title: Evaluating health promotion: the strategic evaluation framework

authors: Duignan, Paul Warren

abstract: The objective of this study was to produce a framework for evaluating health promotion that is both practical and theoretically defensible. There were six steps in developing this framework. First, the evaluation and health promotion literature was examined for lessons relevant to health promotion evaluation. Second, the author was involved as an evaluation researcher in a series of health promotion projects (five of which are reported here). Third, key practical, methodological, political and theoretical issues arising from these evaluation projects were identified and addressed. Fourth, taking these issues into account, an initial framework for health promotion evaluation was developed. Fifth, the framework was exposed to health promotion practitioners at a series of workshops run by the author and colleagues. Sixth, the strategic evaluation approach was further refined in the light of the Author’s continuing involvement in health promotion evaluation practice. Six elements make up the resulting Strategic Evaluation Framework for Health Promotion: a checklist for health promotion programme planning and evaluation; a matrix of health promotion strategies; a schema for health promotion programme objective setting; a set of criteria for selecting the type and level of evaluation for different projects within an overall programme; a model of where health promotion strategic evaluation fits within the social problem cycle; and lastly a strategic approach to determining priority health promotion evaluation research methods. Together, these address key issues which need to be dealt with in health promotion evaluation. Based on the belief that evaluation decisions should be strategically driven, this approach is particularly relevant in health promotion areas where issues are strongly contested by powerful stakeholders. This decision as to what and how to evaluate comes from examining the strategic priorities of the sector in which the programme is located. This is in contrast to more generalised calls for programme evaluation which demand similar evaluation types for all health promotion programmes regardless of the current strategic needs of the sector.

text: Evaluating health promotion: the strategic evaluation framework The objective of this study was to produce a framework for evaluating health promotion that is both practical and theoretically defensible. There were six steps in developing this framework. First, the evaluation and health promotion literature was examined for lessons relevant to health promotion evaluation. Second, the author was involved as an evaluation researcher in a series of health promotion projects (five of which are reported here). Third, key practical, methodological, political and theoretical issues arising from these evaluation projects were identified and addressed. Fourth, taking these issues into account, an initial framework for health promotion evaluation was developed. Fifth, the framework was exposed to health promotion practitioners at a series of workshops run by the author and colleagues. Sixth, the strategic evaluation approach was further refined in the light of the Author’s continuing involvement in health promotion evaluation practice. Six elements make up the resulting Strategic Evaluation Framework for Health Promotion: a checklist for health promotion programme planning and evaluation; a matrix of health promotion strategies; a schema for health promotion programme objective setting; a set of criteria for selecting the type and level of evaluation for different projects within an overall programme; a model of where health promotion strategic evaluation fits within the social problem cycle; and lastly a strategic approach to determining priority health promotion evaluation research methods. Together, these address key issues which need to be dealt with in health promotion evaluation. Based on the belief that evaluation decisions should be strategically driven, this approach is particularly relevant in health promotion areas where issues are strongly contested by powerful stakeholders. This decision as to what and how to evaluate comes from examining the strategic priorities of the sector in which the programme is located. This is in contrast to more generalised calls for programme evaluation which demand similar evaluation types for all health promotion programmes regardless of the current strategic needs of the sector.

year: 1997

title: Hybrid-heating-systems for optimized integration of low-temperature-heat and renewable energy

authors: Schumm, Gregor M.

abstract: The food and beverage industries are significant industrial producers of green-house gas (GHG) emissions. Reductions can be achieved by increased energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy to replace fossil fuel use. The main efficiency method within this industries is the use of low temperature heat (LTH), i.e. below 100 °C. Sources for LTH include heat recovery from process flows, heat rejection from utility operations (i.e. chillers, combined heat and power (CHP), condensing economisers), and renewable energy (i.e. solar thermal). A hybrid heating system (H2S) has been developed that can retrofit steam heater designs for the integration of LTH. Two different systems have been found, for adapting direct and indirect steam heaters, either installing an extra hot water heater or using the indirect hot water loop for the integration. In both systems the existing steam heater remains a part of the system for individual back-up. The set-up and the control algorithm of the H₂S allow installing a 37 % smaller hot water grid than a common design with one central back-up heater. Investigations using a comprehensive model of a whey separation and drying plant showed that implementing a piston engine CHP unit combined with the H₂S reduce the energy costs by 42 % and the GHG emissions by 33 %.

text: Hybrid-heating-systems for optimized integration of low-temperature-heat and renewable energy The food and beverage industries are significant industrial producers of green-house gas (GHG) emissions. Reductions can be achieved by increased energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy to replace fossil fuel use. The main efficiency method within this industries is the use of low temperature heat (LTH), i.e. below 100 °C. Sources for LTH include heat recovery from process flows, heat rejection from utility operations (i.e. chillers, combined heat and power (CHP), condensing economisers), and renewable energy (i.e. solar thermal). A hybrid heating system (H2S) has been developed that can retrofit steam heater designs for the integration of LTH. Two different systems have been found, for adapting direct and indirect steam heaters, either installing an extra hot water heater or using the indirect hot water loop for the integration. In both systems the existing steam heater remains a part of the system for individual back-up. The set-up and the control algorithm of the H₂S allow installing a 37 % smaller hot water grid than a common design with one central back-up heater. Investigations using a comprehensive model of a whey separation and drying plant showed that implementing a piston engine CHP unit combined with the H₂S reduce the energy costs by 42 % and the GHG emissions by 33 %.

year: 2016

title: PIWeCS: enhancing human/machine agency in an interactive composition system

authors: Whalley, Ian

abstract: This paper focuses on the infrastructure and aesthetic approach used in PIWeCS: a Public Space Interactive Web-based Composition System. The concern was to increase the sense of dialogue between human and machine agency in an interactive work by adapting Paine's (2002) notion of a conversational model of interaction as a ‘complex system’. The machine implementation of PIWeCS is achieved through integrating intelligent agent programming with MAX/MSP. Human input is through a web infrastructure. The conversation is initiated and continued by participants through arrangements and composition based on short performed samples of traditional New Zealand Maori instruments. The system allows the extension of a composition through the electroacoustic manipulation of the source material.

text: PIWeCS: enhancing human/machine agency in an interactive composition system This paper focuses on the infrastructure and aesthetic approach used in PIWeCS: a Public Space Interactive Web-based Composition System. The concern was to increase the sense of dialogue between human and machine agency in an interactive work by adapting Paine's (2002) notion of a conversational model of interaction as a ‘complex system’. The machine implementation of PIWeCS is achieved through integrating intelligent agent programming with MAX/MSP. Human input is through a web infrastructure. The conversation is initiated and continued by participants through arrangements and composition based on short performed samples of traditional New Zealand Maori instruments. The system allows the extension of a composition through the electroacoustic manipulation of the source material.

year: 2004