bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Microfinance on Poverty Reduction in Developing Economies
Authors: Boachie Christopher
Published: October 2018

The study explores the contributions of microfinance to poverty reduction. The study used a descriptive design to establish the relationship between sales performance and access to credit in the SME sector in Ghana. Cross sectional survey was used to gather relevant data. The target population was the micro businesses in Madina in Ghana with a sample size of 200. The study reveals that microfinance has a positive impact on micro businesses. There exist a significant relationship between microfinance and sales. It was also found out that, the dependency burdens on micro entrepreneurs coupled with the low credit access from the microfinance institution for productive activities lead them to deploy the credit to meet the demand of both the business and household.
Mobile Learning for Social Change
Authors: Alehegn Tseday , Mentor Dominic
Published: October 2018

This chapter focuses on how mobile apps and smartphones can be used to enhance democratic education in schools and society at large, why such opportunities need to be more seriously considered as integral to the school learning environment, and how it can empower citizens for civic engagement. Using Dewey's philosophy of democratic education this chapter provides examples of mobile apps designed through classroom, community-based or after school programs that provide youth with coding training opportunities as well as macro-level highlights of civic engagement for social change. Reviewing theories of technology – from determinism to social embeddedness – this chapter reflects on the inherent “democratic” design of mobile technologies, as well as the challenge to embrace the interest that youth and society in general have for mobile app use. It is a call to promote mobile-driven democratic education in an environment encouraging continuous learning as well as cultivating and leveraging mobile technologies to develop an informed public voice and participatory agency.
Opportunities and Challenges of Visualization and Open Data in Food Security Analysis
Authors: Hlaing Thida Chaw , Prior Julian
Published: October 2018

Statistical literacy presents many aspects about food security in the world. It highlights weaknesses, it creates awareness of threats in current situations, helps overcome challenges and creates opportunities for the future. Statistical data analysis enables existing food security interventions and programs to be reviewed and revised, and this better understanding of current situations enables more authoritative and relevant decision-making processes for the future. Statistical literacy involves skills and expertise in data description and interpretation (in words as well as in numbers) to name, explore and amend beliefs, opinions and suggestions. It helps decision-making processes about food security in a sub-nation, nation and region, as well as the world. This chapter will demonstrate the importance of open data and visualization, including its challenges and opportunities, in the food security context at national and global level to make decision-makers aware of the need to enhance their capacity for and investment in statistical literacy.
Poverty as a Tourism Attraction
Authors: Privitera Donatella
Published: October 2018

The visit of the favela or slum into a tourist destination is seen as a part of the so-called reality tours phenomenon and of the global circulation of the favela as a trademark. Tourist behaviour involves a search for leisure experiences from interactions with features or characteristics of places they choose to visit. Examples are the favelas in Brazil, the township of South Africa, the slum in India that have led to different definitions of “slum tourism”, “poor-poor tourism”, “reality tourism”. Web heavily affect today most of the online activities and their effect on tourism is obviously rather important. The aim of the chapter is to discuss about slum tourism definitions. At the same time, taking Reality Tours and Travel - a wholesaler slum websites - as a case, this study attempts to explore issues of the quality of strategic choices on the web. Considering that the content of web site includes a wide variety of technologies, is important that website offer also interactivity with e-tourists. Through the results of the study, it is possible to gain knowledge of the slum e-tourism.
Integrating Spatial Technologies in Urban Environments for Food Security
Authors: Joseph Edwin , O'Dea Elizabeth
Published: October 2018

Food security for the urban poor has been an important topic for both developed and developing countries over the last 15 years. Although South Bend Indiana is a city in a developed country, declining economic circumstances have caused the city to show significant urban decay somewhat similar to some cities in developing countries. In this chapter, we explore South Bend's history and economic development strategies, and review practices aimed at strengthening food security for the urban poor. The chapter documents how numerous disparate organizations have been trying to help alleviate urban poverty and hunger, and reviews previous strategies used to foster sustainable growth and development. The integration of spatial technologies will become a key factor for promoting community social networks, participatory planning, and collaboration. The case is presented for the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and associated technologies to help organizations, community leaders, local organizations, city planners, higher education institutions and the urban poor, work together to alleviate poverty and malnutrition through networking and sustainable urban agriculture.
Operation Sukuma-Sakhe
Authors: Tshishonga Ndwakhulu
Published: October 2018

This chapter explores the emerging new social contract that connects government departments, communities, civil society, and the private sector through Operation Sukuma-Sakhe (OSS) in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. This program is designed to expedite service delivery and development by addressing communal challenges such as poor or non-existent service delivery and lack of coordinated government programs and cooperative governance efforts. Social contract theory forms an analytical and conceptual framework to gauge the government's commitment through the OSS program in delivering decentralized services in partnership with communities and other development sectors. The effective functioning of OSS depends on the full and equal commitment of government, underpinned by a new social contract with other departments, the community, and citizens as both recipients and agents of decentralized service delivery. Primary data sources were interviews with OSS regional officials, supplemented by documentary data from the literature and state and local government sources.
Impact of Microfinance on Poverty in the Context of Global Financial Crisis
Authors: Laha Arindam
Published: October 2018

The microfinance programme in the South Asia region has proven to be resilient to the shocks of global financial crisis. In fact, cross country experiences in South Asia reveal little impact of the global financial crisis on the penetration of the microfinance programmes to poor households. To explore the impact of microfinance on poverty in the backdrop of global financial crisis, an attempt has been made in this present study to examine the relationship between MFI's gross portfolio per active borrower and the measures of poverty. Empirical evidences based on Pooled Regression Analysis suggest that gross portfolio per active borrower is negatively and significantly associated with the poverty head count ratio or poverty gap measure, which is consistent with the author's hypothesis that micro loans reduce poverty. The poverty alleviation role of microfinance in South Asian countries is not changing its dynamics even in post-crisis scenario.
Rational Asymmetric Development
Authors: Asongu Simplice A.
Published: October 2018

A recent publication by the World Bank on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has established that extreme poverty has been decreasing in all regions of the world with the exception of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), in spite of over two decades of growth resurgence. This chapter explores the role of transfer mispricing in SSA's extreme poverty tragedy. The analytical structure entails: (1) emphasis of rational asymmetric development as the dark side of transfer pricing; (2) linkages between financial reporting, international financial reporting standards (IFRS), transfer pricing and poverty; (3) evidence that the recent growth resurgence in African countries has been driven substantially by resource-rich countries which are experiencing high levels of exclusive growth and extreme poverty; (4) the practice of transfer mispricing by multinationals operating in resource-rich countries of SSA and (5) a Zambian case study of extreme poverty and transfer mispricing schemes by Glencore in the copper industry. While transfer mispricing is contributing to diminishing African growth, available evidence shows that the component of growth that is not captured by transfer mispricing does not trickle down to the poor because the African elite is also animated by practices of rational asymmetric development. Policy implications for the fight against extreme poverty are discussed.
Promoting Agricultural Productivity and Inclusive Growth in Uganda
Authors: Amone William , Kamuganga Dick Nuwamanya , Makombe Godswill
Published: October 2018

Although many countries in the world including Uganda witnessed high rates of economic growth in the last three decades, the strong growth has failed to holistically deliver the expected prosperity. Amidst Uganda's strong growth of about 7% per annum, of the recent decades, poverty, unemployment and inequality have remained pervasive especially in the rural areas; an indication that the growth process has not been pro-poor and inclusive of the deprived. Agriculture which is the sector employing majority of Uganda's poor has also not developed much; within the same period the sector grew at an average rate of 2% per annum and its productivity has remained considerably low. This chapter reviews the trending conception of inclusive economic growth, and its relevance to Uganda's development process. In its final section, the chapter assesses the factors that affect agricultural productivity and it discusses the most effective means of raising productivity in order to make the growth process of the country more broad-base, pro-poor and inclusive.
Macroeconomic Reasons for International Migration Development
Authors: Oleg Lokota , Elena Kozlova
Published: October 2018

Fast-growing international migration as a factor of labor market globalization is an important trend of the world economy and a determinant of social-political transformations. The study of fundamental economical reasons for international migration is relevant due to their prognostic, predictable, and normative potential, which can be used in conditions of global economic non-stability. This chapter analyzes the role of natural resources, financial, and labor factors in economic growth of the modern states and studies relationships between stimulating the role of natural resources, finance, and labor with levels of modern countries' economy development. Based on achieved results findings about fundamental reasons of international migration, transformation of labor factor's role in providing an economical progress of the states, efficiency of positive impact of manufacturing factors (domestic and attracted from international markets) are offered.
Design and Restoration
Authors: Anzani Anna , Caramel Claudia
Published: October 2018

This study uses a design based approach which is focused on the human dimension in all its complexity to give value not only to a functional or rational use of spaces, but also to an experiential one, gaining further significant inspiration from the memory layered in complex historical spaces. Interestingly, psychological studies highlight the collective base characterizing a number of disorders and suggest that changing the outside world can be just as therapeutic as changing the subject's feelings, indicating that psychology merges with ecology. From an intersection between design, psychology and restoration, emphasizing a cultural inclination more than a technicistic attitude, opportunities seem to develop to promote beauty, identity and memory as essential dimensions for collective and individual well-being. Design oriented processes could bring out the potential of the built environment, promoting multiple functions and reuse methods, inspired by quality and capable of creating hospitable and welcoming physical and relational spaces.
A Reality Integrated BIM for Architectural Heritage Conservation
Authors: Apollonio Fabrizio Ivan , Gaiani Marco , Sun Zheng
Published: October 2018

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has attracted wide interest in the field of documentation and conservation of Architectural Heritage (AH). Existing approaches focus on converting laser scanned point clouds to BIM objects, but laser scanning is usually limited to planar elements which are not the typical state of AH where free-form and double-curvature surfaces are common. We propose a method that combines low-cost automatic photogrammetric data acquisition techniques with parametric BIM objects founded on Architectural Treatises and a syntax allowing the transition from the archetype to the type. Point clouds with metric accuracy comparable to that from laser scanning allows accurate as-built model semantically integrated with the ideal model from parametric library. The deviation between as-built model and ideal model is evaluated to determine if feature extraction from point clouds is essential to improve the accuracy of as-built BIM.
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Authors: Bianchini Carlo , Inglese Carlo , Ippolito Alfonso , Maiorino Daniele , Senatore Luca James
Published: October 2018

The BIM universe will undoubtedly arouse great and diversified interests amongst actors involved in the design/building process but also of scholars dealing with representation disciplines. The BIM systems appear in fact particularly suitable to respond to both needs providing on a single platform analytic tool, visualization interfaces, assessment instruments but also a bundle for the representation of reality. And, in addition to that, always taking into account the management of the process in terms of timing that is a key element for a correct handling of any building workflow. Nevertheless, the urgency of optimization of time and resources will drive very rapidly this change achieving, eventually, the real result: an evolution of future generation professionals, more willing and able to cooperate beyond personal skills.
Design and Development of 3D Printed Teaching Aids for Architecture Education
Authors: Song Min Jeong , Ha Euna , Goo Sang-Kwon , Cho JaeKyung
Published: October 2018

This article describes how the implementation of 3D printing in classrooms has brought many opportunities to educators as it provides affordability and accessibility in creating and customizing teaching aids. The study reports on the process of fabricating teaching aids for architecture education using 3D printing technologies. The practice-based research intended to illustrate the making process from initial planning, 3D modeling to 3D printing with practical examples, and addresses the potential induced by the technologies. Based on the investigation into the current state of 3D printing technologies in education, limitations were identified before the making process. The researchers created 3D models in both digital and tangible forms and the process was documented in textual and pictorial formats. It is expected that the research findings will serve as a guideline for other educators to create 3D printed teaching aids, particularly architectural forms.
Integrating BIM With BMS in Energy Performance Assessment
Authors: Reginald Ajiero Ikenna
Published: October 2018

In recent times, energy performance assessment has gained a legislative imperative in that it constitutes an indispensable criterion for preparing Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). Accordingly, production of EPC which is heralded by energy audits and simulations using BIM software programs heavily depends on data accuracy. Whereas, there have been several studies on Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Building Management System (BMS) autonomously, peer reviewed literature on both regimes in concert, remain unavailable or perhaps emerging; thus, constituting a gap in the use of BIM for energy analysis. Against this background, a university administrative building with a Gross Floor Area (GFA) of 2353.91m2 has been the object of a comprehensive energy performance assessment. The principal aim being to use data collected from BMS readings to assess the building's energy performance, produce its EPC and highlight energy conservation strategies that will improve the building's productivity without compromising occupants' comfort. This study therefore attempts to put the teeming theoretical efforts on BIM in energy management into a practical perspective.
Building Automation Systems
Authors: Bhatt Jignesh G.
Published: October 2018

Building Automation Systems (BAS) have started attracting focus of global research community and demonstrating rapid growth potential due to their transformation from the legacy stand-alone security systems into intelligent computerized wired or wireless communication technology based solutions. Amid rising concerns over energy and security globally, BAS demonstrates commendable outperformance with promising research and commercial opportunities. Rising energy costs, stringent energy requirements and vibrant, but abnormal-unpredictable swings in environment, etc. all have contributed immensely as driving forces for BAS developments. This chapter presents the learning outcomes from author's research work and experiences in terms of instrumentation engineer's perspective towards the focused area nicely supported by literature review as well as practical hands-on exposure. The chapter judiciously puts forth historical and modern perspectives in overall development of BAS for reader's digest.
Minimizing Construction Emissions Using Building Information Modeling and Decision-Making Techniques
Authors: Marzouk Mohamed , Abdelkader Eslam Mohammed
Published: October 2018

The construction industry is regarded as a major contributor to environmental emissions, due to extensive usage of resources and the waste products produced. This article presents a building information modeling (BIM)-based model that is capable of measuring six types of emissions for different activities of construction projects. The paper investigates eight multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques for ranking alternatives based on project time; project life cycle cost; project environmental impact; and primary energy consumed by different activities. Three group decision- making techniques are performed to provide consensus and final ranking of alternatives. The Monte Carlo simulation is implemented in order to account for the discrepancy in the calculation of greenhouse gases produced from buildings. Also, a case study of academic buildings is introduced in order to demonstrate the practical features of the proposed model.
The Application of BIM as Collaborative Design Technology for Collective Self-Organised Housing
Authors: Damen Ton , Sebastian Rizal , MacDonald Matthew , Soetanto Danny , Hartmann Timo , Di Giulio Roberto , Bonsma Peter , Luig Klaus
Published: October 2018

Collective Self-Organised (CSO) housing projects are an emerging trend in Europe. In these projects communities engage in co-design throughout the process. Little knowledge exists that can support CSOs with the process of managing their projects by using state-of-the-art building information (BI) technologies. The authors introduce a BI supported CSO housing design process that can support CSOs through all stages in the design process, from early conceptual location planning through to selection of interior finishing. They illustrate the project using a demonstrative illustration of a CSO housing design process. The paper will concentrate on the development of innovative Collaborative Design Technology (CDT) solutions. The tools will be demonstrated on the basis of an illustrative demonstration case in which the CSO-process is combined with an IFD (Industrial, Flexible and Durable) building system. The particular advantages for architectural design practice will be highlighted throughout and gaps in the literature addressed.
Client and User Involvement Through BIM-Related Technologies
Authors: Ventura Silvia Mastrolembo , Ciribini Angelo L. C.
Published: October 2018

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is part of a wider digital innovation that has arrived as an epochal transition in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industry. Although the benefits of BIM within the supply-side of the industry have been widely explored, its impact on the value for clients and end-users has been researched in a limited manner so far. The paper reviews some of the BIM-related technologies which could effectively support client and end-user involvement in the briefing process. Four main types of information technologies are considered and grouped as (1) rule-based validation tools (i.e. briefing software; rule-based model checking) and (2) simulation-based validation tools (i.e. gamification, immersive virtual environments). Those technologies are analysed and compared in order to identify what has already been done, possible future trends, evaluate their integration in the briefing process and, finally, take into account both their advantages and disadvantages in supporting the effective involvement of the demand-side of construction in digitally-enabled processes.
A Review of the Accuracy of Force- and Deformation-Based Methods in Determining the Seismic Capacity of Rehabilitated RC School Buildings
Authors: Gorgulu Orkun , Taskin Beyza
Published: October 2018

This chapter focuses on the comparison of the conventional linear force-based method with the advanced nonlinear deformation-based method that are commonly preferred to investigate the seismic performances of the existing RC school buildings. School buildings which have different structural characteristics and RC infill wall index are generated from an existing school's layout plan. During the nonlinear dynamic analysis, seven recorded earthquake motions which are scaled in accordance with the Turkish Earthquake Code are employed. Seismic performances of the school buildings against the two different earthquake hazard level are evaluated considering not only various RC infill wall indexes but also different material strengths and number of stories in terms of limit states specified in the code. In order to determine the most appropriate method related to material strength, floor level and RC infill wall index for the seismic strengthening of the existing RC school buildings, the obtained linear forced and nonlinear deformation based analyses results are compared to each other.
An Energy-Related CityGML ADE and Its Application for Heating Demand Calculation
Authors: Bruse Marcel , Nouvel Romain , Wate Parag , Kraut Volker , Coors Volker
Published: October 2018

Different associated properties of city models like building geometries, building energy systems, building end uses, and building occupant behavior are usually saved in different data formats and are obtained from different data sources. Experience has shown that the integration of these data sets for the purpose of energy simulation on city scale is often cumbersome and error prone. A new application domain extension for CityGML has been developed in order to integrate energy-related figures of buildings, thermal volumes, and facades with their geometric descriptions. These energy-related figures can be parameters or results of energy simulations. The applicability of the new application domain extension has been demonstrated for heating energy demand calculation.
Big Data and Privacy State of the Art
Authors: Rahmani Amine
Published: October 2018

The phenomenon of big data (massive data mining) refers to the exponential growth of the volume of data available on the web. This new concept has become widely used in recent years, enabling scalable, efficient, and fast access to data anytime, anywhere, helping the scientific community and companies identify the most subtle behaviors of users. However, big data has its share of the limits of ethical issues and risks that cannot be ignored. Indeed, new risks in terms of privacy are just beginning to be perceived. Sometimes simply annoying, these risks can be really harmful. In the medium term, the issue of privacy could become one of the biggest obstacles to the growth of big data solutions. It is in this context that a great deal of research is under way to enhance security and develop mechanisms for the protection of privacy of users. Although this area is still in its infancy, the list of possibilities continues to grow.
Classification and Machine Learning
Authors: Alberto Damian
Published: October 2018

The manual classification of a large amount of textual materials are very costly in time and personnel. For this reason, a lot of research has been devoted to the problem of automatic classification and work on the subject dates from 1960. A lot of text classification software has appeared. For some tasks, automatic classifiers perform almost as well as humans, but for others, the gap is still large. These systems are directly related to machine learning. It aims to achieve tasks normally affordable only by humans. There are generally two types of learning: learning “by heart,” which consists of storing information as is, and learning generalization, where we learn from examples. In this chapter, the authors address the classification concept in detail and how to solve different classification problems using different machine learning techniques.
The Pillar Porticus in the Architectural Design of High Imperial Epoch
Authors: Bigi Daniele
Published: October 2018

The chapter concerns Roman housing of the AD II in its noteworthy and rapid evolution which has its source in the political and economic conditions most favorable in the history of Rome. On the basis of some specific structures to be found in Rome and Ostia, the author makes an attempt at demonstrating to what extent this phenomenon was linked to the unifying housing policy in localities of high demographic density in the Empire, one that can already be glimpsed from the end or Nero's epoch. Subsequently, the composition solution common in the designs of new urban quarters are identified and discussed. In particular, the linear portico of the pillared type came to be introduced into the practice of urban planning, imposed by pre-constituted models. Taking into consideration principally the examples from Ostia, the author describes these particular typologies of porticos, comparing them with other structures and realities of the western part of the Mediterranean world.
Reconstructing the Illusion
Authors: Colonnese Fabio
Published: October 2018

This chapter describes and critically reviews all the phases of an enquiry supported by the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid on an almost unknown project of a monument for Felipe IV of Spain in the portico of the Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore in Rome designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The process consists of analysis and re-drawing after the existing documents, of modeling of the solid-perspective sacellum and the bronze statue actually made by Girolamo Lucenti, and of presentation and dissemination of the results, in form of video in the exhibition in Madrid and in other visual product to illustrate scientific publications. This process has been didactically divided between digital heritage, the translation of tangible historical-testimonial documents into digital formats, and virtual heritage, the production of original digital contents aimed at visually recreating the unbuilt monument and its perspective deceptive effects.
The Integration of 3D Survey Technologies for an Accurate Reality-Based Representation
Authors: Bolognesi Cecilia Maria , Fiorillo Fausta
Published: October 2018

The integration of close-range photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanner enables reality-based modeling procedures that can help BIM modeling for existing buildings. The restitution of virtual models from high-resolution surveys is a complex process that requires much expertise. It incorporates concepts of resolution, accuracy, and precision in the acquisition phase; filtering, registration, and decimation for point cloud elaboration; and meshing, texturing, simplification, segmentation, and feature extraction in the final modeling stage. The previous steps are the same whether the ultimate goal is a classic 2D representation or a 3D one. For BIM modeling, the job becomes challenging because the necessary simplification of the model cannot be automatized and apparently collides with the high resolution and fidelity of original surveyed data. This chapter presents the process of surveying and 3D modeling of the Ghesc village, following the whole path from data acquisition to BIM modeling, discussing strengths and weakness, issues, and recent solutions for restoration interventions.
Handbook of Research on Urban and Territorial Systems and the Intangible Dimension
Authors: Garzino Giorgio , Novello Giuseppa , Bocconcino Maurizio Marco
Published: October 2018

Surveying has always been closely linked to the definition of cognitive framework to which it is connected. Carrying out a survey has always meant representing the geometry of the context of interest but also thoroughly investigating the historical dynamics, the tangible, behavioral, and performance-based characteristics. The dimensions of comfort, usually associated with the private, domestic environment, now extends to the urban and territorial context too: perhaps going beyond the sense of the threshold referred to by Walter Benjamin when he described the city as a house with its living rooms. A new concept of habitable city has developed, where we can live, according to Ortega y Gasset, not simply a place for estar (being) but for bienestar (wellbeing).
Spatial Models of Color for Digital Color Restoration
Authors: Rizzi Alessandro , Barricelli Barbara Rita , Bonanomi Cristian , Plutino Alice , Lanaro Matteo Paolo
Published: October 2018

This chapter presents an approach to unsupervised digital movie restoration. The approach is based on the idea of recovering the appearance of color instead of the original color signal. The rationale behind this choice is that very often the original color reference is missing in old films, and new films or digital coding can be subject to important gamut transformations. The authors apply algorithms that are designed to reflect the capabilities of the human vision system in automatically adjusting color and lightness variation in the scene.
Computer Information Library Clusters
Authors: Yuhua Fu
Published: October 2018

Based on creating generalized and hybrid set and library with neutrosophy and quad-stage method, this chapter presents the concept of computer information library clusters (CILC). There are various ways and means to form CILC. For example, CILC can be considered as the “total-library” and consists of several “sub-libraries.” As another example, in CILC, a total-library can be set up, and a number of sub-libraries are side by side with the total-library. Specially, for CILC, the operation functions can be added; for example, according to natural science computer information library clusters (natural science CILC), and applying variation principle of library (or sub-library), partial and temporary unified theory of natural science so far with different degrees can be established. Referring to the concept of natural science CILC, the concepts of social science CILC, natural science and social science CILC, and the like can be presented. While referring to the concept of computer information library clusters, the concepts of computer and non-computer information library clusters, earth information library clusters, solar system information library clusters, Milky Way galaxy information library clusters, universe information library clusters, and the like can be presented.
Challenges in Collecting Qualitative Data for Information Systems Studies
Authors: Iyamu Tiko , Shaanika Irja Naambo
Published: October 2018

In recent years, there has been a shift towards understanding why things happen in the way that they do from the qualitative perspectives. However, the qualitative methods are sometimes considered either too trivial or difficult by many postgraduate students. This is attributed to the fact that there is a lack of formula or specific procedure in the application of the methods, which manifest from its subjective nature. The subjectivism makes it even more difficult during data collection and analysis, mainly because it requires special skills and knowledge to interrogate the subject within context. Many postgraduate students fall short in their attempts to exhume quality and rich data from the participants in their natural settings as they develop, implement, use, and interact with systems. This is the main reason why two empirical studies of the same objectives could possibly produce different results.
Changing Expectations of Academic Libraries
Authors: Joe Jennifer Ashley Wright
Published: October 2018

The digital age has been presented as a stark contrast to everything that libraries have had to deal with prior to now. While it is true that academic libraries have had to change to stay relevant in the digital age, the changes are not as severe as was once thought. When libraries embrace a few simple changes and start thinking outside the box when it comes to their employees, their resources, and their mission statements, they begin to meet the challenges that the digital age presents, and will continue to thrive in the new world presented by electronic materials, while remaining true to their spirit of information exchange and knowledge sharing.
Digital Archives for Preserving and Communicating Architectural Drawings
Authors: Spallone Roberta , Paluan Francesca
Published: October 2018

Archives created by architects and engineers are unique and significant sources for scientific research, in relation with multiple disciplines. Contemporary architectural archives, as a documentary evidence, contain relations which cannot easily be read and contextualized because of the documents organization and order, given by the archival necessities and the producers' working activity. According to the archival science, the documents reorganization is forbidden even if it could be helpful for their analyses, so the use of digital databases at microscopic and macroscopic scale allows the contextualization of the archival data, in order to elaborate information and acquire relations. Digital archives are the virtual place in which researchers could play an active role in the discovering of innovative and unprecedented interpretations about the architectural documentation; such free interpretations are advanced by the critical use and support of the representation techniques and technologies, restoring the building image in a more synthetic or analytic level.
Integrating Sustainability and CSR in the Value Chain of the Information Technology Sector
Authors: García de Leaniz Patricia Martínez , Ruiz María Elena García
Published: October 2018

In today´s economy, information technology (IT) companies must increasingly compete for resources and customers, and consumer interests and resource scarcity are changing the way these companies do business. To stay competitive, IT companies must look beyond their own operations and consider opportunities to introduce sustainability and social responsible issues into their business strategies in order to increase resource efficiency across the entire value chain: not only at the front-end and the design and manufacturing of products and packaging but also in the systematic recovery of valuable materials. By collaborating closely with value chain partners and other key stakeholders, IT companies can discover optimal solutions and drive impactful action. In this chapter, the authors delve into how IT companies can promote sustainability and socially responsible issues into their value chain while presenting a set of tools that these firms can use to act in a sustainable manner and obtain competitive advantages.
Bridging Between Cyber Politics and Collective Dynamics of Social Movement
Authors: Shibuya Kazuhiko
Published: October 2018

The author argued that the advent of social media summoned the collective dynamics of democracy of the citizens, by the citizens, and for the citizens. Such patterns using social media can readily alter the form of social movements, allowing their mutual interconnection and shaping the enclaves of networked clustering. Social media offer a new paradigm of democracy that encourages engagement and participation in both cyber and actual political actions for ordinary citizens. Nevertheless, little is known about co-occurrence and linkages between cyber and real-world actions by numerous participants. Consequently, this issue should be investigated with open questions related to the following points: 1) social institutional matters related to legitimation crises caused by social movements, 2) co-occurrence and linkages of collective dynamics between cyber and actual political actions, 3) enlargement of participants in social movement, and 4) systemic risks from local to international affairs.
Mastering Electronic Government in the Digital Age
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: October 2018

This chapter reveals the overview of electronic government (e-government), the adoption of e-government, the digital era governance (DEG) and new public management (NPM), and the significance of e-government in the digital age. E-government is the use of information and communications technology (ICT) to improve the activities of public sector organizations. E-government can open new opportunities for city and local governments to engage in governance by requiring the reforms of underlying working processes. E-government can advance the local democracy by improving the access to information and deepening the citizens' participation in the policy-making process. E-government offers a path to sustain with the civil society and the private sector to design effective services and tools to execute policies. The chapter argues that mastering e-government has the potential to enhance organizational performance and achieve strategic goals in the digital age.
Presidential Elections Web 2.0
Authors: McNeal Ramona Sue , Bryan Lisa Dotterweich
Published: October 2018

Has social media changed voter participation in presidential campaigns? Prior research has found that advances in social media has resulted in candidates focusing more on the “ground war” and less on mass media. Nevertheless, candidates could be doing more to incorporate the internet into their campaigns. This is particularly true when using social media in a manner that could allow interaction between the candidate and supporters. Candidates had been structuring social media use in a manner that gave an illusion of interaction. This has recently changed as a result of the success of Republican nominee Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential primaries. This success had been in part because of his strong social media presence which has led to other candidates changing their social media use. This chapter explores the change in social media use in presidential elections and its impact on voter turnout.
Young People, Civic Participation, and the Internet
Authors: Hirzalla Fadi , Banaji Shakuntala
Published: October 2018

This chapter discusses the socio-political and theoretical background of the literature on the question as to whether the internet promotes young people's internet-based civic participation, which main strands of empirical research on that issue have emerged over the years, and in what ways and for what reasons different forms of knowledge that have been produced by extant research seem to be intrinsically incompatible. The suggested directions for future research should alleviate those tensions between the divergent forms of knowledge and alter the standardized narratives in the literature about youth's online civic participation, which as a partial artifact of the differences in scholars' research focus and methods, have all too often been constructed either as an elitist exercise that normalizes offline business as usual or as a panacea for old socio-political inequalities. More nuanced narratives may lie somewhere in the middle and are yet to be fully developed by this young but lively field of literature.
Socio-Economic Processes, User Generated Content, and Media Pluralism
Authors: Kavoura Androniki
Published: October 2018

Media pluralism that is associated with the presentation of different points of view and ideas in media content consists of a recurrent issue of discussion because it is in close relation with the socio-economic, technological, and political environment within which media operate. Major developments take place with the worldwide economic instability that exists but also with the advancement of new technologies and social media that enhance online communication. This chapter aims (1) to present media pluralism's components and (2) to describe the reciprocal role between media pluralism's dimensions and communication technologies, socio-economic and political processes that take place. These processes are based on the technological advancements of new media platforms such as online video platforms and streaming services as media types for online media content. In doing so, this chapter adds to the literature by illustrating the role of the abovementioned processes on media pluralism. Media pluralism is under continuous negotiation. Current real-world scenarios are discussed.
The Networked Effect of Children and Online Digital Technologies
Authors: Dias de Castro Teresa Sofia Pereira , Osório António , Bond Emma
Published: October 2018

Within the scope of how technology impacts society, three theoretical models—the social shaping of technology (SST), social construction of technology (SCOT), and the actor-network theory (ANT)—are frameworks that help rethink the embeddedness of technology within society, once each is transformed and transformative of the other. More attention will be given to the ANT approach since it solves the technology/society dualisms unresolved by the previous proposals. This is a flexible epistemological possibility that can reach the ambiguity of contemporary life and the remarkable transformations brought by progress that have drastically changed childhood and children's contemporary lives.
Suggestions for Communication of Information for Multicultural Co-Existence
Authors: Kurata Noriko
Published: October 2018

The purpose of this chapter is to propose measures required for promoting coexistence with multi-culture residents (MCR). In this chapter, the plans and ordinances established by the local governments in Japan were focused. As a result, a majority of the local governments targeted for the survey had declared the need for multicultural co-existence and multilingual communication of information in their plans. Further, on the web operated by the local governments, machine translation was used. However, the study revealed that there were no local governments that communicated ordinances on the web in multiple languages. Not being informed about ordinances is detrimental to the daily life of foreigners residing in the local community and further can become the cause of increase in troubles with the Japanese in the local community. Therefore, this chapter proposes that the concerned local governments translate the ordinances ranked higher in the system of all ordinances on a priority basis and collaborate with the MCR to generate more precise expressions.
Vitalizing Ancient Cultures Mythological Storytelling in Metal Music
Authors: Kilinç Uğur
Published: October 2018

This chapter is focused on the relationship between ancient narratives “music” and “mythology.” Technological developments and changes in social structure caused the occurrence of different music genres over time. “Metal music” is one of these genres. In the present day, it is possible to observe that there is a tendency to mythology in sub-genres of metal music. This tendency is observed in lyrics, album artworks, videos, and gig performances of some bands. In this chapter, metal music is examined based on its root, content, and technical features, primarily. Afterwards, mythology, content of mythology, and cultural and social functions of mythology are discussed. In the praxis of this study, the cover of the album Twilight of the Thunder God (2008) of the Swedish metal band Amon Amarth is analyzed by semiological analysis.
Determination of Urban Growth by the Night-Time Images
Authors: Yücer Emre , Erener Arzu
Published: October 2018

Urbanization in Turkey and in the world has increased in the last 30 years. Therefore, urban areas having a dynamic structure should be regularly monitored, and the urban region should be determined. There is a need of accurate current data that enables the monitoring of the temporally changing urban development and land use at regular intervals. In order to determine the urban sizes, the 2010 DMSP-OLS (US Air Force Meteorological Satellite Program – operational line scan system) nighttime images are used. This chapter is adapted to all provinces of Turkey. Nighttime images in the literature are mainly used for examining the global economic and demographic differences between countries. In order to determine the urban growth from nighttime images, two different image analyses including object-based and cell-based methods are used in this study. Object-oriented image analysis method includes image segmentation studies, and cell-based classification method contains natural breaks and OTSU method.
Need for Rethinking Modern Urban Planning Strategies Through Integration of ICTs
Authors: Basu Rounaq , Jana Arnab
Published: October 2018

Recent progress in ICTs have paved the way for innovative services and interactive models and tools. Citizen participation and open innovation have become essential tools for urban planners. These concepts can be implemented through the crowdsourcing model, which is a people-centric approach to solve societal problems using Web 2.0 technologies. This has led to the collection and sharing of geocoded data through GIS. The large amount of data required is one of the drawbacks of GIS. However, collecting such data within short duration at minimum cost has now become possible through the development of web-based surveys coupled with use of DBMS. The effectiveness and importance of these three tools (crowdsourcing, GIS, and DBMS) in modern and future urban planning strategies cannot be undermined. In conclusion, the authors argue that integration of urban policies, modern technologies, and fundamental concepts of engineering will lead to discovery of new solutions to important age-old urban problems.