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The aim of this study was to investigate expert practitioners' approaches to conducting a first sport psychology session with individual clients as there is sparse empirical literature on this topic. Nine expert Certified Mental Performance Consultants completed a semistructured interview where they discussed experiences conducting a first meeting with an athlete. Primary objectives included establishing the relationship, setting guidelines and expectations, understanding the client's background, identifying presenting concerns, and formulating the treatment plan and building skills. Building rapport was an aspect used to establish the relationship while discussing confidentiality was utilized to set guidelines. Important strategies employed to increase the perceived benefits to services included conveying the consulting approach and philosophy. Lessons learned centered around doing too much and not appreciating individual differences of clients. Findings show expert consultants aim to achieve similar broad objectives in the first session and provide a basis for best practices in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electric grid was designed to move large amounts of energy through space, but decarbonization goals will require it to also move energy through time--from days and seasons with a surplus of energy production to days and seasons with insufficient production. Long-duration energy storage technologies that can hold a large amount of electricity and distribute it over periods of many hours to days and even seasons will play a critical role in the clean energy transition. But creating an environment in which these nascent technologies can develop and thrive will require changes in how the grid is planned and built. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xray free‐electron lasers (XFELs) enable experiments that would have been impractical or impossible at conventional X‐ray laser facilities. Indeed, more XFEL facilities are being built and planned, with their aim to deliver larger pulse energies and higher peak brilliance. While seeking to increase the pulse power, it is quintessential to consider the maximum pulse fluence that a grazing‐incidence FEL mirror can withstand. To address this issue, several studies were conducted on grazing‐incidence damage by soft X‐ray FEL pulses at the European XFEL facility. Boron carbide (B4C) coatings on polished silicon substrate were investigated using 1 keV photon energy, similar to the X‐ray mirrors currently installed at the soft X‐ray beamlines (SASE3). The purpose of this study is to compare the damage threshold of B4C and Si to determine the advantages, tolerance and limits of using B4C coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the adage "hope for the best, plan for the worst," site-level proactive plans produced by construction planning meetings show planning for the best. Planning meetings comprise both proactive and reactive discussions. Although not all the information provided during meetings is useful, limited efforts have been made to measure the amount of useful information embedded in reactive versus proactive discussions. This research aims to determine the appropriate trade-offs between the number of reactive and proactive discussions at each site-planning level. By utilizing information theory and the Chow–Liu tree, the authors demonstrate to what extent and in what order meeting participants should address site-planning level reactivity and proactivity to obtain more useful information effectively through a case study. The results indicate that proactive planning discussions improve percent plan complete (PPC) 20% more than reactive ones in general. However, missing information due to not undertaking reactive planning could put PPC at greater risk (2% more) than proactive planning, implying high uncertainty at the lowest level of site planning. This research contributes to the body of knowledge by innovatively developing an information theory-based approach to quantify the uncertainty in proactive and reactive discussions for construction planning. Using the information theory approach, this research enables project managers to quantify the uncertainty in reactive and proactive planning discussions. By adjusting the framework and parameters, the approach can have general applications in planning meetings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate mapping is crucial for the successful deployment of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) in navigation tasks. However, maps derived from as-designed models often lack realism and fail to reflect dynamic changes on construction sites. To address this issue, a premapping method leveraging prior construction progress video is proposed to create up-to-date navigation maps. This method proactively accounts for dynamic changes, particularly those caused by transient objects that are present only during the progress video collection phase and may not exist at the time of UGV deployment. The proposed approach involves detecting, tracking, and segmenting these transient objects, followed by their removal using a flow-guided model. The cleaned frames are used to reconstruct an updated point cloud, which serves as the basis for defining a two-dimensional (2D) navigation map. By considering these changes during the premapping process, the method ensures that the resulting map is consistent with the actual site conditions. Validation in an indoor construction setting demonstrated the necessity of the proposed method and highlighted the impacts of transient objects on path planning outcomes. This method is beneficial for routine monitoring scenarios, for which it can update and transform prior video into a navigation map, enabling efficient advanced planning. Practical Applications: The practical application of this study primarily lies in enhancing the deployment efficiency of unmanned ground vehicles for routine monitoring of construction sites. The proposed premapping method, which leverages prior construction progress video, offers two key practical benefits. Firstly, as an offsite premapping approach, it enables the creation of maps without interfering with ongoing construction activities, minimizing on-site operations. This enhances UGV acceptance on site and maintains regular site workflows. Secondly, by proactively considering the dynamic changes caused by transient objects, the method ensures that the created map is up-to-date and provides a more comprehensive basis for efficient initial planning. This premapping approach is particularly beneficial for routine monitoring scenarios, because it reduces operational efforts by providing effective and up-to-date maps derived from construction progress video. By doing so, it enhances both the efficiency of UGV deployment and the effectiveness of advanced planning in dynamic construction environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post occupancy evaluation of housing reconstruction after a disaster is imperative for every nation that pushes ahead the idea of disaster resilient housing, which is obligatory for the social, cultural, and economic growth of a society or a country. Cyclone SIDR is the most dreadful of all catastrophes that have struck Bangladesh and aftermath of this devastation, a number of donor organizations stepped forward to help disaster victims by providing housing solutions. The aim of this study is to effectiveness analysis of these housing reconstruction programs from planning and construction standpoints with a post occupancy framework. Based on three months of detailed field survey at the most devastated location of cyclone SIDR, Southkhali Union (small rural area) of Sarankhola Upazila (sub-district) of Bagerhat District, this research infers that the donor organizations didn't pay much attention in terms of choice, need and indigenous practices to provide reconstructed houses for the target beneficiaries. The study found that about 78% of the reconstructed houses hold dissatisfaction of the beneficiaries. As a result, people prompt to transform or modify 54% of the 'Donor Driven' houses soon after completion of the project. Another 16% donor driven house remained abandoned and rest 8% demolished. On the other hand, 'Owner Driven' houses were functionally perfect. They had freedom to build their houses with locally available natural materials with resilient planning and construction features which reduces disaster vulnerability and sustains for long time in comparison with donor driven houses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extrudability and constructability are two important, yet contradictory issues pertaining to the construction of three-dimensional (3D) printing concrete. Extrudability is easily achieved when 3D printing cement mortar has a high water content and low cohesion, but the printed structure is easily collapsible. However, a 3D printing cement mortar with a low water content and high cohesion has a relatively stable printed structure although the cement mortar might not be extrudable. This study proposes a particle-based method to simulate 3D printing mortar extrusion and construction as an overall planning tool for building design. First, a discrete element model with time-varying liquid bridge forces is developed to investigate the microscopic effects of these forces on global rheological properties. Next, a series of numerical simulations relevant to 3D printable mortar extrudability and constructability are carried out. The study demonstrates that the effects of time-varying liquid bridge forces on rheological properties and the resulting extrudability and constructability of 3D printing mortar are considerable. Furthermore, an optimized region that satisfies both the extrusion and construction requirements is provided for 3D printing industry as a reference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground wastewater treatment plants (U-WWTPs) have emerged as a novel paradigm for urban wastewater pollutants management, offering benefits such as alleviating the Not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) effect and utilizing land resources efficiently. China stands at the forefront, witnessing swift advancements in U-WWTP technology and deployment. However, the absence of a thorough understanding of their geographical distribution and operational characteristics could lead to misaligned planning and construction, resulting in inefficient resource allocation and treatment capacities for urban wastewater treatment. This dataset provides an up-to-date overview of the spatial distribution, process selection, and discharge standards for all U-WWTPs in China (with a total number of 201) constructed since 1995. To enhance comparative analysis, the dataset has been supplemented with information on conventional aboveground wastewater treatment plants (A-WWTPs), comprising a total of 2464 records, which enriches a more comprehensive evaluation of different wastewater treatment approaches. Utilizing this dataset can provide essential data support for the strategic management of urban wastewater systems and serve as a valuable reference for the paradigmatic renovation of existing wastewater treatment plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real walking is considered as the best locomotion metaphor to explore virtual environments in terms of user experience. In addition to being intuitive for the user, walking captures the true feelings of motion since the visual and proprioceptive sensations are harmonized well. The major disadvantage of choosing walking over other locomotion metaphors involves the physical constraints of the available space, which is usually considerably smaller than the virtual environment. To address this issue, redirected walking (RDW) introduces slight mismatches between a user's visually perceived path and their actual walking pattern, compelling them to subconsciously compensate for the inconsistency by adjusting their walking trajectory. As a result, users are steered to a certain degree, and expansive virtual environments are effectively compressed into smaller physical spaces. Among others, particularly predictive RDW offers immense potential for growth since it unites various algorithmic systems, whereas many approaches from literature depend on drastic restrictions like single-user constraints or architectural limitations to ensure real-time performance. This work presents two novel predictive RDW systems that allow multiple physically colocated users to explore independent and unconstrained virtual environments. The systems rely on two new implementations of prediction systems based on clothoid trajectory generation combined with a cost-based planning concept built on nonharmonic artificial potential fields (APFs), which inherently allow non-convex and dynamic physical environments. Using the APFs, three additional RDW conditions popular in the literature are implemented for comparison purposes. The five RDW concepts are then validated in an extensive user study with 150 participants conducted in 75 pairs. The results indicate that the novel predictive RDW systems outperform the three systems from literature, except for particular sections of the virtual environment with specific architectural traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the success of an irrigation project that utilized two subsurface dams as water sources on Miyako Island, ten additional subsurface dams have now been completed. The technologies that have made the giant subterranean dam possible are the integrated storage model for creating water utilization plans and the Soil Mixed Wall method for constructing cut-off walls. Although it might be tempting to assume that all subsurface dams in the Ryukyu limestone region were built under identical topographical and geological conditions, the reality is quite different. Each dam faced unique geological and construction challenges that engineers skillfully overcame during the building process. The purpose of this paper is to introduce information on the planning and construction technology of agricultural subsurface dams in the Ryukyu Arc, which has not been reported in English so far, and to clarify the characteristics of agricultural subsurface dams in the Ryukyu Arc. There is a strong correlation between the gross reservoir capacity and the active capacity of large-scale subsurface dams. Eleven percent of the construction cost was the cost of design and investigation. The water price is the same as or slightly higher than that of surface dams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lightweight concrete offers numerous advantages for modular construction, including easier construction planning and logistics, and the ability to offset additional dead loads induced by double-wall and double-slab features. In a previous study, authors proposed incorporating lightweight aggregate into foamed concrete instead of adding extra foam to achieve lower density, resulting in lightweight concrete with an excellent strength-to-density ratio. This paper further investigated the performance aspects of foamed concrete with lightweight aggregate beyond mechanical strength. To evaluate the effect of aggregate type and foam content, three mix compositions were designed for the lightweight concrete. Specimens were prepared for experimental tests on thermal conductivity and drying shrinkage of lightweight concrete. Results showed that while both the increase in foam volume and the incorporation of lightweight aggregate led to higher drying shrinkage, they also contributed to improved insulating properties and reduced potential of cracking. Using typical multi-storey modular residential buildings in Hong Kong and three other Chinese cities as case studies, simulations were performed to assess potential savings in annual cooling and heating loads by employing the proposed lightweight concrete. These findings demonstrate the practical benefits of using foamed concrete with lightweight aggregate in modular construction and provide valuable insights for further optimization and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co‐working spaces have emerged as cost‐effective office space management solutions for workers from diverse industries who share space, which generates cost savings and facilitates networking opportunities. Past studies have mainly focused on needs for and benefits of co‐working spaces and range in emphasis from design preferences to potential social and economic impacts. However, limited attention has been given to the temporal clustering and geographical distribution patterns of co‐working spaces. This study examines the spatial distribution patterns of co‐working spaces establishments in terms of building floor plans. We discern the subcategory of 'co‐working office space' from the floor space and employment survey data, spanning 2007, 2012, and 2017 as collected by the City of Sydney, a municipal government in Australia. Both co‐working offices offered by conventional enterprises and co‐working providers are identified, and the spatial associations between co‐working spaces and their relationships with industry composition are analysed. Using establishment analysis, three co‐working spaces are identified: (1) dedicated co‐working enterprises providing office service and well‐design spaces; (2) conventional office rental enterprises diversifying into co‐working style office; and (3) standard enterprises converting fixed office spaces to co‐working office configurations. The spatial analysis reveals an outward diffusion of co‐working spaces from the centre of Sydney CBD, which is of importance in geographical research focused on urban, social, and economic change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the first outcomes and results of using an integrated territorial tool applied by the Interreg V-A Slovakia-Hungary Cooperation Programme (2014–2020), the 'Territorial Action Plan for Employment', or, briefly: the TAPE. The tool is aimed at facilitating quality employment and cross-border labour mobility through the implementation of 2–7 interdependent projects within a geographically defined subregion of the programme area, with the involvement of SMEs, training institutions, NGOs and municipalities. The author introduces the tool and the nine TAPEs financed by the CBC programme and gives a comprehensive assessment of their outcomes and results from the points of view of cross-border labour market development, integrated soft planning and trust building with a special focus on the aspect of cross-border relevance. The study concludes that the tool does not meet the preliminary expectations: its cross-border relevance is not much stronger than the traditional standalone CBC projects. At the same time, the bottom-up cross-border planning exercise has significant added value which might make the tool attractive for other CBC programmes, too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimization of 4D modeling through the application of flexible linking rules using the example project "Weser crossing A281" The implementation of 4D modeling in construction projects faces significant challenges due to a static approach and the absence of established standards. In practice, implementation is mostly manual or relies on rigid, rule‐based linkages. Additionally, standards for establishing these linkage rules are lacking. This article addresses coping with this issue and introduces the application of flexible linkage rules through a case study. Flexible 4D modeling involves creating a customized code for each scheduling process to consider all project hierarchy levels. Based on a cross‐trade project information structure, a tailored filtering of geometric objects is conducted for each process. The result is a specific selection of geometric objects tailored to each process, interacting flexibly with it. The presented method of interdisciplinary and flexible linking rules for 4D modeling aims to increase efficiency and accuracy in construction projects by allowing different disciplines and trades, as well as their specific processes, to be flexibly accommodated while ensuring a consistent data structure simultaneously. This approach can contribute to optimizing the planning and execution of construction projects and promoting collaboration among project stakeholders by conducting 4D modeling based on a project information structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor temperature trends and the unintended interaction effects In recent years, it has been noticeable that indoor temperatures in residential buildings have followed three trends: decreasing spatial variation, decreasing temporal variation and simultaneously increasing mean levels of indoor temperature. At the same time, architectural design and the construction technologies applied in new buildings and building renovation have undergone a change. In addition, what is considered an appropriate indoor temperature level has changed over time. This is reflected both in quotes from the technical literature and in the requirements set in standards. Research suggests that such changing indoor temperature patterns are associated with unintended interactions in the following main areas: human health and resilience, human indoor climate perception, environmental impacts of buildings, and resilience of buildings in a changing climate. Possible explanations lie in considering the interplay of techno‐cultural factors, techno‐physical building factors, occupant behavioural factors, physiological adaptation factors and psychological factors, rather than considering any one of these factors individually. This leads to the question of whether the established ways of thinking in building planning and operation should remain unchanged in the future. The article concludes with suggestions for adapting these approaches to support such a discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Architectural aspects of buildings, such as the shape of the plan, play an important role in defining the seismic behavior of the building and the future damages structural and non-structural elements may go through. Several items, like the aesthetic aspects and limitations in the field under construction, make an irregular plan shape to be selected as a desirable option. Correctly understanding the building's behavior on the irregular plan is necessary in this case. With that being said, this research aims to evaluate the seismic performance of buckling restrained braced frames (BRBFs) steel structures having an L-shaped irregular plan. An irregular L-shaped plan amplifies the torsional response of the building and causes stress concentration because of the re-entrant corners. Since the lack of a comprehensive study on the L-shaped plan irregularity in buildings equipped with BRBs and the effect of Soil-structure interaction (SSI) would be felt, three types of buildings, low-, mid-, and high-rise, were considered to study the demands of this system on an L-shaped plan. SSI effects were also considered by the cone method in the frequency domain for a more accurate evaluation of the building's behavior during an earthquake event. Each building is studied having three different base conditions: 1- fixed base, 2- SSI with soil type C, and 3- SSI with soil type D. Structural demands, including base shear, overturning and torsional moment, lateral displacement, inter-story drift, and column capacity were measured for different models with fixed and flexible bases by performing time history analyses. The results signify the significant SSI's impact on the building's demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the ambitiously evolving construction industry of Kuwait, characterised by its vision 2035 and rapid technological integration, there exists a pressing need for advanced analytical frameworks. The pressing need for advanced analytical frameworks in the Kuwait Construction Market arises from the necessity to identify inefficiencies, predict market trends, and enhance decision-making processes. For instance, these frameworks can be used to detect anomalies in investment patterns, forecast the impact of economic changes on project timelines, and optimise resource allocation by analysing labour and material supply data. By leveraging deep learning techniques, such as autoencoder neural networks, stakeholders can gain deeper insights into the market's complexities and improve strategic planning and operational efficiency. This research paper introduces a deep learning approach utilising an autoencoder neural network to analyse the complexities of the Kuwait Construction Market and identify data irregularities. The construction sector's significant investment influx and project expansion make it an ideal candidate for deploying sophisticated analytical techniques to detect anomalous patterns indicating inefficiencies or unveiling potential opportunities. Our approach leverages the capabilities of autoencoder architectures to delve into and understand the prevalent patterns in market behaviours. This analysis involves training the autoencoder on historical market data to learn the normal patterns and subsequently using it to identify deviations from these learned patterns. This allows for the detection of anomalies that may lead to operational or financial consequences. We elucidate the mathematical foundations of autoencoders, highlighting their proficiency in managing the complex, multidimensional data typical of the construction industry. Through training on an extensive dataset—comprising variables like market sizes, investment distributions, and project completions—our model demonstrates its ability to pinpoint subtle yet significant anomalies. The outcomes of this study enhance our understanding of deep learning's pivotal role in construction and building management. Empirically, the model detected anomalies in transaction volumes of lands and houses, highlighting unusual spikes that correlate with specific market activities. These findings demonstrate the autoencoder's effectiveness in anomaly detection, emphasising its importance in enhancing operational efficiency and strategic planning in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Beijing University of Civil Engineering & Architecture is the property of Journal of Beijing University of Civil Engineering & Architecture Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The eastern Himalayan syntaxis region is located on the eastern edge of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, and it is one of the regions with the most intense geological tectonic activity in the world. There have been many large-scale landslides in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis region and the distribution of these landslides is of great significance for the inversion of regional tectonic activity strength, major engineering construction and urban–rural planning. However, no researchers have systematically studied all these landslides of this area. In this study, based on Google Earth satellite imagery, landslides were identified using artificial visual interpretation. Then, we analysed 11 landslide-influencing factors were selected, comprising topographic factors (elevation, slope, aspect, curvature), geological environmental factors (strata, distance to faults, distance to water, distance to roads, normalized difference vegetation index), inducing factors (peak ground acceleration, rainfall), the relationships between the distribution law of landslides and influencing factors. Finally, we used the logistic regression model, the weight of evidence model and the weight of evidence–logistic regression coupled model to evaluate the landslide susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of South Architecture / Nanfang Jianzhu is the property of South Architecture Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of South Architecture / Nanfang Jianzhu is the property of South Architecture Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper unveils insights from a thorough investigation into implementing building information modeling (BIM) into construction safety management practices across Asian countries. The study involved 192 randomly surveyed respondents from Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, China, Singapore, Myanmar, and Indonesia to assess their utilization of BIM and its application in construction safety planning and implementation. The questionnaire revealed that 61% of respondents had used BIM; however, only 20% of this subset had used BIM to enhance construction safety. While an encouraging 90% of respondents expressed a positive opinion of BIM as a potential tool for mitigating construction accidents, qualitative analysis of their remarks unveiled challenges hindering effective implementation. This investigation sheds light on the gap between recognizing BIM's potential in enhancing construction safety and the practical challenges hindering its widespread adoption in the Asian construction industry. The insights from this study can inform policy, education, and industry practices to address the identified barriers and facilitate the successful implementation of BIM in managing safety in construction. Practical Applications: This research offers valuable guidance to construction firms in Asia or those operating in Asian countries, aiding them in informed decision-making and the adoption of building information modeling (BIM) for enhanced on-site construction safety. Policymakers can use the findings to shape or update construction safety standards and integrate BIM technologies effectively. The study is a resource for professional training, addressing both optimistic factors and challenges in BIM implementation, specifically tailored for the nuances of Asian construction safety. Technology providers, such as BIM software developers, are encouraged to refine products to address region-specific challenges, improving safety management. The comprehensive analysis of impediments informs risk mitigation strategies for BIM implementation. Lastly, focusing on Asian perspectives promotes cross-cultural collaboration among construction professionals, facilitating the exchange of best practices. In summary, this research is a practical guide for construction professionals, educators, policymakers, and technology developers, contributing to the safe and effective implementation of BIM practices in Asian construction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose a method that can calculate the transportation infrastructure network service capacity enhancement given by planned transportation infrastructure projects construction. Managers can sequence projects more rationally to maximize the construction effectiveness of infrastructure investments. Design/methodology/approach: This paper designed a computational network simulation software to generate topological networks based on established rules. Based on the topological networks, the software simulated the movement path of users and calculated the average travel time. This software allows the adjustment of parameters to suit different research objectives. The average travel time is used as an evaluation index to determine the most appropriate construction sequence. Findings: In this paper, the transportation infrastructure network of Sichuan Province in China was used to demonstrate this software. The average travel time of the existing transportation network in Sichuan Province was calculated as 211 min using this software. The high-speed railways from Leshan to Xichang and from Xichang to Yibin had the greatest influence on shortening the average travel time. This paper also measured the changes in the average travel time under two strategies: shortening the maximum and minimum priorities. All the transportation network optimisation plans for Sichuan Province will be somewhere between these two strategies. Originality/value: The contribution of this research are three aspects: First, a complex network analysis method that can take into account the differences of node elements is proposed. Second, it provides an effective tool for decision makers to plan transportation infrastructure construction. Third, the construction sequence of transportation infrastructure development plan can effect the infrastructure investment effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Assessing front end engineering design (FEED) accuracy is significant for project owners because it can support informed decision-making, including confidence in cost and schedule predictions. A framework to measure FEED accuracy does not exist in the literature or in practice, not does systematic data directly linking FEED accuracy to project performance. This paper aims to focus first on gauging and quantifying FEED accuracy, and second on measuring its impact on project performance in terms of cost change, schedule change, change performance, financial performance and customer satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach: A novel measurement scheme was developed for FEED accuracy as a comprehensive assessment of factors related to the project leadership and execution teams, management processes and resources; to assess the environment surrounding FEED. The development of this framework built on a literature review and focus groups, and used the research charrettes methodology, guided by a research team of 20 industry professionals and input from 48 practitioners representing 31 organizations. Data were collected from 33 large industrial projects representing over $8.8 billion of installed cost, allowing for a statistical analysis of the framework's impact on performance. Findings: This paper describes: (1) twenty-seven critical FEED accuracy factors; (2) an objective and scalable method to measure FEED accuracy; and (3) data showing that projects with high FEED accuracy outperformed projects with low FEED accuracy by 20 percent in terms of cost growth in relation to their approved budgets. Practical implications: FEED accuracy is defined as the degree of confidence in the measured level of maturity of the FEED deliverables to serve as a basis of decision at the end of detailed scope, prior to detailed design. Assessing FEED accuracy is significant for project owners because it can support informed decision-making, including confidence in cost and schedule predictions. Originality/value: FEED accuracy has not been assessed before, and it turned out to have considerable project performance implications. The new framework presented in this paper is the first of its kind, it has been tested rigorously, and it contributes to both the literature body of knowledge as well as to practice. As one industry leader recently stated, "it not only helped to assess the quality and adequacy of the technical documentation required, but also provided an opportunity to check the organization's readiness before making a capital investment decision." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marshalling scheme is the foundation to match the operation mode and passenger flow characteristics of metro in different periods, and it is also the key problem that directly affects the cost of metro planning and construction and low-carbon operation. Based on the comprehensive analysis of the key factors affecting the metro marshalling scheme, a comprehensive evaluation index system and a two-step screening method are established. Based on the analysis of the difference of the impact of each index on the metro marshalling plan, a new evaluation model of the metro marshalling plan in the early and near future based on super-efficiency DEA is proposed. Finally, the feasibility and rationality of the evaluation and comparison model of the early, near and long-term subway marshalling scheme are verified and analyzed by examples. The results show that: (1) The fixed marshalling plan is a cost-energized plan, which requires higher equipment cost and operation input, while the modified marshalling plan is a technology-energized plan; by improving the management and technical level, the effective output of capacity matching and passenger time satisfaction can be achieved. (2) The advantages and disadvantages of modified marshalling scheme and fixed marshalling scheme are dynamic to a certain extent, comprehensive judgment should be made according to the specific conditions of the line, the financial situation of the city or enterprise, the operation management and the technical level. The theoretical method of comparison and selection of early, near and long-term metro marshalling schemes presented in this paper is applicable to many practical scenarios and has certain practicability, which can provide certain theoretical reference for the standardization of comparison and selection of early, near and long-term metro marshalling schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of ABI Technik is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Engineering Management / Gongcheng Guanli Xuebao is the property of Journal of Engineering Management Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Effective construction project planning relies on addressing constraints related to materials, labor, equipment, and others. Planning meetings are typical venues for stakeholders to identify, communicate, and remove constraints. However, a critical gap exists in lacking an automated approach to identify, classify, analyze, and track constraint discussions during onsite planning meetings. Therefore, this research aims to 1. develop a natural language processing model to classify constraints in meeting discussions; 2. uncover the discussion patterns of managers and foremen regarding various constraints; and 3. extract the root causes for constraints, evaluate their impacts, and prepare managers to develop practical solutions for constraint removal. This research collected meeting transcripts from 94 onsite planning meetings of a building project, spanning 263,836 words. Next, this research leveraged a general pretrained transformer (GPT) to segment discussion dialogs into topics. A Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT)-based model was developed to categorize constraint types for each topic. The constraint patterns among meeting attendees were assessed. Furthermore, a GPT-based tool was devised to track root causes, impacts, and solutions for various constraints. Test results revealed an 8.8% improvement in constraint classification accuracy compared with the traditional classification model. An occupational characteristic in constraint discussion was observed in that the management team tended to balance their focus on various constraints, while foremen concentrated on more practical issues. This research contributes to the body of knowledge by leveraging language models to analyze construction planning meetings. The findings facilitate project managers in establishing constraint logs for diagnosing and prognosticating planning issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective waste elimination is critical for the success of construction projects. Although several studies have focused on various aspects of construction waste, limited efforts have yet to investigate the dynamic effect of Making-Do (MD) practices on productivity, rework, defects, and material waste. From a lean construction perspective, this study aims to address MD waste using the Last Planner System (LPS) and BIM. First, the causal structure that can cause MD in construction projects was expressed in a causal loop diagram (CLD), and thematic analysis uncovered the strategies of LPS-BIM to eliminate MD identified by reviewing the literature. Secondly, twenty-five strategies from the LPS and BIM strategies to address MD using structural equation modeling (SEM) were assessed. Subsequently, a system dynamics model (SDM) for investigating LPS-BIM strategies on MD decisions in a construction project was formulated based on the underlying causal loop diagrams and the mathematical relations among the variables. Finally, the model was applied to three projects, and simulations for four LPS-BIM scenarios were carried out. The findings show that dynamic interactions among diverse production planning and control factors are critical in evaluating MD impacts on a construction project. The results demonstrate that the LPS-BIM approach resulted in an average 43.8% reduction in the tasks performed with MD, 45.3% of constraints, 66.5% of construction waste, an increasing 13.7% completion rate, and a 29.3% cost reduction, demonstrating that LPS-BIM is a more efficient solution for MD mitigation and construction planning. This study aims to guide construction planners and policymakers to better manage their production constraints by eliminating negative MD practices from their plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In subway construction, the presence of boulders can significantly impact excavation and tunneling processes. However, despite these challenges, an effective and reliable method for detecting boulders in advance has not yet been established. This paper presents a novel method for detecting and characterizing boulders using 3D cross-hole electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). The proposed technique involves the strategic deployment of multiple borehole electrodes, which work together to create a comprehensive three-dimensional resistivity model of the subsurface. This model allows for the identification and characterization of boulders, providing crucial information about their location and size. We demonstrate the efficacy of this approach in a physical flume experiment and a case study of subway construction, The findings from both the laboratory and field studies indicate that the 3D cross-hole ERT method is not only effective in detecting boulders and providing detailed information about their size and spatial distribution but also optimizes construction planning, reduces unexpected disruptions and additional costs, and enhances overall construction safety. The results highlight the potential of 3D cross-hole ERT as a valuable tool for geological assessments during infrastructure development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the critical need for standardizing building information modeling (BIM) execution plans (BEPs) in the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) sector. Through the analysis of 36 BEP documents from international organizations, we have identified crucial components and put forth a comprehensive framework with the objective of improving digital transformation and collaboration in intricate construction projects. This study utilizes scientometric analysis to chart the development of BEP standards and incorporates empirical data from industry surveys to verify the suggested framework. The results of our research emphasize the advantages of using standardized building execution plans (BEPs) to decrease inefficiencies and enhance project outcomes. This makes a substantial contribution to the field of building information modeling (BIM) implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the correlation between the coverage of regional power grid supply and the sensitivity of line backup protection. Through a theoretical analysis of the calculation method for line backup protection sensitivity in power grids, and in accordance with grid regulations, this paper proposes a planning method for the supply range of power grid lines that meets sensitivity constraints. And the reliability of this method in calculating and evaluating the optimal power supply radius of lines is verified by taking the example of an actual 66 kV grid in a region. This method can be used to optimise network structure, improve the reliability and economy of the grid, and guide the planning and construction of regional grids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Systems Engineering & Electronics is the property of Journal of Systems Engineering & Electronics Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study examines the rationality of Japanese government construction forecasts between 1960 and 2019 and investigates whether the construction forecasts have an information advantage over other government's forecasts using a recently developed test under instabilities in forecasting environments. The Japanese government construction forecasts broadly served as a reliable benchmark for most of the economic development process until the 1990s. This finding suggests that those construction forecasts contributed to effective and careful resource allocation planning in the construction and related industries and to the Japanese economy's post-war growth. There were, however, a few irrational construction forecasts after 2000, indicating that recent construction forecasts can be improved by incorporating information from the government's macroeconomic forecasts. The results indicate that misleading results demonstrating that all forecasts were rational were obtained if relying on the standard rationality test. These findings also suggest that governmental agencies in various countries may benefit from publishing construction forecasts because those forecasts would contribute to promoting sustainable development and growth in construction industry, not only in advanced but also developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Rural ecological environment construction, as a pivotal component of the rural revitalization strategy and ecological civilization construction strategy, plays an indispensable role in promoting sustainable agricultural development and safeguarding ecological security. An accurate assessment and prediction of Rural Ecological Environment Quality (REEQ) serves as the theoretical basis to achieving these goals, and provide scientific guidance for future rural ecological environment construction and planning. The field of regional ecology, proposed in the mid-20th century, represents an emerging interdisciplinary domain that integrates ecology, geography, and economics. It plays a pivotal role in addressing large-scale ecological challenges and fostering social sustainability. As global urbanization continues to advance, urban ecological environments undergo significant transformations under the pressures of intense human activities. Scholars have increasingly focused on the essence, evolutionary patterns, and causal mechanisms shaping urban ecological environment quality. Consequently, ecological environment assessments have evolved from singular pollution evaluations to comprehensive ecological appraisals. However, coastal rural area with complex geographical conditions and fragile ecological environments are often neglected and marginalized. Currently, there are few specialized evaluation systems for REEQ, making it difficult to accurately reveal the evolution pattern of rural ecological environment. This weakens its guidance on practical rural ecological environment governance and restoration. Methods: The Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model can simplify the identification process of driving factors for REEQ, reflect the feedback mechanism between indicators, and is conducive to scientific and accurate evaluation of REEQ. Therefore, we constructed an evaluation index system for REEQ based on the PSR. We measured REEQ in the eastern coastal area of China, analyzed its spatiotemporal characteristics and development trends, and used the obstacle degree model to identify obstacle factors. It is beneficial for rural areas to grasp the evolution laws of REEQ, provide theoretical basis for the formulation of sustainable development policies, and provide scientific policy recommendations. Results: Our findings indicate that: 1) From 2000 to 2020, REEQ in the eastern coastal area of China has continuously improved, with the index value increasing from 0.454 to 0.525, a total growth of 15.64%. The number of high-level REEQ areas increased from 0 to 29, showing a positive development trend. 2) Highdensity areas of REEQ in the eastern coastal area of China are concentrated in the northern parts of Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces. The center of REEQ has shifted from the southwest to the northeast. 3) The obstacle degrees of various criteria layers in REEQ are relatively stable, with the response subsystem being the highest, followed by the state and pressure subsystems. Forest coverage, per capita grain production, effective irrigation rate of farmland, afforestation area in the current year, per capita disposable income of rural residents, and per capita mechanical power of farmers are the main obstacle indicators. 4) From 2020 to 2035, REEQ in the eastern coastal area of China will continue to improve. The standard deviation ellipse will move towards the northwest, the center will shift from the southwest to the northeast, the rotation angle will slowly decrease, showing a northwestward trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In complex urban scenarios like intersections without dedicated left-turn signals, the construction of planning systems that maximize efficiency while guarantee safety has been a significant challenge. In this paper, we propose a reinforcement learning approach based on curriculum learning using real world dataset, and we develop a partial end-to-end planning and control model capable of adapting to variable temporal and spatial dimensional state inputs, applying it to autonomous driving task. Our model is compared with mainstream reinforcement learning algorithms to validate that our proposed algorithm can effectively solve complex spatio-temporal planning problems. This significantly enhances the efficiency of passing while maintaining a certain level of safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring and predicting ground settlement during tunnel construction is of paramount importance for ensuring the safety of tunnel construction and the stability of the surrounding environment. Existing studies on settlement prediction mainly rely on single settlement values and often overlook temporal characteristics, and that prediction models struggle to capture the nonlinear trends in actual settlements, leading to suboptimal predictive accuracy. In this study, based on the monitoring data of settlement deformation in a subway section of a certain city, a multi-factor-driven prediction method for surface settlement in subway tunnel excavation using the Informer model is proposed. The predictive accuracy is compared and analyzed with other models, including CNN-LSTM, LSTM, SARIMA, and Transformer. The results indicate that: (1) The Informer model outperforms CNN-LSTM, LSTM, SARIMA, and Transformer in terms of RMSE, MAE, and MAPE evaluation metrics, demonstrating that the Informer model exhibits smaller average prediction errors in forecasting surface settlement during subway construction. (2) Compared to LSTM, CNN-LSTM, Transformer, and other models, the Informer model can better capture the temporal characteristics and long-term forecasting ability of settlement data, while the SARIMA model fails to capture the temporal features in actual settlement data effectively. (3) Considering the influencing factors of temperature and soil pressure has a positive impact on the predictive performance of the Informer model, and the relationship between soil pressure information in the case study construction area and surface settlement is more closely associated. In summary, the Informer model, which takes into account temporal characteristics and multiple influencing factors, demonstrates good predictive ability for nonlinear settlement data. It provides a new method for analyzing settlement trends caused by subway tunnel excavation under complex environmental conditions, facilitating efficient and accurate assessment. It also offers objective data support for short-term bridge construction scheduling and long-term construction planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient demand planning holds critical significance for businesses. In this research, the authors investigate the applicability of the Temporal Fusion Transformer, a neural network-based model, to address demand planning challenges. Specifically, they explore the potential benefits of incorporating additional information related to product characteristics and sales channel types. The primary objective of this study is to assess the advantages gained by incorporating these supplementary variables. The dataset utilized in this analysis originates from a company predominantly engaged in the sale of building engineering products. The authors initially focus on static attributes such as product groupings and time-varying attributes such as sales channel variations. This paper’s contribution lies in its comprehensive case study, which applies the Temporal Fusion Transformer model to a real-world demand planning problem of the company, including all its specifications and customizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a focus on education and teaching, we provide general background information on bioinspired optimization methods by comparing the concept of optimization and the search for an optimum in engineering and biology. We introduce both the principles of Darwinian evolution and the basic evolutionary optimization procedure of evolution strategies. We provide three educational modules in work sheets that can be used by teachers and students to improve their understanding of evolution strategies. The educational module "Optimization of a Milk Carton" shows that the material consumption in producing a milk carton can be minimized using an evolution strategy with a mutative step size control. The use of a standard dice and a pocket calculator enables new milk cartons to be generated, with the offspring having the lowest material consumption becoming the parent of the next generation. The other educational modules deal with the so-called brachistochrone problem. The module "Fastest and Shortest Marble Track" provides a construction plan for a marble track whereby students can experimentally compare the "path of shortest length" with the "path of shortest time". The EvoBrach software, is used in the module "Various Marble Track Shapes" to compare the running times of a marble on a straight line, a parabola, and a brachistochrone. In conclusion, the introduction to the biomimetic method of evolution strategies and the educational modules should deepen the understanding of both optimization problems and biological evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of the logistics industry, the demand for logistics activities is increasing significantly. Concurrently, growing urbanization is causing the space for logistics and warehousing to become limited. Thus, more and more attention is being paid to the planning and construction of logistics facilities. However, due to spatiotemporal trajectory data (such as truck GPS data) being used less often in planning, the method of quantitative analysis for freight spatiotemporal activity is limited. Thus, the spatial layout of logistics and warehousing land does not match the current demand very well. In addition, it is necessary to consider the interactive relationship with the urban built environment in the process of optimizing layout, in order to comprehensively balance the spatial coupling with the functions of housing, transportation, industry, and so on. Therefore, the layout of logistics and warehouse land could be treated as a multi-objective optimization problem. This study aims to establish a model for logistics and warehouse land layout optimization to achieve a supply–demand matching. The proposed model comprehensively considers economic benefits, time benefits, cost benefits, environmental benefits, and other factors with freight GPS data, land-use data, transportation network data, and other multi-source data. A genetic algorithm is built to solve the model. Finally, this study takes the Wuhan urban development area as an example to practice the proposed method in three scenarios in order to verify its effectiveness. The results show that the optimization model solves the problem of mismatch between the supply and demand of logistics spaces to a certain extent, demonstrating the efficiency and scientificity of the optimization solutions. Based on the results of the three scenarios, it is proven that freight activities could effectively enhance the scientific validity of the optimization solution and the proposed model could optimize layouts under different scenario requirements. In summary, this study provides a practical and effective tool for logistics- and warehouse-land layout evaluation and optimization for urban planners and administrators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last 30 years, the last planner system (LPS), as a Lean-driven production planning and control tool, has consistently demonstrated its capability to improve planning reliability and overall performance in construction projects. Recent research provides evidence suggesting that the LPS ability to do good to projects has not reached its full potential yet. In fact, it has been observed that by identifying the missing social mechanisms in its implementation process and managing more effectively the complex socio-technical nature of the LPS, its implementation effectiveness is improved. However, commonly used research approaches, such as the case study method, have been criticized for lacking scientific control, replicability, and external validity. Alternatively, immersive virtual reality (IVR)-based simulation games have the methodological capability to enable the study of the social mechanisms that the LPS engenders when implemented in projects, by providing a highly controlled, reproducible, and ecologically valid experimental environment. However, how to leverage effectively IVR-based gaming technology to study the social mechanisms that the LPS engenders in construction organizations is not well understood. In order to bridge this gap, this paper established the conceptual and technical foundations to set IVR-based experimental environments and developed an IVR prototype encompassing nonlean and LPS-based rounds. The evaluation of the IVR prototype involved both quantitative and qualitative research approaches, focusing on its functionality, user-perceived presence and usability, task performance, and lean expert feedback. The results demonstrated the prototype's capability to create a controlled experimental environment while offering participants a user-friendly, immersive, and realistic LPS simulation experience. The contributions of this study are twofold: (1) the addition of a new method to the research methodology toolbox in construction engineering and management; and (2) the generation of design insights to develop IVR prototypes for research in construction engineering and management, and preliminary evidence for its ecological validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In construction projects, when resources assigned to two or more simultaneous activities share the same workspace, they generate time-space conflicts associated with congestion, safety, and quality issues. The use of building information modeling (BIM) methodologies, particularly four-dimensional (4D) models, offers the possibility to facilitate the identification of these types of conflicts. Existing literature has proposed formal methods for conflict detection; however, these largely focus on automating computational analyses without providing a practical and useful procedure for planners. Moreover, previous research has not evaluated the impact of using formal conflict detection methodologies. To address these gaps, this study proposes and evaluates the use of a formal conflict detection methodology in workspaces based on 4D-BIM. The research methodology includes a first stage that develops and validates the formalized conflict detection methodology through a literature review and interviews with field professionals. The second stage quantifies the impact of using the proposed methodology through an experiment that compares the effectiveness and efficiency of a group of planners in detecting conflicts using 4D-BIM models with and without the proposed methodology. The results demonstrate that the formalized methodology enhances the planning process by increasing the detection of conflicts from 18% to 82%. Additionally, the formalized methodology reduces review time by 23% and enhances user experience. These findings contribute to improving the planning process by managing and reducing time-space conflicts in construction schedules. Consequently, the construction process will become more efficient by averting issues related to productivity, safety, and quality based on the identification of workspace conflicts. Last, the proposed methodology contributes to a better adoption of BIM by providing a structured procedure for using the 4D-BIM model to support planning processes. Practical Applications: This study lays the groundwork for companies aiming to enhance their conflict detection processes and refine planning and conflict management procedures. The practical contributions include achieving greater effectiveness and efficiency in identifying conflicts in workspaces. The proposed formalized methodology enhances productivity, reduces safety-related risks, and prevents quality issues in building projects by managing and mitigating time-space conflicts in construction programs. Additionally, the research contributes to the enrichment of BIM application in construction activity planning. It formalizes the use of BIM through a conflict detection methodology, particularly in the analysis of construction programs and the identification of workspace conflicts. The results further strengthen the application of the BIM methodology by facilitating the design of BIM processes associated with planning, incorporating the methodology proposed in this research. Furthermore, the study encourages the adoption of BIM in construction activity planning by evaluating the positive impact of the proposed formalized methodology, providing evidence for its implementation in organizations and highlighting its potential benefits in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The runoff volume capture ratio is the primary indicator of sponge city planning. The design rainfall corresponding to the runoff volume capture ratio is very important for the sponge city planning. Based on the 30-year hydrological rainfall data of 39 cities (include Shennongjia Forestry District) in Hubei Province, the relationship between the design rainfall and the runoff volume capture ratio in Hubei Province was analyzed, and the annual runoff volume capture target and the regional division for total rainfall runoff volume capture target of cities were formed, which filled the gap in the annual total runoff control index of cities in Hubei. The relevant value suggestions will contribute to the planning and construction of sponge cities in the Province. The results showed that the runoff volume capture ratio was divided into three zones, corresponding to Zone II (80%≤α≤85%), Zone III (75%≤α≤85%) and Zone IV (70%≤α≤85%) respectively, and the design rainfall ranges were Zone II (10 mm≤H≤28.3 mm), Zone III (12.7 mm≤H≤39.5 mm), Zone IV (14.3 mm≤H≤49.0 mm) respectively. Shennongjia, Danjiangkou, Shiyan etc. are in Zone II, and 17 areas such as Xiangyang, Lichuan, Xuan' en etc. are in Zone III, Suizhou, Tianmen, Xianning, Huangshi, Xiaogan, Xiantao, Huanggang, Ezhou, Wuhan and other regions are in Zone IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of South Architecture / Nanfang Jianzhu is the property of South Architecture Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of South Architecture / Nanfang Jianzhu is the property of South Architecture Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Art-Sanat Journal / Art-Sanat is the property of Art-Sanat and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Urban–rural fringes (URFs) are crucial for biodiversity yet often neglected in conservation efforts. This study refines URF habitat evaluation and integrates it into a coordinated ecological network (EN) and territorial planning framework. Using Qingpu District, Shanghai as a case study, we defined its URF via k-means clustering of night-time light data and applied the InVEST model, MSPA, Integrated Habitat Value, Patch Importance, and Betweenness Centrality analyses to identify high-value URF habitats. Furthermore, we constructed the EN using circuit theory and evaluated the impact of URF sources on network connectivity and construction costs. Our findings reveal that integrating URF sources increased connectivity indices significantly (α by 127.18%, β by 47.00%, and γ by 33.4%) and decreased construction costs (CR index by 0.07). Despite these benefits, under China's "Three Zones and Three Lines" policy, 78.18% of Qingpu's URF sources remain unprotected, with 56.78% at risk of conversion to construction land. Our study proposes a comprehensive evaluation system for URF habitats and strategic recommendations for their incorporation into regional ENs, thus informing policy making and planning for more inclusive ecological conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban public transport line formulation has its appeal in promoting public convenience and developing environmentally friendly cities. During the bus line planning stage, the line frequency and stop location determination is a key issue for decision makers. Our study focuses on the integrated formulation problem between line frequency and stop planning featuring multi-type vehicles. The multi-type vehicles are able to accommodate the various passenger demands at either peak hours or off-peak hours. The a priori magnitudes of user demands are investigated by drone-based technique methods in the tactical-level plan. The collected geospatial data can assist the public transport user forecast. A mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model is proposed. The objective is to minimize the walking cost of passengers, the building cost of stops, and the operation cost of service frequency. The effectiveness of the model is validated by a real case in Nantong, China. CPLEX is used to resolve the MILP model. Yielding to the budget constraint, in high-price, medium-price, and low-price scenarios, the optimal high-quantity stop scheme can save 3.04%, 3.11%, and 3.38% in overall cost compared with the medium-quantity stop scheme, respectively; their cost savings are 8.53%, 8.70%, and 9.09% more than the costs of the low-quantity stop scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]