the existing building stock for providing structural safety is a significant necessitation in the mitigation of losses during the future seismic events. In most of these regions, a clear majority of the building stock has not been adequately designed or constructed in terms of the seismic regulations of the design codes, while some have even not benefitted from engineering services. Post-earthquake site observations demonstrate the insufficient capacities in these buildings depending on different structural and construction deficiencies. Within the scope of this research, it is aimed to investigate and compare the analytically calculated structural performances of a building ensemble consists of 3~5 story structures with known damage level by utilizing different procedures.
A Comparative Investigation of Structural Performance of Typical and Non-Ducitle Public RC Buildings Strengthened Using Friction Dampers and RC Walls
Authors: Akpinar Erkan , Ersin Seckin
Published: October 2018

Strengthening of non-ductile public buildings is a never-ending issue. Selection of the suitable strengthening method and appropriate analysis type for the assessment of pre- and the post-intervention performances are still open to question. The displacement or drift limitations are crucial as well as demand capacity ratios for determination of such buildings performance under severe ground motion. In this chapter, an investigation of seismic performance focused on displacement criterion of strengthened non-ductile public RC buildings in Turkey is presented. Both the nonlinear static and response history analysis were conducted. Friction dampers which are fairly modern technique and conventional RC wall implementation method were introduced to as-is building. For the simplicity and the easy of the process, 2D frame selected for investigation. Comparison of the aforementioned techniques for non-ductile public RC buildings and performances particularly by means of displacement obtained using different methods for those investigated schemes are carried out and presented in the chapter.
Seismic Vulnerability of Historic Centers
Authors: Binda Luigia , Cardani Giuliana
Published: October 2018

A methodology of investigation and diagnosis on the built patrimony of historic centres in seismic areas is presented with the aim of collecting an extensive knowledge on the structural typologies and behaviour of historic masonry buildings. This investigation is also the base for the prevention and/or repair of damages caused by earthquakes. Small historic centres or residential buildings in larger centres have been considered for long time as “minor architecture”, but they are meaningful testimonies of the local cultural heritage and express the evolution of a society and of its cultural identity. The results of the investigation carried out on different Italian historic centers, allowed also a critical review of the reliability of the analytical models and of the effectiveness of the repair techniques applied in the past decades. The guidelines emerging from the research results are here presented. A “minimal” diagnostic investigation program is also suggested, in order to support the designers in their projects and to set up appropriate mathematical models to study the vulnerability of the structures.
Systemic Gender Barriers in the Building and Construction Industry
Authors: Alessandrini Megan , Winter Romy
Published: October 2018

This chapter examines structural gender-based disadvantage experienced by women in the building industry. This is found in trade and technical occupations, but is much more prevalent in administrative and management roles in small and micro businesses where female family members and spouses carry out work often for little or no remuneration or recognition. Nor does this group have any protection in income support, injury or sickness cover or retirement benefits. This also contributes to inefficiency in the industry as there is minimal opportunity for professional development or skill enhancement. Using a non-positivist methodology, the authors found that this phenomenon is particularly prevalent in the building and construction and that many were unpaid and were employed in other occupations. This disadvantage contributed to status driven tensions between these women, often called co-preneurs, and those women working on site in trade and technical roles.