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Showing papers on "Project engineering published in 2011"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: E-mails are, rightly or wrongly, a staple of the information and communication technology for managing work and collaborative activities, but it is found that the purpose of e-mail is not necessarily consistent with the designated job role or responsibility of the sender or recipient.
Abstract: E-mails are, rightly or wrongly, a staple of the information and communication technology for managing work and collaborative activities. This paper examines the value of the content of e-mail at a project level rather than at the often-studied level of the individual user. The dataset consists of e-mails authored by an engineering team associated with a large, complex, long term, systems integration project, typical of the aerospace, marine, and defense sectors. The research applied a qualitative content analysis methodology to classify the content (what the e-mail contains) and purpose (why the e-mail was sent) of the e-mail in the dataset. The results of the content analysis were compared and contrasted with secondary evidence from interviews and project documentation to enable a time-phased analysis. The findings show that classifying e-mail content by the categories of management, information, and problem-solving transactions revealed signatures that align with project phases and, more importantly, problems encountered. Finally, we found that the purpose of e-mail is not necessarily consistent with the designated job role or responsibility of the sender or recipient. This paper contributes to empirical data on the relation between communication and project performance and the changing nature of e-mail communication throughout the lifecycle of a project. The findings point to a new way to leverage e-mail content to “manage by e-mail”.

51 citations



Proceedings ArticleDOI
10 Oct 2011
TL;DR: In this article, an output utilization mechanism is proposed to explain the cause and effect relationship between a project's outputs and target outcomes and discuss its role in the generation of target outcomes.
Abstract: Benefit realization is becoming a critical performance criterion measure for project success. However, the mechanism through which outputs eventually become outcomes has not yet been identified. This paper proposes that an output utilization mechanism is needed to explain the cause and effect relationship between a project's outputs and target outcomes. The paper describes such a utilization mechanism, and discusses its role in the generation of target outcomes. By expanding on the concept of output utilization, the paper suggests the utilization map as a new tool for project scoping.

6 citations



Proceedings ArticleDOI
12 Oct 2011
TL;DR: The authors investigate why organizations maintain long-term partnerships with EPICS, and develop recommendations for enhancing benefits to all stakeholders.
Abstract: Project-Based Service Learning (PBSL) is increasingly popular in engineering programs as a way to develop key student skills and address community needs. Since most PBSL projects have the intention of providing a service to a community, it is critical that partner voices are heard. However, there has been little research examining the roles and motivations of project clients. To address the community perspective, the authors have identified six organizations with longstanding (over five years) partnerships with Purdue University's Engineering Projects In Community Service (EPICS) program, and will interview 1–3 individuals associated with each. These partners have been involved with numerous EPICS projects over multiple years. Our major objectives are to investigate why organizations maintain long-term partnerships with EPICS, and develop recommendations for enhancing benefits to all stakeholders. Here we present a background literature review and description of the project scope and methods.

5 citations


Book
21 Dec 2011
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors treat the C -hydrocarbons and their secondary products as a contribution to chemical engineering economics, applying this field of teaching and research to the technical processes for making and processing this group of products, so important to the chemical industry.
Abstract: The book treats the C -hydrocarbons and their secondary products as a contribution 4 to chemical engineering economics, applying this field of teaching and research to the technical processes for making and processing this group of products, so important to the chemical industry As early as tpe 1950s the then director of the Institute for Technical Chemistry of the Berlin Technical University, Professor Herbert Kolbel, took the' initiative in the domain of Chemical Engineering Economics and began systematic studies of Project Engineering and Cost Estimation in connection with chemical plants He also started a course on technical chemical processes in 1966 Properties, production procedures, plant equipment, and also the uses of technically interesting products are the central features of Chemical Technology The information is to be found in the large encyclopedias of Technical Chemistry On the other hand, Chemical Engineering Economics deals with all the economic conditions of usage of the raw materials, possibilities of utilizing co-products, and the integration of these products into definite production programmes, from the stand point of the chemical and technical fundamentals of the processes Further important viewpoints are the costs of the products, taking into consideration important and variable influences on these costs, the situation and development of the market for the products and, of increasing significance, also the ecological global conditions for procuring raw materials and the production and marketing of the particular products"

3 citations


Proceedings ArticleDOI
24 Jun 2011
TL;DR: Based on the grey relative analysis of grey system theory, an efficient estimating model for construction engineering was established in this paper, where the characteristic parameters of the construction engineering were determined to form the parameter coefficients matrices of the typical project and the project to be evaluated so as to test the suitability of a typical project.
Abstract: Based on the grey relative analysis of grey system theory, an efficient estimating model for construction engineering was established Firstly, the characteristic parameters of the construction engineering were determined to form the parameter coefficients matrices of the typical project and the project to be evaluated so as to test the suitability of the typical project Secondly, the relational degree between the typical project and the project to be evaluated was calculated and analyzed, and the costs of the three most similar typical projects to that of the project to be evaluated were carefully chosen as sample data, and then the cost of the project to be estimated was calculated and its reliability was tested Finally, the efficient estimating model was applied to estimate the cost of a real case The results showed that the estimating model has better precision, higher efficiency and provide a reliable basis for the investment decision

3 citations


Proceedings ArticleDOI
10 Oct 2011
TL;DR: Based on combination of related foreign theories and engineering practices in China, an index system of project performance evaluation has been explored and constructed as mentioned in this paper, and the index system applied the cases according to their actual situations.
Abstract: Based on combination of related foreign theories and engineering practices in China, an index system of project performance evaluation has been explored and constructed. Furthermore, we applied the index system of performance evaluation to the cases according to their actual situations. The effectiveness of the index system of engineering projects was confirmed, and effect of integration management of engineering project was proved in practice.

2 citations


Proceedings ArticleDOI
30 Aug 2011
TL;DR: The Three Gorges Project (TGP) as discussed by the authors is the largest concrete construction in the present world and is characterized by complicated structures, intensive construction and high technical standards, which should meet the requirements not only of stability but also of special flood releasing, power generation and navigation improvement.
Abstract: The Three Gorges Project (TGP) is the largest concrete construction in the present world. The project, with a total amount of approximately 28 million m3 of concrete, is characterized by complicated structures, intensive construction and high technical standards, which should meet the requirements not only of stability but also of special flood releasing, power generation and navigation improvement. Through engineering practice, a management mode that embodies the characteristics of TGP construction has been formed. Various new techniques and technologies have been used to ensure the concrete quality. Design, construction and management measures were adopted for the concrete works of the project. It is shown that, a scientific and reasonable management mode is crucial for planning, controlling and coordinating a large-scale construction project, which is the key to the success of hydropower development.

2 citations


Proceedings ArticleDOI
12 Oct 2011
TL;DR: A new project-based learning (PBL) curriculum has begun in northeastern Minnesota as a collaboration between a community college, Itasca Community College, and a state university, Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Abstract: A new project-based learning (PBL) curriculum has begun in northeastern Minnesota as a collaboration between a community college, Itasca Community College, and a state university, Minnesota State University, Mankato. The Iron Range Engineering (IRE) model is a unique, undergraduate problem-based learning engineering program. Students at IRE, who are mostly graduates of Minnesota's community colleges, are upper-division engineering students, enrolled at Minnesota State University, Mankato. IRE students do not take classes. Rather than studying about engineering in the context of 15-week engineering courses, IRE students work in mining, milling, and manufacturing industries solving complex and ill-structured industry problems. All of their learning activities are organized and indexed by those industry projects. At the completion of their two-year program, they receive a B.S. in Engineering with emphases in mechanical engineering and/or electrical engineering. True to the intent of ABET and the attributes of the “The Engineer of 2020”, graduates emerge from the IRE program with integrated technical/professional knowledge and competencies.

2 citations


Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Dec 2011
TL;DR: In order to solve batch construction problems of military projects with specific attributes, the authors proposes the engineering management method, defines the connotation of engineering and construction engineering management, constructs the theoretical framework of the constructions engineering management for military projects and discusses the main contents of it.
Abstract: In order to solve batch construction problems of military projects with specific attributes, this paper proposes the engineering management method, defines the connotation of engineering and construction engineering management, constructs the theoretical framework of the constructions engineering management for military projects and discusses the main contents of it At the end of this paper, the author proposes quantitative effect evaluation of construction engineering management from different angles, which include target satisfaction assessment, the data envelopment analysis (DEA) and grey relation (GR) model All of analyses and discussion are aimed at the optimization of the implement effect for military projects

26 Jun 2011
TL;DR: A team of first year engineering students was given the opportunity to work with an upperclassmen engineering student and faculty from nursing and engineering toward design improvement in NoelleTM, a manikin who simulates birth through both cephalic presentation and malpresentation.
Abstract: Typical projects involving engineering students identified as „interdisciplinary‟ usually involve different disciplines within engineering. Projects that are truly interdisciplinary can be discovered when faculty from different areas of campus work together toward the development of a project involving students from outside their respective discipline. This paper presents results of one such arrangement. During a tour of a new nursing laboratory, engineering noticed possible design improvements in various manikins (life-sized anatomical human models) in the nursing laboratory. A team of first year engineering students was given the opportunity to work with an upperclassmen engineering student, all with an interest in biomedical engineering and faculty from nursing and engineering toward design improvement in NoelleTM, a manikin who simulates birth through both cephalic presentation and malpresentation; head or feet first. The students were charged with nearly all aspects of the project including preparing a proposal, documenting progress, reporting to faculty and community on the status of the project and a final poster presentation and engineering report. The final project involved two specific redesigns. First, a microphone that simulates fetal heartbeats was repositioned and rewired since the cords were often damaged during the birth simulation. Second, both the umbilical cord and its attachment point to the baby manikin was redesigned because the original attachment point weakened the umbilical cord and often led to a broken and unusable cord. The attachment into the baby manikin was fitted with a push-lock connector and the free end of the umbilical cord was capped off in order to fit comfortably into the new attachment point. This report offers information to allow similar Universities, especially those without a formal biomedical engineering undergraduate program, to explore the implementation of similar interdisciplinary projects. It includes a description of the working arrangement between faculty in nursing and engineering with the student team of engineers, description of deliverables from the student team, results of the design implementations, and discussion of professional skills developed through the process. The report will also include testimonials from the students with a self-assessment of the value of the project. Biomedical Engineering options at a small, private university: Ohio Northern University, like other smaller, private Universities, has engineering programs in Electrical and Computer, Mechanical and Civil Engineering. Students with an interest in Biomedical Engineering are offered two alternatives: a Biomedical Option (through Electrical or P ge 22179.2 Computer Engineering) or a Biomedical Sciences minor (through Mechanical Engineering) 1 ; both options offer students an opportunity to take coursework and some laboratory work in the biomedical area well into their plan of study. Implementing a full scale biomedical engineering program is not feasible without significant additional recourses or an affiliated medical school. There is little opportunity to work in a laboratory setting on projects related to biomedical engineering in the first year of study, as is the case for most if not all engineering programs. Engineering faculty met with faculty from the Department of Nursing while pursuing opportunities for undergraduate student research projects and, together, an undergraduate research and development opportunity was formed. Department of Nursing The undergraduate baccalaureate nursing program at Ohio Northern University was initiated in 2005 and most recently became its own department. This program has identified strong academic offerings and is currently accredited nationally through the Commission on College Nursing Education (CCNE). The program moved to new facilities and established new laboratory spaces and equipment. The nursing laboratories are outfitted with many innovative pieces of nursing equipment including the use of low to high fidelity manikins. The manikins contribute to student learning as each mannequin has heart, lung, and bowel sounds in addition to being able to instill or remove body fluids from multiple orifices. Laboratory, facility and curricular upgrades allow the ONU department of nursing to improve student learning, recently cited as one of four recommendations by the Institute of Medicine 2 . During a tour of the new nursing facilities, a birthing manikin was demonstrated. Two potential design flaws were immediately evident to the engineering and nursing faculty members. First, a speaker used to create the sound of a fetal heartbeat was wired to a control box very close to the mechanism which pushes the baby during delivery. The second was the attachment of the umbilical cord to the baby: as the baby rotates inside of the manikin, excessive force can cause the cord to rip out of the baby, causing damage to the cord. Rather than a redesign, the manufacturer offered umbilical cords and speakers for sale to replace damaged units. Establishing the undergraduate research project: The redesign offered a distinctive opportunity for a student project. Since this was a unique opportunity, it was decided: The project would be offered outside of any coursework rather than implementing it as an independent study or similar course No pay or credit would be offered The rewards would be intrinsic: the opportunity to learn via a self-directed project and the potential of presenting your results. P ge 22179.3 Identifying interested students: The lead engineering faculty member emailed the faculty involved in different biomedical options in the college, asking for a few names of students who may be interested and had the ability to lead an extracurricular project. These students were emailed to determine their interest, and one junior Mechanical Engineer volunteered to lead the project team. As the leader was identified, the first-year engineering cohort was emailed to determine if there was interest among these students. Four students replied and the team was scheduled to visit the nursing laboratory for an extensive demonstration. NoelleTM, the birthing manikin, was demonstrated. The participating students met with the lead faculty member from engineering and nursing, and the project team consisting of one junior and three freshmen was formed and named “Team Nursing”. Student self-direction of the project: Although the project had been identified by the faculty from nursing and engineering prior to establishing it as an undergraduate project, the student team was free to define the project in their own terms given the specified criteria, including a requirement to finish the design by the end of the academic quarter.. The team was tasked to submit a project schedule (and regular updates) to the lead faculty. They were expected to meet regularly, and offered access to the nursing laboratory when needed. The junior was initially identified as the team leader, and the engineering faculty member was identified as the lead faculty. Reporting requirements: Team Nursing was also tasked to present their results in a variety of forms, including a final written report and a poster presentation in an undergraduate research symposium. In addition, it was anticipated that an academic paper would be submitted for publication. Presenting Technical Results: In addition to a paper summarizing the results of the project, Team Nursing presented their results through two venues: a research poster presentation at an undergraduate research symposium and through a final technical report presented to engineering and nursing. Undergraduate Research Symposium: Team Nursing submitted and was accepted to present at a campus-wide Undergraduate Research Symposium, which is typically a venue for teams from Pharmacy and the physical sciences. The team developed and presented a research poster (Figure 1). They received very positive feedback not only for their project, but for their presentation skills and enthusiasm. Page 22179.4 Figure 1: Team Nursing poster presented at Ohio Northern University Undergraduate Research Symposium

Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Oct 2011
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify the technology units, evaluate technology risk based on technology readiness theory, and provide weapon research project cost evaluation method from the view of technology value, and hope to supply decision-making references for managers.
Abstract: Traditional weapon research project pricing method makes the bigger valuation cost, the more profit research department is got. The weapon research department always loses the driver of saving cost and controlling expenditure. This paper identifies the technology units, evaluates technology risk based on technology readiness theory. According to value engineering methods, it provides weapon research project cost evaluation method from the view of technology value, and hopes to supply decision-making references for managers.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
06 Sep 2011
TL;DR: In this article, the authors demonstrate that supervision management introduced into engineering project management is an exchange way of reduce transactions costs, and they give an expectation of information engineering construction supervision management.
Abstract: This paper from new institutional economic angle demonstrate that supervision management introduced into engineering project management is an exchange way of reduce transactions costs, then the author give an expectation of information engineering construction supervision management.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
15 Jul 2011
TL;DR: This essay applies the BP neural network in the cost estimation of college engineering, defines the proper value which will influence the engineering cost and builds up the model of neural network using the MATLAB in order to train, simulate and test the model.
Abstract: The engineering cost estimation during the early stage of the project is not only the basis of feasibility study in the investment management of construction project, but is also the vital factor for the estimate of the bidding. What's more, its accuracy directly erects influences on the decision of investment and construction cost control for the project. By collecting and clearing up the materials of the completed construction projects, this essay applies the BP neural network in the cost estimation of college engineering, defines the proper value which will influence the engineering cost and then builds up the model of neural network. For the purpose of realizing the model, it also applies the MATLAB in order to train, simulate and test the model. Furthermore, it uses the project case to test the model, the result of which proves that this kind of model is on the one hand of great generalization ability, but it can also precisely estimate the engineering cost.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
25 Mar 2011
TL;DR: In this paper, a mathematical model based on dissipative structure for order definition of construction project organization has been put forward, and some comprehension problems have been clarified about the application of Dissipative Structure theory in order definition.
Abstract: The significance of construction project organization is self evident for it is charged with achieving construction project general objective, so the ordered function of construction project organization and organization variation are the precondition for the success of construction project. However, because of the complexity and special interface relations belong to construction project organization, it is in great difficulty to evaluate the construction project organization. So whether the construction project organization perform well should be estimated qualitatively only, which is hard to grasped and generalized evidently. Based on the Dissipative Structure theory and neglect the impact of organization pattern and interface , the standard that whether the construction project organization perform well should be ascribed to that whether the organization is ordered or not. According to the analysis listed above, the mathematical model based on Dissipative Structure for order definition of construction project organization has been put forward, and some comprehension problems have been clarified about the application of Dissipative Structure theory in order definition of construction project organization.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
Feifan Ye1
04 Apr 2011
TL;DR: In this article, a two-dimensional model is developed to illustrate how different programs are built on different disciplines by means of virtual organization and the concepts of modularization and postponement are employed in curriculum development to facilitate the implementation of virtual organizations in higher engineering education and then to combine the advantages of scale and scope for teaching administration.
Abstract: Nowadays we are in an ever-changing world and higher engineering education is facing more challenges than before. Due to the globalization of economy, engineering products are manufactured by integrating resources from many countries all over the world. Engineering projects are implemented by the people with different cultural background. Programs of higher engineering education seem to be more specialized and more comprehensive. Meanwhile, each program is getting more and more cross disciplinary based. The trend of these changes continuous forward and the changes are getting more and more rapidly so that higher institutions find more difficult to cope with these changes than before. It becomes very important to improve the agility of engineering education in order to keep its capability of competition in education market. According to the experiences in manufacturing industries, the agility is simply considered as the ability of quick responsiveness at low costs. In this paper, based on the successful implementation in manufacturing industries, virtual organization is introduced to improve the agility of engineering education. A two-dimension model is developed to illustrate how different programs are built on different disciplines by means of virtual organization. In this model all the disciplines in an institution are considered as a set of real organizations in real dimension and all the programs are considered as a set of virtual organizations in virtual dimension. Furthermore, the concepts of modularization and postponement are employed in curriculum development to facilitate the implementation of virtual organization in higher engineering education and then to combine the advantages of scale and scope for teaching administration.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
25 Mar 2011
TL;DR: In this paper, the interior dynamics research of construction project organization variation has been divided into two levels which are individual dynamics research and participators organization dynamics research, and then the ERG theory and Expectancy theory have been adopted to analyze the project job undertaker in the organization how to impact the project organisation variation through organization behaviour from micro and medium view.
Abstract: A success project need a success project organization certainly, so the research on organization variation mechanism of Construction Project is important. The production shows the form mechanism and the motivity during the Life-Cycle variation in construction project organization and provides gists and references for construction project organization scheme and organization pattern choice. However, because of the dynamicity and complexity of construction project organization and the adult business organization theory should not be simply adopted , so the systemic production has not been put forward so far. According to the character of construction project organization, the interior dynamics research of construction project organization variation has been divided into two levels which are individual dynamics research and participators organization dynamics research, and then the ERG theory and Expectancy theory have been adopted to analyze the project job undertaker in the organization how to impact the project organization variation through organization behaviour from micro and medium view. Further, the dynamics system chart of individual and participators organization has been put forward.

Journal ArticleDOI
Jing Ya Li1
TL;DR: Based on the study of some post-disaster reconstruction project examples and related policy documents, this paper analyzed the existing problems of the postdisaster reconstruct project engineering cost combining with the actual engineering projects of post-Wenchuan earthquake reconstruction and put forward some suggestions for it in the end.
Abstract: Based on the study of some post-disaster reconstruction project examples and related policy documents,this article analyses the existing problems of the post-disaster reconstruction project engineering cost combining with the actual engineering projects of the post-Wenchuan earthquake reconstruction. Then it discusses the factors that affect the post-disaster reconstruction project engineering cost and puts forward some suggestions for it in the end. The study of this paper expects to provide some theoretical and practical references for the subsequent engineering practices, and hopes not only promoting the limited government post-disaster reconstruction special funds to realize their maximum utility, but also enhancing the whole level of our countries'reconstruction management and engineering cost control.