Optimization of pipeline lifecycle cost using alternatives with different life spans

This paper suggests a pipeline project optimization approach that compares alternatives with different life spans. The average inflation rate is used to project the future maintenance, operation and replacement costs. The average interest rate is used to express all the costs in Equivalent Real Annual Cost (ERAC), which is the correct cost form to compare alternatives with different life spans. The pipe diameter, material, pressure rating, surge tank size, and inlet/outlet resistances are the decision variables. A software was compiled with a commercial pipeline software to generate all the possible design alternatives based on the decision variables. Pipe initial cost as well as operation and maintenance costs are computed for each design alternative. The alternative with the least ERAC value is the optimum one. It was found that the approach can lead to substantial savings in pipelines projects cost. For pipes 800 mm in diameter or larger, and when selecting the optimum diameter, savings are between 23 and 27% in the total project cost. When imposing certain pipe material savings in overall cost will be 8.5, 16.3 and 31.3% for ductile iron, GRP and mild steel pipe material, respectively.

Results of the project «Optimization of the process of obtaining the service OCT “ (project implementation period 20.06.2019–08.10.2019)

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a modern, highly accurate, non-invasive study of various eye structures. OCT is a non-contact method that allows a specialist to visualize eye tissue with a very high resolution (1–15 microns), the accuracy of which is comparable to microscopic examination. The theoretical foundations of the OCT method were developed in 1995 by the American ophthalmologist K. Pulafito, and already in 1996–1997 Carl Zeiss Meditec introduced the first device for optical coherence tomography into clinical practice. Today, OCT devices are used to diagnose various diseases of the fundus and anterior segment of the eye. Due to the maximum accuracy, the method of light scanning greatly simplifies the diagnosis of pathologies of the organs of vision, regardless of the cause of their occurrence and the stage of the course. In terms of information content, the technique is not inferior to histology, but the advantage of OCT is the absence of the risk of injury to the eye tissues [1, 2].

Planning to Practice: Impacts of Large-Scale and Rapid Urban Afforestation on Greenspace Patterns in the Beijing Plain Area

(1) Research Highlights: Afforestation is one of the most effective urban greening practices for mitigating a variety of environmental issues. Globally, municipal governments have launched large-scale afforestation programs in metropolitan areas during the last decades. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban greenspace patterns are seldom studied during such afforestation programs. (2) Background and Objectives: In this study, the Beijing Plain Afforestation Project (BPAP), which planted 70,711 ha of trees in only four years, was examined by integrating spatial and landscape analysis. To evaluate the real-world outcomes of this massive program, we investigated the spatial-temporal dynamics of landscape patterns during the implementation process to identify potential impacts and challenges for future management of new afforestation. (3) Materials and Methods: We analyzed the transition of various patch types and sizes, applied landscape indicators to measure the temporal changes in urban greenspace patterns, and used the landscape expansion index to quantify the rate and extent of greenspace spatial expansion. (4) Results: Our results illustrated that the implementation of afforestation in the Beijing plain area had generally achieved its initial goal of increasing the proportion of land devoted to forest (increased 8.43%) and parks (increased 0.23%). Afforestation also accelerated the conversion of small-size greenspaces to large-size patches. However, the significant discrepancies found between planned and actual afforestation sites, as well as the large conversion of cropland to forest, may present major challenges for project optimization and future management. (5) Conclusions: This study demonstrated that spatial analysis is a useful and potentially replicable method that can rapidly provide new data to support further afforestation ecosystem assessments and provide spatial insights into the optimization of large inner-city afforestation projects.

Profit Sharing Mechanism of Large EPC Project considering the Behavior of Fairness Concern

A large-scale engineering procurement and construction (EPC) project is often conducted by a joint venture. Many factors affect the success of cooperation among participating enterprises, such as trust and the degree of effort of both parties. The most important one is a rational profit sharing mechanism. Reasonable profit sharing mechanism concerns whether the advantages of the EPC model can be fully utilized. In this study, the proposed EPC project is undertaken by a joint venture integrating design and construction enterprises. Moreover, the profit sharing problem arises from the project optimization implemented by both parties. The fairness concern behavior of both parties is considered, and the profit sharing model for the EPC project is established on the basis of game theory. The effect of the fairness concern behavior of both parties on the EPC project optimization and its profit sharing is further analyzed by simulation analysis. The research findings show that the project optimization profit and its sharing are related to not only the efforts and cost coefficient but also the fairness concern behavior of both parties. The research results are conducive to the application of the EPC model in the field of construction engineering.