Investigating the Barriers to Applying the Internet-of-Things-Based Technologies to Construction Site Safety Management

The utilization of Internet-of-Things (IoT)-based technologies in the construction industry has recently grabbed the attention of numerous researchers and practitioners. Despite the improvements made to automate this industry using IoT-based technologies, there are several barriers to the further utilization of these leading-edge technologies. A review of the literature revealed that it lacks research focusing on the obstacles to the application of these technologies in Construction Site Safety Management (CSSM). Accordingly, the aim of this research was to identify and analyze the barriers impeding the use of such technologies in the CSSM context. To this end, initially, the extant literature was reviewed extensively and nine experts were interviewed, which led to the identification of 18 barriers. Then, the fuzzy Delphi method (FDM) was used to calculate the importance weights of the identified barriers and prioritize them through the lenses of competent experts in Hong Kong. Following this, the findings were validated using semi-structured interviews. The findings showed that the barriers related to “productivity reduction due to wearable sensors”, “the need for technical training”, and “the need for continuous monitoring” were the most significant, while “limitations on hardware and software and lack of standardization in efforts,” “the need for proper light for smooth functionality”, and “safety hazards” were the least important barriers. The obtained findings not only give new insight to academics, but also provide practical guidelines for the stakeholders at the forefront by enabling them to focus on the key barriers to the implementation of IoT-based technologies in CSSM.

EMPLOYING THE FUZZY DELPHI METHOD TO VALIDATE COMMUNICATION SKILLS AMONG ENGINEERING GRADUATES

Delphi strategy may be a method and organized approach utilized to audit and collect suppositions of a gather of specialists, be that as it may, has it possess shortcomings. The Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM), which is based on a variation of the Delphi method, has been demonstrated to be more successful in showing human phonetic knowledge in numerous tests (which is the signature of the Delphi Procedure). The Fuzzy Delphi Method was used to assess the content of communication abilities among engineering graduates in this article. This stage of development could be part of a larger project to develop a Malaysian employability aptitude system. This stage includes the view of 10 specialists who are experienced and have profound information in designing. It may be a thorough factual examination to approve the legitimacy of the theoretical concept of communication skills. The results of the experts' analysis were presented in the study, as well as the usefulness of the Fuzzy Delphi Method as a tool for gathering information about the validity of communication abilities content. Experts' recognitions have appeared disjointed about communication and get it more than one dialect among engineers. The specialists concurred with building graduates it can be donated by a clear heading, tune in and inquire address in their employability aptitudes capability.

Identifying and weighting of dimensions and indicators of individual job performance using fuzzy Delphi and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process techniques

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to identify and weight the dimensions and indicators of individual job performance (IJP).Design/methodology/approachTo identify dimensions and their measuring indicators, a literature review was conducted in PubMed, Embase™, ProQest, Scopus®, Web of Science™ and Google Scholar. Based on the results of the literature review and consensus among the research team, dimensions and measuring indicators were identified and an IJP framework was constructed. For weighting dimensions and indicators, fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) and fuzzy Delphi technique (FDT) were conducted, respectively.FindingsBased on the results, the conceptual framework showed that IJP consisted of four dimensions as follows: task performance (TP), contextual performance (CP), counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs) and adaptive performance (AP). The results of FAHP showed that TP (0.358) had the highest weighting in measuring IJP. The weight of CWBs, CP and AP was 0.302, 0.244 and 0.096, respectively. The results showed that 102 indicators were identified to measure the dimensions. Using the FDT, 45 indicators were accepted and 57 were rejected. Of the accepted indicators, 12 indicators belonged to TP. In addition, 11, 12 and 10 belonged to CP, CWBs and AP, respectively.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of the article can be useful in research and practice and bridge the gap between theory and practice. In the research area, the researchers can use this model to develop questionnaires for evaluating IJP in all occupations. The researchers can choose the most effective dimensions or indicators in accordance with the corresponding occupation. Moreover, the results can be used in practice (economic and commercial impact), teaching, influencing public policy and helping to establish a more complete knowledge system.Originality/valueIn order to select dimensions and their measuring indicators, the work in the study took the unique approach to employ powerful decision-making methods combined with fuzzy methods to remove any ambiguity in opinions.

Unifying The Evaluation Criteria Of Many Objectives Optimization Using Fuzzy Delphi Method

Many objective optimizations (MaOO) algorithms that intends to solve problems with many objectives (MaOP) (i.e., the problem with more than three objectives) are widely used in various areas such as industrial manufacturing, transportation, sustainability, and even in the medical sector. Various approaches of MaOO algorithms are available and employed to handle different MaOP cases. In contrast, the performance of the MaOO algorithms assesses based on the balance between the convergence and diversity of the non-dominated solutions measured using different evaluation criteria of the quality performance indicators. Although many evaluation criteria are available, yet most of the evaluation and benchmarking of the MaOO with state-of-art algorithms perform using one or two performance indicators without clear evidence or justification of the efficiency of these indicators over others. Thus, unify a set of most suitable evaluation criteria of the MaOO is needed. This study proposed a distinct unifying model for the MaOO evaluation criteria using the fuzzy Delphi method. The study followed a systematic procedure to analyze 49 evaluation criteria, sub-criteria, and its performance indicators, a penal of 23 domain experts, participated in this study. Lastly, the most suitable criteria outcomes are formulated in the unifying model and evaluate by experts to verify the appropriateness and suitability of the model in assessing the MaOO algorithms fairly and effectively.

PREDICTING THE SCHEDULE AND COST PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS IN TAIWAN

The Ministry of Education (MOE) of Taiwan invests about NTD 30 billion a year in Public School Building Projects (PSBPs). However, 95% of the PSBPs have been extended and have incurred increased costs. A PSBP performance evaluation and prediction system was established by using the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM), association rules and an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Sixty-two Taiwanese PSBPs were used as the samples, while eleven high correlation factors that influence the project performance of PSBPs were defined, and the reasons leading to the poor project performance were discussed in this study. Moreover, the results of the test cases operated by ANN showed that the accuracy rate for schedule and cost variability predictions can reach 84%. The high accuracy rate indicated the reliability of priority control for high-risk projects in the future. The proposed approach can be provided to clients, design and construction firms, and project managers to understand the project performance in real time and to establish a dynamic tracking review and response measures for improving the overall project satisfaction.

The Application of Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) in the Development of Fun-Driven Mobile Learning (FDML) Model for Teaching of Arithmetic in Saudi Schools

One of the methods used in Design and Development Research (DDR) is the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM). It is a systematic method for the development and validation of the model. This article aims to use this method to validate a Fun-Driven Mobile Learning (FDML) Model for Teaching Arithmetic. In phase 1 of design and development research, based on the opinion of teachers as subject matter experts, the need to develop the FDML model was justified. In phase 2, the model developed, comprised of thirty-two teaching activities grouped into four clusters. This article presents results on suitability and overall usefulness of the model components derived from the collective opinion of the 15 experts involved in Phase 3 of the study. The data analysis was conducted through the fuzzy Delphi method using a 7-point Likert scale. The outcome indicates a consensus of 93.4 percent of experts at a threshold value of ≤0.02. The suggested components of the FDML model include an integral planning reference for the application of the model and provided alternative validation procedures for model developers in mathematics education and educational technology.

Research on Sustainable Management Strategies for the Machine Tool Industry during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Taiwan

The machine tool industry is an economically important industry in Taiwan. However, due to the limited natural resources in Taiwan, many of the raw materials required for production must be imported. In 2020, COVID-19, the most serious infectious disease in modern times, broke out across the globe. This has had a great impact on the economic and industrial development of various countries and indirectly affected the development of the machine tool industry. The machine tool industry generally is facing shocks and crises. Therefore, this research article mainly discusses a sustainable operation strategy for the machine tool industry during the COVID-19 epidemic period in Taiwan. Firstly, through the literature on dynamic capability theory (DCT) and expert interviews, the relevant dimensions and criteria are summarized. Then, the fuzzy Delphi method (FDM) and the analytic network process (ANP) are integrated to confirm the relevant dimensions and criteria and to sort the criteria. The five dimensions, in order, are integration ability, learning ability, quality improvement, environmental adaptation, and marketing ability. The ten criteria are diversified learning and innovation ability, integration of multiple sources of knowledge, the ability to learn across departments, the ability to adapt to the external environment, marketing strategy ability, organizational learning ability, integration of resources, improved management efficiency, market research ability, and backward integration. Finally, we put forward business strategies for the ranking results and provide relevant research and industry references.

Pembangunan Kerangka Persekolahan Berasaskan Penjarakan Fizikal Pandemik Covid-19

Abstrak: Penularan wabak COVID-19 telah memberi kesan langsung kepada sektor pendidikan yang mengalami perubahan yang besar sama ada dari aspek operasi, kemudahan prasarana mahupun proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran. Pandemik COVID-19 yang merupakan penyakit yang mudah merebak terutamanya kepada manusia. Kajian ini adalah bertujuan untuk mereka bentuk Garis Panduan Persekolahan Berasaskan Penjarakan Fizikal Pandemik COVID-19. Kutipan data dijalankan melalui kaedah NGT dan Fuzzy Delphi Method. Seramai 40 orang pakar dalam bidang pendidikan, perubatan dan keselamatan terlibat dalam pembangunan dan penilaian Garis Panduan Persekolahan Berasaskan Penjarakan Fizikal Pandemik COVID-19. Kajian menunjukkan bahawa bentuk persekolahan berasaskan penjarakan fizikal meliputi model persekolahan, kemudahan fizikal kelas dan keselamatan, kebersihan dan kesihatan warga sekolah. Selain itu, dapatan kajian ini juga memberi input baru tatacara pembukaan sekolah pada masa pandemik Covid-19.Implikasinya menerusi kerangka ini, pengurusan dan pelaksanaan pembukaan sekolah dapat dilaksanakan dengan selamat dan berkesan sepanjang tempoh Pandemik COVID-19 Abstract : The spread of the COVID-19 epidemic has had a direct impact on the education sector which has undergone significant changes in terms of operations, infrastructure facilities and teaching and learning processes. COVID-19 pandemic is a disease that is easily spread especially to humans. This study aims to design the Physical Distancing Schooling Model Guidelines On COVID-19 Pandemic. Data collection was carried out through NGT method and Fuzzy Delphi Method. A total of 40 experts in the field of education, medicine and safety were involved in the development and evaluation of the Physical Distancing Schooling Model Guidelines On COVID-19 Pandemic. Studies showed that the form of schooling based on physical distancing included the school model, classroom physical and safety facilities, and hygiene and health of the school community. In addition, the findings of this study also provided new inputs on school opening procedures during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The implication is that through this framework, the management and implementation of school reopening can be implemented safely and effectively during the COVID-19 Pandemic period.

TOWARDS AN EFFICIENT APPROACH FOR IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES: A CASE STUDY

The goals and objectives of a project as well as the needs, requirements and expectations of the project stakeholders may contradict or non-fulfillment of them may have different detrimental and negative consequences for the project. Therefore, project stakeholders should be effectively managed, but it is not possible to satisfy all project stakeholders and meet all of their expectations and requirements. As a result, project team must strike a balance between the project goals and objectives and the needs, requirements and expectations of the project stakeholders in order to complete the project successfully. Despite highlighting the significant importance of project stakeholder management, there exists a notable gap in exerting an effective decision support system to adopt stakeholder engagement strategies particularly in oil and gas construction projects. This study proposes a comprehensive framework for the identification, prioritization and selection of the stakeholder engagement strategies in one of the large size oil and gas construction projects in Iran. In this paper, a hybrid method which is the combination of the SWOT (strengths, weakness, opportunities and threat) analysis and fuzzy Delphi method is first exploited for identifying the appropriate stakeholder engagement strategies. Subsequently, fuzzy SWARA (Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis) is employed to weight the crucial criteria, and finally, fuzzy WASPAS (Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment) is utilized to prioritize the identified stakeholder engagement strategies. This research contributes to the body of knowledge on project stakeholder management by presenting a novel framework for identifying, ranking and selecting the suitable strategies for effective stakeholder engagement considering one of the largest oil and gas construction projects in the country. The value of this study is in applicability of the proposed methodology for project managers and practitioners in other oil and gas construction projects.