Digital Commons Network^™

Urban Sprawl On Agricultural Lands In Marj Ibn Amer Plain (1973-2022) - Palestine (Using Modern Geographical Techniques), Mustafa Jarrar

Journal of the Arab American University مجلة الجامعة العربية الامريكية للبحوث

This study aims at the spatial analysis of urban expansion in the plain of Marj Ibn Amer at the expense of agricultural lands in the period between 1973 to 2022, using geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing RS, Depending on the Landsat satellite image, which were processed, improved, classified and analyzed, and then quantitative calculations were made for urban expansion , It has been shown by the results obtained that the volume of urban sprawl on agricultural lands in the Marj Ibn Amer plain has evolved from 53.59 km2 in 1973 to 164.22 km2 in 2022 , and the …

Harnessing Generative Ai And Large Language Models For Revolutionizing Cybersecurity In The Internet Of Things: Ethical And Privacy Implications, Harsha Sammangi, Aditya Jagatha, Jun Liu

Research & Publications

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) have in- troduced transformative capabilities in cybersecurity, particularly in securing Internet of Things (IoT) environments. These technologies can synthesize vast datasets, support real-time anomaly detection, and generate predictive insights through simple prompts. However, their deployment also presents ethical and privacy-related concerns, including algorithmic bias, data leakage, and misuse for malicious content creation. This paper conducts a systematic literature review to evaluate how LLMs and generative AI contribute to IoT cybersecurity. We propose an ethical AI-IoT security framework, examine key challenges, and offer recommendations for integrating responsible AI governance. We aim to …

The Revolving Door Of Epilepsy Emergencies: A Mixed Methods Cross-Sectional Study Of Healthcare Professionals’ Perspectives, Sarah Lennard, Lisa Bunn, Rosi Raine, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

BackgroundReattendance rates at UK Emergency Departments (ED) of people with epilepsy (PWE), is higher than other chronic conditions. This is due to a myriad of seizure, biological, psychological and social factors. The aim of this study is to understand these influencers from the perspective of healthcare professionals working in the frontline specifically to reduce seizure related ED re-attendance.MethodsA cross-sectional online mixed methodology survey of 20 closed and free-text questions was conducted of relevant healthcare professional groups. Eligibility was based on those that came into contact with PWE in emergency as part of their role. A non-discriminatory exponential snowballing technique of …

Pedagogies In The Meantime: Reflections On Adr And Restorative Justice In U.S. And Canadian Legal Education, Amy J. Cohen, Daniel Del Gobbo

Journal of Legal Education

No abstract provided.

First Insight On The Genesis Of Iron Oxide-Hydroxide Biospeleothems In Rancho Chico Lava Tube, Mexico, Rafael López-Martínez, Elizabeth Solleiro-Rebolledo, Rocio Alcántara-Hernández, Teresa Pi Puig, Sergey Sedov, Daisy Valera Fernández, M. Nayeli Luis-Vargas, Yasmany Lima Vera, Jesús Solé, Ramon Espinasa-Pereña

International Journal of Speleology

Iron is a common element in lava tube systems, typically observed as thin crusts or inferred from the reddish coloration of secondary mineral deposits. In this study, we describe iron oxide-hydroxide biospeleothems discovered in the Rancho Chico Lava Tube, located within the Xalapa Monogenetic Volcanic Field in Mexico. We adopt an integrative approach combining petrography, soil micromorphology, scanning electron microscopy, mineralogy, and 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. DNA sequencing reveals the presence of microorganisms such as Acidithiobacillus, Gallionella, and members of the Leptospirillaceae family, which may be involved in the oxidation of Fe²⁺ within the lava tube. The source …

The Critical Definitions For Measuring Homelessness: Implication For Homeless Policy Formulation From Developed Countries To Thailand, Surasak Wongsa

Journal of Demography

Homelessness phenomenon is facing in countries. In the past, the definition of homelessness was based on a materialistic mindset or the principle of objectivity, which viewed problems as tangible and visible objects. Looking at social problems based on objectivity leads to a definition of homelessness that includes only those who are sleeping on the streets and people living in government shelters by identifying the causal factors of homelessness at the individual level, especially mental illness, crime, and drug use. Defining homelessness objectively also involves counting methods that measure the characteristics of homelessness using street counts from the locations where homeless …

Compensation Challenges In Early Childhood Education: An Analysis Of Mississippi’S Child Care Workforce, Katerina Sergi, John Stephen Mccown, Mary Rebecca Read-Wahidi, Ismail H. Yigit, Callie Poole, Heather Hanna

Publications

The early childhood workforce in the U.S. faces significant challenges, including low wages, high turnover, and inadequate support, affecting the quality of education and care for children. The existing research on early childhood education typically identifies low wages as an issue, but lacks advanced analysis of rural–urban pay disparities and how educational qualifications interact with location to affect compensation. This leaves a significant gap in understanding wage compression across the early childhood education (ECE) field. Utilizing the framework of wage compression, which posits that higher qualifications may not equate to higher pay, this study uses data from the 2023 Mississippi …

A Modern Approach To Classifying Medieval Latin Scripts, Robert L. Lane Jr, Rafia Mirza, Robert Slater

SMU Data Science Review

Paleography, the study of historical handwriting, is essential for preserving societal understanding of cultural, social, and legal frameworks from the past. Medieval manuscripts, often exhibiting refined craftsmanship, present unique challenges to modern readers due to differences in handwriting conventions and the absence of standardized punctuation and spaces. These texts hold valuable insights into the evolution of written communication, literacy, and language development. However, interpreting them requires specialized knowledge and technological solutions. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) can be leveraged to classify scripts, an important step in Historical Document analysis. These models extract and analyze hierarchical features from images, addressing inconsistencies in …

The Enigmatic Samuel Aughey: Nebraska’S Pastor Naturalist, Hugh H. Genoways, Margaret R. Bolick, Mary Anne Andrei

Zea E-Books Collection

Samuel Aughey at age 39 became the first Professor of Natural Science at the new University of Nebraska in Lincoln, serving from 1871 to 1883. He was an ordained pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, with an addendum degree from Pennsylvania College (now Gettysburg College) in 1856 and an A.M. degree two years later. His early pastoral work was in Pennsylvania, but in 1864 he became a home missionary to a church in Dakota City, Nebraska. Aughey’s career at the university was marked with successes and honors, but also criticism and questions about his basic knowledge of the sciences. While …

A Comprehensive Systematic Review Of Machine Learning Applications In Assessing Land Use/Cover Dynamics And Their Impact On Land Surface Temperatures, Rasool Vahid, Mohamed Aly

Environmental Dynamics Faculty Publications and Presentations

In a world experiencing rapid urbanization, the phenomenon of land surface temperature (LST) variation has invited substantial attention due to its profound impact on the environment and human well-being. Changes in land use and land cover (LULC) within urban areas significantly influence the dynamics of LST and are a major driver of urban eco-environmental change. The complex connections between LULC dynamics, LST, and climate change are investigated in this systematic review, with a focus on the combined effects of these variables and the use of Machine Learning (ML) techniques. The data in this study, based on peer-reviewed publications from the …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Black Women Leaders In U.S. Higher Education Institutions: Challenges And Opportunities, Jacqueline S. Haire

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of Black women leaders in U.S. higher education institutions from the lens of Black feminist theory and intersectionality and to provide implications for HRD research and practice. Given the limited empirical research on Black women leaders in higher education and the existing gap in the literature regarding their experiences, this study aimed to understand the challenges and opportunities that Black women leaders encounter in U.S. higher education institutions.

Using a basic qualitative research design (Merriam & Tisdell, 2016), I conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 Black women leaders holding executive …

Comparison Of Ageing-Friendly Supporting Facilities Between Self-Financed And Government-Subsidized Residential Care Homes: Evidence From China, Yueran Li, Mei-Yung Leung

CIB Conferences

Ageing-friendly supporting facilities are commonly implemented in residential care homes for older people. These facilities not only support the daily activities of older people but also affect their physical and psychological health. However, the development of ageing-friendly supporting facilities usually varies among homes due to differences in construction and operational funding. In order to better accommodate older residents, it is essential to compare the ageing-friendly supporting facilities across different residential care homes and identify the key variances. A total of 69 samples were collected from two primary categories of residential care homes in China, namely self-financed homes and government-subsidized homes. …

Blue-Green Sustainability Framework For Building Assessment Based Multifunctional Analysis Of Regions Through Input-Output (Mario), Pedro Maximiliano Cortez Prof., Anna Vinciguerra Prof., Lorenzo Rinaldi Prof., Matteo Vincenzo Rocco Prof., Benjamin Sanchez Prof

CIB Conferences

The concepts of building and construction are central in the development of national economies all over the world. Along with this growth in national economies, however, there is increasing concern over the high environmental impact caused by the building industry. A growing body of published work provides evidence that buildings globally contribute to 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, 50% of energy and consumption, and 15% of drinking water usage. To date, there is a current lack of studies of evidence-based literature specifically relating to the use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) extended Multi Region Input-Output (MRIO) approach for building sustainability …

Developing Amenities To Create More Sustainable And Inclusive Human Settlements, Jeremy Thobo Gibberd Dr

CIB Conferences

Sustainable human settlements are the totality of any organised human community whether a city, town or village. This includes amenities such as parks, sports facilities, libraries, schools and clinics. Rapid urbanisation and a lack of resources in many developing countries, such as South Africa, mean that some human settlements may not have these amenities. A lack of amenities in human settlements affects the quality of life and hampers the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those for health (SDG3), education (SDG4), inequality (SDG10), and sustainable cities (SDG11). In South Africa, a lack of amenities in human settlements also affects …

Addressing Urban Blight For Cities Under Uncertain Conditions, Analysis Within Un Sdg 11, Qadri H. Shaheen, Sameer Abu-Eisheh, Hafez Shaheen, George Berghorn

CIB Conferences

Background: Urban blight, the deterioration of previously developed urban areas, manifests through physical decay and social neglect, posing challenges to sustainability. This study examines urban blight within the framework of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11), which aims to create inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities, with a focus on Nablus, Palestine, under uncertain socio-political conditions.

Objective: We seek to analyze blight’s impact on the built environment and propose solutions aligned with SDG 11, emphasizing resilience and inclusivity in cities facing prolonged uncertainty.

Methodology: Through a case study of Nablus, we analyze blight characteristics using spatial mapping, statistical …

A Reliability-Based Conceptual Framework For Carbon Trading Management In The Construction Sector, Linna Geng, Robert Moehler, Patrick X.W. Zou, Yingbin Feng

CIB Conferences

The construction sector is increasingly impacted by carbon trading policies across its supply chains in various countries. These policies require construction entities to purchase carbon permits if their emissions exceed allocated limits, while those with lower emissions can sell excess permits. A key challenge is the effective allocation of carbon responsibility, which directly affects the cost-effectiveness and the success of carbon trading in reducing the sector emissions. However, quantifying uncertainty in carbon emissions remains a significant challenge. This paper introduces a reliability-based framework that captures uncertainties and interactions between carbon emissions and allocations under a shared responsibility model between construction …

Strategies For Mitigating The Challenges Of Post-Disaster Reconstruction Projects: A Systematic Literature Review, Alexander E. Omoraka, Temitope Egbelakin, Sittimont Kanjanabootra

CIB Conferences

The impacts of disasters range from social to physical, which comprise psychological impacts, economic impacts, casualties, damage to buildings and infrastructure, etc. While developing countries like Nigeria and Nepal are prone to suffering more human casualties, the effects of disasters in developed countries like Australia and Japan are felt more in buildings and infrastructure. Disasters leave the affected areas deprived of the capacity to function normally without support. Construction projects constitute the greatest loss component in the event of major disasters and thus render people homeless, insecure, and susceptible to unpleasant conditions. This makes post-disaster reconstruction a must in places …

Strategic Solutions To Align Contractor Capacities With Water Infrastructure Demands: A Case Study, Hamidreza Peivastehgar, Monty Sutrisna, Mostafa Jelodar, An Le

CIB Conferences

This research investigates solutions for bridging the gap between future water infrastructure demands and the contractor capacities in Watercare’s service zone. Using forecast models to evaluate urban infrastructure requirements and contractor capabilities, this study identifies significant discrepancies and explores three strategic approaches: capacity enhancement, project rescheduling, and external contractor attraction. The methodology includes data-driven forecasting, scenario analysis, and stakeholder consultation. Findings highlight the importance of proactive planning to ensure alignment, with implications for policy development and infrastructure management.

Evaluating Key Performance Resilience Indicators For A Public-Private Partnership In Critical Infrastructure, Godslove Ampratwum, Robert Osei-Kyei, Vivian Wy Tam

CIB Conferences

Many studies have advocated for public-private partnership (PPP) as a medium to build critical infrastructure resilience. Considering how PPP is greatly advocated for in critical infrastructure resilience, the performance measurement of public-private partnership has yet to be explored. As such this study aims to evaluate key performance resilience indicators (KPRIs) that can be used to assess the performance of PPPs formed to build critical infrastructure resilience. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted with experts in PPP and critical infrastructure resilience in Ghana. Mann-Whitney U test and Mean score ranking was used for data analysis. The results indicate respondents from public …

Heat Recovery Chiller For Education On Low Carbon Hvac Technologies, Ivan Nunez, Ehijie Ebewele, Ajay Dalal, William Hutzel

CIB Conferences

Reducing carbon emissions during the life cycle of a building is critical for mitigating the impacts of climate change. This problem is particularly challenging in the U.S., where buildings account for nearly 40% of annual CO2 emissions for heating, cooling, lighting, and other routine operations. Although a variety of new energy efficient technologies for buildings are being deployed, that alone is not sufficient for success. It is also critically important to provide technical training for facility managers so that these new technologies operate as intended once they are installed in buildings. Delivering this technical training is the rationale for the …

Assessment Of Interdependency For Building Components In Facility Management, Ashish Kumar Pampana, Soojin Yoon, Theodore J. Weidner

CIB Conferences

This research presents a systematic approach for assessing component interdependencies within building subsystems in relation to unplanned maintenance (UPM). Utilizing a three-step methodology—quantitative content analysis, component causal relationships, and interdependency analysis—the study leverages work order description data to identify key components and their interactions. By applying social network analysis to top keyword and term frequency data, the study examines component centrality, revealing critical interdependencies that impact maintenance needs. Findings show that specific components, such as the steel damper and supply fan, play prominent roles within the subsystem network, with significant ripple effects in case of failure. This methodology not only …

Open Building And Its Implementation In Architectural Education: From Reality And Practice To Pedagogy, Beisi Jia

CIB Conferences

The open buildings movement was one of the important architectural movements in the late 20th century. Open buildings have significantly contributed to the criticism of modernism and promoted sustainable architecture. However, the teaching concepts and methodology of open buildings still need to be integrated into traditional architectural design methods. In this work, a design course is introduced and analyzed on the basis of a joint teaching program with three universities in China. This study aims to demonstrate a set of teaching methodologies for students to experience the concepts of stability and mobility in design. The study first introduces the objectives, …

Balancing Density And Greenery: Addressing Urban Heat Islands In Transit-Oriented Development, Esraa Elmarakby, Hisham Elkadi

CIB Conferences

This study explores the relationship between urban form, green infrastructure, and the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect in Manchester's Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) neighbourhoods: Manchester Piccadilly and East Didsbury. The research investigates how urban density, characterised by deep street canyons and lack of green spaces, influences the intensity of UHI effects. Land Surface Temperature (LST) and Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were mapped using remote sensing techniques to identify spatial patterns of heat intensity and vegetation coverage, respectively. The analysis revealed significant negative correlations between NDVI and UHI intensity in both areas, with East Didsbury exhibiting a stronger correlation than Manchester …

Water Quality Sensing System Based On Sdgs: A Case Study Of Penghu Taiwan, Feng-Jun Huang, Hao Yang, Ming-Ta Yang

CIB Conferences

To support SDG 14, this study presents a buoy-based water quality monitoring system designed for cage aquaculture in Penghu, Taiwan. The system floats on the sea, enabling continuous water quality monitoring with real-time location tagging. It consists of three main components: an offshore buoy, an on-site client, and a remote server. The offshore client, controlled by an NI myRIO, integrates various water quality sensors and a GPS module to accurately measure pH, oxidation-reduction potential, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, and conductivity. GPS data is transmitted to the remote server for real-time location display.The server, programmed with LabVIEW, handles data processing …

Dynamics And Synergistic Mechanism Of Green Building Transition: Helix Model And Helix Culture, Jingqing Hong, Isabelle Chan

CIB Conferences

The Green Building Transition (GBT) represents a critical long-term socio-technical shift towards sustainable modes of production and consumption in urban areas. However, a research gap exists in comprehending the intrinsic motivations and synergies among stakeholders involved in promoting and implementing green building practices. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the dynamics of GBT by introducing a novel theoretical framework based on Leydesdorff and Etzkowitz's Helix model. The results indicate a deficiency in the existing GBT frameworks regarding the comprehensive comprehension of interactions among multi-level key stakeholders involved, as well as the absence of a quantitative assessment of …

Integrating Nature Into Norms: Evaluating Biophilic Design Attributes In Building Rating Systems, Hoda Alemrajabi, Ruichuan Zhang, Tanyel Bulbul, Annie Pearce

CIB Conferences

This paper examines the integration of biophilic design attributes within building rating systems. Biophilic design, which emphasizes human connections to the natural environment through the use of natural elements in architectural and landscape design, has been increasingly recognized for its positive effects on human well-being and environmental sustainability. Despite its growing popularity, the extent to which biophilic design principles are incorporated into existing building rating systems remains unclear. To address this gap, our study systematically reviews 29 prominent building rating systems worldwide, identifying and categorizing credits that align with biophilic design attributes, such as sunlight, natural shapes, and water. Through …

Determinants Of Work Location Choice In Academia, Alessandra Migliore, Chiara Tagliaro, Ying Hua

CIB Conferences

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced most workers to work from home (WFH). At first glance, this seems not to be a significant change for academics, who, even in regular times, are used to performing their research activities autonomously and balancing on-campus and off-campus locations. Instead, precisely because of their flexible habits, it is interesting to study where academics worked during the COVID-19 pandemic and which factors relate to their location choices. This paper addresses these issues using survey data from 7,865 Italian-tenured academics. First, cluster analysis unveils four main location choices of Italian academics during the COVID-19 pandemic depending on …

Advancing Off-Site Construction: Assessing Organizational Maturity And Capabilities In The Canadian Construction Industry, Rejsha Khoteja, Rashmi Khatri, Nicole Odo, Alexandra Thompson, Amirhossein Mehdipoor, Brandon Searle, Jeff H. Rankin

CIB Conferences

The construction industry, despite being a vital sector for societal growth, has struggled to match the accelerated growth seen in other peer industries. Over the past two decades, productivity within construction has remained stagnant, posing challenges to meeting societal demands and sustainability targets. Recognizing the potential of digitalization to revolutionize construction processes, this research addresses the critical need to assess and benchmark organizational maturity and capabilities in the Canadian construction industry, particularly in the context of off-site construction methodologies. This research project aims to establish a comprehensive method for assessing organizational capabilities related to off-site construction, thereby providing insights into …

Vacancy To Vibrancy – External Effects, Finance Models And Collaboration In Heritage Building Revitalization. Framework, Hanna Sophie Bonekämper, Judith Nöfer, Kunibert Lennerts

CIB Conferences

Vacant buildings can negatively impact a city's social and economic appeal. Addressing this issue is crucial, and the revitalization of these buildings becomes imperative. Revitalizations often require large investments, especially when it comes to listed buildings. Listed buildings are significant buildings that are legally protected to preserve their cultural heritage. Therefore these listed buildings must be revitalized in a sensitive way to preserve their unique character. This leads to discussions wether this high level of effort and costs is in relation to the building's long-term impact. At this point, it is sensible to incorporate external socio-economic effects such as the …

Connecting Possibilities: Common Data Environment For Dynamic Information Platforms, Amy A. Mccormack, Toomaj Ghalandar, Carmel M. Lindkvist

CIB Conferences

Common Data Environments (CDE) play a crucial role in the development of building life-cycle information management platforms, such as digital twins. However, the evolution of CDEs has traditionally been driven by the needs and perspectives of building projects and their developers. This work shifts the focus to facility management (FM), exploring the potential of positioning CDEs at the center of digital twin development for enhanced FM outcomes. The literature review highlights persistent challenges in developing CDEs, particularly issues related to interoperability and trust. These challenges are echoed in the survey results, which also emphasize the need for a two-fold approach. …