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On 27 October 2020, the Constitutional Court handed down judgment in National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa v Aveng Trident Steel (A Division of Aveng Africa (Pty) Ltd) 2021 42 ILJ 67 (CC). Following the judgment, it is now commonplace that the amendment to section 187(1)(c) of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 does not preclude an employer from dismissing employees for a permissible reason, such as its operational requirements, should they refuse to accept a demand. The court confirmed that in cases such as this where they are faced with two opposing reasons for the dismissal, an impermissible reason on the one hand and a permissible reason on the other, an enquiry must be conducted into what the true reason for the dismissal is. However, the approach to be followed in conducting this enquiry caused dissent. Half of the judges were of the view that the correct approach is to follow the causation test set out in SA Chemical Workers Union v Afrox Ltd 1999 20 ILJ 1718 (LAC), while the other half disavowed reliance on the causation test. Instead, they opted to support the enquiry conducted in Chemical Workers Industrial Union v Algorax (Pty) Ltd 2003 24 ILJ 1917 (LAC). This case note seeks to establish which approach should be followed in determining the true reason for an alleged section 187(1)(c) automatically unfair dismissal.

This article contains a summary of the research conducted in the Military University of Aviation concerning the problems of warfare use of unmanned aerial vehicles. It indicates the operational needs of the air force at the modern and future battlefield and the resulting requirements for unmanned aerial vehicles. The present paper outlines the areas of the potential applications and types of unmanned platforms useful for these tasks. It presents the technical and operational requirements and indicates the directions of future research necessary to expand the combat capabilities of these machines. It defines the potential groups of combat and support tasks that may be performed by unmanned aerial vehicles in the future. Conceptual solutions for the use of unmanned platforms at the battlefield and the problems of introducing new means of destruction and extending the autonomy and viability of the platforms are also presented in the present article.

Tunnels are underground passages, placed horizontally, which serve to lead the road through them. In order to fulfill its purpose in road traffic, the tunnel must fit into the traffic infrastructure and as such not create an obstacle in movement and enable the movement of vehicles from entrance to exit without danger, but with increased restriction of freedom of lateral evacuation. Tunnels are among some of the most risky parts of the road network, primarily due to space constraints, where there is a possibility of a traffic accident. Managing the risks associated with the passage of road traffic, and in particular the safety of traffic in tunnels, is a serious problem in many countries. With the growing number of road users, it is necessary to adopt stricter standards regarding road tunnels. In addition to meeting these safety standards, factors such as operational requirements, economic efficiency, energy efficiency and state-of-the-art technology should also be taken into account when planning and equipping tunnels.

Critically ill patients who develop severe acute kidney injury in the intensive care unit often require treatment with renal replacement therapies (RRTs). This complication is associated with severe morbidity and mortality and high costs, both during hospitalization and postdischarge. This article discusses the operational requirements to develop and conduct a RRT program, as well as the financial implications of this complex form of patient care. The management of these programs must occur in a context where a clear organizational and educational framework and a multidisciplinary team ensures safety, effectiveness, cost-control, and a clear quality control framework.

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the possibility of lowering the time taken during the aircraft design for unmanned aerial vehicles by using machine learning (ML) for the configuration selection phase. In this work, a database of unmanned aircraft is compiled and is proposed that decision tree classifiers (DTC) can understand the relations between mission and operational requirements and the resulting aircraft configuration. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a ML-based approach to configuration selection of unmanned aircraft. Multiple DTC are built to predict the overall configuration. The classifiers are trained with a database of 118 unmanned aircraft with 57 characteristics, 47 of which are inputs for the classification problem, and 10 are the desired outputs, such as wing configuration or engine type. Findings This paper shows that DTC can be used for the configuration selection of unmanned aircraft with reasonable accuracy, understanding the connections between the different mission requirements and the culminating configuration. The framework is also capable of dealing with incomplete databases, maximizing the available knowledge. Originality/value This paper increases the computational usage for the aircraft design while retaining requirements’ traceability and increasing decision awareness.

La norma ISO 14001, es un marco que define las reglas para integrar las preocupaciones ambientales en las actividades de las organizaciones con el fin de controlar los impactos ambientales y así conciliar los requisitos operativos de la organización con el respeto al ambiente. Partiendo de ello el objetivo del presente artículo es analizar como la norma ISO 14001 ha evolucionado a nivel internacional y como ha sido implementada en Ecuador. Proceso que se llevó a cabo mediante un análisis teórico que permitió establecer que: los numerosos beneficios que ofrece la norma, lo que genera un cambio positivo para los diferentes sectores económico, permitiendo un enfoque integral y activo de los aspectos ambientales de las organizaciones. Respecto a cómo la generación de certificaciones a nivel continental es posible establecer que en África presentó un 39,53% de creciente de certificaciones, seguido de Asia con el 29,91%, América con 3,99% y Europa con un crecimiento de 1,28%, estableciendo así la intención internacional de la aplicación de la norma ISO 14001. En países como Ecuador, Colombia, Perú y Uruguay, los sectores de mayor aplicación son el sector transporte, almacenamiento y comunicación, el sector construcción y otros sectores no catalogados. En el caso ecuatoriano, es necesario que se aumente el número de certificaciones siendo que el mismo se encuentra en el sexto puesto en comparación con los países del continente americano. Palabras claves: Sistema de gestión ambiental, Ventajas de la norma ISO 14001.

Morphing technology aims to improve the performance of structural components by drastically altering their shape in response to conflicting operational requirements. Thus, achieving the optimum operation of morphing structures is a rather challenging task which includes non-linear effects associated with the large deformations and rigid body motions, the actuator performance and the interactions between active and passive components. In this paper a formal optimization procedure is developed to provide the optimal design of a morphing structure with shape memory alloy actuators. The optimization of the morphing structure is formulated as a multi-objective problem aiming to concurrently optimize the passive structural components and the actuators. Subsequently, a multi-level optimization scheme is presented and implemented. Case studies prove the capability of the multi-objective optimization framework to produce robust designs of the morphing structure that simultaneously improve all performance metrics. Furthermore, it is illustrated that the proposed multi-level optimization scheme may produce similar optimal designs, compared with the conventional aggregate optimization scheme, but with significant computational gains.

On November 24th, 2020, John Ardis presented Applied (Active Measures) Counterintelligence at the 2020 CASIS West Coast Security Conference. The presentation was followed by a question and answer period. The presentation focused on the reasons why active measures counterintelligence (ACI) should be developed, the operational requirements for ACI, and the overall benefits of ACI. While the question and answer period focused on how new technology developments affect counterintelligence operations and the approach taken by modern counterintelligence.

The hybrid bill for the first phase of the UK's High Speed Two (HS2) high-speed railway (London to the West Midlands) was submitted in November 2013. This paper outlines the general principles and processes developed for the engineering design over a 22-month period that supported the phase one HS2 hybrid bill. The engineering design and construction planning undertaken during this period enabled the preparation of the environmental statement, the programme, the cost baseline and the land required for construction and operation of the railway. In order to obtain a consistent and coherent design across the 225 km route from London to Birmingham, a high-level set of design principles and guidelines was established.

A critical step for computer vision-driven hockey ice rink localization from broadcast video is the automatic segmentation of lines on the rink. While the leveraging of segmentation methods for sports field localization has been previously explored, the design of deep neural networks for segmenting ice rink lines has not been well studied. Furthermore, the exploration of efficient architecture designs is very important given the operational requirements of real-time sports analytics. Motivated by this, BenderNet and RingerNet, two highly efficient deep neural network architectures, have been designed specifically for ice rink line segmentation. Experiments on a dataset of annotated NHL broadcast video demonstrate high accuracy while maintaining high model efficiency, thus making the proposed methods well-suited for real-time ice hockey rink localization.

The development of access control systems has progressed rapidly in recent years and the market offers a wide range of different devices. The design of the access control systems is specific to each object. It depends mainly on the operational requirements and the value of the protected interest. Access control systems have their own specifics that must be used during the designing a security system. Logistics centers are an ideal object for the implementation of access control systems. Inconsistent selection of access devices can cause inefficient system functionality, leading to downtime and losses. Based on experimental testing and related works in the field of access control systems, the paper discusses the possibilities of using access control systems in logistics centers and points out the specifics of RFID based access control systems.

Section 187(1)(c) of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (LRA), has over the years proven to be a controversial section. At the heart of the controversy is the question as to whether an employer may terminate employees’ contracts of employment based on operational requirements in circumstances where they refuse to accept changes to terms and conditions of employment. This question came before the courts on a number of occasions and answered in the affirmative by the Labour Appeal Court in Fry’s Metals (Pty) Ltd v National Union of Metalworkers of SA ((2003) 21 ILJ 133 (LAC)), and confirmed on appeal by the Supreme Court of Appeal in National Union of Metalworkers of SA v Fry’s Metals (Pty) Ltd (2005 (5) SA 433 (SCA)). However, the LRA has since been amended with the Labour Relations Amendment Act 6 of 2014 (LRAA). Whether an employer may, in light of the amendments, adopt this approach, was recently considered by the LabourAppeal Court in National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa v Aveng Trident Steel (a division of Aveng Africa Proprietary Ltd) ((JA25/18) [2019] ZALAC 36; (2019) 40 ILJ 2024 (LAC); [2019] 9 BLLR 899 (LAC) (13 June 2019) (Aveng case (LAC)). The judgment is noteworthy as it is the first time that the Labour Appeal Court (LAC) delivered judgment relating to section 187(1)(c) of the LRA post-amendment, thus providing a degree of judicial certainty on the interpretation to be accorded to the amended section.

Purpose Defence supply chains (SCs) aim at operational outcomes, and armed forces depend on them to provide availability and preparedness in peace and sustainability in war. Previous research has focussed on strategies for SCs aiming at financial outcomes. This raises the question of how suitable commercial supply chain strategies (SCSs) are for supply chain design (SCD) in defence. The purpose of this paper is to explain the constructs of SCSs that satisfy military operational requirements and to propose SCSs that are appropriate in defence. Design/methodology/approach This paper reports on a Delphi study with 20 experts from Swedish defence authorities. Through three Delphi rounds, two workshops and a validation round, these experts contributed to the reported findings. Findings The findings demonstrate that commercial SC constructs are acceptable and applicable in defence but not sufficient. An additional strategy is required to satisfy requirements on availability, preparedness and sustainability. The paper shows that different requirements in peace and war make it challenging to design suitable defence SCs and proposes eight SCSs that satisfy these requirements. Research limitations/implications The results emanate from the Swedish defence context and further research is required for generalisation. Originality/value This paper extends theory by investigating SCs aiming at operational outcomes. For managers in companies and defence authorities, it explicates how the unique issues in defence must influence SCD to satisfy operational requirements.

The results of studies of the operational metrics of samples of foam-glass concrete building products are reported. To have a clear picture of a product’s operational capabilities under different conditions the metrics are conventionally divided into strength and energetics. The strength metrics consist of density and strength in compression and the energetics metrics consist of thermal conductivity and moisture resistance. The qualitative effects of the main parameters of the main product filler — ground glass — on the operational metrics were studied. Nomograms were developed for making a judicious choice of the input metrics of products in application to different technical and operational requirements.

For some time past the careful attention of researches requires the issues of analyzing qualities of test objects and compliance actually received tactical and technical characteristics with specified operational requirements, it is necessary to get the parameters of high-precision trajectory measurements that will enable comparison (deviation) of the real trajectory from the reference trajectory (pattern trajectory); evaluate the operating benefit of the test objects; identify the causes of nonconformities of tactical and technical characteristics to requirements, which can be detected. Today for measuring the trajectory parameters of the test objects using equipment, which operates on different physical principles. It refers also to the electro-optics equipment, in which implemented process of target tracking for the purpose of obtaining on a real time basis initial information, further processing which will allow to calculate highly precise trajectory parameters of test objects. Therefore, the purpose of the article was a justification for composition and tactical and technical characteristics of prospective mobile optoelectronic complex of trajectory measurements. On the basis of the modern analysis of the objects of ground tests, their main characteristics, as well as the tactical and technical characteristics of modern mobile optoelectronic complex of trajectory measurements of domestic and foreign production and taking into account the “General requirements for mobile optoelectronic station of externally - trajectory measurements” from 01 October 2017, the project of composition and the tactical and technical characteristics prospective mobile optoelectronic complex of trajectory measurements was justified. Research design - the theory of probability, system analysis and synthesis of organizational-technical systems, theory efficiency and optimization, simulation of complex technical systems. The main results, obtained in the work: - composition and the tactical and technical characteristics prospective mobile optoelectronic complex of trajectory measurements were justified; - general requirements to the mobile optoelectronic complex of trajectory measurements were developed; The practical importance lies in the possibility of creating mobile optoelectronic complex of trajectory measurements of domestic production to conduct testing of new and modernized specimens of weapons and military equipment. The study is novel in that it: general requirements to the mobile optoelectronic complex of trajectory measurements were developed; the project of terms of reference for the creation of a mobile optoelectronic complex of trajectory measurements of domestic production was worked out to provide testing of specimens of weapons and military equipment.

Helicopter operations with externally slung loads are highly demanding for the flight crew. As the pilot does not have a direct view of the load, assistance is required from an additional crew member to achieve operational requirements (e.g., for load handling to achieve precise load positioning). An automatic load stabilization and positioning system for cargo operations has been designed with the aim to reduce pilot workload, damp load pendulum motion and to improve the load positioning performance. This system uses the concept of load-motion feedback to the rotor control. To avoid degradation of Handling Qualities (HQs), as found in previous investigations, a function has been developed that monitors pilot control inputs. Dependent on the amplitude and duration of pilot control stick deflection, the feedback signal for slung load damping is blended between two different gain sets. One set provides improved HQs during piloted control and one set provides good load damping when the pilot is passive. A further novel aspect is the evaluation of an automatic load control system using a Translational Rate Command as a method of helicopter control. A piloted simulation study has been conducted using this advanced load control system with automatic load stabilization and positioning. Three test pilots evaluated the system in different control law configurations using a Mission Task Element simulating an external load cargo operation. HQs and pilot workload were evaluated using the Cooper-Harper Rating Scale and NASA Task Load Index, respectively. The results of the study show that improved HQs and reduced pilot workload in combination with improved task performance can be achieved with the advanced slung load control system.

Demands of appropriate personal mobility-assistive devices for those needed persons have been increased considerably in recent years, with their specific operational requirements, developments of adequate motors to different device parts are the main concerns. For applications onto those knee joint parts of the exoskeleton system, three types of permanent-magnet (PM) motors, namely the surface-mounted PM motor, the Vernier motor, and the flux-switching motor were designed. Based on the operational and physical constraints of the particular exoskeleton parts, optimisations of these PM motors were provided along with their thorough performance comparisons. From emulated finite-element analyses along with hardware experimental validations, by following the standard test settings, selection guidance for the suitable motor structures at different operational objectives will thus be supplied.

Train platforming is critical for ensuring the safety and efficiency of train operations within the stations, especially when unexpected train delays occur. This paper studies the problem of reoptimization of train platforming in case of train delays, where the train station is modeled using the discretization of the platform track time-space resources. To solve the reoptimization problem, we propose a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model, which minimizes the weighted sum of total train delays and the platform track assignment costs, subject to constraints defined by operational requirements. Moreover, we design an efficient heuristic algorithm to solve the MILP model such that it can speed up the reoptimization process with good solution precision. Furthermore, a real-world case is taken as an example to show the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed model and algorithm. The computational results show that the MILP model established in this paper can describe the reoptimization of train platforming accurately, and it can be solved quickly by the proposed heuristic algorithm. In addition, the model and algorithm developed in this paper can provide an effective computer-aided decision-making tool for the train dispatchers in case of train delays.

Based on the Bayesian network (BN) paradigm, we propose a hybrid model to predict the three main consequences of disruptions and disturbances during train operations, namely, the primary delay (L), the number of affected trains (N), and the total delay times (T). To obtain an effective BN structure, we first analyze the dependencies of the involved factors on each station and among adjacent stations, given domain knowledge and expertise about operational characteristics. We then put forward four candidate BN structures, integrating expert knowledge, the interdependencies learned from real-world data, and real-time prediction and operational requirements. Next, we train the candidate structures based on a 5-fold cross-validation method, using the operational data from Wuhan-Guangzhou (W-G) and Xiamen-Shenzhen (X-S) high-speed railway (HSR) lines in China. The best performing structure is nominated to predict the consequences of disruptions and disturbances in the two HSR lines. Comparisons results show that the proposed model outperforms three other commonly used predictive models, reaching an average prediction accuracy of 96.6%, 74.8%, and 91.0% on the W-G HSR line, and 94.8%, 91.1%, and 87.9% on the X-S HSR line for variables L, N, and T, respectively.

Nine gridded Northern Hemisphere snow water equivalent (SWE) products were evaluated as part of the European Space Agency (ESA) Satellite Snow Product Intercomparison and Evaluation Exercise (SnowPEx). Three categories of datasets were assessed: (1) those utilizing some form of reanalysis (the NASA Global Land Data Assimilation System version 2 – GLDAS-2; the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) interim land surface reanalysis – ERA-Interim/Land and ERA5; the NASA Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications version 1 (MERRA) and version 2 (MERRA-2); the Crocus snow model driven by ERA-Interim meteorology – Crocus); (2) passive microwave remote sensing combined with daily surface snow depth observations (ESA GlobSnow v2.0); and (3) stand-alone passive microwave retrievals (NASA AMSR-E SWE versions 1.0 and 2.0) which do not utilize surface snow observations. Evaluation included validation against independent snow course measurements from Russia, Finland, and Canada and product intercomparison through the calculation of spatial and temporal correlations in SWE anomalies. The stand-alone passive microwave SWE products (AMSR-E v1.0 and v2.0 SWE) exhibit low spatial and temporal correlations to other products and RMSE nearly double the best performing product. Constraining passive microwave retrievals with surface observations (GlobSnow) provides performance comparable to the reanalysis-based products; RMSE over Finland and Russia for all but the AMSR-E products is ∼50 mm or less, with the exception of ERA-Interim/Land over Russia. Using a seven-dataset ensemble that excluded the stand-alone passive microwave products reduced the RMSE by 10 mm (20 %) and increased the correlation from 0.67 to 0.78 compared to any individual product. The overall performance of the best multiproduct combinations is still at the margins of acceptable uncertainty for scientific and operational requirements; only through combined and integrated improvements in remote sensing, modeling, and observations will real progress in SWE product development be achieved.

The scientific and reasonable layout of jack-up drilling platform can improve the efficiency and safety of drilling platform operation. Through the application of analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the establishment of comprehensive evaluation and analysis model, this paper analyzes the commonly used drilling platform layout scheme and optimizes the scheme to meet operational requirements and to improve the ability of the drilling platform operation.

A reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS) can provide a customised manufacturing process to complete changes in operational requirements or machine status. The effective development of an RMS is ...