Search

An important step in the development of any process is evaluation. Evaluation ensures that the process affects effectiveness, efficiency, or other metrics as designed. Without evaluation, processes must stand solely on the theories, axioms, and/or heuristics that formed them. Outcome or objectives-based evaluations are especially useful in seeing if the expected impact is realized. Systems and design engineering present problems for outcome evaluations due to system design efforts being long in duration, expensive, organization/team specific, and environment/context specific. These characteristics make repeating the same effort under the same conditions using different processes difficult, if not impossible. While a comparison of processes for evaluation in a real application may not be feasible, a simulation of the processes with agents that capture system design behaviors may produce findings to support hypotheses. This paper examines the use of agent-based modeling and simulation to compare pseudo-waterfall and pseudo-agile engineering processes for a simple design problem. The Function–Behavior–Structure (FBS) model of design is used along with empirical data from FBS studies to examine the performance of a two-person design team using pseudo-waterfall and pseudo-agile engineering processes. The results of this exercise show possible advantages of agile-like processes in total time to complete the design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is the first part of a complex scientific study aimed at analyzing all components in the process of protecting the population from disasters and accidents and proposing a logistic system aimed at improving the response and effectiveness of the actions of the services responsible for this protection. More specifically, we focused on fires and fire fighting, as a key factor in environmental protection. Global warming is an undeniable fact that has been talked about and written about a lot in the last 30 years. According to UN experts, the next increase in global air temperature during the 21st century may reach from 1.5° C to 4° C. The current trend of global warming is the result of the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to burning of fuel minerals, agricultural activities and deforestation (Vladev, I., 2023). According to the study by William et all (2023), the total amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere in the last 30 years alone has increased by 62% or from 24gt in 1990 to 39gt in 2020. As we know deforestation is mainly caused by fires. The contribution of this factor to the total emission of carbon dioxide for 1985 was 24.6% according to Vronsky, V. (2000). So, the problem of timely detection and extinguishing of fires is serious. In order to create a more effective logistics system, it is required to first analyze the types of fires, the reasons for their occurrence and to define all the elements of the system related to extinguishing and liquidating their consequences. The analysis of the fire situation in the forests of Bulgaria for the last 30 years shows a sharp increase in the number, size of burned areas and their intensity. From the analysis made according to (Report on the state of national security of the Republic of Bulgaria, 2018) two main factors stand out for the increase in fires: - Climate changes, aggravated by anthropogenic activity; - Human intervention - fires caused by deliberate arson or negligence (Grigorov, 2020). The statistics of the last 30 years unambiguously show that over 80% of all forest fires in Bulgaria are the result of human activity, including - the burning of stubble and pastures, which are the cause of 34% of the fires that occurred. On average, no more than 2.5% of the fires in the forest territories were caused naturally by lightning. The proven anthropogenic nature of over 80% of fires necessitates the categorization of forests near settlements, especially in densely populated parts of the country, as high risk from a fire point of view. The systematic analysis described in the article gives us the basis to draw conclusions and findings on the basis of which to define the main elements of the logistics system, subject to further development and modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several European universities provide entry to general engineering studies prior to degree specialisation. The potential advantages of such entry include the provision of a broader foundation in engineering fundamentals, the option for students to defer specialisation until a greater awareness of the different engineering disciplines and the preparation of students for a more versatile career. In this paper, the attractiveness of general engineering (specifically in the first year of study) is explored through a national (UK) survey on pre-university students. Attention is given to gauging student enthusiasm for flexibility in engineering specialisation, combined degree options and exposure to other non-technical courses. The findings indicate that a general engineering programme is highly attractive to students who are currently considering an engineering degree. The programme is also attractive to some students who had previously not considered engineering. For both sets of students, the desire for education on broader topics is indicated, specifically in areas of leadership, teamwork and business skills, and more generally self-awareness and personal development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]