Search results for "construct"
showing 10 items of 3723 documents
The cost of green roofs disposal in a life cycle perspective: covering the gap.
2012
Abstract This study is aimed at providing a contribution in overcoming the current gap, especially in Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Benefit – Cost (BCA) analyses, due to the lack concerning the green roof disposal costs. Therefore, we have applied to an actual extensive green roof the LCC methodology suggested by D. G. Woodward (that appears like one of the most formalized and generalizable), but we have extended the analysis to the disposal phase. This will allow a complete and proper application of the LCC methodology in order of achieving an economic accounting of this component through its life cycle. In this way, it is possible to achieve the complete evaluation of the “green roof” perf…
Cloudy with a Chance of Fuzzy: Building a Multicriteria Uncertainty Model for Construction Project Delivery Selection
2017
AbstractThe process of choosing a project delivery method is infused with cognitive uncertainties associated with the decision maker. Fuzzy uncertainties arise because of imprecise understanding and subsequent representation of these uncertainties by the decision maker, whereas random uncertainties arise from variance of these imprecisions. Since there are no well-defined rules for spontaneous decisions, in order to be consistently confident in the appropriateness of the chosen delivery method, a structured approach incorporating uncertainty is required. Previously unanswered questions such as (1) what are the sources of uncertainty in project delivery decisions, (2) how do decision makers …
Leadership and employees’ perceived safety behaviours in a nuclear power plant: A structural equation model
2011
Leadership is considered an essential element in guaranteeing the safe running of organizations. The purpose of the present study is to find out how leader behaviours influence employees' safety behaviours (perceived safety behaviours) in the nuclear field. In an attempt to answer this question, the authors of this research have considered the way this influence is exercised, taking into consideration some important factors like safety culture and safety climate. To achieve this, the empowerment leadership model, based on a behavioural approach to leadership, was used. The sample was made up of 566 employees from a Spanish nuclear power plant. The results indicated that when safety culture …
An execution, monitoring and replanning approach for optimal energy management in microgrids
2011
abstract This work develops a new approach for optimal energy management of electrical distribution ‘smart-grids’. Optimality aims at improving sustainability through the minimization of carbon emissions and atreducing production costs and maximizing quality. Input data are the forecasted loads and productionsfrom renewable generation units, output data are a set of control actions for the actuators. Theconsidered electrical distribution system includes storage units that must be considered over a 24 h timeinterval, to consider an entire charge and discharge cycle. The objectives for the optimal management ofdistributed (renewables and not) generation are technical, economical and environme…
Sparsity-aware narrowband interference mitigation and subcarriers selection in OFDM-based cognitive radio networks
2016
In this paper, the performance of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing overlay cognitive radio network with subcarrier selection schemes is investigated. We propose three subcarrier selection techniques that reduce the level of interference at the primary base station based on collected channel state information from the different network nodes. Approximated outage probability expressions are also derived and verified by simulations for the different studied techniques. In addition, we propose and investigate a new approach for asynchronous narrowband interference (NBI) estimation and mitigation in cognitive radio networks. The proposed approach does not require prior knowledge of …
A Sparsity-Aware Approach for NBI Estimation and Mitigation in Large Cognitive Radio Networks
2016
Underlay cognitive networks should follow strict interference thresholds to operate in parallel with primary networks. This constraint limits their transmission power and eventually the coverage area. Therefore, in this paper, we first design a new approach for asynchronous narrow-band interference (NBI) estimation and mitigation in orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing cognitive radio networks that does not require prior knowledge of the NBI characteristics. Our proposed approach allows the primary user to exploit the sparsity of the secondary users' interference signal to recover it and cancel it based on sparse signal recovery theory. We also propose two subcarrier selection schemes…
A Mixed Approach for Determination of Initial Cable Forces in Cable-Stayed Bridges and the Parameters Variability
2015
The determination of initial cable forces in cable-stayed bridges is an important first step in design and analysis of the structure under external loads. Adjustments of stay forces are often required during construction in order to assure the requested behaviour of the bridge in terms of final geometrical configuration and internal force distribution. An accurate assessment of the stay tensioning system allows designers to obtain a good result at the end of construction, by considering the parameters involved as deterministic quantities, assuring the observance of the execution tolerances during works. Actual loads and their variations need instead a stochastic approach which can give usef…
Technical and economical evaluation on the use of reconfiguration systems in some EU countries for PV plants
2017
This paper shows the technical and economical evaluation of the application of a reconfiguration system for photovoltaic (PV) plants, considering the incentives system in some European Union countries. The reconfiguration system is an alternative to the distributed maximum power point tracking technique which used to increase the power production in the PV plants under the mismatch phenomenon. The reconfiguration techniques employ a microprocessor-based or field-programmable gate array-based system that modifies the layout of the PV plant through the change of the connections among modules. After having presented the main features working of the PV reconfiguration system allowing the improv…
A novel solar-geothermal trigeneration system integrating water desalination: Design, dynamic simulation and economic assessment
2016
Abstract In this paper, an innovative solar-geothermal polygeneration system is investigated. The system supplies a small community with electricity, desalinated water and space heating and cooling through a district network. The hybrid multi-purpose plant, based on an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) supplied by medium-enthalpy geothermal energy and by solar energy; this latter is provided by Parabolic Trough Collectors (PTC). The geothermal brine is first used to drive the ORC loop, then to provide space heating at around 85÷90 °C (in the winter), or cooling (in the summer, by means of a single-effect absorption chiller). Finally, the geothermal brine drives a Multi-Effect Distillation (MED) s…