bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variants of VRP to Optimize Logistics Management Problems
Authors: Santillán Claudia Gómez , Reyes Laura Cruz , Rodríguez María Lucila Morales , Barbosa Juan Javier González , López Oscar Castillo , Zarate Gilberto Rivera , Hernández Paula
Published: March 2012

The Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) is a key to the efficient transportation management and supply-chain coordination. VRP research has often been too focused on idealized models with non-realistic assumptions for practical applications. Nowadays the evolution of methodologies allows that the classical problems could be used to solve VRP problems of real life. The evolution of methodologies allows the creation of variants of the VRP which were considered too difficult to handle by their variety of possible restrictions. A VRP problem that includes the addition of restrictions, which represent the variants in the problem, is called Rich VRP. This work presents an algorithm to optimize the transportation management. The authors are including a case of study which solves a real routing problem applied to the distribution of bottled products. The proposed algorithm shows a saving in quantity of vehicles and reduces the operation costs of the company.
Heuristic Algorithms
Authors: Reyes Laura Cruz , Santillán Claudia Gómez , Quiroz Marcela , Alvim Adriana , Melin Patricia , Vanoye Jorge Ruiz , Najera Vanesa Landero
Published: March 2012

This chapter approaches the Truck Loading Problem, which is formulated as a rich problem with the classic one dimensional Bin Packing Problem (BPP) and five variants. The literature review reveals that related work deals with three variants at the most. Besides, few efforts have been done to combine the Bin Packing Problem with the Vehicle Routing Problem. For the solution of this new Rich BPP a heuristic-deterministic algorithm, named DiPro, is proposed. It works together with a metaheuristic algorithm to plan routes, schedules and loads. The objective of the integrated problem, called RoSLoP, consists of optimizing the delivery process of bottled products in a real application. The experiments show the performance of three version of the Transportation System. The best version achieves a total demand satisfaction, an average saving of three vehicles and a reduction of the computational time from 3 hrs to two minutes regarding their manual solution. For the large scale the authors have develop a competitive genetic algorithm for BPP. As future work, it is intended integrate the approximation algorithm to the transportation system.
Recombination Operators in Permutation-Based Evolutionary Algorithms for the Travelling Salesman Problem
Authors: Chira Camelia , Gog Anca
Published: March 2012

The Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP) is one of the most widely studied optimization problems due to its many applications in domains such as logistics, planning, routing, and scheduling. Approximation algorithms to address this NP-hard problem include genetic algorithms, ant colony systems, and simulated annealing. This chapter concentrates on the evolutionary approaches to TSP based on permutation encoded individuals. A comparative analysis of several recombination operators is presented based on computational experiments for TSP instances and a generalized version of TSP. Numerical results emphasize a good performance of two proposed crossover schemes: best-worst recombination and best order recombination which take into account information from the global best and/or worst individuals besides the genetic material from parents.
Optimization of a Hybrid Methodology (CRISP-DM)
Authors: Nava José , Hernández Paula
Published: March 2012

Data mining is a complex process that involves the interaction of the application of human knowledge and skills and technology. This must be supported by clearly defined processes and procedures. This Chapter describes CRISP-DM (Cross-Industry Standard Process for Data Mining), a fully documented, freely available, robust, and non proprietary data mining model. The chapter analyzes the contents of the official Version 1.0 Document, and it is a guide through all the implementation process. The main purpose of data mining is the extraction of hidden and useful knowledge from large volumes of raw data. Data mining brings together different disciplines like software engineering, computer science, business intelligence, human-computer interaction, and analysis techniques. Phases of these disciplines must be combined for data mining project outcomes. CRISP-DM methodology defines its processes hierarchically at four levels of abstraction allowing a project to be structured modularly, being more maintainable, scalable and the most important, to reduce complexity. CRISP-DM describes the life cycle of a data mining project consisting of six phases: business understanding, data understanding, data preparation, modeling, evaluation, and deployment.
Optical Application improved with Logistics of Artificial Intelligent and Electronic Systems
Authors: Basurto-Pensado Miguel , Ortiz Zezzatti Carlos Alberto Ochoa , Romero Rosenberg , Escobedo-Alatorre Jesús , Morales-Valladares Jessica , García-Arias Arturo , Torres Margarita Tecpoyotl
Published: March 2012

Computer science and electronics have a very big incidence in several research areas; optics and photonics are not the exception. The utilization of computers, electronic systems, and devices has allowed the authors to develop several projects to control processes. A description of the computer tool called Laser Micro-Lithography (LML) to characterize materials is realized. The Reasoning Based on Cases (RBC) and its implementation in the software using Java are presented. In order to guarantee the lithography precision, a control system based on a microcontroller was developed and coupled to the mechanical system. An alternative of LML, considering the use of a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), instead of a Personal Computer (PC) is described. In this case, C language is used for programming. RBC optimizes the materials characterization, recovering information of materials previously characterized. The communication between the PDA and the displacement table is achieved by means of a system based on a micro-controller DSPIC. The developed computers tool permits obtaining lithography with channels narrower than an optical fiber with minimum equipment. The development of irradiance meters based on electronic automation is shown; this section includes the basic theoretical concepts, the experimental device design and the experimental results. Future research trends are presented, and as a consequence of the developed work, perspectives of micro drilling and cutting are also analyzed.
Model Expansion in Model-Driven Architectures
Authors: Lee Tsung , Hou Jhih-Syan
Published: March 2012

In this chapter, the authors introduce a model expansion method that is used in a new methodology of model composition and evolution for broad design domains. In the methodology, hierarchical model compositional relationships are captured in a model composition graph (MCG) as a schema of designs. An MCG schema can be used as a blueprint for systematic and flexible evolution of designs with three hierarchical model refinement operations: expansion, synthesis, and configuration. In this methodology, due to the need of hierarchical sharing in software and hardware domains, the authors designed an algorithm to achieve conditional and recursive model expansion with hierarchical model instance sharing that is not achievable in other expansion methods. Hierarchical model instance sharing complicates the design structure from tree structures to graph structures. The model expansion algorithm was thus designed with enhanced features of maintenance of MCG instance consistency, path-based search of shared submodel instances, and dependency preserving expansion ordering. The expansion specification and the expansion process are integrated with the MCG-based methodology. Model parameters set by designers and other refinement operations can be used to guide each expansion step of design models iteratively.
Service-Oriented Architecture
Authors: Hassan Qusay F.
Published: March 2012

Since the emergence of Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), many organizations have thought they should migrate to it as a strategic solution that would enable higher agility in meeting fluctuating needs. However, SOA is not a “silver bullet” as many might think. SOA implementation is not a trivial task as it is facing a number of adoption challenges that should be addressed and accounted for before delving into the migration process. Paying close attention to these challenges would enable adopters to successfully reap the inherent benefits. This chapter lists the most important challenges that might prevent adopters from successfully implementing SOA in their organizations, with the help of some recommended solutions. Furthermore, it presents a step-by-step implementation case study in order to teach beginners the best ways to apply SOA to their organizations.
Effect of Superstructure Stiffness on Liquefaction-Induced Failure Mechanisms
Authors: Madabhushi S.P.G. , Haigh S.K.
Published: March 2012

Soil liquefaction following strong earthquakes causes extensive damage to civil engineering structures. Foundations of buildings, bridges etc can suffer excessive rotation/settlement due to liquefaction. Many of the recent earthquakes bear testimony for such damage. In this article a hypothesis that “Superstructure stiffness can determine the type of liquefaction-induced failure mechanism suffered by the foundations” is proposed. As a rider to this hypothesis, it will be argued that liquefaction will cause failure of a foundation system in a mode of failure that offers least resistance. Evidence will be offered in terms of field observations during the 921 Ji-Ji earthquake in 1999 in Taiwan and Bhuj earthquake of 2001 in India. Dynamic centrifuge test data and finite element analyses results are presented to illustrate the traditional failure mechanisms.
Static and Dynamic Elastic Modulus of Jointed Rock Mass
Authors: Sitharam T. G. , Ramulu M. , Maji V. B.
Published: March 2012

In this paper the compressive strength/elastic modulus of the jointed rock mass was estimated as a function of intact rock strength/modulus and joint factor. The joint factor reflects the combined effect of joint frequency, joint inclination and joint strength. Therefore, having known the intact rock properties and the joint factor, jointed rock properties can be estimated. The test results indicated that the rock mass strength decreases with an increase in the joint frequency and a sharp transition was observed from brittle to ductile behaviour with an increase in the number of joints. It was also found that the rocks with planar anisotropy exhibit the highest strength in the direction perpendicular to the anisotropy and the lowest at an inclination of 30o-45o in jointed samples. The anisotropy of the specimen influences the dynamic elastic modulus more than the static elastic modulus. The results were also compared well with the published works of different authors for different type of rocks.
Blast Induced Damage Due to Repeated Vibrations in Jointed Gneiss Rock Formation
Authors: Ramulu M. , Sitharam T. G.
Published: March 2012

Blasting is the most common method of rock excavation technique in mining and civil construction and infrastructure projects. Rock blasting produces seismic waves similar to those produced by earthquakes, but with relatively high frequency and low amplitude. General blast induced damage was extensively studied by researchers globally, but the studies on damage due to repeated blast vibrations is not yet reported, quantitatively, on underground openings. This paper deals with the research work carried on the effect of repeated dynamic loading imparted on the jointed rock mass from subsequent blasts in the vicinity, on the jointed rock mass at Lohari Nag Pala Hydroelectric Power Construction Project. The blast induced damage was monitored by borehole extensometers, borehole camera inspection surveys and triaxial geophones installed at three test sites of different joint orientations at the Main Access Tunnel of power house. The study reveals that there was extra damage of 60%, exclusively due to repeated blast vibrations. The results of the study indicate that repeated dynamic loading, resulted in damage even at 33% of the conventional damage threshold vibrations (Vc) in case of favorable joint orientations and 23% of Vc in case of unfavorable joints. The paper concludes in quantification of effect of repeated blast loading and the orientation of joints on the extension of damage zone in jointed rock mass of underground excavations.
Development of a New Blast Vibration Prediction Model Incorporating Burden Variations in Surface Blasting
Authors: Ramulu M.
Published: March 2012

The globally followed common vibration predictor model includes distance from source to vibration monitoring location and quantity of explosive charge per delay without giving much consideration to blast design parameters. Though there are qualitative assertions on the influence of burden on the vibration intensity by many researchers, no work on quantification of influence of burden has been reported. This paper deals with the development of a predictor model incorporating burden deviations in the existing predictor equation. The influence of burden on the vibration was viewed from the angle of detonation and rock fracturing during blasting. The new predictor equation is based on existing models developed by other researchers on the influence of burden on the blasthole pressure and vibration intensity as well as on some logical assumptions. The influence of burden on vibration was examined in two independent phases of blasting, and the net effect was calculated by adding the influence in both the phases. The study provides a quantitative explanation for the common observations of increased vibration levels produced by the blast rounds with excess burden and/or misfired shots.
Numerical Prediction of Rock Fracturing During the Process of Excavation
Authors: Zhou Zhangtao , Zhu Zheming , Jin XinXing , Tang Hao
Published: March 2012

During the process of excavation, blasting can induce cracking inside the surrounding rock. Considering the effects of material properties and loading conditions, a rock blasting excavation model with two successive excavation steps was developed through the use of AUTODYN code. Four kinds of equation of state (EOS), linear, shock, JWL, and compaction were applied to the materials employed in this numerical model. A modified principal stress failure criterion was applied to determining material statuses, and TNT explosive and a relatively homogeneous igneous rock, diorite, were used in this numerical model. By using this numerical model, rock fracturing process during blasting excavation was simulated, and rock fracturing process during two successive excavations is presented.
A Novel Energy Saving Approach through Mobile Collaborative Computing Systems
Authors: Wu Xiaoxin , Chen Huan , Liu Yaoda , Zhu Wenwu
Published: March 2012

Energy saving has been studied widely in both of computing and communication research communities. For handheld devices, energy is becoming a more and more critical issue because lots of applications running on handhelds today are computation or communication intensive and take a long time to finish. Unlike previous work that proposes computing or communication energy solutions alone, this paper proposes a novel energy savings approach through mobile collaborative systems, which jointly consider computing and communication energy cost. In this work, the authors use streaming video as investigated application scenario and propose multi-hop pipelined wireless collaborative system to decode video frames with a requirement for maximum inter-frame time. To finish a computing task with such a requirement, this paper proposes a control policy that can dynamically adapt processor frequency and communication transmission rate at the collaborative devices. The authors build a mathematical energy model for collaborative computing systems. Results show that the collaborative system helps save energy, and the transmission rate between collaborators is a key parameter for maximizing energy savings. The energy saving algorithm in computing devices is implemented and the experimental results show the same trend.
A Measurement Framework of Mobile Service Adoption
Authors: Verkasalo Hannu
Published: March 2012

This paper discusses conceptual definitions of mobile service users. These concepts reflect the domains of end-users having an intention to use the service or using the service in practice. This study also defines metrics that measure the adoption of mobile services. In addition, the paper investigates the estimation of costs due to mobile service adoption gaps. The paper demonstrates the use of the invented metrics with a data set collected from a sample of Finnish early-adopter smartphone users in 2007. Based on this data set, a ranking of mobile services is presented based on adoption-related success factors. In addition, the potential loss of perceived end-user value, that is due to adoption gaps, is estimated. The notable conclusion is that though most new mobile services experience significant adoption gaps, the value loss is only 10% in the long-term and 3% in the short-term, relative to the use of existing services.
Applying Commonsense Reasoning to Place Identification
Authors: Mamei Marco
Published: March 2012

Recent mobile computing applications try to automatically identify the places visited by the user from a log of GPS readings. Such applications reverse geocode the GPS data to discover the actual places (shops, restaurants, etc.) where the user has been. Unfortunately, because of GPS errors, the actual addresses and businesses being visited cannot be extracted unambiguously and often only a list of candidate places can be obtained. Commonsense reasoning can notably help the disambiguation process by invalidating some unlikely findings (e.g., a user visiting a cinema in the morning). This paper illustrates the use of Cyc—an artificial intelligence system comprising a database of commonsense knowledge—to improve automatic place identification. Cyc allows to probabilistically rank the list of candidate places in consideration of the commonsense likelihood of that place being actually visited on the basis of the user profile, the time of the day, what happened before, and so forth. The system has been evaluated using real data collected from a mobile computing application.
Client-Server Based LBS Architecture
Authors: Nabhan Mohammad AL , Almasri Suleiman , Garaj Vanja , Balachandran Wamadeva , Hunaiti Ziad
Published: March 2012

This work presents a new efficient positioning module that operates over client-server LBS architectures. The aim of the proposed module is to fulfil the position information requirements for LBS pedestrian applications by ensuring the availability of reliable, highly accurate and precise position solutions based on GPS single frequency (L1) positioning service. The positioning module operates at both LBS architecture sides; the client (mobile device), and the server (positioning server). At the server side, the positioning module is responsible for correcting user’s location information based on WADGPS corrections. In addition, at the mobile side, the positioning module is continually in charge for monitoring the integrity and available of the position solutions as well as managing the communication with the server. The integrity monitoring was based on EGNOS integrity methods. A prototype of the proposed module was developed and used in experimental trials to evaluate the efficiency of the module in terms of the achieved positioning performance. The positioning module was capable of achieving a horizontal accuracy of less than 2 meters with a 95% confidence level with integrity improvement of more than 30% from existing GPS/EGNOS services.
On Balancing Energy Consumption, Rendering Speed, and Image Quality on Mobile Devices
Authors: Wu Fan , Agu Emmanuel , Lindsay Clifford , Chen Chung-han
Published: March 2012

Mobile games and graphics are popular because un-tethered computing is convenient and ubiquitous entertainment is compelling. However, rendering graphics on mobile devices faces challenges due to limited system resources, such as battery energy, and low memory and disk space. Real time frame rates, low energy consumption and high image quality are all desirable attributes of interactive mobile graphics; however, achieving these objectives is conflicting. For instance, increasing mesh resolutions improves rendered image quality but consumes more battery energy. Therefore, the authors propose a mobile graphics heuristic to minimize energy consumption while maintaining acceptable image quality and interactive frame rates. Over the lifetime of a mobile graphics application, scene complexity, animation paths, user interactivity and other elements all change its CPU and resource demands. In this regard, a heuristic that dynamically changes scene mesh LoDs and amount of CPU timeslices allotted to the mobile graphics application is presented to select optimal operating conditions that balance rendering speed, energy conservation and image quality. Additionally, a workload predict model is proposed so that the heuristic can monitor both application workload and the availability of resources of mobile devices periodically, while adaptively determining how much resources will be allocated to applications.
Session and Network Support for Autonomous Context-Aware Multiparty Communications in Heterogeneous Mobile Systems
Authors: Antoniou Josephina , Christophorou Christophoros , Neto Augusto , Sargento Susana , Pinto Filipe , Carapeto Nuno , Mota Telma , Simoes Jose , Pitsillides Andreas
Published: March 2012

The increase of networking complexity requires the design of new performance optimization schemes for delivering different types of sessions to users under different conditions. In this regard, special attention is given to multi-homed environments, where mobile devices cross areas with overlapping access technologies (Wi-Fi, 3G, WiMax). In such a scenario, efficient multiparty delivery depends upon the grouping operation, which must be done based on several parameters. In this paper, the authors propose context-aware sub-grouping of content-based service groups so that the same service session can be delivered using different codings of the same content, adapting to current network, users, session, and environment context. The context-aware information is used to improve the sub-grouping process. This paper aims to describe these sub-grouping techniques, and in particular how they improve network performance and user experience in the future Internet by focusing on the improved network-level and session-level mechanisms.
Clustering Obsolete Computers to Reduce E-Waste
Authors: Lynar Timothy M. , Simon  , Herbert Ric D. , Chivers William J.
Published: March 2012

Personal computers contribute significantly to the growing problem of electronic waste. Every computer, when finished with, must be stored, dumped, recycled, or somehow re-used. Most are dumped, at a huge cost to health and the environment, as their owners succumb to the desire to keep up with the ever-increasing power of new computers. Supercomputers and computer clusters provide more power than ordinary desktop and laptop computers, but they too are subject to rapid obsolescence. The authors have built a cluster of obsolete computers and have found that it easily outperforms a fairly standard new desktop computer. They explore how this approach can help to mitigate e-waste, and discuss the advantages and limitations of using such a system.
Factors Impacting the Success of Electronic Government
Authors: Almutairi Helaiel
Published: March 2012

The author’s goal in this study is to investigate factors that impact the success of electronic government. The focus in this study is on several organizational and personal characteristics, including age, tenure, information system (IS) experiences, gender, education level, nationality, training in information system (IS), position, and experience in current job. The study is then applied to Kuwait, and electronic government success is measured using information system usage. The findings indicate that four out of the nine factors impact electronic government success. These four factors are age, IS experiences, education level, and training in IS. The author then examines several research and practical implications.
DeLone & McLean IS Success Model in Evaluating Knowledge Transfer in a Virtual Learning Environment
Authors: Halonen Raija , Thomander Heli , Laukkanen Elisa
Published: March 2012

DeLone & McLean’s success model has been actively used since its first introduction in 1992. In this article, the authors extend this model to describe the success of knowledge sharing in an information system that included a part of the knowledge base of a private educational institute. As the supply of private education is increased, it is vital to be aware if the offered educational services support the use of the knowledge base and if the service is perceived satisfactory by the customers. In this descriptive qualitative case study, the authors discuss how the DeLone & McLean’s information system success model can be used to assess educational services when apprenticeships form a salient part of teaching. This paper focuses on issues that interested the target organization.
Re-Conceptualising Research
Authors: Fielden Kay
Published: March 2012

Mindfulness is a whole state of being that is not usually linked with academic research in information systems. However if we take Denzin and Lincoln’s (2000; 2003), first qualitative research phase, which is the consideration of the key role of the researcher in socially-situated research, it soon becomes evident that a mindful researcher (Fielden, 2005) is more likely to conduct quality research than one who is not. In this discussion paper the qualities of mindfulness (Fielden, 2005) are explored; Denzin and Lincoln’s (2003) 5-stage qualitative research process is then mapped onto these multiple characteristics of mindfulness; and also onto a timeline for a typical qualitative research process in information systems. The paper concludes with suggestions on how to include mindful practices in research methods and supervision training in information systems, which is a contribution to the literature in this area.
A Mergers and Acquisitions Index in Data Envelopment Analysis
Authors: Färe Rolf , Fukuyama Hirofumi , Weber William L.
Published: March 2012

In this paper, a dynamic network DEA model is developed to evaluate the potential gains in final output from a merger of two firms. The two firms are allowed to have different production technologies or share a common technology. In a beginning period each firm uses period specific inputs to produce a final output and an intermediate output that becomes an input in the production of final outputs in a subsequent period. Firms that merge can use the intermediate input of one firm to produce final output for the other firm, leading to gains in final output for the two merged firms over what the firms could have produced individually. The method is applied to study Japanese cooperative Shinkin banks during 2003 to 2007. Mergers between banks in Nagasaki, Kagoshima, and Miyazaki prefectures tend to have the highest potential gains, while mergers between banks within Fukuoka prefecture and other prefectures and within Saga prefecture tend to have the smallest potential gains.
A Modeling Approach to Simulate Effects of Intercropping and Interspecific Competition in Arable Crops
Authors: Knörzer Heike , Graeff-Hönninger Simone , Müller Bettina U. , Piepho Hans-Peter , Claupein Wilhelm
Published: March 2012

Interspecific competition between species influences their individual growth and performance. Neighborhood effects become especially important in intercropping systems, and modeling approaches could be a useful tool to simulate plant growth under different environmental conditions to help identify appropriate combinations of different crops while managing competition. This study gives an overview of different competition models and their underlying modeling approaches. To model intercropping in terms of neighbouring effects in the context of field boundary cultivation, a new model approach was developed and integrated into the DSSAT model. The results indicate the possibility of simulating general competition and beneficial effects due to different incoming solar radiation and soil temperature in a winter wheat/maize intercropping system. Considering more than the competition factors is important, that is, sunlight, due to changed solar radiation alone not explaining yield differences in all cases. For example, intercropped maize could compensate low radiation due to its high radiation use efficiency. Wheat benefited from the increased solar radiation, but even more from the increased soil temperature.
The Keys to the White House
Authors: Lichtman Allan J.
Published: March 2012

The Keys to the White House are an index-based prediction system that retrospectively account for the popular-vote winners of every US presidential election from 1860 to 1980 and prospectively forecast the winners of every presidential election from 1984 through 2008. The Keys demonstrate that American presidential elections do not turn on events of the campaign, but rather on the performance of the party controlling the White House. The Keys hold important lessons for politics in the United States and worldwide. A preliminary forecast based on the Keys indicates that President Obama is a likely winner in 2012, but also reveals the specific problems at home at abroad that could thwart his re-election.
An Agricultural Decision Support System for Optimal Land Use Regarding Groundwater Vulnerability
Authors: Voudouris Konstantinos , Polemio Maurizio , Kazakis Nerantzis , Sifaleras Angelo
Published: March 2012

The availability of quality water is a basic condition of socioeconomic development. The agriculture water demand can be damaged by contamination of groundwater resources. This paper proposes a tool to preserve groundwater quality by using groundwater vulnerability assessment methods and a decision support system (DSS). The mapping of intrinsic groundwater vulnerability was based on reliable methods, the DRASTIC and the SINTACS methods. A DSS was developed to assess the groundwater vulnerability and pollution risk due to agricultural activities and land use changes. The proposed DSS software package was designed using the Matlab language and efficiently performs tasks while incorporating new maps to cover new areas. The tool was tested at two study areas located in the Mediterranean that are dominated by different prevalent hydrogeological features, that is, the typical porous features of alluvial deposits in the Greek study area and the typical fissured and karstic features of limestones and dolostones in the Italian study area.
Mobile Exam System – MES
Authors: Lu Joan , Sundaram Aswin , Meng Zhaozong , A Priya , Lu Gehao , Stav John B.
Published: March 2012

As the mobile applications are constantly facing a rapid development in the recent years especially in the academic environment such as student response system (Lópeza, Royoa, Labordab, & Calvoa, 2009; Ngai & Gunasekaran, 2007; Mary & Biju, 2008; Nayak & Erinjeri, 2008; Roth, Ivanchenko, & Record, 2008; Lu, Stav, & Pein, 2009; Lu, 2009; Turning Technologies, 2010) used in universities and other educational institutions; However, an effective and scalable Database Management System to support fast and reliable data storage and retrieval is missing. This paper presents Database Management Architecture for an Innovative Evaluation System based on Mobile Learning Applications. The need for a relatively stable, independent, and extensible data model for faster data storage and retrieval is analyzed and investigated. Finally a case study to prove the concept of the urgent need for the system is proposed. It concludes that the system is important by emphasizing further investigation to support multimedia data types, such as video clips, images and documents in near future.
Using an Application of Mobile and Wireless Technology in Arabic Learning System
Authors: Sawsaa Ahlam , Lu Joan , Meng Zhaozong
Published: March 2012

Mobile and Wireless technologies has been used in various areas, and it begins to have a huge impact on how education takes place in several disciplines. This technology has been improved considerably, making mobile devices extraordinarily suitable and reasonable in M-Learning a reality. Wireless Response System (WRS) is a developed generation of Student Response System (SRS). It uses devices that enable students and trainers to provide definite responses to many questions during the lesson with an immediate feedback to the students about their level of knowledge and understanding. However, teaching in Arabic language needs some specific features which have been included in the existing WRS and the steps of implementing them are considered in this paper. The developed version of WRS seeks to increase the users’ interactions and engagement through adding a new function to WRS which is Arabic language. Nevertheless, some universities and institutes in Arab world signed strategic corporations with mobile service providers to start this type of services for their education branches. This paper contains an analysis of ICT penetration and the level of m-learning environments in Arabic countries.
Promoting the use of Classroom Response Systems
Authors: Charlesworth Martin
Published: March 2012

This paper discusses the possible reasons why classroom response systems are little used by teachers, the benefits of using such a system for teaching, and how their greater use could be promoted. The primary source of research was a series of personal interviews with University academic staff and students. Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) students commented both in their capacity as teachers using them in the classroom, and how they also used them as students. In addition data was collected from traditional undergraduate students. The research found that students enjoyed using classroom response systems and those who were typically a little shy were less inhibited to voice their opinions when they could contribute using a response system. The benefits to teachers were increased student engagement and the provision of a simple and quick means of student feedback which improves a teacher’s awareness of their learners understanding and progress. PGCE students were found to be very keen to integrate a response system into the classroom when they started teaching, but established teachers were found to be more hesitant, due to their lack of awareness of the pedagogical benefits and the tutor’s lack of understanding how to set up and use the system.
A Robust and Scalable RESTful Web Service for Collecting Student Responses
Authors: Pein Raoul Pascal , Stav John B. , Thorseth Trond M. , Lu Joan
Published: March 2012

This paper discusses a model for a RESTful (Representational State Transfer) web service used in education. The “Student Response System” (SRS) has been developed and tested in classrooms for two years within the EduMecca project. The SRS provides a response system, accessible through mobile devices allowing students to submit virtually anonymous responses, i.e., other students are not able to see individual submissions. The system makes strong use of open and flexible standards to allow for external software to control the service with use-case specific interfaces. It is aimed to support as many students using the service in parallel as possible. In this paper, the main performance bottleneck of the system is examined in detail. In order to provide an easy-to-use interface, the mobile devices of the students need to be notified by the service about real-time changes of the data. The benchmark results indicate a high user capacity of the service. It is also a robust approach able to recover quickly after an unusual high request peak.
The Artificial Intelligence in the Support of e-Learning Management and Quality Maintenance
Authors: Pietruszkiewicz Wieslaw , Dzega Dorota
Published: March 2012

This chapter presents how Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be used to support the management of e-learning platforms and maintenance of e-learning qualities. Two AI applications in e-learning presented herein will be analyzed. The first one evaluates Learning Management System users. It was tested on a real life situation for blended-learning process and could be used to support the management of e-learning or further extended to any virtual community, where team members cooperate as a geographically distributed team. The second application analyzes adaptive courses and their features that should be perceived from Web 3.0 perspective. The chapter addresses features relating to the quality of e-learning and how Artificial Intelligence helps to maintain the high quality for e-learning content. For more complex and advanced learning processes AI is analyzed in a manner to reveal its potential to be a solution to educational systems where increasing demands for quantity and quality cause that managerial issues could be efficiently coped only via the intelligent supporting software systems.
Developing a Collaborative ELearning Construction Framework for Blended Learning
Authors: Bai Xin
Published: March 2012

This paper identifies and discusses some benefits, challenges, and barriers that face instructors in adopting a collaborative elearning construction environment for blended learning. It also proposes several suggestions for what can be done to promote knowledge sharing. The author goes through a full-life cycle of designing and developing SCORM-conformant elearning that allows instructors to harness the power and affordance of emerging technologies to develop a blended learning environment. The author discusses the evaluation of such a collaborative blended learning framework and outlines its future directions.
Internet-Based Remote Laboratories as a Part of a Blended Learning Environment
Authors: Stefanovic Miladin , Matijevic Milan , Cvjetkovic Vladimir
Published: March 2012

Blended learning is a mixture of online learning and face-to-face activities. Online learning suffers from a lack of practical and laboratory work which is mandatory for learning in many specific fields. Adult training is also mainly focused on knowledge related to specific useful competencies and practical skills so practical training is an inseparable part of adult learning and training. Web laboratories with remotely controlled laboratory experiments should provide a necessary practical component in the concept of online learning. There are many different classifications, implementations and usages of web laboratories. This chapter deals with web laboratories, trying to define a framework for the development of web laboratories, to define pre-requests, architecture and software realization of web based laboratories and to find the right blend. This chapter also presents the contribution of web laboratories in blended learning and other possible benefits for the concept of blended learning for adults.
Design of a Blended Learning Environment for the Training of Greek Teachers
Authors: Anastasiades Panagiotes S.
Published: March 2012

During the period 2010 – 2013 the Ministry of Education and Lifelong Learning of Greece has been designing and implementing a complete project for the transformation of Greek school, so that it can meet the contemporary educational needs and social challenges of the 21st century. The training of all teachers according to the principles and philosophy of the “New school” is a high priority to achieve the goals of the new educational policy. In this context, the “National Program of Teachers’ Training” has been designed to address 150.000 teachers of all levels nationwide. This chapter presents the basic characteristics of the Blended Learning Environment for the Training of teachers and focus, at the same time, on the analysis of the results of the survey on the training needs of the Education personnel, on which the design of the training program was based.
Theoretical Rationale for Designing a Blended Learning Teachers’ Professional Development Program
Authors: Mouzakis Charalambos , Tsaknakis Haralampos , Tziortzioti Chrysanthi
Published: March 2012

This chapter explores the underlying theoretical principles that provided the basis for the design and implementation of a professional development program for informatics teachers in Greece. A blended learning model was adopted combining live workshop meetings, face-to-face in-lab training sessions and online videoconferencing sessions. The framework of constructivism and experiential learning was used as a theoretical rationale for the combination of face-to-face activities with online learning experiences. It is shown that a blended learning design based on the principles of constructivism and experiential learning pedagogy can provide vital tools for the creation of an active environment for informatics teachers’ professional development. Also, it appears that a promising direction for further investigation, in terms of improving the learning outcome based on the same theoretical principles, is the more detailed design of the sequence of learning activities and a closer look at the development of communities of practice among teachers.
Developing Right Graduate Attributes through Project-Based Teaching
Authors: Baporikar Neeta
Published: March 2012

Engineering education all over the world is of paramount importance as it is this education which provides economies with opportunities for development and growth. Engineering education is important for both developed and developing economies—for the former to maintain their lead position and for the latter to ensure decent livelihood and utilization of natural resources. In such a situation, engineering education needs to continuously upgrade itself to meet the ever changing needs of the economy, society, and mankind. Hence, understanding engineering education and reviewing the methods and standards are important if all stakeholders have to be satisfied. With the driving force of the globalization of the engineering profession, adopting project-based teaching methods have mutual recognition across the world, and also help to develop the right graduate attributes while continuing to assure the standards and quality of engineering education.
The Use of Learning Objects as an Alternative for Providing Curriculum Flexibility in Engineering Courses
Authors: Siqueira Lilia Maria Marques , Torres Patricia Lupion
Published: March 2012

This chapter is intended for tutors, professors, and students, and seeks to contribute to the development of online communication activities as a means of providing curriculum flexibility in engineering courses. It describes the use of online learning resources, called Learning Objects (LO), and their development at the Pontifical Catholic University of Parana (PUCPR) by a multidisciplinary staff. The design of the LOs takes into account the difficulties students encounter during face-to-face activities as reported in previous studies carried out by the authors during their teaching careers. LOs allow Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to be used as an aid to face-to-face learning, with reorganized learning and teaching strategies. LOs are available in the university’s own virtual environment, Eureka, and can be accessed by approximately 14,000 students and more than 1,200 teaching staff at the institution. Student feedback was also collected and is described here.
Engineering the Future
Authors: Clark Robin , Andrews Jane
Published: March 2012

With the demand for engineering graduates at what may be defined as an unprecedented high, many universities find themselves facing significant levels of student attrition—with high “drop-out levels” being a major issue in engineering education. In order to address this, Aston University in the UK has radically changed its undergraduate engineering education curriculum, introducing capstone CDIO (Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate) modules for all first year students studying Mechanical Engineering and Design. The introduction of CDIO is aimed at making project / problem based learning the norm. Utilising this approach, the learning and teaching in engineering purposefully aims to promote innovative thinking, thus equipping students with high-level problem-solving skills in a way that builds on theory whilst enhancing practical competencies and abilities. This chapter provides an overview of an Action Research study undertaken contemporaneously with the development, introduction, and administration of the first two semesters of CDIO. It identifies the challenges and benefits of the approach and concludes by arguing that whilst CDIO is hard work for staff, it can make a real difference to students’ learning experiences, thereby positively impacting retention.
Technology-Enhanced Learning Standard through Integration of Modeling and Simulation into Engineering Study Programs
Authors: Moeller Dietmar P. F. , Vakilzadian Hamid
Published: March 2012

Introducing a technology-enhanced learning standard in engineering study programs requires a deeper insight into and understanding of the complexity and dynamics of today’s engineering systems. This can be achieved by embedding Modeling and Simulation (M&S) within engineering study programs to stimulate educational innovations in undergraduate engineering curricula, such as electrical engineering. An example of this is in the process of being implemented in the Department of Electrical Engineering (EE) at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL). The need for such programs is evident by recent recommendations from the White House, the U.S. Congress, and the National Science Foundation, all of which stress that M&S is one of the key enabling technologies of the 21st century and is critical to U.S. competitiveness. Various models of a dynamic engineering system can be developed at different levels of detail in accordance with the recommended technical specifications to gain better insight into the behavior, stability, and performance of a system. The functionality of a real engineering system can be tested virtually by changing the structure, parameters, and inputs and outputs of the model to accurately predict the response of the system under various operating conditions. In order to educate a skilled workforce capable of meeting the country’s critical needs, the educational requirements for undergraduates in an M&S-based EE program have to be developed. Such a program needs to meet the accreditation requirements set by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Inc. (ABET).
Web-Based Experimentation for Students with Learning Disabilities
Authors: Chivukula Venkata , Shur Michael
Published: March 2012

Assistive technologies can go a long way in helping learning disabled students to keep-up with their classmates. The ubiquity of internet as an active social networking, communication, and education platform has opened up a wide range of new possibilities for web-based lectures and experimentation that can be used to assist learning disabled students. To this end, the authors developed and applied Automated Internet Modeling (AIM) Lab dedicated to semiconductor device modeling and characterization. Their lab has been extensively used for teaching courses on semiconductor devices at senior and graduate levels. Recently, AIM-lab incorporated additional functionality such as You-Tube compatible on-line video feeds, audio and visual collaboration with peers via web-messaging in order to meet the needs of learning disabled students and make their learning process more effective. In this chapter, the authors focus on recent advances in the development of remote experimentation labs in the context of engineering education with an emphasis on general technological issues and specific experiments offered. Systematic evaluation of educational benefits derived from using these labs will also be presented.