Analysis of the Functional Space Area Configuration of a Large General Hospital in the Preliminary Planning Stage

The area configuration of different functional spaces has an important impact on the preliminary planning of large general hospitals. This paper takes a 2000-bed hospital in Zhejiang Province as an example to introduce the area configuration of hospital’s functional space in detail, including the main functional rooms on the ground and the underground buildings, and the area configuration is analyzed. The results show that the average construction area of hospital beds is 191 square meters, and the total area of buildings for seven facilities, underground garage, medical research rooms and rooms for medical equipment accounts for 92.4%. In the decision-making stage of hospital construction, the area configuration of these four functional spaces should be focused to meet the needs of the hospital’s operation and development.

Assessment of Students Nutritional Consumer Preferences and Behavior

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is an important risk factor for the development of many diseases. Medical examinations reveal that 80–85% of students have health disorders. The incidence of sickness among students has increased by 35% over the past 10 years, which is due to the malnutrition of students of higher educational institutions. AIM: The objective of the study was to study the peculiarities and socio-organizational aspects of students’ nutritional consumer preferences. MATERIALS AND RESEARCH METHODS: The assessment of the characteristics of students’ eating behavior was carried out on the base of the questionnaire survey data among students (n = 333) at the age of 18–24 years. Data were presented as arithmetic mean and standard deviation (M ± SD). The distribution normality was determined by the Kolmogorov – Smirnov test. The Mann – Whitney test was used to compare the groups (p < 0.05). RESULTS: About 77% of students save money on food. Only about 22% of students receive the desired food, 64% of men have to save money on food, while the share of women was 78%. 67% of the surveyed group regularly and at least 1–2 times a week visit catering establishments. Assessed by type of food service, 24% of students gave their marks to a fast-food establishment, while only 12% of students gave marks to a traditional canteen. Men consume fast food per day 1.6 times more than women. The relationship between material well-being and nutritional quality was analyzed (r = 0.72). Evaluation of nutritional status showed that 25% of girls and 17% of boys were underweight, overweight and obesity – in 10 and 18% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: More than 50% of the participants do not have an idea of a rational and balanced diet; do not have the skills of preliminary planning and organization of meals. Therefore, we propose to improve the organizational and economic mechanisms of the public catering system of universities to solve the problem of nutrition improving in students.

Ensuring Occupational Safety in Emergency Response Associated with the Collapse of Buildings

The problem of ensuring occupational safety during emergency rescue operations in the event of a collapse of buildings and structures is considered. Based on the statistics of accidents in the recent years provided by the National Center for Crisis Management of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, the relevance of this topic is determined. For reducing the likelihood of injuries and fatality, it is important to clearly plan, distribute and secure technical means and people at the work sites in the time-limited conditions. To solve this problem, it is proposed to apply the improved methodology for determining the forces and means required for debris handling and rescuing victims in the event of a collapse of buildings and structures. The methodology allows calculating the number of mechanized groups, links of manual disassembly and emergency rescue tools required for carrying out work on debris handling and rescuing victims under the specified meteorological conditions using the input parameters. The output parameters of the calculation according to this methodology are the number of heavy equipment and rescuers with the indication of the amount of work performed in accordance with the level of professional skills. A software implementation of this methodology is proposed, developed for quick determination of the required forces and means for debris handling, which can also be used for preliminary planning of emergency rescue operations and filling in the sections of the use of forces and means in the technical and information-reference documentation of the objects. Application of the recommended developments in practice will allow to reduce the risk of injury and fatality during emergency response associated with the collapse of buildings.

Automatic extraction of digital elevation from IKONOS in-track stereo images

This Thesis addresses the topic of the extraction of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) from the in-track stereo images acquired by IKONOS satellite. Research on this topic is mainly motivated by the need of DEMs in trasportation and the potential use of very high resolution satellite stereo images to replace the traditional aerial photography to generate the DEMs that may be used for preliminary planning and location issues, limiting expensive and time consuming photogrammetry work to the final alignment corridor. In this thesis, two methods for DEM extraction from IKONOS stereo images using a modified Rational Function Model (RFM) and the 3D physical model developed at the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS) are used and the accuracy of the DEMs generated using these two models are evaluated. The nominal accuracy of ground points determined with the vendor-supplied RPCs is evaluated and systematic biases are found. A significant improvement in the DEM accuracy is made by removing the biases in both the image and ground domain with the information of ground control. DEMs are automatically generated bya chain of processes using the PCI Geomatica OrthoEngine software package with the refined RFM and 3D physical model, respectively. The DEMs from these two methods are then compared in a desktop ERDAS Imagine environment and the accuracy of the DEMs is evaluated by comparing the extracted DEMs with the DEM from airphotos. The DEMs generated using different mathematical models have a very good consistence and more than 97% of the difference between the generated DEMs and the DEM from airphotos is between -2 m to 2m.

Automatic extraction of digital elevation from IKONOS in-track stereo images

This Thesis addresses the topic of the extraction of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) from the in-track stereo images acquired by IKONOS satellite. Research on this topic is mainly motivated by the need of DEMs in trasportation and the potential use of very high resolution satellite stereo images to replace the traditional aerial photography to generate the DEMs that may be used for preliminary planning and location issues, limiting expensive and time consuming photogrammetry work to the final alignment corridor. In this thesis, two methods for DEM extraction from IKONOS stereo images using a modified Rational Function Model (RFM) and the 3D physical model developed at the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS) are used and the accuracy of the DEMs generated using these two models are evaluated. The nominal accuracy of ground points determined with the vendor-supplied RPCs is evaluated and systematic biases are found. A significant improvement in the DEM accuracy is made by removing the biases in both the image and ground domain with the information of ground control. DEMs are automatically generated bya chain of processes using the PCI Geomatica OrthoEngine software package with the refined RFM and 3D physical model, respectively. The DEMs from these two methods are then compared in a desktop ERDAS Imagine environment and the accuracy of the DEMs is evaluated by comparing the extracted DEMs with the DEM from airphotos. The DEMs generated using different mathematical models have a very good consistence and more than 97% of the difference between the generated DEMs and the DEM from airphotos is between -2 m to 2m.

Application of BIM Technology in Prefabricated Green Building Construction Management

Increasing the research on BIM Technology of prefabricated energy-saving green building construction can promote the process of prefabricated green construction in the construction industry. Firstly, this paper analyzes the characteristics of prefabricated housing and BIM green construction. Secondly, BIM Technology is applied to the design and processing of prefabricated components in prefabricated residential design. In this paper, a family library of prefabricated components is established, which can improve the design accuracy of prefabricated components and assist to realize lean production. BIM Technology improves the design efficiency from four aspects: preliminary planning, scheme design, scheme deepening and collaborative design. Combined with the relevant characteristics of BIM Technology, this paper discusses the role of BIM Technology in the first two aspects of prefabricated residential green construction. The test results show that the application of BIM Technology in the design and construction of prefabricated housing can not only improve the design efficiency, but also greatly improve the green construction of buildings.

Use of information technologies in the formation of foreign language communicative competence

This article is devoted to didactic and methodological aspects of using information technologies for the development of foreign language communicative competence and assessing the degree of its formation among students. The aim of the study was to determine the didactic conditions for the use of the video conferencing mode as one of the methodological tools to improve the effectiveness of teaching foreign languages at the university, organized both in full-time and in distance. The main empirical research method was experimental training, the evaluation of the results of which was carried out on the basis of specially developed criteria. The study showed that the high didactic potential of this type of modern information technology, such as video conferences with native speakers of a foreign language, which can be realized with competent methodological support, including preliminary planning, preparation and thorough study of all aspects and stages of the lesson. At the same time, the directing and coordinating activity of a teacher who acts as a moderator of educational activities in the lesson is necessary. Assessment of students' speech skills should be conducted in accordance with clear criteria. Subject to the identified didactic conditions, the educational process is enriched with new organizational forms, cognitive independence of students is developing, cognitive interest is stimulated, and positive motivation for learning a foreign language is increased.