To design solutions for occupational safety at a construction site for the construction technology project, an occupational hazard was assessed. Possible solutions for occupational safety depend on the number of criteria such as hazardous factors from which workers must be protected; the number of danger zones; architectural-design and structural solutions of a building; types of technical protection measures, etc. A large set of solutions for occupational safety predetermines the number of respective typical (or repeated) solutions, which are based on specific technical safety measures and are applicable depending on a hazardous factor; besides, it determines systematisation of the solutions on these grounds. It is suggested to use the Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique for assessment and selection of appropriate solutions for occupational safety. The authors propose formulating assessed alternatives from the typical solutions to ensure their quality and then apply the entropy met...

/pdf/assessment-of-health-and-safety-solutions-at-a-construction-1w21m3ue4n.pdf

Assessment of health and safety solutions at a construction site

An integrated approach for warehouse analysis and optimization

Advances in artificial intelligence strengthen chatbots’ ability to resemble human conversational agents. For some application areas, it may be tempting not to be transparent regarding a conversational agent’s nature as chatbot or human. However, the uncanny valley theory suggests that such lack in transparency may cause uneasy feelings in the user. In this study, we combined quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate this issue. First, we used a 2 x 2 experimental research design (n = 28) to investigate effects of lack in transparency on the perceived pleasantness of the conversation in addition to perceived human likeness and affinity for the conversational agent. Second, we conducted an exploratory analysis of qualitative participant reports on these conversations. We did not find that a lack in transparency negatively affected user experience, but we identified three factors important to participants’ assessments. The findings are of theoretical and practical significance and motivate future research.

Help! Is my chatbot falling into the uncanny valley? An empirical study of user experience in human-chatbot interaction

This paper presents the development of a smart flood monitoring system using Blynk platform as a medium of data transmission. This system is based on two NodeMCU development board integrated using Blynk application (IOS or android). The first NodeMCU is placed at the flood area, whilst the second NodeMCU acts as the control unit. Transmitter unit consisting of first NodeMCU, an ultrasonic sensor will detect the water level during flooding and display it on the LCD. Then, the data detected from the ultrasonic sensors will be sent to the Blynk application via wireless connection. The data are instantly collected and stored in a dedicated database for recording purposes. In order to alert the person in charge of the control unit, the data then will be send to second NodeMCU via Blynk bridge to trigger the buzzer and the LED. Based on the findings, the access to the system between first NodeMCU and second NodeMCU can be made within less or more than 50 meters. In the findings, it revealed that the system works well when the data sensed by the ultrasonic sensor display on the Blynk application and both buzzer and LED are functioning. The results obtained shown that the system is capable to tackle the flood problem in the affected area.

The development of smart flood monitoring system using ultrasonic sensor with blynk applications

To achieve a high compression ratio in coding video data, a method known as Motion Estimation (ME) is often applied to reduce the temporal redundancy between successive frames of a video sequence. One of ME techniques, known as Block Matching Algorithm (BMA), has been widely used in various video coding standards. In recent years, many of these BMAs have been developed with similar intention of reducing the computational costs while at the same time maintaining the video signal quality. In this paper, an algorithm called Hexagon-Diamond Search (HDS) is proposed for ME where the algorithm and several fast BMAs, namely Three Step Search (TSS), New Three Step Search (NTSS), Four Step Search (4SS) as well as Diamond Search (DS), are first selected to be implemented onto various type of standard test video sequence using MATLAB before their performances are compared and analyzed in terms of peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), number of search points needed as well as their computational complexity. Simulation results demonstrate that HDS algorithm has speed up other algorithm's computational work up to 56% on average while at the same time maintains close performance in terms of average PSNR to others.

Performance Analysis of Hexagon-Diamond Search Algorithm for Motion Estimation

Efficiency of industrial production lines is crucial as it results in an improved production and utilization of available resources. Factors contributing to production line efficiency are manpower utilization and machine efficiency. Measuring the machine efficiency and man power utilization should be on-line, accurate and truthful. The management should be able to look for relevant production data and to accurately interpret these data in order to identify the various faults at production level and to immediately take steps to improve efficiency. However, faults are overwritten and reports are retouched with inaccurate information. An accurate and on line data management system can ensure that these problems are overcome.

http://www.wseas.us/e-library/conferences/2009/cambridge/EHAC/EHAC10.pdf

Machine efficiency and man power utilization on production lines

Flooding is a great treat towards mankind as it is also considered one of the most devastating natural disasters in the world. Flooding is not any abnormal scenario worldwide, since flooding results in great damages to agriculture land, residential area and even cities with high cost in lives and towards the economy of the country. The government has to spend tons of money in flood mitigation plans in afford to help the victims and also to reduce the number in the long run. Most of the flood mitigating plans has high cost and only can be implemented base on priority. Baring the cost and safety measures, this paper highlights the Flood Observatory System (FOS) as a warning and alert system to efficiently monitor the critical flood prone areas in real time basis. FOS can be deployed in flood prone areas in afford to create a well-used standard for remote flood observation systems. The ability to receive real time information on flood level empowers both government and private organizations to react to imminent danger in an effective manner. With the real time flood information, allows public safety organizations and other emergency managers to effectively plan their resource deployment within the limited time of alert. Warning as flood rises could be used to save life's and properties in many ways can help such organization and government to spend sufficient amount of money in restoration process. The simple and practicality of a system should be useful in all means towards mankind.

/pdf/flood-level-indicator-and-risk-warning-system-for-remote-4j5rt9wzko.pdf

Flood level indicator and risk warning system for remote location monitoring using flood observatory system

� Abstract—The picture of a perfect road construction site is the one that utilizes conventional vertical road signs and a flagman to optimize the traffic flow with minimum hazel to the public. Former research has been carried out by Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and Ministry of Works to further enhance smoothness in traffic operations and particularly in safety issues within work zones. This paper highlights on hazardous zones in a certain road construction or road maintenance site. Most cases show that the flagman falls into high risk of fatal accidents within work zone. Various measures have been taken by both the authorities and contractors to overcome such miseries, yet it's impossible to eliminate the usage of a flagman since it is considered the best practice. With the implementation of new technologies in automating the traffic flow in road construction site, it is possible to eliminate the usage of a flagman. The intelligent traffic light system is designed to solve problems which contribute hazardous at road construction site and to be inline with the road safety regulation which is taken into granted.

Risk Factors in a Road Construction Site

Upon receiving new mails or letters in their mailbox, most users do not get notified of this fact. They have to speculatively and periodically check their mailbox contents. In most events, the users are neglectful on checking their mailbox. This at times may lead towards the ignorance of important letters and results in various miseries. Most of the multi story buildings such as apartments, condominiums, office buildings etc limit the users on limited visits to check or collect their letters due to the centralize mailbox location. Users find convenient to be on alert of mails they receive to overwrite the conventional method of checking mailbox. Because of the high confidentiality and official letters are increasing as a corresponding tool globally, the users seek for a better solution which enables them to be on their toes each time a mail is delivered. The state of the art electronics technology is incorporated into these conventional mailboxes as a solution. The programmable logic controller, interface module and the GSM modem can be incorporated by linking the userpsilas mailbox with short messaging system or email facilities and this enables the users to be notified whenever a new mail is delivered. Mails delivered into the users mailbox, the system will automatically generate an alert which is send in the form of a short message system or email that typically details the real time of mail delivery. The system is designed to easy human life by sending short messaging system or email to notify the users about important new mails reaching their mailbox. This is likely to be a fast growing and popular application for short messaging system and email towards the mankind.

Real time mailbox alert system via SMS or email

Brain health is essential for health, well‐being, productivity and creativity across the entire life. Its definition goes beyond the absence of disease embracing all cognitive, emotional, behavioural and social functions which are necessary to cope with life situations.

S. K. Subramaniam

Papers

Machine efficiency and man power utilization on production lines

Flood level indicator and risk warning system for remote location monitoring using flood observatory system

Risk Factors in a Road Construction Site

Real time mailbox alert system via SMS or email

The European Academy of Neurology Brain Health Strategy: One brain, one life, one approach