Engineering Commons^™

Cognitive Processes In Object-Oriented Requirements Engineering Practice: Analogical Reasoning And Mental Modelling, Linda Dawson

Associate Professor Linda Dawson

This chapter presents a background in cognitive processes such as problem-solving and analogical reasoning for considering modelling from an object-oriented perspective within the domain of requirements engineering. This chapter then describes a research project and the findings from a set of four cases which examine professional practice from perspective of cognitive modelling for object-oriented requirements engineering. In these studies, it was found that the analysts routinely built models in their minds and refined them before committing them to paper or communicating these models to others. The studies also showed that object-oriented analysts depend on analogical reasoning where they use past …

Doing It Tough: Factors Impacting On Local E-Government Mmaturity, Peter Shackleton, Linda Dawson

Associate Professor Linda Dawson

As growing numbers of citizens seek to use the Internet to do business, governments across the world have moved into the area of electronic service delivery. For the last decade significant advancements have been made in the area of e-Government. Today, e-Government is often assumed to be wellestablished. However, ongoing support is often missing, particularly at the local government level. The multi-level nature of government often means that citizens are frustrated when accessing services that span many levels of bureaucracy. This paper describes an empirical study which explores the factors influencing local egovernment maturity and identifies the barriers, enablers, priorities …

Action Research In Emerging Technologies In Health Information Systems: Creating A Mobile Information Environment In A Hospital Ward, Linda Dawson, Julie Fisher, Stephen Weeding, Liza Heslop, Andrew Howard

Associate Professor Linda Dawson

Wireless networks, mobile devices and associated applications are key emerging technologies ideal for nomadic workers such as clinicians in hospital ward settings. These mobile information environments can potentially enhance clinicians' use of patient management and clinical systems by providing decision support and clinical information at the bedside or point of care. Such technologies need to be critically assessed in a hospital environment for their wider potential and application for delivery of information at the point of care. This paper describes the use of action research methods in a project which analysed an existing clinical Information Communication Technology (ICT) environment in …

Rqf Publication Quality Measures: Methodological Issues, John Lamp, Simon Milton, Linda Dawson, Julie Fisher

Associate Professor Linda Dawson

The Research Quality Framework uses Thomson-ISI citation benchmarks as its main set of objective measures of research quality. The Thomson-ISI measures rely on identifying a core set of journals in which the major publications for a discipline are to be found. The core for a discipline is determined by applying a nontransparent process that is partly based on Bradford's Law (1934). Yet Bradford was not seeking measures about quality of publications or journals. How valid then is it to base measures of publication quality on Bradford's Law? We explore this by returning to Bradford's Law and subsequent related research asking …

Educational Data Mining: An Advance For Intelligent Systems In Education, Ryan Baker

Ryan S.J.d. Baker

Computer-based technologies have transformed the way we live, work, socialize, play, and learn. Today, the use of data collected through these technologies is supporting a second-round of transformation in all of these areas. Over the last decades, the methods of data mining and analytics have transformed field after field. Scientific fields such as physics, biology, and climate science have leveraged these methods to manage and make discoveries in previously unimaginably large datasets. The first journal devoted to data mining and analytics methods in biology, Computers in Biology and Medicine, began publication as long ago as the 1970s. In the mid-1990s …

Evolution Of Data Creation, Management, Publication, And Curation In The Research Process, Lisa Zilinski, David Scherer, Darcy Bullock, Deborah Horton, Courtney Matthews

Lisa Zilinski

Sharing research data and scholarship is of national importance due to the increased focus on maximizing return on the government’s investment in research programs. Recent policy changes have directly affected the management and accessibility of publicly-funded research. On January 18, 2011 the National Science Foundation (NSF) required data management plans to be submitted with all grant proposals. On February 22, 2013, the Office of Science and Technology Policy of the President of the United States extended a similar requirement to all federal agencies with research and development budgets of more than $100 million. These requirements illustrate the need for further …

The Sky Is The Limit, Alexander Hayes

Alexander Hayes Mr.

IEEE Technology and Society Magazine Associate Editor Alexander Hayes interviewed Glass Explorer Cecilia Abadie on January 21, 2013. The complete Google Hangout interview is available for viewing on YouTube at http://goo.gl/YFFbxJ.

Information And Communication Technologies (Icts) And Climate Change Adaptation In Latin America And The Caribbean: A Framework For Action, Hallie Eakin, Pedro Wightman, David Hsu, Vladimir Gil, Eduardo Fuentes-Contreras, Megan Cox, Tracy-Ann Hyman, Carlos Pacas, Fernando Borras, Diego Barrido, Daniel Kammen

David Hsu

Despite ongoing interest in deploying Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for sustainable development, their use in climate change adaptation remains under-studied. Based on the integration of adaptation theory and the existing literature on the use of ICTs in development, we present an analytical model for conceptualizing the contribution of existing ICTs to adaptation, and a framework for evaluating ICT success. We apply the framework to four case studies of ICTs in use for early warning systems and managing extreme events in LAC countries. We propose that existing ICTs can support adaptation through enabling access to critical information for decision-making, coordinating …

Situation Awareness And Maritime Traffic: Having Awareness Or Being In Control?, Fulko Van Westrenen, Gesa Praetorius

Gesa Praetorius

Situation awareness (SA) is generally seen as a mental representation of the system state, an objective measure of the ‘situation out there’. In this article, the authors make an argument that SA can only have a meaning in relation to the task of the user and characteristics of the system. This will be argued with the help of a specific environment: vessel traffic monitoring. The long-time constants and the complex constraints imposed on the ship require that the operator monitoring the traffic has a good SA: the operator must make long-term predictions about possible traffic developments. For this, being in …

A Real-Time In Vivo Dosimetric Verification Method For High-Dose Rate Intracavitary Brachytherapy Of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Zhen-Yu Qi, Xiao-Wu Deng, X Cao, Shao-Min Huang, Michael Lerch, Anatoly Rosenfeld

Michael L.F. Lerch

Purpose: A real-time in vivo dosimetric verification method using metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) dosimeters has been developed for patient dosimetry in high-dose rate (HDR) intracavitary brachytherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods: The necessary calibration and correction factors for MOSFET measurements in 192Iridium source were determined in a water phantom. With the detector placed inside a custom-made nasopharyngeal applicator, the actual dose delivered to the tumor was measured in vivo and compared to the calculated values using a commercial brachytherapy planning system. Results: Five MOSFETs were independently calibrated with the HDR source, yielding calibration factors of 0.48 ± 0.007 cGymV. …

The Local Index Formula In Noncommutative Geometry Revisited, Alan Carey, John Phillips, Adam Rennie, Fyodor Sukochev

Associate Professor Adam Rennie

In this review we discuss the local index formula in noncommutative geomety from the viewpoint of two new proofs are partly inspired by the approach of Higson especially that in but they differ in several fundamental aspedcts, in particular they apply to semifinite spectral triples for a *s-subalgebra A of a general semifinite von Neumann algebra. Our proofs are novel even in the setting of the original theorem and reduce the hypotheses of the theorem to those necessary for its statement. These proofs rely on the introduction of a function valued cocycle which is 'almost' a (b, B)-cocycle in the …

An Analytic Approach To Spectral Flow In Von Neumann Algebras, M-T Benameur, Alan Carey, John Phillips, Adam Rennie, Fyodor Sukochev, K Wojciechowski

Associate Professor Adam Rennie

The analytic approach to spectral flow is about ten years old. In that time it has evolved to cover an ever wider range of examples. The most critical extension was to replace Fredholm operators in the classical sense by Breuer-Fredholm operators in a semifinite von Neumann algebra. The latter have continuous spectrum so that the notion of spectral flow turns out to be rather more difficult to deal with. However quite remarkably there is a uniform approach in which the proofs do not depend on discreteness of the spectrum of the operators in question. The first part of this paper …

Australian Online Supermarket Usability, Mark Freeman, Peter Hyland, Jeffrey Soar

Dr Mark Freeman

The issue of usability plays a vital role in the success of an online store. However, to date there has been limited published research into this issue and there has been no research conducted into multiple item purchasing. There is much competition in the grocery shopping industry between the two major physical supermarket chains in Australia, Woolworths and Coles, both in traditional stores and online. Online, the major competitor is ShopFast, which does not have a traditional supermarket storefront to complement its online operations. The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis into the usability of ordering …

An Investigation On The Impacts Of Density Currents On The Sedimentation In Dam Reservoirs Using Tcm Model; Case Study: Maroon Dam, Farhad Raof, Mohammad Naghshine, Ali Khoshrftar

Farhad Fakheri Raof

Sedimentation in dams' reservoirs is one of the most pressing concerns facing dams today. Maroon reservoir dam, located in Khuzestan Province, is one of the most important dams in this region. Since it is a new constructed dam, numerical simulation of sedimentation trend in its reservoirs could significantly help on a better utilization. To this end, TCM model which is capable to simulate density currents was used. The obtained results show that the dam loses about 91 million m3 of its reservoirs during a 50-year exploitation period.

An Interactive Exploration Of Gender And Engineering: Unpacking The Experience, Debbie Chachra, Lynn Stein, Alisha Sarang-Sieminski, Caitrin Lynch, Yevgeniya Zastavker

Alisha L. Sarang-Sieminski

The engineering student experience is understood to differ for male and female students; gendered interactions affect the development of academic and professional role confidence, as well as engineering identity. The purpose of this session is twofold. First, we aim to introduce participants to concepts of gender schemas, privilege, and identity using a range of interactive activities, including brainstorming and structured discussion. Second, we intend to share information about and obtain feedback on a Gender Discussion Exploration Kit, which the participants will be encouraged to review, use, and share at their home institutions.

Understanding The Factors Controlling The Removal Of Trace Organic Contaminants By White-Rot Fungi And Their Lignin Modifying Enzymes: A Critical Review, Shufan Yang, Faisal Hai, Long Nghiem, William Price, Felicity Roddick, Maria Moreira, Saleh Magram

Faisal I Hai

White-rot fungi (WRF) and their lignin modifying enzymes (LME) can degrade a wide range of trace organic contaminants (TrOC), which are suspected to cause adverse health effects in humans and other biota. Recent studies have successfully applied either whole-cell WRF or their extracellular culture extract to remove TrOC from the aqueous phase. TrOC removal by a WRF system is dependent on a range of factors including molecular structure of the TrOC, fungal species and their specific LME, culture medium composition, and methods to enhance fungal degradation capacity; however, the specific relationships between these factors have not been systematically delineated. The …

Recent Progress On Programming Methods For Industrial Robots, Zengxi Pan, Joseph Polden, Nathan Larkin, Stephen Van Duin, John Norrish

Nathan Larkin

"Although an automated flexible production cell is an intriguing prospect for small to median enterprises (SMEs) in current global market conditions, the complexity of programming remains one of the major hurdles preventing automation using industrial robots for SMEs. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the recent research progresses on the programming methods for industrial robots, including online programming, offline programming (OLP), and programming using Augmented Reality (AR). With the development of more powerful 3D CAD/PLM software, computer vision, sensor technology, etc. new programming methods suitable for SMEs are expected to grow in years to come. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. …

Information Sources And Collection Planning For Engineering, Crystal Renfro, William Baer

Crystal L Renfro

This chapter will provide background for practicing librarians who have collection development responsibilities for engineering programs at academic institutions. Although it is intended as a resource for all engineering bibliographers, new librarians or those new to the technical fields may find it especially useful. Engineers (and engineering students) use information quite differently than other disciplines, and this can make collection development a daunting task. Furthermore, it is common for librarians with no background in engineering or technology to be assigned to manage the engineering collection. The information and tips contained in this chapter are meant to make this job easier.

Planning For Meals-On-Wheels: Algorithms And Application, Hakan Yildiz, Michael P. Johnson Jr., Stephen Roehrig

Michael P. Johnson

Home-Delivered Meals provision, also known as Meals-on-Wheels, is a volunteer-staffed activity for which little strategic planning is performed. We develop a Memetic Algorithm to solve the Home Delivered Meals Location Routing Problem. This planning model addresses facility location, allocation of demand to facilities, and design of delivery routes, while balancing efficiency and effectiveness considerations. The case study presented on a large data set shows how trade-off curves, which are very useful for decision making, can be obtained by the method developed.

Conversations Around Design Sketches: Use Of Communication Channels For Sharing Mental Models During Concept Generation, Nik Shahman Nik Ahmad Ariff, Petra Badke-Schaub, Ozgur Eris

Ozgur Eris

In this paper, we present an exploratory protocol study on the use of different communication channels during design sketching. We focus on how individual designers share their mental models with other designers in a group, and analyse their use of graphical, textual, and verbal communications during concept generation.

Our findings suggest that verbal communication plays a role in the sharing of individual mental models during sketching, and complements graphical and textual communication channels. However, design teams can still function without verbal communication in that respect, and address design problems. They seem to compensate for the absence of the verbal communication …

An Interactive Exploration Of Gender And Engineering: Unpacking The Experience, Debbie Chachra, Lynn Stein, Alisha Sarang-Sieminski, Caitrin Lynch, Yevgeniya Zastavker

Debbie Chachra

The engineering student experience is understood to differ for male and female students; gendered interactions affect the development of academic and professional role confidence, as well as engineering identity. The purpose of this session is twofold. First, we aim to introduce participants to concepts of gender schemas, privilege, and identity using a range of interactive activities, including brainstorming and structured discussion. Second, we intend to share information about and obtain feedback on a Gender Discussion Exploration Kit, which the participants will be encouraged to review, use, and share at their home institutions.

An Interactive Exploration Of Gender And Engineering: Unpacking The Experience, Debbie Chachra, Lynn Stein, Alisha Sarang-Sieminski, Caitrin Lynch, Yevgeniya Zastavker

Caitrin Lynch

The engineering student experience is understood to differ for male and female students; gendered interactions affect the development of academic and professional role confidence, as well as engineering identity. The purpose of this session is twofold. First, we aim to introduce participants to concepts of gender schemas, privilege, and identity using a range of interactive activities, including brainstorming and structured discussion. Second, we intend to share information about and obtain feedback on a Gender Discussion Exploration Kit, which the participants will be encouraged to review, use, and share at their home institutions.

An Interactive Exploration Of Gender And Engineering: Unpacking The Experience, Debbie Chachra, Lynn Stein, Alisha Sarang-Sieminski, Caitrin Lynch, Yevgeniya Zastavker

Yevgeniya V. Zastavker

The engineering student experience is understood to differ for male and female students; gendered interactions affect the development of academic and professional role confidence, as well as engineering identity. The purpose of this session is twofold. First, we aim to introduce participants to concepts of gender schemas, privilege, and identity using a range of interactive activities, including brainstorming and structured discussion. Second, we intend to share information about and obtain feedback on a Gender Discussion Exploration Kit, which the participants will be encouraged to review, use, and share at their home institutions.

An Interactive Exploration Of Gender And Engineering: Unpacking The Experience, Debbie Chachra, Lynn Stein, Alisha Sarang-Sieminski, Caitrin Lynch, Yevgeniya Zastavker

Lynn Andrea Stein

The engineering student experience is understood to differ for male and female students; gendered interactions affect the development of academic and professional role confidence, as well as engineering identity. The purpose of this session is twofold. First, we aim to introduce participants to concepts of gender schemas, privilege, and identity using a range of interactive activities, including brainstorming and structured discussion. Second, we intend to share information about and obtain feedback on a Gender Discussion Exploration Kit, which the participants will be encouraged to review, use, and share at their home institutions.

What Is A Strategic Acquisition? Decision Modeling In Support Of Foreclosed Housing Redevelopment, Michael P. Johnson Jr., Rachel B. Drew, Jeffrey Keisler, David Turcotte

Michael P. Johnson

This paper describes and develops a model for calculating location-based strategic values of foreclosed properties considered for acquisition and redevelopment by community development corporations (CDCs). A property’s strategic value refers to its proximity to site-specific neighborhood amenities and disamenities (e.g. schools, public transit, distressed properties), given the relative importance of that proximity to CDC organizational and community objectives. We operationalize the concept of strategic value, and apply this concept to a salient public sector decision problem. Using data and value assessments from a CDC engaged in foreclosed housing redevelopment, we compute measures of strategic value for a set of acquisition …

Open Access To Stm Information: Trends, Models, And Strategies For Libraries (Review), Steven Van Tuyl

Steven I Van Tuyl

No abstract provided.

Reviving The U.S. Rail And Transit Industry: Investments And Job Creation, Joan Fitzgerald, Lisa Granquist, Ishwar Khatiwada, Joe Mclaughlin, Michael Renner, Andrew Sum

Andrew Sum

No abstract provided.

2011 Scholars And Artists Bibliography, Mark Tebeau

Mark Tebeau

This bibliography was created for the annual Friends of the Michael Schwartz Library Scholars and Artists Reception, recognizing scholarly and creative achievements of Cleveland State University faculty, staff and emeriti. Mark Tebeau was the guest speaker

A Review Of Recent Advances In Learner And Skill Modeling In Intelligent Learning Environments, Ryan Baker, Michael Desmaris

Ryan S.J.d. Baker

In recent years, learner models have emerged from the research laboratory and research classrooms into the wider world. Learner models are now embedded in real world applications which can claim to have thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of users. Probabilistic models for skill assessment are playing a key role in these advanced learning environments. In this paper, we review the learner models that have played the largest roles in the success of these learning environments, and also the latest advances in the modeling and assessment of learner skills. We conclude by discussing related advancements in modeling other key constructs …

Decision Support For Vessel Traffic Service (Vts): User Needs For Dynamic Risk Management In The Vts, Gesa Praetorius

Gesa Praetorius

Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) is a shore-side service implemented by a “Competent Authority to improve the safety and efficiency of vessel traffic and to protect the environment”. It is a service that operates through VTS centers, from which VTS operators monitor traffic, assist in navigational matters and provide information to all ships in a designated area. As VTS is provided by operators located on shore, they usually make use of several decision support systems to be able to monitor the traffic and to provide information to the vessels. Although several new tools and approaches have been introduced in the VTS …