Showing papers by "Thomas Kvan published in 2007"

New Heritage: New Media and Cultural Heritage

Abstract: The use of new media in the service of cultural heritage is a fast growing field, known variously as virtual or digital heritage. New Heritage, under this denomination, broadens the definition of the field to address the complexity of cultural heritage such as the related social, political and economic issues. This book is a collection of 20 key essays, of authors from 11 countries, representing a wide range of professions including architecture, philosophy, history, cultural heritage management, new media, museology and computer science, which examine the application of new media to cultural heritage from a different points of view. Issues surrounding heritage interpretation to the public and the attempts to capture the essence of both tangible (buildings, monuments) and intangible (customs, rituals) cultural heritage are investigated in a series of innovative case studies.

The experience of burnout among future construction professionals: A cross-national study

Abstract: A survey of undergraduate students in Australia and Hong Kong revealed that a specially adapted version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (the MBI‐SS) possesses good internal consistency reliability among construction students. A three‐component model of student burnout, comprising emotional exhaustion, cynicism and personal efficacy was supported in both the Australian and Hong Kong samples. Burnout levels among construction students were similar to those reported in previous non‐construction student samples. Both Australian and Hong Kong construction students reported higher personal efficacy than non‐construction students. Australian students expressed considerably higher cynicism in relation to their university education than the Hong Kong students. The three dimensions of burnout were differentially correlated with work, study and socio‐economic variables. In Australia, student burnout was associated with a perceived tension between paid work and study. In Hong Kong, the demands of study and concern w...

From Virtuality to Reality and Back

Abstract: There has been a growing research interest in investigating techniques to combine real and virtual spaces. A variety of “reality” concepts such as Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality and their supporting technologies have emerged in the field of design to adopt the task of replacing or merging our physical world with the virtual world. The different realities can be tailored to enhance comprehension for specific design activities along a design life-cycle. This paper presents stateof-the-art applications of these “reality” concepts in design and related areas, and proposes a classification of these realities to address suitability issues for the effective utilization of the concepts and technologies. Their potentials and implications in certain design activities are also discussed.

Information Standardization from a Design Perspective

Abstract: One common assumption concerning the digitization of architectural processes and products is that it should be supported by extensive standardization of design and building information. This standardization should extend beyond pre-existing conventions of the analogue period in terms of scope, integration, continuity, flexibility and adaptability. From a design perspective standardization refers to three distinct information types with different origins: geometric, categorical and project-specific information. Such information is accommodated in standards and building models either top-down or bottom-up, resulting into different possibilities and limitations.

Indexing and Retrieval of Visual Design Representations

Abstract: Indexing and retrieval of architectural visual databases refer to multiple levels of abstraction and various points of view which may co-exist in a single image. This complexity is increased by the necessity to structure architectural images into well-defined, meaningful representations. We propose that the correlation of domain analysis and general methods and techniques provides the background to the solution of most problems and a deeper understanding of the structure of indexing and retrieval in architecture.