Engineering Commons^™

Identifying The Causality And Criticality Of Factors Influencing The Promotion Of Asian Island-Hopping Cruise Tourism In Taiwan, Hsiao-Chuan Liu, Gin-Shuh Liang, Feng-Ming Tsai, Yu-Ling Lien

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the global tourism industry has steadily recovered since 2022. Island-hopping cruises have gained increasing attention for enhancing regional connectivity and diversifying marine travel experiences; however, their development in Asia remains limited compared with that in Europe and the Caribbean due to fragmented policy coordination, inadequate port infrastructure, and uneven technological readiness. Although Taiwan possesses a geographic advantage and can serve as a strategic hub linking Asian island destinations, systematic planning and stakeholder coordination remain insufficient, resulting in unclear mechanisms that drive or constrain island-hopping cruise tourism. Existing studies mainly focus on market demand or passenger behavior, …

Technical Analysis And Market Liquidity In Sale-And-Purchase Transactions Of Second-Hand Oil Tankers, Chih-Chung Cheng, Po-Yin Wang, Heng-Chih Chou

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

In addition to using second-hand oil tankers to fulfil immediate shipping needs, shipowners can leverage price fluctuations in the tanker market to make vessel sale-and-purchase (S&P) transactions. Given that the profitability of vessel S&P transactions depends primarily on timing decisions, in this study, technical analysis was applied to identify the optimal transaction timing for 5-, 10-, and 15-year-old second-hand Aframax tankers. In a simulation, an S&P strategy based on technical analysis outperformed a benchmark buy-and-hold strategy, particularly for newer tankers, possibly due to the higher price volatility and lower market efficiency in the markets for these vessels. However, the lack …

Synchronous Deep Reinforcement Learning For Optimized Storage Assignment Of Ship Blocks, Gawon Lee, Jaehyeon Heo, Misung Kim, Hyerim Bae

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This paper presents a deep reinforcement learning (RL) framework for optimizing block storage allocation in shipbuilding yards. During the shipbuilding process, vessels are constructed in block units to maximize the operational efficiency. Following assembly, these blocks must be stored in limited yard spaces, creating a complex variant of the binary packing problem. This storage allocation problem is further complicated by operational constraints, including the barge capacity and transportation time restrictions. Moreover, poor storage decisions can lead to redundant block movements, which can adversely affect downstream processes and increase operational costs. To resolve this problem, a policy-gradient-based synchronous RL model was …

A Resilience Early Warning Assessment Of The Maritime Supply Chain: A Case Study Of China’S New Energy Vehicle Exports, Xiuqian Chen, Liangyong Chu, Mengyao Wang, Jiayin Du, Yiming Zhang, Xiyao Xu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Enhancing resilience through early warning is a critical strategy for mitigating disruption risks in the maritime supply chain (MSC). This study proposes a novel early warning assessment framework to determine the resilience of the MSC. It is referred to as a resilience early warning system. An evaluation index system for shipping enterprises is developed based on four dimensions: withstand capacity, adaptive capacity, learning capability, and the external environment. A resilience assessment model that uses the Bayesian best-worst method (BBWM) and the extension cloud model (ECM) is established to quantify MSC resilience. An early warning evaluation model based on a Bayesian …

Public-Port Throughput As An Activity Proxy For Near-Port Air Quality And Health: A Transferable Two-Scale Framework (Kaohsiung, 2017–2024), Ping-Jen Wang, Ying-Lin Hsu, Shih-Hao Chang, Bao-Tzung Wu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

We developed a two-scale time series framework using monthly container throughput (20-foot equivalent units, TEU) as a port activity indicator. Applied to Kaohsiung, Taiwan (2017–2024), we related TEU to near-port NO₂ and PM₂.₅ (monthly) and air quality to outpatient respiratory diagnoses (weekly) across the 2019–2020 sulfur rules and the COVID-19 pandemic. Transfer-function models indicate TEU tends to lead near-port NO₂ by 6–9 months. Structural break tests at policy dates indicate nonsignificant changes in levels and slopes, suggesting gradual rather than abrupt shifts in the activity–pollution linkage. Weekly two-pollutant distributed-lag Poisson models estimated relative risks (lags 0–8) per interquartile range (IQR) …

Physical Modeling To Represent Molten-Slag Entrapment Behavior Into Molten-Steel Under Simultaneous Similitude Condition Of Multiple Dimensionless Numbers, Yuichi Tsukaguchi, Sho Nakano

Progress in Scale Modeling, an International Journal

Physical model construction and experiment are essential for scientific investigations of flow phenomena such as high temperature two phase flow of molten metal and inert gas. It has been a common method to construct a physical model with a convenient scale then proceed experiments under similitude condition of one or two dimensionless number(s) of dominant forces to represent. It is an ideal experimental method to satisfy the simultaneous similitude condition of multiple dimensionless numbers concerned with the objective flow phenomena but has been considered difficult or impossible to realize for many years. Contrarily, the concept of the simultaneous similitude of …

Recent Advances In Bioethanol Production From Water Hyacinth: A Critical Review, Umuamina A. Matola, Mahir Mohammed Said, Olga-Ioanna Kalantzi, Abraham K. Temu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Water hyacinth (WH) is a highly invasive tropical aquatic weed with high holocellulose and low lignin content, making it a promising lignocellulosic feedstock for second-generation bioethanol production. Producing bioethanol from WH offers a sustainable approach to simultaneously managing invasive biomass and producing renewable energy. This review critically evaluates recent advancements in bioethanol production from WH by examining pretreatment, hydrolysis, and fermentation technologies reported between 2014 and 2024. A PRISMA-guided literature search was conducted using the Scopus and Web of Science databases, and fifty-nine original research articles were selected for analysis. The reviewed studies were comparatively assessed based on pretreatment strategies, …

Exploring Consultancy-Related Variations In Public Building Projects: A Review Towards A Management Framework, Grayson Bambaza, Ismail W. R. Taifa, George S, Mwaluko

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Consultancy-related variations remain one of the leading causes of cost overruns, schedule delays, quality deficiencies, and contractual disputes in public building projects. Although various studies have been undertaken to document the causes of variations in construction works, the same level of interest has not been shown for consulting services variations across the consulting services spectrum and their consequences for effective management. This study explores variations in consulting services for public works by systematically reviewing the existing literature using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta Analyses) guidelines. Relevant articles published from 2020 to 2026 were retrieved from …

Urban Spatial Development Control In Tanzania: Analysis Of Factors Influencing Gis Application Using Structural Equation Modelling (Sem)., Happiness Protas Mmanda, Nestory Yamungu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Rapid urbanization in developing countries has intensified urban expansion, creating challenges for sustainable development. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enhance spatial planning, but empirical evidence on factors influencing their effectiveness remains limited. This study examines determinants of GIS application in Urban Spatial Development Control (USDC). The objectives are to (1) identify and categorize factors affecting GIS use, (2) assess relative strength, and (3) develop a validated structural model explaining GIS adoption in USDC. Data were collected from 103 LGAs by a mixed sampling method. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis classified influencing factors into technology-related (α = 0.869, CR = 0.881), process-related …

Decision Support Tool For The Maintenance Of Meter Gauge Railway Permanent-Way Infrastructures: A Concept Paper, Hamisi J. Maulid, Beatus A.T Kundi, Juma M. Matindana, Ismail W. R. Taifa Dr

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

A Decision Support Tool (DST) represents a transformative way of modernising maintenance practice on the permanent-way infrastructure of Meter Gauge Railway (MGR). Maintenance practice remains largely reactive, as the MGR plays a strategic role in transporting both freight and passengers, resulting in inefficient resource allocation, high operational risk, and growing Lifecycle expenses. This concept paper explores the potential and the design challenges for a DST that combines fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (Fuzzy-AHP) modelling, multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and predictive machine learning (ML) analytics for evidence-based, future-oriented maintenance management. The paper draws on peer-reviewed studies from …

Effect Of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash Incorporated With Limestone Calcined Clay Cement On Geotechnical Properties Of Swelling Soils Relevant To Road Applications, Horris K. Nangulama, Siya P. Rimoy, John E. Elvis

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This study aims to investigate the use and effect of sugarcane bagasse ash (BA) incorporated with limestone calcined clay cement (LC³) as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for stabilizing swelling soils. Therefore, BA incorporating LC³ was added to black cotton soil (BCS), known for its high swelling potential. Series of laboratory tests including free swell index (FSI), compaction, California bearing ratio (CBR), and shear strength were conducted to evaluate the performance of BA incorporating LC³ binder-stabilized BCS. Additionally, microstructural analyses using pore size distribution (PSD), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed to …

Project-Based Conversion Versus Prototype-Based Instruction In Automotive Teacher Education, Ramdhani Ramdhani, Sriyono Sriyono, Wahid Munawar, Raafi Rizki Maulana, Apriyansah Bahrudin

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The transition to electric and hydrogen mobility is reshaping the competencies that automotive vocational teaching requires, yet institutions with limited equipment must choose between authentic learning designs without evidence of what each produces. Indonesian research to date has built substitute learning media and reported feasibility ratings rather than measured learning. This study asks what cognitive and psychomotor gains two contrasting designs produce and how those gains compare. Two pre-experimental studies were conducted in one automotive teacher education programme in Indonesia. Study A used a time-series design across three project cycles of 200 minutes in which 15 undergraduates converted a combustion …

When Does Global Search Pay For Itself? A Measured Exploration Cost And Energy Break-Even Analysis Of A Metaheuristic Search Controller In Solar Energy Systems, Mohamed Ali Muammar Ezgour

Communications of the IIMA

Autonomous energy systems increasingly delegate the choice of operating point to embedded search algorithms, trading a fast local optimizer that can settle on a wrong point against a slower global search that guarantees the right one at a measurable cost. This paper reframes maximum power point tracking under partial shading as that decision and measures its economics on a fixed photovoltaic plant in MATLAB/Simulink. A Hippopotamus Optimization global search handed over to incremental conductance is compared with incremental conductance alone across seventeen initial duty cycles and thirty random seeds. The hybrid reached the global peak in all thirty seeds, whereas …

Between Blockchain And Black Markets: South Africa's Legal Readiness For Crypto-Driven Cyberfraud, Sagwadi Mabunda, Yassin Chande

Communications of the IIMA

This paper examines whether the proliferation of cryptocurrency-facilitated fraud warrants a reclassification of the terrestrial crime of fraud into the distinct statutory offence of cyberfraud under South African law. Engaging with established fraud typologies — exit scams, Initial Coin Offering (ICO) scams, Ponzi schemes, pump-and-dump schemes, and market manipulation — the article tests their definitional fit against both the common law of fraud and section 8 of the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020. Through a hypothetical composite scenario combining multiple fraud typologies, the article demonstrates that whilst cryptocurrency significantly amplifies the reach and complexity of fraudulent schemes, it functions primarily …

Hydrothermal Alteration Mapping Of The Northern Coongan Greenstone Belt Using Remote Sensing Imagery, Meaza Bogale, Elias Woldeyohanis

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Archean greenstone belts are well known for their ore deposits, diverse lithostratigraphy, and well-preserved evidence from the early Earth. The Northern Coongan Greenstone Belt is an Archean greenstone belt that is part of the Eastern Pilbara Craton of Western Australia. The rock units of this area have the potential to be sources of valuable mineral deposits, which could be economically beneficial for extraction. Studies have been conducted in the northern Coongan greenstone belt, mostly using geological field methods and geophysical interpretations, excluding remote sensing methods for mapping mineral indices. Therefore, this study aims at providing surface mineral distribution maps and …

Bitseat: Reimagining The Financing For Airliners Using Nonfungible Tokens (Blockchain Technology), Edwin S. Ongola

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

This essay describes how blockchain technology, particularly nonfungible tokens, can be used to raise funding for airliners. The essay begins with a brief overview on the costs, categories, and acquisition methods of airliners. After that, the essay introduces concepts on blockchain technology, tokens, and smart contracts. The essay then touches on how nonfungible tokens can be used to facilitate fractional ownership of airliners. From there, the essay discusses Bitseat, a conceptual nonfungible token for fractional ownership of airliners, covering its overall design, appeal, marketplace alternatives, and challenges. Finally, in the discussion, the essay summarizes the overall concept and outlines its …

Saas As The Backbone Of Digital Transformation: How Ai Turned Cloud Software Into Intelligent Enterprise Infrastructure, Amar Fejzić

Communications of the IIMA

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) has become one of the most consequential infrastructures of digital transformation because it lowers the cost, time, and complexity of adopting enterprise capabilities. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative and conversational AI, is changing SaaS from a delivery model into an intelligent operating layer that automates workflows, personalizes customer interactions, and supports data-driven decisions. This paper develops a conceptual synthesis of academic literature and public organizational cases to examine how SaaS shaped digital transformation and how AI is reshaping SaaS itself. The analysis shows that SaaS enables scalable experimentation, faster deployment, and modular integration, while …

Aerodynamic Effects Optimisation Of Water-Powered Funicular Car Body Exposed To Headwind And Crosswind, Theodorus Agung Wicaksono, Bagus Wahyudi, Syamsul Hadi, Wirawan Wirawan, Hangga Wicaksono

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Water-powered funicular railways are an environmentally friendly mode of transport whose efficiency heavily depends on the principle of gravity. However, their operation is vulnerable to natural wind disturbances that can hinder speed or cause a risk of overturning on steep, curved tracks. This study aims to analyse the influence of funicular car model design on the rolling moment exerted on the rails as the car turns to enter a track branch. The research methodology involves aerodynamic simulations using SolidWorks flow simulation, comparing three body models: WAHYUDI, FUNAERO, and AEROFUN. Simulations were conducted with variations in turn angles (10° to 30°) …

The Evolution Characteristics Of Gas Pressure Around Coal Seam Directional Long Extraction Boreholes With Nonlinear Extraction Negative Pressure, Zhang Qi, Jia Jinlong, Li Zhiguo, Zhang Longgang, Qin Zhengyuan, Zhang Weizhong, Li Jin

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Nonlinear pressure of coal seam gas in the directional borehole and surrounding areas affects extraction efficiency. A multi-field coupling numerical model, including gas desorption, diffusion, fracture seepage, and borehole extraction, is developed for the No. 3 coal seam of the GJH mine. Using the numerical simulation method of control variables, extraction was developed to investigate the nonlinear evolution of axial pressure gradients in directional long borehole and the spatiotemporal response characteristics of gas pressure. Results show that coal seam seepage pressure exhibits a nonlinear radial gradient attenuation around the borehole, evolving through rapid pressure change, stabilization, and slow adjustment. The …

Parametric Study On The Plastic Hinge Length Of Precast Concrete Columns With Grouted Sleeve Connections, Rizky Tri Amalia, Harun Alrasyid

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The use of precast concrete structures with grouted sleeve (GS) connections has gained significant traction in the acceleration of bridge construction. The plastic hinge length (Lp) is a critical parameter for assessing the seismic performance and deformation capacity of such structural members. The previous study has proposed empirical equations for Lp in monolithic columns; however, a comprehensive understanding of the influential parameters on Lp in precast concrete columns with GS connections remains limited. This study presents a detailed parametric investigation to evaluate the effects of key design parameters on the plastic hinge length of a precast concrete columns with GS …

Designing Classifact: Towards A Transparent And Secure Platform For Stakeholder-In-The-Loop Data Annotation, Philippine Waisvisz

Communications of the IIMA

AI systems depend on human judgment, yet many annotation workflows are either designed for data-science specialists or managed through external commercial platforms. The first approach may demand more technical skills than relevant stakeholders possess. The second can require organizations to transfer data, expertise, and governance to an outside provider. Both can limit the involvement of people who understand what data means in its real-world context. Human-in-the-loop approaches introduce human judgment. Stakeholder-in-the-loop annotation focuses on selecting and organizing people whose contextual knowledge fits the AI application.

This paper presents Classifact, a transparent and secure platform for stakeholder-in-the-loop data annotation and validation. …

Understanding Mental Wellness In Collegiate Pilots: The Interplay Of Fatigue, Sleep, And Health-Promoting Behaviors, Flavio Antonio Coimbra Mendonca, Samantha Bowyer, Carolina Anderson, Bill Deng Pan

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

This study investigates patterns of fatigue severity, sleep hygiene, daytime sleepiness, and health-promoting lifestyle behaviors and examine the interrelationships among these factors in collegiate aviation students. Participants included undergraduate professional pilot students enrolled in a Code of Federal Regulations Part 141 four-year aviation degree program in the southeastern United States (N = 82).

Participants completed four validated self-report instruments: the Fatigue Severity Scale, the Sleep Hygiene Index, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II. Descriptive analyses were conducted to characterize the results of each assessment, and Pearson correlations and multiple regression analyses were performed to examine intervariable …

Techno-Economic Assessment Of Residential Prosumer Systems Using Real Household Consumption Data: A Case Study From Bosnia And Herzegovina, Alen Selmanović, Mehrija Hasičić

Communications of the IIMA

This paper evaluates the technical, economic, and environmental feasibility of residential prosumer implementation in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, through the integration of photovoltaic (PV) generation and battery energy storage. A simulation‑based assessment was performed in HOMER Pro using a measured 12‑month household load profile with an average daily consumption of 11.25 kWh and a peak demand of 2.85 kW. Six system configurations were investigated, consisting of 3 kW, 4 kW, and 5 kW PV installations, each analyzed with and without a 5.04 kWh lithium‑ion battery, over a 25‑year project lifetime under a zero‑credit export scheme. Among the analyzed configurations, the …

Ai-Based Displacement Forecasting For Real-Time Landslide Risk Assessment In The Danube Region, Amina Čehaja, Asja Muharemović, Jasmin Kevrić, Dejan Jokić, Mirza Ponjavić

Communications of the IIMA

This paper presents a dual-layered AI framework for real-time landslide risk assessment developed under the GeoNetSee project within the Interreg Danube Region Programme. The first layer employs a fuzzy logic model, inspired by the Slovenian MASPREM system, which integrates Landslide Susceptibility Maps (LSS) with high-resolution precipitation forecasts from the Open-Meteo API to generate a Predicted Landslide Hazard (PLSH) score on a 0–5 scale, updated every 6–12 hours. The second layer focuses on real-time ground displacement detection by fusing low-cost dual-frequency GNSS receivers with MEMS accelerometers and applying machine learning regression algorithms, including Support Vector Regression (SVR), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), …

Comparative Analysis Of Takagi-Sugeno And Mamdani Fuzzy Inference Architectures With Anfis-Based Automated Rule Generation For Eeg-Based Cognitive State Monitoring, Amina Radončić, Mehrija Hasičić, Jasmin Kevrić

Communications of the IIMA

Fuzzy inference systems have demonstrated considerable promise for EEG-based cognitive state monitoring in neurodegenerative conditions. However, two design decisions significantly influence system performance and clinical applicability: the choice of inference architecture (Takagi-Sugeno vs Mamdani) and the method of rule and membership function generation (manual expert-driven vs data-driven automated). This paper presents a comparative analysis of both dimensions in the context of an EEG-based Alzheimer’s disease monitoring system operating on the ds004504 OpenNeuro dataset (88 subjects: 36 AD, 23 FTD, 29 HC). A Takagi-Sugeno system, implemented as a hybrid FSM-Fuzzy architecture, is compared against a Mamdani equivalent across four axes: inference …

Hyperlattice-Valued And Superhyperlattice-Valued Uncertain Sets With Decision Applications, Takaaki Fujita, Ajoy Kanti Das, Sankar Prasad Mondal, Arif Mehmood, Arkan Ghaib

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Fuzzy set theory enriches classical sets by assigning to each element a graded membership in [0,1], thereby capturing partial inclusion and uncertainty. The notion of an Uncertain Set further abstracts this idea by allowing membership to take values in a general degree-domain, providing a unified language that subsumes fuzzy, intuitionistic fuzzy, neutrosophic, plithogenic, and related models. On the algebraic side, a hyperlattice replaces one lattice operation by a multivalued hyperoperation, enabling the representation of ambiguous or non-deterministic combinations, while a superhyperlattice iterates this structure through powerset lifting to obtain higher-order layers of interaction. Motivated by these developments, we introduce HyperLattice-valued …

An Interval-Valued Spherical Fuzzy Critic–Waspas Framework For Prioritizing Healthcare Delivery Models To Enhance Patient Satisfaction Under Uncertainty, Mariam Hamada, Ahmed Samy, Mohamed M. Abdelhafeez, Shrouk El-Amir

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Selecting an appropriate healthcare delivery model is important for improving the quality of healthcare services and enhancing patient satisfaction. However, this decision is complex because it involves several criteria, uncertainty, and different expert opinions. To handle this uncertainty, this paper uses Interval-Valued Spherical Fuzzy Sets (IVSFSs), which allow experts to express their evaluations more flexibly. This paper proposes an integrated interval-valued spherical fuzzy CRITIC-WASPAS approach to prioritize healthcare delivery models. The CRITIC method is used to determine the objective weights of the evaluation criteria, while the WASPAS method is used to rank the healthcare delivery models. Expert evaluations are expressed …

A Neutrosophic Event-Graph Legal Ai System For Detecting Contradictions In Witness Testimonies Under Egyptian Law, Shimaa Abdelghany Attalla, Alaa Elmor, Nada Hesham, Abduallah Gamal

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Witness testimony is an important source of evidence in criminal proceedings, but it may contain contradictions, incomplete details, or conflicts with other case-file materials. This paper proposes a neutrosophic event-graph legal AI framework for detecting materially contested claims in witness testimonies under the Egyptian criminal-procedure context. The framework converts testimony and related records into structured claims containing actor, action, object, time, location, source, and modality. These claims are then connected through an event graph and evaluated using neutrosophic components of support, indeterminacy, and opposition. The system produces source-grounded legal-review alerts when a claim has sufficient opposition from other claims or …

A Unified Framework For Neutrosophic Estimation Using Fractional Power, Exponential, And Logarithmic Functions With Bivariate Auxiliary Information, Anchal Yadav, Anuj Yadav

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

This study develops a generalized neutrosophic ratio-type estimator for estimating the population mean by incorporating information from two auxiliary variables under Simple Random Sampling Without Replacement (SRSWOR). The proposed methodology extends the conventional single-auxiliary-variable approach by jointly incorporating bivariate auxiliary information within the neutrosophic framework, thereby accounting for uncertainty, indeterminacy, and inconsistency in the available information. The bias and mean squared error of the proposed estimator are derived using first-order approximations, and the corresponding efficiency conditions are established through theoretical comparisons with existing neutrosophic estimators. The performance of the proposed estimator is further examined using a real medical dataset represented …

20 Years Of Neutrosophic Statistics: A Bibliometric Analysis, Hammad Khalid, Arshad Hameed

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Florentin Smarandache introduced neutrosophic statistics (NS), a formalism for representing uncertainty and indeterminacy in observations, parameters and statistics in an extension to classical and interval statistics. Although widespread in various contexts, such as statistical quality control, hypothesis testing, medical diagnosis, and decision science, and increasingly used and developed, the scientific evolution and conceptual framework of the science of decision making remain largely unexamined. To fill this gap, the present study has been conducted with a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of NS research articles published between 2003 to 2025 from Scopus which has been conducted following the SPAR-4-SLR protocol. In all, 501 …