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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Mass Customization Strategies And Their Relationship To Lean Production In The Homebuilding Industry, Isabelina Nahmens Jan 2007

Mass Customization Strategies And Their Relationship To Lean Production In The Homebuilding Industry, Isabelina Nahmens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Current housing trends point to an increasing interest from homebuyers to demand houses that reflect their personal and unique styles, and which are individually configured according to these needs (NAHB, 2004). These homebuyers in turn are unwilling to settle for standard models that sacrifice what they really want in a home. At the same time this creates pressure on builders who are reluctant to sacrifice production efficiencies by deviating from standard models. Such customization desired by demanding customers can disrupt the entire estimating, production, delivery and management process, making it even more difficult to manage homebuilding efficiently and effectively. The …


Optimizing The Design Of Multimodal User Interfaces, Leah Reeves Jan 2007

Optimizing The Design Of Multimodal User Interfaces, Leah Reeves

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Due to a current lack of principle-driven multimodal user interface design guidelines, designers may encounter difficulties when choosing the most appropriate display modality for given users or specific tasks (e.g., verbal versus spatial tasks). The development of multimodal display guidelines from both a user and task domain perspective is thus critical to the achievement of successful human-system interaction. Specifically, there is a need to determine how to design task information presentation (e.g., via which modalities) to capitalize on an individual operator's information processing capabilities and the inherent efficiencies associated with redundant sensory information, thereby alleviating information overload. The present effort …


Optimization Models For Emergency Relief Shelter Planning For Anticipated Hurricane Events, Abeer Tarief Sharawi Jan 2007

Optimization Models For Emergency Relief Shelter Planning For Anticipated Hurricane Events, Abeer Tarief Sharawi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Natural disasters, specifically hurricanes, can cause catastrophic loss of life and property. In recent years, the United States has endured significant losses due to a series of devastating hurricanes (e.g., Hurricanes Charley and Ivan in 2004, and Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma in 2005). Several Federal authorities report that there are weaknesses in the emergency and disaster planning and response models that are currently employed in practice, thus creating a need for better decision models in emergency situations. The current models not only lack fast communication with emergency responders and the public, but are also inadequate for advising the pre-positioning of …


Cognitive Learning From Computer-Based Information Systems By Incorporating Knowledge Construction Interventions, Wajdi Wazzan Jan 2007

Cognitive Learning From Computer-Based Information Systems By Incorporating Knowledge Construction Interventions, Wajdi Wazzan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of the present study was to develop and empirically evaluate different categories of instructional activities, which stimulate the generation and construction of knowledge on the part of an individual student. These generative activities are primed by prompts or scaffolds, which can easily be inserted into specific curriculum addressing any domain of knowledge. To assess the manner in which the knowledge construction interventions influence the learning outcomes from computerized information systems, we have developed an online computer-based information system that describes the functions and mechanisms associated with the bus system of the US army Abrams M1A2 tank. Seven versions …


Identification And Suitability Of A Non-Anthropomorphic Meta-Language Framework In Military Applications, Gilbert Cardona Jan 2007

Identification And Suitability Of A Non-Anthropomorphic Meta-Language Framework In Military Applications, Gilbert Cardona

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Humans carry mental models concerning the behaviors, looks, and operation of products, tools, and items used in their daily lives. When these items do not fit a user's conceptual model confusion and inefficiency occur. There are four basic types of mental models based on interactive activities: 1) instructing, 2) conversing, 3) manipulating and navigating, and 4) exploring and browsing. This thesis will focus on the conversing conceptual model and its application to communications between human-agent teams to best fit a user's mental model for that communication. A non-anthropomorphic framework does not exist for use in military applications such as; target …


Developing A Spatial Interface For Information Visualization And Management In A Crisis Response Scenario, Anthony Costello Jan 2007

Developing A Spatial Interface For Information Visualization And Management In A Crisis Response Scenario, Anthony Costello

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this study was to investigate how a spatial interface can be effectively utilized to support information presentation and information integration via human-centric data visualization, leading to decreased cognitive load, more accurate situation awareness, and subsequently, improved task performance. In high tempo, information intensive environments like those managed by an emergency operations center (EOC), information organization tools are essential. Though users can be trained to use conventional email software applications efficiently, the constraints of the information management paradigms inherent to conventional systems may limit a user's ability to gather context and create an accurate picture of the situation. …


A Framework For The Assessment And Analysis Of Multi-Hazardsinduced Risk Resulting From Space Vehicles Operations, Serge Sala-Diakanda Jan 2007

A Framework For The Assessment And Analysis Of Multi-Hazardsinduced Risk Resulting From Space Vehicles Operations, Serge Sala-Diakanda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the foreseeable increase in traffic frequency to and from orbit, the safe operation of current and future space vehicles at designated spaceports has become a serious concern. Due to their high explosive energy potential, operating those launch vehicles presents a real risk to: (1) the spaceport infrastructure and personnel, (2) the communities surrounding the spaceport and (3) the flying aircrafts whose routes could be relatively close to spaceport launch and reentry routes. Several computer models aimed at modeling the effects of the different hazards generated by the breakup of such vehicles (e.g., fragmentation of debris, release of toxic gases, …


Design For Auditory Displays: Identifying Temporal And Spatial Information Conveyance Principles, Ali Ahmad Jan 2007

Design For Auditory Displays: Identifying Temporal And Spatial Information Conveyance Principles, Ali Ahmad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Designing auditory interfaces is a challenge for current human-systems developers. This is largely due to a lack of theoretical guidance for directing how best to use sounds in today's visually-rich graphical user interfaces. This dissertation provided a framework for guiding the design of audio interfaces to enhance human-systems performance. This doctoral research involved reviewing the literature on conveying temporal and spatial information using audio, using this knowledge to build three theoretical models to aid the design of auditory interfaces, and empirically validating select components of the models. The three models included an audio integration model that outlines an end-to-end process …


Stress, Fatigue And Workload: Determining The Combined Affect On Human Performance, Jessica Mock-Mclaughlin Jan 2007

Stress, Fatigue And Workload: Determining The Combined Affect On Human Performance, Jessica Mock-Mclaughlin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research generated a model that will help to predict, prevent, control and mitigate the occurrence of task related factors that negatively influence stress, fatigue, and workload; thus enhancing human performance. Past research efforts involving stress, fatigue and workload identified factors that influence a change in performance (Lan, Ji and Looney, 2003, and Hancock & Warm, 1989). Also, while some mathematical models have been developed within each respective area, however, there is no evidence of an integrated model describing the combined affect of stress, fatigue and workload. To respond to this research gap, a quantitative model representing the state of …


Decision-Maker Trade-Offs In Multiple Response Surface Optimization, Alicia Hawkins Jan 2007

Decision-Maker Trade-Offs In Multiple Response Surface Optimization, Alicia Hawkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this dissertation is on improving decision-maker trade-offs and the development of a new constrained methodology for multiple response surface optimization. There are three key components of the research: development of the necessary conditions and assumptions associated with constrained multiple response surface optimization methodologies; development of a new constrained multiple response surface methodology; and demonstration of the new method. The necessary conditions for and assumptions associated with constrained multiple response surface optimization methods were identified and found to be less restrictive than requirements previously described in the literature. The conditions and assumptions required for a constrained method to …


Buffer Techniques For Stochastic Resource Constrained Project Scheduling With Stochastic Task Insertions Problems, Jennifer Grey Jan 2007

Buffer Techniques For Stochastic Resource Constrained Project Scheduling With Stochastic Task Insertions Problems, Jennifer Grey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Project managers are faced with the challenging task of managing an environment filled with uncertainties that may lead to multiple disruptions during project execution. In particular, they are frequently confronted with planning for routine and non-routine unplanned work: known, identified, tasks that may or may not occur depending upon various, often unpredictable, factors. This problem is known as the stochastic task insertion problem, where tasks of deterministic duration occur stochastically. Traditionally, project managers may include an extra margin within deterministic task times or an extra time buffer may be allotted at the end of the project schedule to protect the …


Management Systems Fit For Organizational Performance, Rey Diaz Jan 2007

Management Systems Fit For Organizational Performance, Rey Diaz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study identifies the dimensions and variables using prior research within each of the constructs under the management systems, fit and, organizational strategy, structure, lifecycle and performance. The constructs from the research model were defined with a combination of direct, calculated and coded measures. Context analysis for each case categorized management systems design into either prescriptive or descriptive. The selected performance measures have been extensively investigated in the research fields associated with organizational management. The study uses the multiple case study design with cross-sectional data spanning from 1991 to 2005 and involving 19 aerospace companies in the United States. …


Using Surrogate Measures To Predict Patient Satisfaction In The Emergency Department, Erica Egri Jan 2007

Using Surrogate Measures To Predict Patient Satisfaction In The Emergency Department, Erica Egri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With healthcare organizations struggling to remain competitive and financially stable in a market where minimizing costs is a priority, hospital administrators feel the sense of urgency when it comes to keeping patients satisfied with services in order to expand volume and market share. The Emergency Department is considered the front door of a healthcare organization, and keeping its visitors satisfied in order to guarantee a future visit or a referral to a friend or family member is a must. While patient input on the services received in a healthcare facility is essential to improving quality of care, the costs associated …