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The future ability of urban centres in Australia and around the globe to adapt and respond to big challenges of climate change, economic development, and social inclusion, will depend on how well we integrate and embed them within these built environments. Such a complex agenda presents a major collective challenge for designers, planners and engineers to address with politicians, developers, financiers and community leaders. Refocusing design requires collaborative processes and co-creation in a design space currently dominated by siloed approaches to traffic management, transport planning, precinct design and engineering, architecture and landscaping. With the aim of bridging these silos, an interdisciplinary research team has synthesised and then applied a set of principles of design to a range of development scenarios with the aim of delivering sustainable urban centre outcomes. This paper uses the lens of the Theory of Urban Fabrics to present a place making Sustainable Centres Framework created by the authors, comprising 7 principles and 21 associated practices of design. This formed a critical first step for a national sustainable centres research project underway at the time. The paper then presents the findings of a two-phase investigative study to apply the framework to four place-oriented urban regeneration initiatives (i.e. case study sites) that were endeavouring to enable transit activated corridors with local micro-mobility linkages, in Townsville, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. The first phase of the study comprised a desk-based application of the Sustainable Centres Framework to the four sample urban fabric types observed the case study locations. The second phase involved detailed sense-checking of the framework in the one of the case study locations (Townsville), through stakeholder workshops. The findings provide insights into opportunities and considerations for managing the complexity of urban regeneration projects. The authors discuss the potential for the Framework to inform planning tools and decision support tools, and opportunities to further refine the Framework.

Product-technology roadmapping is one of the major planning tools for integrating the company's strategic objectives and current plans. The roadmapping process itself helps to create collaborative knowledge and transforming knowledge from tacit to explicit, which creates a common understanding among different departments. However, there are a number of challenges in establishing the process as a part of the management system in an organization. One of the difficulties stated was the resistance of organizational units to the changes in the business process, organizational structure, and work culture. In this article, the roadmapping implementation phases at Arcelik A.S., a durable consumer goods company, utilizing roadmapping as a part of the strategic planning process will be discussed. One of the unique contributions of the Arcelik A.S. case study is that the roadmapping methodology integration to other processes, such as strategic planning, portfolio management, and human resources planning, was done seamlessly. The needs and roadmapping implementation challenges in a company, which is expanding itself from local to global, solutions generated for a more suitable application, and lessons learned for roadmapping continuity will be discussed in detail. These learnings could help organizations in adapting similar approaches. The case study could also be a source of academic research on the roadmapping methodology.

La planificación financiera en las diferentes empresas, permite llevar un control adecuado de las organizaciones en relación a sus recursos financieros, para alcanzar sus objetivos comerciales, evitando que se cometan errores a futuro en la toma de decisiones empresariales, sin embargo, a pesar de la posibilidad de visiones que podría alcanzar esta herramienta en la organización de los recursos financieros, en la práctica no existe una armonía entre la teoría frente a lo evidenciado en el ámbito empresarial. El presente artículo tiene como objetivo determinar la situación financiera, mediante el análisis de los estados financieros, a través de herramientas de planificación, para medir el grado de rentabilidad de la empresa Dekautopartes S.A de la Ciudad de Machala. Se realiza un estudio mixto, con enfoque contemporáneo que realiza una mezcla entre el método cualitativo y cuantitativo, a partir de técnicas como entrevista, guía de observación e interpretación. Se llega a la conclusión que la planificación financiera ayuda a mejorar el manejo de los activos empresariales, permitiendo de esta manera no cometer errores que perjudiquen la liquidez de la empresa a corto y largo plazo.

Aim. The presented study aims to describe the fundamentals of the technological modernization of industrial enterprises that provide an innovative way of economic development.Tasks. The authors substantiate major approaches to the definition of technological modernization of industrial enterprises, making it possible to specify this concept and to propose a classification of its main types; consider the possibility of using end-to-end planning tools when reassessing the need for modernization processes at industrial enterprises.Methods. This study uses general and special methods, including analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, generalization and comparison, logical and comparative analysis, and planning to examine the specific features of implementation of technological modernization of industrial enterprises, particularly using end-to-end planning, and to determine the main types of this process.Results. Questions related to the fundamentals of technological modernization of industrial enterprises are considered. In addition, classification features are proposed to determine its main types and methods of implementation. To expand the levels of modernization management, it is recommendable to use end-to-end planning technologies.Conclusions. Examination of the specific features of technological modernization of industrial enterprises makes it possible not only to improve the equipment of these business entities, but also to gain an understainding of the factors that ensure innovative and technological development, contributing to technological breakthrough and overall economic growth.

This article reports the results of a repeated interview study with 15 knowledge workers in academia during the first COVID-19 lockdown (April–July 2020). The focus of these interviews was to understand how people adjusted to working from home and the impact this had on their planning routines, strategies, and use of tools. Common themes reveal that work was chaotic, participants lost focus, and felt overworked and tired. Many disengaged from their planning routines and were reluctant to plan work in detail. However, those who reflected on how efficiently they were spending their time, found two planning strategies—breaking down tasks and manual time tracking—effective at improving accuracy of plans and productivity. Participants did not start using any new planning tools instead they adapted their existing ones. Design implications for planning tools in the context of the future of work and prevention of planning disengagement are discussed.

Fixed telecom network utilities critically rely on subscriber demand forecasts from diverse socio-economic classes, having very little focus on micro scale. This study aims to spatially forecast the broadband demand at neighborhood level in urbanized areas. GIS techniques are applied through decomposition approach for geographical divisions and classification of tenancies and subscribers into land use categories. Moreover, univariate demand of each land use class was forecasted using Exponential Moving Average at sub-zone for further weighted distribution into neighborhood units. The land use composition was found diverse with mixed land use clusters. The model spatially graded the aggregated demand at neighborhood level with adequate accuracy. This approach is quite useful in dealing with heterogeneous spatio-temporal demand patterns and support decision-makers in taking strategic decisions regarding network planning and business operations.

In an effort to deepen learning in K-12 science classrooms, there has been a national movement to integrate computational thinking (CT). The purpose of this phenomenographic study was to understand...

The increasing energy demand is a global concern, directly associated with indicators of greenhouse gases and air pollution. These, in turn, are directly related to the physical, social and economic aspects of cities. One way to minimize such impacts is to diversify the energy matrix with renewable sources. On the other hand, the use of wind and solar plants are susceptible to multiple conflicts, due to urban aesthetics, technology scale or directionality of the energy flow across individual property limits. Considering that the urban form directly impacts the energy demand and the existence of conflicts arising from the use of renewable sources, the integration between urban and energy planning plays an important role in mitigating the risks associated with the growth of renewable generation. With such motivation, we propose a comparative analysis of the main tools of urban and / or energy planning through a systematic review of the literature. The methodology of the literature review and the results are presented through a table with the evaluated functionalities: Scenarios, simulations, energy conditioning, integration with GIS systems and ability to integrate with cities master plans.

A frequent criticism of knowledge-based planning tools is the apparent mismatch between information frameworks used in their spatial models and the information needs of planning actors. Increasingly, these actors are contributing their context-specific knowledge during the development of such tools. Transferring this knowledge from actors to the model remains a challenge. This study establishes a set of design requirements for knowledge elicitation in small group settings and introduces game co-design as a method allowing planning actors and planning support experts to meet halfway between the technology and user domains in the so-called third space. We present an initial case where in three nominal group sessions, actors encountered and critiqued parameterized assumptions of their planning issues in a tangible game environment. Findings indicate that the method can elicit different types of knowledge (divergence) about a spatial system in operationalized terms (formalization). We discuss the potential of tangible game co-design as a modeling as learning exercise and its complementarity to dedicated digital technologies for more holistic planning support.

The transition to kindergarten can be a memorable, yet stressful time for children and families. For children with disabilities and their caregivers, the transition to kindergarten can be especially difficult due to changes in environment, supports, and services that occur as part of the transition. The purpose of this article is to highlight specific practices and strategies that can enhance collaboration throughout the transition to kindergarten. Fictional vignettes are used to describe the perspectives of, and also the practices and strategies used by, members of an education team as they support a child with a disability and her caregiver. Readers are provided with examples of practices and planning tools that can be used to support children with disabilities throughout the transition to kindergarten process. High-intensity transition practices and strategies that can be used before, during, and after kindergarten transition are specifically highlighted. Additionally, the need for both preschool and kindergarten collaboration and support is emphasized. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10643-021-01246-6.

Medical innovations and patient expectations are pushing healthcare toward personalized medicine. In orthopedics, the concept of patient-specific implants could be economically realized with the use of additive manufacturing. Knee and hip replacements are some of the most common musculoskeletal procedures performed in the United States. Joint replacement implants are typically offered in standard sizes and geometries. The mass customization of theses prostheses, however, can improve patient outcomes and reduce medical costs. Mass customization is not economically feasible with traditional manufacturing methods because of the high fixed tooling costs for each geometry. The freedom of design offered by additive manufacturing presents a viable production alternative for unique personal geometry. The objective of this paper is to develop two new analytic models that can be used to investigate a complex additive manufacturing supply chain. The focus of the model is to provide planning tools and a methodology for the direct production of customized orthopedic implants using electron beam melting, an additive manufacturing technology. First, a production model for an additive manufacturing-based system is created. Next, resource planning for a single customized implant system is performed using a simulation model. A queuing model is developed for rapid systems analysis. The staffing requirement predictions of the two models align closely for production of a singular, customized implant. A detailed systems analysis of an additive manufacturing supply chain is conducted to illustrate the use of these models. The queueing model is analytically tractable, so it is extended to describe the production of standard and customized versions of multiple implant families.

Disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, etc. are felt most acutely at local and regional levels. These events have exposed weaknesses in how well-prepared infrastructure operators are to keep their services and provide resilient responses. Outages and service disruptions are largely due to the inability of the affected city infrastructure (i.e., power grids) to cope with random and dynamic disruptive events, translating into resilience deficiencies. A significant challenge is the lack of data availability, sharing, and analysis for emergency planning, and restoration. The special section on Data-driven Reliable and Resilient Energy System Against Disasters in TII aims to address the data-driven approaches for power system and infrastructure reliability and resilience during small-and large-scale extreme weather events or natural disasters. The specific aim is to utilize the advancements in data mining and data processing to minimize catastrophic conditions that affect the quality of critical infrastructure operations, quality of life, and economic activities. The response to our call for this special section was very positive, and we have received many submissions from all around the world in response to the Call for Papers. Each paper was assigned to and reviewed by multiple experts in the field during the review process. Thanks to the support from the IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics editorial team, and the dedicated work of numerous reviewers, we were able to accept eight excellent articles covering various aspects of resilient energy system against disasters. In the following, we will introduce these articles and highlight their main contributions. The majority of papers submitted to this SS focused on machine learning applications for power distribution and transmission networks resilience. Hence, half of the papers in this SS are related to machine learning-based resilience approaches using deep learning, Gaussian process, and hybrid learning. Konstantinou and Anubi, in their paper named "Resilient Cyber-Physical Energy Systems using Prior Information based on Gaussian Process," [1] focused on the resilience of cyber-physical energy systems. They formulated their problem as a constrained optimization with prior information based on Gaussian Process. This work is especially critical for Adverse cyber-physical effects (ACEs) in a specific area of the Cyber-physical energy systems (CPES) due to the impact of a hurricane in a disaster-prone region. The paper named "Deep Learning-Based Hurricane Resilient Co-planning of Transmission Lines, Battery Energy Storages and Wind Farms" [2] by Moradi-Sepahvand, Amraee, and Gougheri presents a model for expansion co-planning of power systems with renewable sources considering resiliency aspects against extreme weather events as hurricanes. The main outcome of [2] is that including battery storage and HVDC transmission lines in the planning tools can facilitate the integration of wind farms, increasing system resiliency accordingly. The other paper that used deep learning for power distribution resilience is "Resilient Operation of Distribution Grids Using Deep Reinforcement Learning" by Mohammad Mehdi Hosseini and Masood Parvania. This paper utilizes deep reinforcement learning to develop a resilience controller for real-time dispatching of distributed generation and energy storage units after sudden outages. The proposed algorithm learns the failure development pattern of uncertain high-impact events. The fourth machine learning related paper is "Hybrid Imitation Learning for Real-Time Service Restoration in Resilient Distribution Systems" [4] by Y. Zhang et. al. The paper proposes the imitation learning framework for training for a multi-agent system based on mixed-integer programming. A hybrid policy network can handle tie-line operations and reactive power dispatch simultaneously to improve restoration performance.

This article recounts a study of media predictions on the future of cities, post-pandemic. From a theoretical perspective, we consider discourse and storytelling (written, oral, or visual) as crucial public policy and planning tools. The study is based on a qualitative analysis of more than 110 media articles from more than 60 sources, which appeared online and/or in print between March and May 2020. We find that the media has played the role of both Kassandra and Pollyanna. Some prophecies have spelled doom and gloom whereas others have envisioned a brighter urban future. The value of the study is in establishing a baseline of “urban prophecies” formulated by the media. These can be revisited in the future to find out whether they were realistic.

The World Health Organization (WHO) proposed a set of criteria to be considered for the prioritization of COVID-19 candidate vaccines for further development of phase II/III clinical trials, thinking in a target audience that includes vaccine scientists, product developers, manufacturers, regulators, and funding agencies. In this paper, a knowledge-based or rational strategy is employed to perform a prioritization matrix of approved COVID-19 vaccines: BBIBP-CorV, JANSSEN, CORONAVAC, SPUTNIK V, MODERNA, PFIZER, and VAXZEVRIA, based on those proposed criteria by WHO, related to safety, efficacy, stability, implementation, and availability. We found that JANSSEN vaccine is the one with the highest score in the present study, but our analysis suggests that the WHO criteria could be more useful if they are considered separately, taking into account the social, demographic and economic characteristics of each country.

Purpose of ReviewAs the application space for energy storage systems (ESS) grows, it is crucial to valuate the technical and economic benefits of ESS deployments. Since there are many analytical tools in this space, this paper provides a review of these tools to help the audience find the proper tools for their energy storage analyses.Recent FindingsThere are many software tools for valuating ESS. These tools can be classified into two groups: (1) power system simulation and planning tools for analyzing the technical contributions of ESSs, and (2) techno-economic analysis tools for valuating the economic benefits of ESS deployment and specifying the optimal design of energy systems that include ESSs. While many of the tools, developed by the national laboratories, are free to use, the commercial tools are also of great importance in meeting the customers’ specific needs.SummaryThis paper provides a review of software tools for ESS valuation and design. A review of analysis tools for evaluating the technical impacts of energy storage deployments is also provided, as well as a discussion of development trends for valuation and design tools.

Water is critically important to most facets of human life socially, culturally, spatially, politically, financially, and ecologically. Consequently, managing water holistically is complex and challenging. Integrated watershed management calls for scientific and engineering interventions and socio-economic considerations to improve watershed resilience to both natural disturbances and human activities. The diverse techniques and experiences toward watershed management practice can supplement more considerable experiential learning, especially in real-life implementation. This Special Issue of the Asia–Pacific Journal of Regional Science aims to help enhance our understanding of how integrated watershed practice can be supported by lessons from different geographic and socio-economic contexts.

Цель: в научной статье раскрываются проблемы анализа и контроля доходов и расходов, от состава, структуры и качества управления которыми зависит способность коммерческой организации своевременно и адекватно реагировать на меняющиеся условия ведения бизнеса, изыскивать резервы повышения эффективности и оптимальности деятельности. Обсуждение: доходы и расходы организации являются важнейшими компонентами, оказывающими влияние на финансовые результаты, позволяют определить, насколько оправданы были управленческие решения в отношении приоритезации доходообразующих направлений и полноту задействования инструментов гибкого планирования в части расходной составляющей. Проведение свое­ временного, систематического анализа доходов и расходов позволяет контролировать изменения в предпочтениях клиентов, условиях контрактования, обслуживания, смене приоритетов в составе сопутствующих услуг. Также анализируя основные расходы, бизнес может более гибко подходить к ценообразованию, предоставляя ключевым клиентам привлекательные условия для сотрудничества при разумном сочетании финансовых и производственных рисков. Это позволит в конечном счете обеспечить положительный экономический эффект от основных видов деятельности организации, повышение рентабельности работ, услуг. Авторы раскрывают сущность доходов и расходов, показывая особенности организации анализа применительно к логи- стическим компаниям, приводят состав информационных источников, касаются актуальных проблем, с которыми сталкиваются компании, осуществляющие деятельность в сфере логистики, выделяют доступные резервы оптимизации расходов и увеличения (поддержания) доходов. Это будет способствовать принятию рациональных, взвешенных управленческих решений по сбалансированному управлению доходами и расходами для достижения прибыли. Результаты: авторами раскрыты теоретические и организационно-методические положения анализа доходов и расходов, раскрыта сущность и систематизирован состав информационной базы анализа, выявлены на примере логистической компании актуальные проблемы, касающиеся анализа доходов и расходов, существующие резервы повышения эффективности управления доходами, расходами и финансовыми результатами.

Implantation of the Bonebridge (MED-EL, Innsbruck, Austria), an active semi-implantable transcutaneous bone conduction hearing system, involves the risk of impression or a lesion in intracranial structures, such as the dura or sigmoid sinus. Therefore, determining the optimal implant position requires careful preoperative radiological planning. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the possibilities for preoperative radiological planning for the Bonebridge implantation and to evaluate their indications and feasibility. A systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE database for all studies with preoperative planning or implant placement as the primary endpoint or that secondarily mention preoperative planning. Of 558 studies, 49 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. In 18 studies, preoperative planning and floating mass transducer (FMT) placement were the primary endpoints, whereas in 31 studies, preoperative planning was described secondarily. There are both freely available and commercial tools involving different time commitments for preoperative three-dimensional (3D) planning and intraoperative transfer. Preoperative 3D planning can increase the safety of Bonebridge implantation.

In the context of climate stress, urbanisation and population growth, design and planning tools that assist in decentralised and environmental infrastructural planning are becoming more common. In order to support the design of increasingly complex urban water infrastructure systems; accurate and easily obtainable spatial databases describing land cover types are crucial. Accordingly, a methodology categorizing land covers that supplements these tools is proposed. Utilizing GIS imagery of high spatial accuracy that is easily obtainable from flyover techniques, radiometric and geometric data is generated to create a multi-functional classification of urban land cover, designed to be applicable to various urban planning tools serving different purposes, e.g. urban water management. The methodology develops 13 individual land cover categories based on the complete capabilities of the NDVI and nDSM imagery, which is then adapted to suit planning tool requirements. Validation via a case study application at Innsbruck (Austria), an overall classification accuracy of 89.3 % was achieved. The accuracy of the process was limited in differentiating certain categories (e.g. Dry Grass and Concrete, Trees and Irrigated Grass, etc.), which could yield limitations subject to intended model applications. Despite this, the classification results yielded high accuracy, demonstrating the methodology can be utilised by various software to improve urban water management analysis.

Impact assessments and action plans are mandatory during the feasibility phases of mining projects, but are too often perceived as simple legal obligations to obtain development permits. However, these steps must be considered as planning tools for the implementation of a mining project over its entire duration. Adapting these performance standards to actual mining contexts and integrating operational requirements into these documents can simultaneously rationalise costs and optimise efficiency while providing genuine tools for project development. This positioning has the virtue of meeting the requirements of both national legislation and international standards as well as the operational requirements of the project, while optimising investments in all the prerequisites of the feasibility phases. Drawing on findings from research on and assessments of the mining sector in Guinea during 2011–2020, we explore the paradoxes that arise from the objectives of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) regulations and the constraints that they generate at each phase of mining project development. Based on our analysis, we suggest ways to use these standards to improve the integration of mining projects in their territories while respecting environmental and social sustainability.

The purpose of this study is to reveal the character and importance of planning in the manager’s work, tocharacterize the content of planning the personal work of the manager in physical culture.To achieve this goal, the following research methods were used: theoretical analysis and generalizationof scientific and methodological literature.Results. It is established that the functions of the manager in physical culture are multidimensional:general management of the organization, coordination of departments and services, work with personnel,defining the goals and objectives of the activity, decision making, representation of the organization in relationswith other organizations, control over the actions of executors. The performance of these functions requires amanager of high business and personal qualities.It is proved that time is one of the resources that never recover. Lack of time to complete the tasks leadsto the extension of the working day and its irrational use. Lack of time is a result of the lack of clarity,timeliness, and organization of the manager’s work.It is shown that the ability to economically and rationally use working hours, constantly improve theprocess of planning is a sign of an organized manager. It is necessary to plan the personal working hours of themanager in the same way as all other activities of the organization, including resources.Features of planning of personal work of the manager in physical culture are revealed. The process ofplanning a manager’s labor should begin with choosing his personal goals. Having defined goals, the managermakes the following plans: starting with the annual goals he specifies goals for every month, week, and day.Conclusion. The scheduling of the manager’s working hours should be made with taking into account therational alternation of problems to be solved. First, you should plan the cases: with a fixed deadline; those thattake considerable time; unpleasant things that can not be put off for later. Next on the list is to plan routine workand day-to-day responsibilities. Third place is assigned to minor and episodic cases.Keywords: time, personal goals, planning tools, organized manager.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the evolution of crisis communication and management along with its inclusion into the field and practice of emergency management. This paper also discusses the inclusion of nonprofit organizations and the need for these organizations to engage in crisis communication planning and strategy creation to address the diverse and numerous crises that nonprofits are at risk of experiencing.Design/methodology/approachThis paper utilizes a systematic literature review of crisis communication planning tools and resources focused on nonprofit organizations to derive best practices and policy needs.FindingsThe resources analyzed provide foundational insight for nonprofit organizations to proactively develop plans and strategies during noncrisis periods to support their organization when a crisis occurs.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations of this paper include limited academic research and practical resources related to nonprofit organizations and crisis communication planning. As such, several potential avenues for empirical research are discussed.Practical implicationsThis paper provides considerations for nonprofit organizations engaging in crisis communication planning and aspects leaders need to partake in to reduce or eliminate the risk of facing an operational or reputational crisis.Social implicationsThis paper highlights the critical need to generate a crisis communication plan due to the diverse crises nonprofit organizations face and their connection to the emergency management structure. Understanding the crisis and utilizing a crisis communication plan allows nonprofit organizations a way to strategically mitigate the impact of a crisis while also providing essential services to their respective communities and maintain their overall stability.Originality/valueThis paper is unique in its analysis of crisis communication planning resources and creation of a planning framework to assist nonprofit organizations in their planning efforts.

Many wireless Internet-of-Things applications require extended battery life ranging from a few months to a few years. Such applications have motivated the recent developments in low power wide area networks, including the rise of Long Range (LoRa) technology. LoRa has a simple modulation scheme designed for extended converge, low battery consumption, and resistance to high interference levels. Thus LoRa is primarily targeted for shared spectrum applications where interference levels are typically higher than controlled spectrum applications where a single operator usually has a dominant control on the quality of service. As a result, it is of paramount importance to carefully design IoT networks while taking into account the impending impacts of interference and propagation environments. This paper presents a novel LoRa network design framework that utilizes a developed open-source emulator to provide a reliable network coverage estimation. The framework is tested in one of the largest open-access IoT network designs in Australia, which enabled the deployment of 294 sensors and 48 gateways. Both the framework and the emulator are implemented using MATLAB scripting, enabling integration with built-in and external radio planning tools. The framework leverages real interference measurements captured using software defined radio that records the spectrotemporal behavior of the existing traffic in the shared band.

After a short reminder of the types of planning tools that exist in the Circle of Koutiala, this article presents the situation on the consistency of planning tools. Then, it makes the link between respect for planning tools and the disparity in access of populations to basic social services (health, education, water, electricity, etc.). Non-compliance with the guidelines of planning tools is measured through the population’s access to basic social services (health, education, water, electricity, etc.) in 10 municipalities in the Circle. After analysis, it turned out that, in the Circle of Koutiala as elsewhere in Mali, planning specifically faced several weaknesses. As such, we can note that the growing gap between the plans and the real economic decision-making process of communities, and even of the State, making planning tools mere documents left in drawers. As a result, the objectives set were rarely achieved at the level of economic and even social expectations. This article also presents the inter and intra communal disparity that exists in the Circle of Koutiala where one thing is to salute the efforts made by the State and the Communities to improve the living environment of the populations of the city of Koutiala and another one is to deplore the timid construction of infrastructure/equipment in the other towns of the Circle.

Motion planning and collision avoidance are well studied topics in modern industrial robotics and they are already relatively simple to adopt using packages like ROS MoveIt or Battelle PathPlan. Using probabilistic planning algorithms, collision-free trajectories can be found in as little time as hundredths of a second. However, the obtained trajectories can vary significantly for each planning request. This can result in notably longer trajectories than necessary, increasing the total time required for planning and execution. Optimisation-based motion planners such as PRM* and RRT* can find shorter paths, at the cost of a higher planning time. Our focus is put on applications that require both short planning and short trajectory execution times using existing planning tools, this with the goal of minimising the total time required for the entire application. In this paper, an easy-to-implement approach is proposed to perform path optimisation for trajectory planning applications, without altering the used planner itself, which the authors dubbed repeated PRM. This optimisation is performed by planning, selecting and eliminating trajectories based on minimal motion time during the robot’s current movement. Testing is done in a virtual environment using ROS MoveIt with a 6-DOF Staubli TX2-90XL, utilising the OMPL PRM motion planning algorithm, eight random pose targets and eight collision objects. Tests are performed on pose sequences of one to eight poses with 30 simulations each. The average of all total times required to perform the pose sequences with the repeated PRM approach are compared to these of sequential PRM and PRM* methods. After testing, the repeated PRM method shows an average impact on the total planning and execution time with a reduction of up to 26,35 % compared to sequential PRM depending on the length of the pose sequence, and up to 57,60 % compared to sequential PRM*, as the additional computational time required for PRM* significantly increases its total required time. The variation of the total required times of the found trajectory sequences also improves by an average of 56,16 % and 45,56 % compared to PRM and PRM* respectively.

Many actors intervene in the territory and often the divergence of points of view and interests oppose them. This can generate conflicts of interest, prerogatives and others. To better understand the actions taken by the various players in the area, we felt it necessary to bring some of them closer together. These are academics, senior officials working in the field of regional planning, political and administrative authorities, etc. The opinions of these actors will allow us to understand their roles in the implementation of planning tools in Mali by general and certain municipalities in particular. The opinions focused on the role of the actors in the implementation of planning tools. Indeed, this research allowed us to identify the actors and group them according to their center of interest, before seeking to understand their roles in the implementation of planning tools. The results obtained relate to the following elements: 1) territorial actors, each at their own level, do not properly play their roles; 2) the territorial actors do not consult each other before taking action; 3) the interests of groups take precedence over the general interest of the entire population of the territory concerned; 4) actors are excluded from decision-making.

The eastern and southern regions of Cameroon, lower middle income country, need to increase their level of land use by the agricultural, forestry and mining sectors in order to develop. At the same time, Cameroon is committed to managing its forests sustainably to meet the needs of present and future generations. This study assesses the compatibility of agricultural, forestry and mining policies with sustainable forest management in the East and South forest regions. Five analytical criteria were used and the analysis was carried out through surveys of key informants in the private sector, public administrations and civil society. The study showed that from 2013 to 2018, the contributions of the agricultural, forestry and mining sectors to GDP grew by about 74%, 65% and 60%, respectively. Agricultural, forestry and mining policies have an average compatibility rate of 45% with sustainable forest management, of which 52% for the forestry sector, 43% for the agricultural sector and 40% for the mining sector. Nonetheless, there are 21 causes of incompatibility, including 1) the non-involvement of all relevant public administrations in policy-making, 2) the low efficiency of the control system of exploitation activities, and 3) the poor coordination of actions in the three sectors. It was proposed to a) improve the legal and regulatory framework of the three sectors of activity and b) develop land-use planning tools among other measures to align existing policies with sustainable forest management.

The current development of logistics says that only the fastest, cheapest, and most efficient in terms of productivity wins. The role of the designer of the logistics system is already in the design phase to incorporate flexibility into its properties as well as the ability to react quickly to constantly changing conditions. With the advent of digital technologies and digital factory tools, it is possible to design a logistics system in a digital environment or create an exact virtual copy of an existing system. Through parametric models and modern planning tools, it is possible to ensure an almost immediate response to any change. The article is devoted to the methodology of planning and optimization of internal transportation using Industry 4.0 tools.

This paper through a systematic literature review portrays the academic work that has been done in disaster management by applying multi-criteria decision making. This study reviews 36 academic articles that applied multi-criteria decision-making planning and management of natural disasters i.e. tsunami, floods, heavy rains, earthquake, land sliding, epidemic, pandemic, etc. This study finds out that lack of effective planning and management pre and post disasters is causing loss of human life, temporary migration of locals to safer places, loss of properties, and economic losses. Once the crisis is over, it requires efforts and additional finances to bring life to normal. There are regions where disasters are periodic such as floods in rivers or due to monsoon season. But with effective planning and pre-determined priorities, loss to human life can be mitigated. Disaster management departments need effective planning tools to forecast imminent disasters and prepare accordingly. This study is very relevant to the recent global pandemic COVID-19 that has caused human and economic losses and will leave footprints for the coming years and generations

This paper addresses the problem of noise pollution in the Egyptian city. as One of the dangerous environmental pollution sources. which produced by the rapid urbanization and effects negatively on individual and society. The research discusses noise sources and its allowed levels in the different sites and the urban planning tools which can help in overcoming this problem. The research runs an applied study on Almansoura City in Dakahlia Province 10 addresses the noise problem in the city and proposes solutions for treatment it. The research ended with group of important recommendations that can help in reducing noise levels in the Egyptian city as general and in the study area as special.

In the US alone, there are over 200 tools that support climate adaptation planning, along with a large number of case studies documenting their use. Case studies frequently document positive results. Systematic assessment of processes can provide important benefits, including justification for action and expenditures, promotion of learning and adaptive management, accountability, and ensuring “fit” with other goals. There are very few such assessments in the context of climate adaptation planning, despite of the emphasis on the development and use of planning tools by federal and state agencies, university researchers, and non-profit organizations. We undertook an effort to assess the outcomes resulting from fourteen applications of the Vulnerability, Consequences, and Adaptation Planning Scenarios (VCAPS) process, which we helped develop and implement. VCAPS is designed to facilitate information exchange, co-production of knowledge, and stakeholder collaboration while helping communities appraise climate change-related risks and devise strategies to manage them. Using qualitative interviews we explored the perceived value and the measurable performance outcomes of VCAPS at both individual and community scales occurring 3–10 years after the processes were conducted, allowing participants to take a broader view of “success” and reflect on how different forms of success emerged over time. Although the assessment of each case is based on a small number of interviews, we learned that VCAPS informed plans and decisions of municipalities, informed actions and decisions of other public and private actors, generated broader support for subsequent actions, helped efforts to secure/seek funding for climate adaptation actions, developed material resources to support planning, and promoted learning among participants. This assessment also reinforces prior work showing that deliberative planning tools/processes are conducive to developing adaptive capacities; processes should be closely coordinated with regular governance activities to impact policy and action; adequate time for deliberation needs to be budgeted; participants need support to “think outside the box” and consider adaptation strategies that are both incremental and transformational as well as highlight potential undesirable consequences of adaptation; and processes, like VCAPS, produce actionable outcomes when participants agree on the immediacy of the issue. We conclude with observations about the need for evaluation of participatory processes and the challenges of defining success of tools to support municipal climate change adaptation planning.

Hydroelectric and thermal generation provides a safe and regular operation in front of load shape. However, changes in the expansion policy that includes wind and solar power plants modify the path of transmission power flow and load response requirements. In order to accommodate these new renewable sources, long-term systemic approach is complex and should be based on hydrothermal optimization and load shape allocation. Recent studies show that these resources are not sufficient for the systemic needs. Energy storage can be an alternative to the regularization of renewable sources. The problem is to scale this equipment in a long-term scenario in a suitable way so as to charge a fair price for the service. At this point, operational reserve is fundamental, but often overlooked in hydrothermal expansion models. Current expansion planning models cannot adequately meet the new system demands, but they are critical for determining long-term prices, so they must be modernized and replaced gradually to avoid further problems. The paper proposes a transition approach from the current modeling through the inclusion of a new step in the expansion planning process, called the operational reserve analysis, which seeks to meet the load–generation balance criteria and to scale, if necessary, the use of additional storage devices. It is also proposed a power flow analysis to find optimal location in transmission grid, in addition to evaluating different storage devices needs and how transmission network expansion with multiple AC and DC that provides greater benefits to interconnected system. To validate proposed algorithm application, a case study was carried out for IEEE 14 bus database, and a real application was carried out for the Brazilian system, considering up-to-date planning tools and hourly allocation in load curves. This case demonstrates that the method is suitable as transition for new planning tools.

This study investigated the challenges facing the planning of Early Childhood Care, Development and Education [ECCDE] in Gwagwalada area council of FCT, Abuja, Nigeria. Descriptive research survey design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised sixty (60) respondents. Simple random technique was used to select the population. Questionnaire was used as data collecting instrument for the study. Test-retest was employed to determine the reliability of the instruments. Data collected were analyzed using simple percentage and Chi-square test. The result collected established that there is significant relationship between challenges and planning of early child education programme in Gwagwalada area council. The result also revealed that the following are the challenges facing the planning of early child education programme in Gwagwalada area council of FCT, Abuja, Nigeria; inadequate data/information, inadequate funding of planning, inadequate planning tools, political influence, political instability, administrative bottleneck and poor capacity development programme for educational planners. The result also showed that the implication of challenges facing the planning of early child education programme in Gwagwalada are responsible for poor implementation of early child education programme in Nigeria. The paper recommends that the government should increase the funding of early child education programme.etc.

The present article is concerned with the analysis of trends in the development of planning tools as well as methods of improving approaches, tools, and methods of management and control of the planning process, the result of which consists in documentation for the construction of a physical object (buildings, structures, constructions, plants, etc.). An approach to the management of the planning process that takes into account the current phase and trends in the development of planning tools is proposed. A nuclear power plant is selected as an example, since such a capital construction facility is one of the most complex of all energy facilities. In view of the overall logic in the creation of a nuclear power plant facility, approaches to the determination of the list of specialties and regulation of their sequence of activity are proposed, with a further breakdown of the process, accompanied by a correlation to the use of the planning tools employed. Principles underlying the distribution of functions between specialists (specialties) and principles underlying the compilation of a graph of planning activities based on the logic of the planning process are described. The material presented in the article is abstract in nature in view of the fact that a description of individual aspects may be more thorough and fall outside the limits set for publications.

Several planning tools and approaches such as action plan, period plan,physical development plan have been applied for planned development for municipalities including other small and medium-sized towns of Nepal.Among them Integrated Urban Development Plan (IUDP) is the latest approach that focuses integrated sectoral development envisioning longterm spatial development by adopting strategic actions, which is backed by lead development sectors of that town. This study is based on field level data collection through municipal and community level interactions,observation and field mapping. Dudhauli municipality, which is located in the hilly region of Bagmati province Nepal has been selected for this study, which reveals an array of diverse patterns and challenges of municipal development. Present scenario of urban growth in Dudhauli has been taking place at and around Dudhauli bazzar, Dakaha and Sirthauli area and main roadsides in the form of compact and linear development pattern in unplanned way, which has resulted increasing built-up area and decreasing agriculture land. Rapid spatial expansion of residential buildings construction and densification of built-up areas have been increased by 56% within the time period of 10 years in Dudhauli area. Consequentially, fertile agriculture land has been converted into constructional area significantly. To regulate urban development in a right direction, a planned urban development of Dudhauli is needed. IUDP, in this context would be an appropriate tool to guide as a framework of municipal development by considering vision, goals, strategies, key activities and land use zones for regulated urban development.

This research aimed to gain insight into end-of-life (EOL) planning and explore design opportunities for EOL planning tools. Participants’ motivations, preferences, and expectations of holistic EOL...

The coexistence of different land uses in peri-urban areas is a well-known planning and managerial challenge, but explicit analyses of the boundaries and interfaces between different land uses are lacking. This paper suggests a method to explicitly quantify the spatial extent of the interfaces between different land uses. The analysis is carried out using urban development models and an empirical analysis. Using detailed Dutch geographical data, we study the evolution of the boundaries between residential, natural and agricultural land uses and their associated interface areas. The areas affected by interfaces are smaller than predicted by realistic urban models, but the shape and extent of the interface areas are extremely varied. The population share and the extent of the geographical areas potentially affected by land use interfaces and their edge effects are great, calling for detailed follow up analyses and tailor-made planning tools at local levels.

This editorial introduces the subject matter of the thematic issue, which includes a diverse collection of contributions from authors in various disciplines including, history, architecture, planning, sociology and geography. Within the context of mediatisation processes—and the increased use of ever-expanding I&C technologies—communication has undergone profound changes. As such, this thematic issue will discuss how far (digital) media tools and their social uses in urban design and planning have impacted the visualisation of urban imaginations and how urban futures are thereby communicatively produced. Referring to an approach originating from the media and communication sciences, the authors begin with an outline of the core concepts of mediatisation and digitalisation. They suggest how the term ‘visualisation’ can be conceived and, against this background, based upon the sociological approach of communicative constructivism, a proposal is offered, which diverges from traditional methods of conceptualising visualisations: Instead, it highlights the need for a greater consideration towards the active role of creators (e.g., planners) and recipients (e.g., stakeholders) as well as the distinctive techniques of communication involved (e.g., a specific digital planning tools). The authors in this issue illustrate how communicative construction, particularly the visual construction of urban futures, can be understood, depending upon the kind of social actors as well as the means of communication involved. The editorial concludes with a summary of the main arguments and core results presented.

The issues of presenting the basic prerequisites for forecasting and planning tools for managing an organization based on the foresight method, – have been highlighted. The strategic planning mechanism of PJSC Gazprom has been described, the place of foresight research in the formation of a long-term strategy has been reflected, and interaction with the innovation environment has been reflected. Five stages of foresight research and their filling have been presented. The sequence of stages of foresight research has been described. A generalized picture of collecting the necessary information for conducting a foresight study and forming a pool of experts from the preliminary registry on thematic selected areas has been presented. A list of criteria for assessing the prospects of technologies, as well as the sequence of their selection in accordance with the system of prospects indexes of technological developments for further updating the organization’s strategy, – has been considered. A graphical model of the results of technology assessment for their use in the strategic planning of the organization. A digital model that makes a decision on the choice of the necessary technologies based on semantic analysis of big data – IFORA has been considered. A comparison of information input and applied methods has been made. When preparing the article, such research methods as analysis, synthesis, and generalization were used.

Background Positive impacts of quality improvement initiatives on health care and services have not been substantial. Knowledge translation (KT) strategies (tools, products and interventions) strive to facilitate the uptake of knowledge thereby the potential to improve care, but there is little guidance on how to develop them. Existing KT guidance or planning tools fall short in operationalizing all aspects of KT practice activities conducted by knowledge users (researchers, clinicians, patients, decision-makers), and most do not consider their variable needs or to deliver recommendations that are most relevant and useful for them. Methods We conducted a 3-phase study. In phase 1, we used several sources to develop a conceptual framework for creating optimized Knowledge-activated Tools (KaT) (consultation with our integrated KT team, the use of existing KT models and frameworks, findings of a systematic review of multimorbidity interventions and a literature review and document analysis on existing KT guidance tools). In phase 2, we invited KT experts to participate in a Delphi study to refine and evaluate the conceptual KaT framework. In phase 3, we administered an online survey to knowledge users (researchers, clinicians, decision-makers, trainees) to evaluate the potential usefulness of an online mock-up version of the KaT framework. Results We developed the conceptual KaT framework, and iteratively refined it with 35 KT experts in a 3-round Delphi study. The final framework represents the blueprint for what is needed to create KT strategies. Feedback from 201 researcher, clinician, decision-maker and trainee knowledge users on the potential need and usefulness of an online, interactive version of KaT indicated that they liked the idea of it (mean score 4.36 on a 5-point Likert scale) and its proposed features (mean score range 4.30–4.79). Conclusions Our findings suggest that mostly Canadian KT experts and knowledge users perceived the KaT framework and the future development of an online, interactive version to be important and needed. We anticipate that the KaT framework will provide clarity for knowledge users about how to identify their KT needs and what activities can address these needs, and to help streamline the process of these activities to facilitate efficient uptake of knowledge.

COVID-19 presents an unprecedented challenge to hospitals and the systems in which they operate. The primary exponential surge of COVID-19 cases is arguably the most devastating event a hospital will face. In some countries, these surges during the initial outbreak of the disease have resulted in hospitals suffering from significant resource strain, leading to excess patient mortality and negatively impacting staff wellbeing. As experience builds in managing these surges, it has become evident that agile, tailored planning tools are required. The comprehensive hospital agile preparedness (CHAPs) tool provides clinical planners with six key domains to consider that frequently create resource strain during COVID-19; it also allows local planners to identify issues unique to their hospital, system or region. Although this tool has been developed from COVID-19 experiences, it has potential to be modified for a variety of pandemic scenarios according to transmission modes, rates and critical care resource requirements.

Introduction:Many institutions are attempting to implement patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures. Because PROs often change clinical workflows significantly for patients and providers, implementation choices can have major impact. While various implementation guides exist, a stepwise list of decision points covering the full implementation process and drawing explicitly on a sociotechnical conceptual framework does not exist.Methods:To facilitate real-world implementation of PROs in electronic health records (EHRs) for use in clinical practice, members of the EHR Access to Seamless Integration of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Consortium developed structured PRO implementation planning tools. Each institution pilot tested the tools. Joint meetings led to the identification of critical sociotechnical success factors.Results:Three tools were developed and tested: (1) a PRO Planning Guide summarizes the empirical knowledge and guidance about PRO implementation in routine clinical care; (2) a Decision Log allows decision tracking; and (3) an Implementation Plan Template simplifies creation of a sharable implementation plan. Seven lessons learned during implementation underscore the iterative nature of planning and the importance of the clinician champion, as well as the need to understand aims, manage implementation barriers, minimize disruption, provide ample discussion time, and continuously engage key stakeholders.Conclusions:Highly structured planning tools, informed by a sociotechnical perspective, enabled the construction of clear, clinic-specific plans. By developing and testing three reusable tools (freely available for immediate use), our project addressed the need for consolidated guidance and created new materials for PRO implementation planning. We identified seven important lessons that, while common to technology implementation, are especially critical in PRO implementation.

Este artigo tem por objetivo discutir as estratégias, limites e avanços para o planejamento e programação em saúde em uma Unidade de Saúde da Família (USF), considerando-se as contribuições do projeto de cooperação da residência multiprofissional com a Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Salvador, Bahia. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo e qualitativo, para o qual foi aplicado um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturado, que identificou estratégias, limites e avanços antes e depois de um projeto de intervenção em uma USF. Os resultados foram discutidos à luz de referencial e estudos sobre planejamento em saúde e Atenção Primária à Saúde. As estratégias para o alcance do planejamento antes e depois do projeto piloto foram muito próximas. No entanto, foram identificadas mudanças, como planejar junto à equipe do Núcleo de Apoio à Saúde da Família (NASF) e o uso de instrumentos do planejamento. Após aplicação do projeto, alguns limites permaneceram, dentre eles, os recursos materiais, humanos e financeiros. Os avanços apontados pelos participantes incluem a realização de planejamento com envolvimento dos profissionais, engajamento e entrosamento entre a equipe e o NASF. A inserção da residência foi um fator que contribuiu para o avanço do planejamento em saúde da USF estudada, no sentido da compreensão do planejamento, para a melhoria do comprometimento das equipes, na organização dos serviços prestados e na mobilização.

The energy–water–land nexus represents a critical leverage future policies must draw upon to reduce trade-offs between sustainable development objectives. Yet, existing long-term planning tools do not provide the scope or level of integration across the nexus to unravel important development constraints. Moreover, existing tools and data are not always made openly available or are implemented across disparate modeling platforms that can be difficult to link directly with modern scientific computing tools and databases. In this paper, we present the NExus Solutions Tool (NEST): a new open modeling platform that integrates multi-scale energy–water–land resource optimization with distributed hydrological modeling. The new approach provides insights into the vulnerability of water, energy and land resources to future socioeconomic and climatic change and how multi-sectoral policies, technological solutions and investments can improve the resilience and sustainability of transformation pathways while avoiding counterproductive interactions among sectors. NEST can be applied at different spatial and temporal resolutions, and is designed specifically to tap into the growing body of open-access geospatial data available through national inventories and the Earth system modeling community. A case study analysis of the Indus River basin in south Asia demonstrates the capability of the model to capture important interlinkages across system transformation pathways towards the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, including the intersections between local and regional transboundary policies and incremental investment costs from rapidly increasing regional consumption projected over the coming decades., Geoscientific Model Development, 13 (3), ISSN:1991-9603, ISSN:1991-959X

Automated, connected, electrified, and shared mobility will be cornerstones of the transportation future. Research to quantify the potential benefits and drawbacks of practice, and to identify barr...

Optimum planning of resources is crucial in ensuring business sustainability. In the past decade, several graphical planning tools have been proposed based on process integration techniques for the optimum allocation of production resources such as equipment, financial, and human resources. These graphical tools provide useful insights for production planners in allocating resources to fulfill production needs. Nevertheless, graphical tools suffer from inaccuracy problems, in addition to being cumbersome. In this work, algebraic and automated targeting techniques are proposed to overcome the above limitations. The algebraic technique proposed is the numerical equivalent to the graphical targeting tool and can be implemented in spreadsheet software. The automated technique, on the other hand, is conceptually similar to the algebraic technique, but is implemented on an optimization platform. Apart from performing cost optimization, the automated technique can be extended to account for availability and pace of the production resources, which is the main novelty of this work. Doing these would involve tedious iterative steps with both graphical and algebraic techniques. Five examples involving different production resource allocations are solved to demonstrate the newly proposed techniques.

The three pillars of sustainability framework is an applied and solutions oriented approach to sustainable development, which at the broadest and most important scale supports the creation of new economic and political institutions that embed (from start to finish) the key inputs, stakeholders, and incentive structures necessary for sustainability planning and projects to be feasible and successful. The three pillars framework is based upon the key and connected roles of: (1) technology and innovation; (2) laws and governance; and (3) economics and financial incentives. Through the lens of a review of the evolution of sustainability models over the last several decades, it is proposed that the three pillars framework can more effectively help us translate complex sustainability issues into ideas and an applied focus that can be better understood and acted upon by community and economic stakeholders. This, combined with full transparency, creates the necessary, and often sufficient, foundation for successful, scalable, more rapidly deployable, and culturally acceptable sustainability solutions. As demonstrated in practice and in numerous case studies, sustainability solutions that engage all three pillars at once—good governance, technology implementation, and creating market incentives—are most effective and durable.