Search

Medical healthcare planners need to align outpatient and inpatient design factors that affect hospital space allocation. The Emergency Departments (ED) design must be congruent with the inpatient platform design to limit bottlenecking of patient admissions. However, limited research deciphers the impact of unscheduled ED admissions and the effects on inpatient bed capacity to ensure facility capability. The current study utilizes a case study by comparing the use of space planning criteria of the Department of Defense (DoD) with similar Private healthcare organization departmental metrics to inform space allocation. This study established the significance of unscheduled ED visits metric on inpatient space allocation. Bed capacity was calculated by outlining specific metrics; namely: population at risk, Average Daily Patient Load (ADPL), Average Length of Stay (ALOS), Average Annual Workload, Annual Admissions, and Occupancy Rate that are necessary for the right-sized inpatient hospital designs with a trauma mission. By analyzing existing research, identifying key metrics, highlighting capacity gaps, and showcasing real-world impacts via a case study pilot model. Valuable insights and benefits allow medical planners and administrators to assess and incorporate unscheduled visits as a key factor that influences appropriate hospital facility sizing and resource allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For building projects, the manager is responsible for coordinating the work of subcontractors at the construction site. This includes operations, material flows, and storage. In summary, one of their main roles is to ensure smooth team rotation, maintain fluid circulation, and avoid congestion or relaxation on the site. However, traditional tools lack the ability to consider the planning and management of worksite spaces when calculating the execution schedule and critical path. Consequently, three-week planning is usually carried out separately on independent plans, often using spreadsheets. In addition, a construction site is highly dynamic and mobile in nature, and the positioning of resources and workers can change daily. This makes the management of available space even more complex, and effective space management becomes an imperative. To address this challenge, this paper develops visual dynamic artifacts that present different operation types. The methodology and the conceptual framework facilitate the calculation of the Occupancy Rate (OR) that enables construction project managers to create simple yet dynamic spatiotemporal models of the construction schedule. By incorporating factors such as crew turnover and occupancy evolution, managers can simplify the calculation process and effectively optimize construction work by utilizing site occupancy rates. In summary, this paper presents the Dynamic Model of the Occupancy Rate Schedule (DMORS), a methodology developed through design science. This model utilizes created artifacts representing various operation types to ensure accurate calculations of dynamic occupancy by floor and sector in a site. Consequently, it enables the construction of a more realistic schedule based on critical space ideologies. The DMORS enables managers to use the OR for different floors and sectors of a site, allowing for better space management. A proof of concept demonstrates that this tool can enhance the efficiency and productivity of construction projects by optimizing crew schedules and resource allocation based on site OR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the problem of category space location-allocation in the retail industry. We introduce a new attractiveness factor to reflect the product-based visibility level in designing the optimal allocation policy. This factor will be determined for each aisle by the lineup of product categories allocated to that aisle and all other aisles sharing a shopping path with it. We explore how considering the classical location-based attractiveness and the proposed product-based attractiveness can improve a retailer's overall space profitability. We develop a modelling framework that integrates both location-based and product-based attractiveness factors in a mixed-integer nonlinear program. Due to the non-linearity and non-convexity of the proposed model, large-scale instances are computationally challenging to solve using the state-of-the-art commercial solvers. We thus introduce a two-stage heuristic solution method that generates a near-optimal solution in a reasonable amount of time. Using the two-stage model, we explore the optimal store design for an illustrative case study. The results couple the optimal category space allocation to customers' shopping paths and create a profitability-maximising balance between the placement of high-demand and high-impulse product categories. We show that focussing on product-based attractiveness exposes the store to congestion risks, which can be prevented by adding constraints limiting congestion in different aisles of the store. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of artificial intelligence technology is gradually penetrating into multiple fields such as interior design and spatial planning. The aim of this study is to integrate artificial intelligence with interior design, enhance design artistry and user experience, and address the interactive needs of interior space design choices. A set of indoor space design recognition system has been designed by introducing artificial intelligence networks and attention mechanisms. This study first optimizes the CenterNet algorithm based on attention mechanism and feature fusion to improve its accuracy in identifying complex components. Afterwards, the long short-term memory network and convolutional neural network are trained to complete the task of spatial layout feature recognition and design. The performance test results showed that after testing 100 images, the software could recognize indoor design space images and create corresponding vector format space maps in about 5 minutes, providing them to the 3D modeling interface to generate 3D scenes. Compared to the approximately 25 minutes required by manual methods, the design efficiency has been significantly improved. The research and design method has a fast convergence speed and low loss during the retraining process. In simulation testing, its mAP value reached 91.0%, higher than similar models. It performs better in detecting walls, doors and windows, bay windows, double doors, and two-way doors. Moreover, it has outstanding ability when facing structures such as short walls and door corners, and can recognize and create vector format spatial maps within 5 minutes, which is accurate and efficient. The system designed in this project has optimized the interaction between designers and clients in interior design, accurately capturing user intentions and assisting designers in improving work efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For building projects, the manager is responsible for coordinating the work of subcontractors at the construction site. This includes operations, material flows, and storage. In summary, one of their main roles is to ensure smooth team rotation, maintain fluid circulation, and avoid congestion or relaxation on the site. However, traditional tools lack the ability to consider the planning and management of worksite spaces when calculating the execution schedule and critical path. Consequently, three-week planning is usually carried out separately on independent plans, often using spreadsheets. In addition, a construction site is highly dynamic and mobile in nature, and the positioning of resources and workers can change daily. This makes the management of available space even more complex, and effective space management becomes an imperative. To address this challenge, this paper develops visual dynamic artifacts that present different operation types. The methodology and the conceptual framework facilitate the calculation of the Occupancy Rate (OR) that enables construction project managers to create simple yet dynamic spatiotemporal models of the construction schedule. By incorporating factors such as crew turnover and occupancy evolution, managers can simplify the calculation process and effectively optimize construction work by utilizing site occupancy rates. In summary, this paper presents the Dynamic Model of the Occupancy Rate Schedule (DMORS), a methodology developed through design science. This model utilizes created artifacts representing various operation types to ensure accurate calculations of dynamic occupancy by floor and sector in a site. Consequently, it enables the construction of a more realistic schedule based on critical space ideologies. The DMORS enables managers to use the OR for different floors and sectors of a site, allowing for better space management. A proof of concept demonstrates that this tool can enhance the efficiency and productivity of construction projects by optimizing crew schedules and resource allocation based on site OR.

This research develops a shape grammar to generate solutions for the adaptive reuse of historic buildings. More precisely, it proposes a transformation grammar for sobrado buildings, a typology present in the historic center of São Luís, Brazil. The methodology defines a workflow for adapting sobrado buildings, once characterized for single-families, into multi-family apartments considering spatial and structural requirements. The grammar specifies a framework for repurposing historic buildings into social housing and considers the allocation of three types of apartments in the floor plan: studios, one-bedroom apartments, and two-bedroom apartments. The adopted strategy for spatial planning prioritizes access to natural daylight. The grammar supports different layout solutions for the same building and aims to accelerate the reuse of historic structures for contemporary housing needs. This paper describes the grammar rules and their application to three case study buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Logistics automation has been part of facilities planning for many decades, but the adoption of autonomous and guided vehicles has mostly been regarded as a novelty more than a necessity. Technological advances, coupled with simultaneous and powerful disruptors such as pandemics, energy crises, geopolitical issues, labor challenges, inflation, and natural disasters, are making logistics automation a necessary consideration for all new facilities. Owners and planning teams are now looking for innovative ways to improve staff safety, while reducing costs by improving operational efficiencies. This paper discusses a variety of decision factors, such as feasibility, practicality, safety considerations, space requirements and engineering considerations for various automation alternatives in different operating environments. Non-value-added activities are prime candidates for automation. In the distribution industry and on college campuses, logistics automation is already commonplace. High-rise buildings are prime candidates to be next. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space planning, a crucial phase of architectural design, has significantly benefited from recent performance-based generative methods, enabling early discovery of innovative layouts among a wide range of alternatives. The application of generative design in open-office layout, where flexibility to support different work styles is essential, should become more practical. This paper fills gaps in automated space planning for office buildings, presenting a generative algorithm for robust circulation in multi-story modular geometries. By inputting a modular 3D model, the algorithm generates multiple interior configurations using a library of predefined modules adaptable to cube dimensions and client preferences. This facilitates extensive layout options, streamlining decision-making for efficient workstation and corridor designs. The use of a user-friendly visualization platform allows standard drawing modifications by architects with no programming knowledge. The algorithm's effectiveness is proven through application on various 3D geometries, showcasing its potential to improve practical office design. • For open-plan offices, modular design, is found to be suitable due to corridor continuity. • Office interior plan can be simplified into interconnected corridor patterns. • Generative design streamlines open-plan office interior design, expediting the process. • Generative design offers diverse design layouts and simplifies decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As more neurodivergent students enroll in college, academic libraries need to examine how accessible their space is for these students. Susquehanna University, a private, four-year college, has many neurodiverse students on our campus. When librarians met with the Counseling and Psychological Services ASD and Neurodiversity student group, they discovered the library was a difficult space for many of them to use. To create a more welcoming space, the library purchased fidget toys for in-library use, created an occupancy counter, and renovated three study rooms into sensory-friendly spaces. Librarians learned a lot from this experience about groups to collaborate with and things to be mindful of when working with neurodiverse students.

Generative design is emerging as an important approach for design exploration and design analysis in architectural practice. At the interior design scale, although many approaches exist, they do not meet many requirements for implementing generative design in practice. These requirements include the need for end-user accessible tools and skills, rapid execution, the use of standard inputs and outputs, and being scalable and reusable. In this paper, we describe a hybrid process that uses both space allocation and shape grammar algorithms to solve workplace and space planning interior design problems. Space allocation algorithms partition spaces according to program requirements while shape grammar automates the placement of inventory and the production of high-resolution drawings. We evaluate using three real world example projects how this hybrid approach meets the identified requirements of generative space planning in architectural practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thinking and knowing at a quantitative level can significantly increase efficiency in design. Design is a discipline relying on experience and exploration. Creativity is the core. However, while pursuing creativity, some basic functionality is often overlooked. Design explorations often swing between two imperfect approaches. A random inquiry can be inefficient, while a fixed belief of best practice hinders creativity. Therefore, optimality is often debatable. This research explains how mathematical thinking could be employed in the early stage of design, often called the “programming stage,” to ask relevant questions and analyze the quantitative relationship between variables. By doing so, this research aims to offer a different perspective of what space planning is and how designers can confidently proclaim that they have achieved optimal solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Changing consumer attitudes toward the natural environment are reflected in an increase in demand for environmental design of private houses, which requires the definition of some general principles of such design, particularly graphic design. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to highlight and determine the fundamental features of the visual component of the ecological design of private houses. Objectives: Present the characteristics of the countries of the world in accordance with the application of eco-design and sponsorship of green construction; identify visual principles that characterize the ecological design of private houses. Methods: The study is based on mixed qualitative analysis. The authors of the study used statistical from statista.com concerning the number of LEED certified projects during 2018 to 2021. Statistical indicators of countries is used to select houses for research, an assessment of a group of experts of photo-interview methods is used to determine the main trends in visual environmental design. Results: It was possible to systematize the world experience in designing private homes using an ecological approach. They categorized the basic principles of visualization of functional-planning, technological and artistic-esthetic solutions in the interior design of a private residential building; compliance with appropriate esthetics; functional design solutions of the interior space, modularity, compactness, responsible and rational architecture; and interior design, preferably with the possibility of moving housing to another place in case of forced relocation. Conclusions: The results obtained can be used in the framework of theoretical and practical design of private residential buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research develops a shape grammar to generate solutions for the adaptive reuse of historic buildings. More precisely, it proposes a transformation grammar for sobrado buildings, a typology present in the historic center of São Luís, Brazil. The methodology defines a workflow for adapting sobrado buildings, once characterized for single-families, into multi-family apartments considering spatial and structural requirements. The grammar specifies a framework for repurposing historic buildings into social housing and considers the allocation of three types of apartments in the floor plan: studios, one-bedroom apartments, and two-bedroom apartments. The adopted strategy for spatial planning prioritizes access to natural daylight. The grammar supports different layout solutions for the same building and aims to accelerate the reuse of historic structures for contemporary housing needs. This paper describes the grammar rules and their application to three case study buildings.

• Waiting time of trucks is considered explicitly for space planning for the first time. • Different priorities among trucks in the yard operation are considered in the model. • Heuristic algorithms proposed for the non-LP model provide near optimal solutions. • Solutions from this study are significantly better those from a previous study. This paper proposes a nonlinear mathematical model for solving the problem of allocating storage space to future container arrivals in container terminal yards by considering the waiting times of trucks in the yard, called stochastic space allocation model (SSAM). Three heuristic procedures based on the Frank-Wolfe algorithm and the subgradient optimization method are proposed to efficiently solve the problem. From the numerical experiment, it is found that the proposed algorithms for SSAM provide solutions with the gaps between the objective values and the optimal values are no greater than 0.69%. It was also found that the best algorithm among three proposed algorithms (FWMP-S) obtained the average 7.89% improvement in the objective value compared with a previous model with a handling capacity constraint instead of considering waiting time (DSAM). It is found that the SSAM reduces the average system time of transporters for ship operation and that of road trucks by 17.39 and 7.14%, respectively, compared with the DSAM. This study proposes the most appropriate heuristic algorithm depending on the problem characteristics of the SSAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UC Santa Cruz University Library ran the Ithaka S+R Undergraduate Survey in spring 2015. This presentation focused on applying survey results to a library renovation project.

Presented at the 2016 American Library Association Annual Conference in Orlando, FL on 6/26/16.

Modern cities are centers of economic, social, cultural and intellectual life, which makes it crucially important to ensure proper conditions for their sustainable development. The paper is intended to elaborate on some spatial aspects of the sustainable development of million cities in Russia. The study used official statistics, as well as data from the information and analytical system of urban development VEB.RF. The research method consists in comparing the values of indicators characterizing cities’ spatial particularities with each other and with the national average. The article analyzes accessibility of objects of interest for the population (social infrastructure facilities, leisure centers). It reveals that million cities differ in these parameters quite significantly and can be categorized into three groups. The most numerous group (8 cities) is one embracing cities with liveability above the national average; in four cities, the liveability level is equivalent to the all-Russia average; and two millionplus cities are lagging behind the others. The research also indicates the factors defining the accessibility of objects of interest for city inhabitants: its area, population density, saturation of urban space with such objects and the specificities of their localization, uniqueness of urban planning, and the quality of the urban environment.

We examine how students in academic libraries work; their furniture, technology and space needs; research methods used to determine these; and the results and evolution of our space design and assessment efforts. From the creation of a new collaborative center at Mann Library at Cornell University in 2007 to our latest space redesign in 2015, we've used a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods—including surveys, interviews, usability tests, and participatory design exercises—to discover the study behaviors and needs of users, applied this data to help redesign our collaborative study spaces, and assessed the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What happens when an academic library's print collection is reduced by half to meet strategic planning goals? The library at the University of Texas (UT) at Tyler joined a shared resources facility—the Joint Library Facility (JLF)—that uses a resource-in-common (RIC) model. The current article describes UT Tyler library's massive weeding project and decision to participate in the JLF as a result of strategic planning initiatives, explains the RIC model along with the JLF, outlines some pros and cons of participation in the JLF/RIC model, and reviews what was learned from the experience. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Physical space in an academic library is increasingly important to fully support students' diverse needs for learning spaces. However, inefficient space design and planning give rise to crowded and underutilized spaces in a library, thereby probably lowering students' learning outcomes and wasting costly space. Understanding students' use of space can facilitate effective design and planning, which in turn will result in more efficient use of space. As students' spatial choices (i.e., the act of decision-making of an individual or group among two or more space alternatives for a certain activity) account for much of the space use in a library, this study explored the factors that influence their choice of space in an academic library using a paper-based survey (n = 252) at the central academic library, Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands. The five most important space attributes were “Amount of space,” “Noise level,” “Crowdedness,” “Comfort of furnishing” and “Cleanliness.” The spatial choice patterns also differed according to different user and activity profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When analysing different floors of Roman mosaic, it must be noted that the choice of the iconographic program for the decoration of one or more spaces in the same building follows, in general, the guidelines given by the commissioner of the work according to his preferences or the objectives of representativeness that he hopes to achieve through that program. However, the adaptation of the chosen composition to the surface to be decorated is surely up to the mosaic artists. According to their expertise and probably also to the budget allocated to the work, they will adapt the composition as a whole and the integrated patterns (present therein) to the measurements of the surface to be decorated. The analysis of these elements is mainly decisive in the study of pavements with compositions based on geometric schemes.

This paper examines how design objects have been curated and displayed within the museum, studies of experience and expectations of visitors are important for museums in terms of management and development, however few studies in Egypt interested in techniques of arrangement of the objects which we need to enhance the visitor experience and intention to make repeat visits. This research tried to analyze the experience expectations of museum visitors. The measures used include visitors' perceptions of novelty and interactive communication and interpretation.

The parametric approach to architectural design is intended to help architects in the generation of complex types of shapes and of volumes, taking into account data on different areas affecting the architectural project. The tools of BIM technology (Building Information Modeling) are finding success in this digital approach. However, some projects require the mastery of a very large number of parameters but above all, the opportunity to change the values quickly and easily, according to the needs and to the arising of constraints. The spaces allocation in a project is a significant example as it requires massive data management and their combination. The solution would be an information system dedicated to the management of all project data, and which would be automatically linked to a computer assisted drawing tool. The aid system thus designed, gives flexibility and adaptability to the projects involving a large volume of information.

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.)

The UC Santa Barbara Library faced significant challenges in 2012 when it was determined that the collection of 700,000 volumes in the Library’s central tower had to be permanently reduced by 20 percent because of seismic retrofitting for an expansion and renovation project. While many libraries have reported on methods of engaging with faculty to inform selection decisions for offsite storage, little has been reported about using survey methodology for this purpose. To develop strategies for relocation that would have the least impact on research and teaching, a team of UCSB librarians worked with a faculty committee and the campus Social Science Survey Center to develop a survey of user behaviors and preferences in accessing library information resources. Members of the faculty committee were nominated by academic deans and the Academic Senate. The survey was distributed in spring 2012 to all faculty and graduate students. The target population returned 772 surveys, yielding a margin of error of 4.2 percent and a confidence level of 99 percent. Using survey results, the Library team developed six strategies for offsite storage selection. The strategies were then evaluated by the faculty committee to ensure consistency with the survey outcomes. Once approved by the committee, the strategies were presented to the campus and are now being implemented. The poster summarizes the steps taken by the Library team working with the faculty committee. It also presents the six strategies with supporting survey data displayed by graphs.  Janet Martorana presented the poster on June 30, 2013 at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois.

The research features analysis of user-experience-based accessibility assessment and progress monitoring of buildings and public spaces; this analysis is used as a tool for facilitating the development of humane, socially sustainable and an inclusive urban environment. A group of users representing people with different kinds of disabilities, the elderly and families with children was created to assess the quality of access to various buildings with different functions and locations across Vilnius and in Singapore. A school, two hospitals, a rehab centre and two offices were selected for access monitoring in Vilnius City, while a hotel, a café and two metro stations with public squares were chosen for access assessment in Singapore. As the same method was principally applied to assess accessibility of selected buildings in Vilnius City in 2000 and 2017 and in Singapore in 2012, the article draws a comparative analysis of access levels in these two cities located in different global regions. The results show a definite improvement of access quality over time and also identify the critical aspects in this process. The segment of plot planning represents the lowest quality of access for all assessed building types as compared to the building segment and the external–internal element segments. The paper also draws conclusions that access improvement is a continuous process of implementing advanced urban policy instruments, and city planners can contribute to it by constantly analysing and presenting to public the monitoring data about the progress in access improvement. Comparing the assessment results between Vilnius City and Singapore – cities that are located in different global regions and in different socio-economic environments – provides a practical tool for benchmarking and setting the priorities for this process.

The article concerns one of the basic groups of stakeholders on university campuses: students. Theoretical issues related to planning of public spaces, including university campuses, will be discussed, with particular emphasis on socializing the planning process and organization of socio-cultural events. The results of research conducted among students of culture and media management (Institute of Culture of the Jagiellonian University) will be presented. The research was conducted as part of the subject Urban projects (formerly Project management in urban space) in 2017/2018–2019/2020. The students’ task was to develop an analysis of the Jagiellonian University campus space, with particular emphasis on the building of the Faculty of Management and Social Communication (in which they defined their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats), defined the target group, and proposed actions that could improve the quality of public spaces on the Jagiellonian University Campus (implemented with low/high expenditure in the short/long term). The work was carried out in groups, in total more than 60 responses were collected. ‘Good practices’ in the field of socio-cultural student activities that liven up campus space (e.g. the Culture and Media Festival Polikultura in Krakow) will also be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic libraries face limitations of space, staffing, budget, and other factors, but still must maintain their collections responsibly. Collection maintenance with the goal of reclaiming space requires both solid data analysis and sufficient staff to execute projects. Presenters with perspectives from Siena College, Rockhurst University, and Sam Houston State University discuss their experiences in facing the challenges of analyzing data and managing workflows for current and potential removal projects. An OCLC Regional Library Services Manager describes their product Green Glass and its involvement with the project at Sam Houston State University. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]