Explore the vast range of titles available.

Indoor space information extraction is an important aspect of reconstruction for building information modeling and a necessary process for geographic information system from outdoor to indoor. Entity model extracting methods provide advantages in terms of accuracy for building indoor spaces, as compared with network and grid model methods, and the extraction results can be converted into a network or grid model. However, existing entity model extracting methods based on a search loop do not consider the complex indoor environment of a building, such as isolated columns and walls or cross-floor spaces. In this study, such complex indoor environments are analyzed in detail, and a new approach for extracting buildings’ indoor space information is proposed. This approach is based on indoor space boundary calculation, the Boolean difference for single-floor space extraction, relationship reconstruction, and cross-floor space extraction. The experimental results showed that the proposed method can accurately extract indoor space information from the complex indoor environment of a building with geometric, semantic, and relationship information. This study is theoretically important for better understanding the complexity of indoor space extraction and practically important for improving the modeling accuracy of buildings.

Available floor space allocation recommendations are based on considerably lighter market-weight pigs than currently in the United States (i.e., ~130 kg). Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of individual floor space allocation on overall growth performance and carcass characteristics of pigs raised to >135 kg. Over 49 d, three floor space per pig allocations were tested: 0.88, 0.75, and 0.61 m2/pig. When the average weight of pigs in the barn reached 135 kg, the heaviest pigs from each pen were marketed in four cuts, approximately one week apart. Overall, weekly feed disappearance per pig, the mean body weights of pigs, and gain:feed was not affected by floor space allocation (p > 0.10). Pigs remaining in pens with 0.61 m2/pig tended (p < 0.09) to be lighter after the first cut than pigs raised with 0.88 m2/pig. However, there was no difference in body weight between the floor space allocations when the final group was marketed (143.9 ± 0.6 kg; p = 0.13). Carcass lean percent tended (p = 0.08) to be greater (56.8 vs. 56.4%) from pigs provided 0.61 m2/pig of floor space.

PurposeThis paper proposes a new metric, named Operational Space Efficiency (OpSE), intended to diagnose and quantify the inefficient use of floor space for stocking materials in industrial workstations. OpSE presents a formulation analogous to the well-known Overall Equipment Effectiveness and can be obtained as the product of three distinct indicators: Standard Compliance Effectiveness, Standards Selection Effectiveness and Design Space-usage Effectiveness.Design/methodology/approachThis indicator scrutinizes how usefully floor space in workstations is used to temporarily stock materials in the form of raw materials, semi-finished products, parts and components. It is suited for analyzing fixed-position layouts as well as product layouts typical of repetitive manufacturing settings, such as assembly lines in the automotive sector. The proposed indicator leverages an appropriate loss structure that features those factors affecting floor space utilization in workstations with regard to supplying and stocking materials.FindingsAn Italian manufacturer in the field of electro-technology was used as an industrial case study for the application of the methodology. The application shows how the three indicators work in practice, the effectiveness of OpSE and the methodology as a whole, in diagnosing floor space usage inefficiencies and in properly addressing improvement actions of the internal logistics in industrial settings.Originality/valueThe paper scrutinizes some important Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) dealing with space usage efficiency and identifies some significant drawbacks. Then it suggests a new, inclusive structure of losses and a KPI that not only measures efficiency but also allows to identify viable countermeasures.

This study evaluated the effects of high doses of phytase on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and serum chemistry of late-finishing pigs housed under space-restricted conditions. Pigs (n = 375; 94.63 ± 0.61 kg) were randomly assigned to 48 pens, with 7 to 8 pigs per pen, balanced for gilts and barrows. Two phytase doses (control of 2500 FTU/kg or hyper-dose of 5000 FTU/kg) and two space allocation dimensions (adequate with 0.85 m2/pig or restricted with 0.66 m2/pig) were combined to create a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (12 replicates per treatment). The three heaviest pigs per pen were marketed on day 28, and the remaining pigs were marketed on day 42. No interactions (p > 0.10) were observed between the floor space allowance and phytase supplementation. The body weight, daily gain, and feed intake at the first marketing and for all pigs marketed were reduced (p ≤ 0.009) by space restriction, without affecting the gain-to-feed ratio. Space restriction increased serum protein and decreased urea N, and hyper-dosing phytase increased plasma inositol and serum glucose and decreased serum aspartate aminotransferase (p < 0.05). The results indicate that space restriction reduced the growth rate, feed intake, and body weight of late-finishing pigs, and that hyper-dosing phytase was not beneficial in improving growth performance regardless of space allowance.

Abstract A study was conducted to evaluate the minimal floor space allowance for gestating sows group-housed in pens with electronic sow feeders (ESF). Five floor space allowances were each tested in 4 pens: 1.5 m2, 1.7 m2, 1.9 m2, 2.1 m2 per sow, and 1.5 m2 per sow with more space (2.1 m2 per sow) during the first week of mixing (2.1/1.5 m2). The floor space allowances were achieved by adjusting pen size (from 80 to 88 m2) and group size (42, 46, and 51 sows per pen). Pregnant sows (n = 928, Large White × Landrace, parity = 1 to 9) were moved to ESF pens at about 5 wk of gestation and remained in their pens until about day 109 of gestation. Sows farrowed in individual stalls and weaned their litters at about 19 d after farrowing. Sows that were rebred within 1 wk after weaning were considered to have completed the study. Performance, skin lesions, and incidence of lameness in ESF pens were monitored for all sows. Data were analyzed using the Frequency, Glimmix, and Mixed procedures of the SAS software. Floor space allowance did not affect (P = 0.18 or greater) body weight, backfat depth, or condition score in ESF pens or during the lactation period. No differences (P = 0.23 or greater) were detected in farrowing rates (95, 92, 94, 94, and 95% for 1.5, 1.7, 1.9, 2.1, and 1.5/2.1 m2, respectively), completion rates (83, 79, 80, 86, and 86%), live litter size farrowed (12.5, 12.7, 12.2, 12.3, and 12.5 pigs per litter, SE = 0.24), litter size weaned (10.4, 10.5, 10.2, 10.2, and 10.6 pigs per litter, SE = 0.22), litter weight farrowed, litter weight weaned, or wean-to-estrus interval among treatment groups. Skin lesion scores for the body and for the vulva 2 d after mixing into ESF pens and when moved from ESF pens to farrowing quarters were similar across treatment groups (P = 0.54 or greater). Incidence of lameness 2 d after mixing was higher (χ2 = 21.1, df = 4; P = 0.01) for sows allowed 2.1/1.5 m2 (9.5%) and 2.1 m2 (4.2%) than sows allowed 1.9 m2 (1.8%), 1.7 m2 (2.9%), and 1.5 m2 (1.5%), which may be associated with fighting to establish dominance hierarchy during mixing in pens with larger open areas. No difference was observed in incidence of lameness when moved from ESF pens to farrowing quarters among treatment groups. These results suggest that the minimal floor space allowance of 1.5 m2 appears to be acceptable for maintaining reproductive performance and welfare of gestating sows group-housed under conditions of the current study.

The objective was to determine effects of nursery group-size-floor space allowance on growth, physiology, and hematology of replacement gilts. A 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments was used wherein gilts classified as large, medium, or small ( = 2537; BW = 5.6 ± 0.6 kg) from 13 groups of weaned pigs were placed in pens of 14, 11, or 8 pigs resulting in floor space allowances of 0.15, 0.19, or 0.27 m/pig, respectively. Pigs were weighed on d 0 (weaning) and d 46 (exit from nursery). The ADG was affected by group-size-floor space allowance × pig size ( = 0.04). Large- and medium-size gilts allowed the most floor space had greater ( < 0.05) ADG than similar size gilts allowed the least floor space but for small size gilts there was no effect ( > 0.05) of group size-floor space allowance. Mortality in the nursery was not affected ( > 0.05) by treatment, size, or treatment × size and overall was approximately 2.1%. Complete blood counts and blood chemistry analyses were performed on samples collected at d 6 and 43 from a subsample of gilts ( = 18/group-size-floor space allowance) within a single group. The concentration ( < 0.01) and percentage ( = 0.03) of reticulocytes was the least and red blood cell distribution width the greatest ( < 0.01) in gilts allowed 0.15 m floor space (effects of treatment). Blood calcium was affected by treatment ( = 0.02) and concentrations for gilts allowed the greatest and intermediate amounts of floor space were greater ( < 0.05) than for gilts allowed the least floor space. Serum concentrations of cortisol were not affected by treatment × day ( = 0.27). Cortisol concentrations increased from d 6 to d 43 in all groups and were affected by day ( < 0.01) but not treatment ( = 0.53). Greater space allowance achieved by placing fewer pigs per pen in the nursery affected blood parameters and resulted in large- and medium-size replacement gilts displaying increased ADG. Further study will determine if these effects influence lifetime reproductive capacity and sow longevity.

Current floor space allowances were determined in research studies conducted 10 to 20 yr ago using pigs that were marketed at a BW of about 113 kg or less. Currently, pork producers are regularly marketing pigs that weigh over 128 kg. Given this precipitous increase in market weight, we conducted 2 experiments to determine if floor space allowances previously determined apply to pigs marketed at greater than 128 kg. Experiment 1 was conducted at 5 university research stations throughout the Upper Midwest region. In this experiment, we evaluated the growth performance, salivary cortisol concentrations, and lesion scores of pigs weighing between 27 and 138 kg provided 0.71, 0.80, 0.89, 0.98, or 1.07 m/pig of floor space. Within each station, group size (range = 6 to 19 pigs) remained constant across floor space treatments but pen size was altered to achieve the desired space allocations. There were 14 replicate pens for each treatment. Overall, increasing floor space allowance increased final BW (linear, = 0.04) and tended (linear, < 0.06) to increase ADG and ADFI. There were no improvements in final BW or ADG beyond 0.89 m/pig. The G:F was not influenced by increasing floor space allocation. Salivary cortisol concentrations and lesion scores were not affected by floor space allowances. Experiment 2 focused on floor space needs of pigs nearing market weight and was conducted at 4 research stations. Pigs weighing about 130 kg were assigned to pens that provided 0.71, 0.80, 0.89, 0.98, or 1.07 m/pig of floor space. Group size ranged from 4 to 11 pigs per pen but was constant across floor space treatments within station. The study lasted 2 wk and there were 8 replicate pens per treatment. As floor space allowance increased, ADG (0.86, 0.95, 0.95, 1.10, and 1.06 kg; linear, < 0.01), ADFI (3.03, 3.26, 3.22, 3.49, and 3.25 kg; quadratic, < 0.05), and final BW (145.6, 145.7, 146.4, 148.3, and 147.9 kg; linear, < 0.01) increased. Based on the results of these 2 experiments, pigs marketed at about 138 kg require at least 0.89 m/pig to support optimal growth performance. However, heavier pigs (about 148 kg) at the end of the finishing period require 0.98 m/pig.

A total of 1,092 finishing pigs (initially 36.3 kg) were used in a 117-d study to evaluate the impact of initial floor space allowance and removal strategy on the growth of pigs up to 140 kg BW. There were 4 experimental treatments with 14 pens per treatment. The first treatment provided 0.91 m per pig (15 pigs/pen). The other 3 treatments initially provided 0.65 m per pig (21 pigs/pen) with 3 different removal strategies. The second treatment (2:2:2) removed the 2 heaviest pigs from pens on d 64, 76, and 95 when floor space allowance was predicted to be limiting. Treatment 3 (2:4) removed the 2 heaviest pigs on d 76 and the 4 heaviest pigs on d 105. Treatment 4 (6) removed the heaviest 6 pigs on d 105. All pigs remaining in pens after removals were fed to d 117. Overall (d 0 to 117), pigs initially provided 0.91 m of floor space had increased ( < 0.05) ADG compared to pigs in pens on the 2:4 or 6 removal strategy, but ADG was not different compared with pigs on the 2:2:2 removal strategy. Total BW gain per pen was greater ( < 0.05) for pens initially stocked at 0.65 m compared to pens initially stocked at 0.91 m. Feed usage per pen was less ( < 0.05) for pens initially stocked at 0.91 m compared to pens initially providing 0.65 m of floor space and on removal strategies; however, feed usage per pig was greater ( < 0.05) for pigs initially stocked at 0.91 m compared to pigs initially stocked at 0.65 m and on removal strategies. Feed usage, on a pig or pen basis, was less ( < 0.05) for pigs on the 2:2:2 removal strategy compared to pigs on the 2:4 or the 6 removal strategy. Income over feed and facility cost (IOFFC) was less ( < 0.05) for pigs initially provided 0.91 m compared to pigs initially provided 0.65 m and on removal strategies. Also, IOFFC was less ( < 0.05) for pigs on the 2:2:2 compared to the 2:4 and 6 removal strategies. In conclusion, increasing the floor space allowance or the time points at which pigs are removed from the pen improved the growth of pigs remaining in the pen; however, IOFFC may be reduced because fewer pigs are marketed from each pen (pigs stocked at 0.91 m throughout the study) or from reducing total weight produced (2:2:2 removal strategy).

Background Group housing of sows has been extensively studied since the EU banned gestation crating. Well-managed group-housing promotes sow welfare, but the impact varies based on factors such as feeding, group characteristics, and environmental features. Adequate floor space, particularly directly post-mixing, is crucial for social interactions, natural behaviours, and to reduce injuries caused by aggression. The aim of this study was to compare two group-housing systems for gestating sows with respect to productivity, treatment frequency, and removal of sows. Both systems were static but differed in space allowance, quantity of enrichment material and feeding management. System I comprised of large sized pens with deep litter straw bedding, housing in total 40 sows, and System II of smaller sized pens with permanent access to straw, housing 8 to 10 sows. Results The mean parity number was 3.1 ± 1.3 in both groups. Sows housed in System I with large groups ( n  = 40) in large pens with deep litter straw gave birth to 16.8 ± 0.33 (Least Squares Means, LSM) piglets, compared to 15.4 ± 0.31 (LSM) for sows in System II kept in smaller groups ( n  = 8–10) in smaller pens ( p  = 0.0005). Medical treatments of sows were more frequent ( p  < 0.001) in System II. The incidence of replacement of sows was comparable in both systems, and there was a high occurrence of sows becoming pregnant during the subsequent insemination in both groups. Conclusions This study indicated that sows kept in larger groups provided with a larger floor space (a total area of 156 m 2 , corresponding to 3.9 m 2 per sow) and housed on deep straw had a higher number of liveborn and weaned piglets and lower incidence of antibiotic treatments than sows with less floor space (a total area of 24.5 m 2 , corresponding to 2.5–3.1 m 2 per sow) and less bedding/manipulable material.

As rapid urbanisation accelerates in Global South cities, regulatory upzoning is widely promoted as a tool to expand supply and foster compact growth. Yet the interaction between permissive rules, market valuation, and institutional capacity remains underexplored. This article examines Hyderabad’s near two-decade experiment with Floor Space Index deregulation, introduced through Government Order Ms. No. 86 (2006), which eliminated citywide density caps and allowed premium-based flexibility. Using a geocoded dataset of over 9200 projects matched with government circle rate tables, spatial accessibility measures, and a subset of 2500 properties for regression analysis, this study evaluates how rules, price signals, and institutional arrangements shaped development outcomes through a rules–prices–institutions analytical framework. Results reveal that deregulation produced highly selective verticalisation, with high-rise projects concentrated in the western IT corridor while most of the city retained low-to-mid-rise form. Regression estimates demonstrate that FSI and height are capitalised in market prices but remain statistically insignificant in government valuations, reflecting a systematic undervaluation of high-intensity development in official pricing schedules. Institutional fragmentation and valuation inertia thus created a “capture gap,” where fiscal returns failed to match private value increments. The findings underscore that effective densification requires dynamic alignment of regulatory latitude, real-time valuation, and integrated governance. Hyderabad’s case illustrates broader lessons for Global South cities: the analysis demonstrates that the proposed framework is transferable beyond the empirical setting, and that blanket deregulation without fiscal and institutional reform entrenches inequality and weakens the public dividend from urban growth.