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Concerned with the vulnerability of U.S.civilian and military personnel to terrorist bombing attacks, the U.S.Congress directed the Department of Defense to undertake a comprehensive research and testing program aimed at protecting people in buildings from such attacks.

This study describes an empirical investigation revealing the critical obstacles to the adoption of a uniform pricing mechanism for building services from the perspective of industry practitioners. A total of 157 questionnaires conducted on quantity surveyors (N=75), mechanical engineers (N=39) and electrical engineers (N=43) were collected and used for the study. T –test statistics was run to identify ten significant factors from a list of fourteen factors identified. Relative importance indices were computed for each factor from the perspectives of the practitioners so as to determine the most critical obstructive factors. The result shows that the five most important obstructive factors in order of significance are: (1) difficulty in the interpretation of the Standard Method of Measurement by design consultants (2) the late involvement of building services design consultants (3) quantity surveyors' insufficient skill in mechanical and electrical services technology (4) drawings of services are often not ready for billing at the tender stage and (5) the lack of a generally accepted Standard Method of Measurement for mechanical and electrical services.

Building information model (BIM) software and processes leverage the power of visual relational databases to improve decision making and business processes to revolutionize the building industry. BIMStorm+ is a Cloud Computing collaborative process that leverages web-based BIM capabilities of the ONUMA Planning System+ to enable data sharing among multiple software programs including BIM software, GIS systems, Google Earth, Excel, and other sources, even hand drawings. \"A variety of features can include: * Home page component * Resource use shown in real-time * Historical comparison graphs * Display building's green features * Environmental information and tips * Competition among multiple buildings * LEED+ checklist * Current weather conditions * Donor/sponsor/advertisement page * Interactive quiz * Company information * Other custom options\" We are all ambassadors of the cloud, and our future depends on our ability to provide working examples of using the cloud to connect to sustainability, conservation, and realtime energy information.

Location-based services (LBS) use positioning technologies to provide individual users with reachability and accessibility that would otherwise not be available in the conventional commercial realm. While LBS confer greater connectivity and personalization on consumers, they also threaten users' information privacy through granular tracking of their preferences, behaviors, and identity. To address privacy concerns in the LBS context, this study extends the privacy calculus model to explore the role of information delivery mechanisms (pull and push) in the efficacy of three privacy intervention approaches (compensation, industry self-regulation, and government regulation) in influencing individual privacy decision making. The research model was tested using data gathered from 528 respondents through a quasi-experimental survey method. Structural equations modeling using partial least squares validated the instrument and the proposed model. Results suggest that the effects of the three privacy intervention approaches on an individual's privacy calculus vary based on the type of information delivery mechanism (pull and push). Results suggest that providing financial compensation for push-based LBS is more important than it is for pull-based LBS. Moreover, this study shows that privacy advocates and government legislators should not treat all types of LBS as undifferentiated but could instead specifically target certain types of services.

As Building Information Modeling (BIM) models are getting bigger, with more information linked to geometrical 3D models, a dedicated BIM search engine is important. A BIM search engine was developed to examine the value of exploiting a 3D object’s topological relationships to other 3D objects when assessing that object’s relevance to a query. The impacts of two information standards, the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and Uniclass-2015, on information retrieval (IR) performance were also measured. The 3DIR Autodesk Revit toolset was used on a structural model of a 16-story building from an industry partner. The retrieval performance measures of Precision and Recall did not clearly highlight the benefit, although the increased relevance values of those objects deemed by experts to be relevant demonstrates the promise of such contextual measures. The effect of shifting from the native Revit file format to various standards was tested: IR performance was poor with the Uniclass-2015 dataset and was comparable to the Revit native model with the IFC model. Although not shown conclusively to improve retrieval performance, the contextual relevance measures presented in this paper are promising and constitute a significant original contribution. Future research is needed to fine-tune these measures and fully realize their potential.

The majority of Europe’s building stock consists of facilities built before 2001, presenting a substantial opportunity for energy efficiency improvements during their operation and maintenance phase. Digitalizing these buildings with digital twin technology can significantly enhance their energy efficiency. Reviewing the applications and trends of digital twins in this context is beneficial to understand the current state of the art and the specific challenges encountered when applying this technology to older buildings. This study focuses on the application of digital twins in building operations and maintenance (O & M), emphasizing energy efficiency throughout the building lifetime. A systematic process to select 21 pertinent use-case studies was performed, complemented by an analysis of six enterprise-level digital twin solutions. This was followed by an overview of general characteristics, thematic classification, detailed individual study analyses, and a comparison of digital twin solutions with commercial tools. Five main applications of digital twins were identified and examined: component monitoring, anomaly detection, operational optimization, predictive maintenance and simulation of alternative scenarios. The paper highlights challenges like the reliance on Building Information Modeling (BIM) and the need for robust data acquisition systems. These limitations hinder the implementation of digital twins, in particular in existing buildings with no digital information available. It concludes with future research directions emphasizing the development of methods not solely reliant on BIM data, integration challenges, and potential enhancements through AI and machine learning applications.

Strengthening data quality in the routine health information system is vital for the performance of health service outcomes. However, implementation of the routine interventions to improve data quality in the existing health system has been found inadequate two in Ethiopia. This study was aimed to examine the effect of Augmented Capacity Development Interventions (ACDI) on the performance of data quality in the routine health information system. A arm, parallel group, cluster-randomized control trial was implemented from July 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024. Baseline data were collected from April 1–30, 2023, and end-line data from April 1–30, 2024. The cluster design was employed as it allows for minimizing information contamination. The study included 72 health institution clusters and 304 health workers (154 intervention and 150 control arms). The implemented interventions include training, supportive supervision, mentorship, and recognition. General Linear Mixed Model was applied for analysis. The mean score for data quality perception improved from 2.32 at baseline to 3.13 at end-line (95% CI: 3.05, 3.21; P < .001). The data quality practice has significantly improved after the implementation of the ACDI packages (β = .17; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.30; P = .007), ease of data management (β = .14; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.22; P < .001), information use (β = .15; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.23; P < .001), and the combined effects of encouragement and training (β = .44; 95% CI: 0.23, 0.65; P < .001) were significant predictors of the change in the data quality. The ACDI packages implemented in this study effectively influenced data quality improvement. Key predictors of data quality practices included an encouraging system, ease of data management, written guidelines, supportive supervision, and training. Therefore, the interventions are recommended to be adapted and scaled up. Trial registration ID: PACTR202212472091194.

With the fast growth and rapid development of the construction industry, building design is not satisfied with only safety, accessibility, and habitability. People are requiring more multifunctional layouts and beautifully designed buildings. Thus, special and unique-shaped buildings with various curved curtain walls have emerged more than ever in recent years. As for these curtain walls, it is difficult to perform the size measurement for panel design and calibration, as well as the on-site material cutting and assembly accurately and efficiently. The occurrence and continuous progress of 3D laser scanning technology combined with building information modeling (BIM) technology have been paid attention to and applied for curtain wall engineering to overcome this problem, particularly the construction-related progress, such as developed design and on-site installation. The 3D laser scanning technology can achieve fast and high-precision measurement by creating a “point cloud” dataset of the target building and its components, based on which an accurate as-built 3D BIM model of the scanned items can be established. By comparing and calibrating with the as-planned curtain wall design, engineers can update the real-time information (locations, shape, dimensions, etc.) for the following developed design and assembly production of the curtain wall. Compared to the conventional approach using manual locating and measurement, the progress of the curtain wall design and installation can be achieved in a more accurate and efficient manner by employing 3D laser scanning technology. Based on these considerations, in this present study, the basic concept, workflow, a case study with practical strategies of the application of 3D laser scanning technology in the curtain wall design and installation field, including the scanning operation, point cloud data acquisition and processing, 3D BIM model reconstruction, and relevant BIM model practice have been elaborated and discussed. Also, the 3D model that represents the actual construction condition established based on the point cloud data was used to compare with the originally designed BIM model. It was found discrepancies existed in the dimensions and positions between the as-built and as-designed BIM models, which can thus be used to revise the manufacture design and improve the installation plan of curtain walls. Furthermore, the difference, benefits, great significance of replacing conventional methods with 3D laser scanning technology, and instructions, limitations, recommendations for practical application, along with challenges and future directions open to research in the curtain wall construction field, were also presented in this work. Therefore, this work provides technical support to the application of 3D laser scanning technology and its combination with the BIM platform in the curtain wall construction.

Access to high-quality internet plays an increasingly important role in supporting care delivery and health information access. Although internet access has the potential to alleviate some inequities in health care, the digital divide negatively impacts cancer across the continuum. While subscription to high-speed internet has been previously assessed, satisfaction with home internet to meet the health needs of users is a lesser-known, important indicator of satisfactory access to internet-based health information and digital health technology use. This study aimed to assess differences in perceptions of quality of at-home internet connection and its association to cancer health information-seeking experiences and use of digital health technologies in a nationally representative sample of US adults. Secondary analysis of data from the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 2022 (n=6252) was conducted. The primary predictor, \"how satisfied are you with your Internet connection at home to meet health-related needs?,\" a novel item on HINTS 6, was dichotomized into \"high\" (extremely satisfied or very satisfied) and \"low\" (somewhat satisfied, not very satisfied, or not at all satisfied) satisfaction. Outcomes variables included 3 items assessing cancer information-seeking experiences and 2 items measuring access to telehealth and patient portals over the past 12 months. Adjusted logistic regression models (P<.05) were performed, including age, race and ethnicity, education, income, health insurance access, geography, and difficulty understanding cancer information, a proxy for health literacy, as covariates. Those reporting low satisfaction with their home internet had higher odds of agreeing that searching for cancer information took a lot of effort (odds ratio [OR] 1.59, 95% CI 1.16-2.19) and that they felt frustrated searching for cancer information (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.07-1.98). Respondents with lower satisfaction with their home internet had lower odds of accessing their patient portal at least once in the past year (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.33-0.89). While the relationship between internet satisfaction and concern over information quality was not significant, respondents aged 18-34 years reported higher odds to be concerned compared with those aged 75 years and older (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.04-2.90), and those with lower education reported less concern over the quality of information compared with those with postbaccalaureate degrees (high school graduate: OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.31-0.99; college graduate: OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.48-0.95). Finally, while the association between satisfaction with internet and telehealth use over the past 12 months was not significant, those without health insurance were significantly less likely to have had a telehealth appointment in the last year (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.19-0.81). Satisfaction with internet at home to meet health needs is correlated with cancer information-seeking experiences and usage of some available health technology. These findings underscore the value of high-quality internet services toward successful implementation of health care technology and better patient experiences in health information seeking.