The Canadian National Water and Wastewater Benchmarking Initiative. Using process to drive improvement: strategic management of water in urban areas

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 111-121
Author(s):  
D. Main ◽  
L. Ng ◽  
A. North
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
International Comparisons ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Performance Measure ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Public Infrastructure ◽  
Effective Manner

Earth Tech has been successfully benchmarking Canadian municipal water, wastewater and stormwater utility operations since 1997. While the fundamental purpose of this project was metric benchmarking for the purpose of making performance comparisons to guide continuous improvement, the project is now serving as a dynamic platform to consider, examine, and implement a broad range of utility best practices that have resulted in superior performance where they have been implemented. The keys to success, however, were based more on a process that emphasizes communication, teamwork, and collaboration rather than the trend to push computerized data management systems to their fullest potential, and most importantly, in recognizing the importance of ‘hard work’. With these success factors now well understood and documented, it is feasible to benchmark almost any public infrastructure amongst agencies that are willing, regardless of their level of technological development. Finally, by sharing this methodology, the performance measure descriptions and detailed definitions, it is also feasible to make international comparisons in a simple and cost effective manner, thus opening the door to the broad exchange of international best practices.

scholarly journals Quality of Experience in Cyber-Physical Social Systems Based on Reinforcement Learning and Game Theory

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eirini Tsiropoulou ◽  
George Kousis ◽  
Athina Thanou ◽  
Ioanna Lykourentzou ◽  
Symeon Papavassiliou
Keyword(s):  
Game Theory ◽  
Reinforcement Learning ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Quality Of Experience ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Operational Effectiveness ◽  
Effective Manner

This paper addresses the problem of museum visitors’ Quality of Experience (QoE) optimization by viewing and treating the museum environment as a cyber-physical social system. To achieve this goal, we harness visitors’ internal ability to intelligently sense their environment and make choices that improve their QoE in terms of which the museum touring option is the best for them and how much time to spend on their visit. We model the museum setting as a distributed non-cooperative game where visitors selfishly maximize their own QoE. In this setting, we formulate the problem of Recommendation Selection and Visiting Time Management (RSVTM) and propose a two-stage distributed algorithm based on game theory and reinforcement learning, which learns from visitor behavior to make on-the-fly recommendation selections that maximize visitor QoE. The proposed framework enables autonomic visitor-centric management in a personalized manner and enables visitors themselves to decide on the best visiting strategies. Experimental results evaluating the performance of the proposed RSVTM algorithm under realistic simulation conditions indicate the high operational effectiveness and superior performance when compared to other recommendation approaches. Our results constitute a practical alternative for museums and exhibition spaces meant to enhance visitor QoE in a flexible, efficient, and cost-effective manner.

scholarly journals Air quality management planning (AQMP)

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (4-2) ◽  
pp. 667-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjarne Sivertsen ◽  
Alena Bartonova
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Quality Management System ◽  
Atmospheric Dispersion ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Air Quality Management ◽  
Training Requirements ◽  
Effective Manner

In most urban areas of the world, particulate matter (PM) levels pose severe problems, addressed in several policy areas (air quality, climate change, and human health). PM presents multiple challenges due to the multitude of its sources, spanning many sectors of economic activity as well as nature, and due to the complexity of atmospheric processes involved in its transport and secondary formation. For the authorities, the goal is to assure minimal impacts of atmospheric PM levels, in practice represented by compliance with existing regulations and standards. This may be achieved through an air quality management plan (AQMP). In Northern America and in parts of Europe, comprehensive research programs have guided development of AQMP over the last forty years. This cumulated experience can be utilized by others who face the same problems, but have yet to develop their own substantial research base. The main purpose of the AQMP development process is to establish an effective and sound basis for planning and management of air quality in a selected area. This type of planning will ensure that significant sources of impacts are identified and controlled in a most cost-effective manner. The choice of tools, methods and input information is often dictated by their availability, and should be evaluated against current best practices. Important elements of the AQMP are the identification of sources and development of a complete emission inventory, the development and operation of an air quality monitoring programme, and the development and application of atmospheric dispersion models. Major task is to collect the necessary input data. The development of the AQMP will take into account: - Air Quality Management System (AQMS) requirements; - Operational and functional structure requirements; - Source identification through emission inventories; - Source reduction alternatives, which may be implemented; - Mechanisms for facilitating interdepartmental cooperation in order to assure that actions are being taken; - Institutional building and training requirements This paper offers a practical guide through the different parts of the air quality management and planning procedures.

scholarly journals Factors for Successful Use of Social Networking Sites in Higher Education

2012 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Schlenkrich ◽  
Dave Sewry
Keyword(s):  
Social Networking ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Effective Manner

Social networking sites are extremely popular online destinations that offer users easy ways to build and maintain relationships with each other, and to disseminate information in an activity referred to as social networking. Students, lecturers, teachers, parents and businesses, in increasing numbers, use tools available on social networking sites to communicate with each other in a fast and cost-effective manner. The use of social networking sites to support educational initiatives has received much attention. However, the full potential of social network sites has yet to be achieved as users continue to strive for optimal ways of using these sites, as well as battle to overcome the negative characteristics (for example, privacy, security, governance, user behaviour, information quality) of these sites. This paper proposes factors for successful use of social networking sites in higher educational institutions. These success factors need to be adopted by users in order to develop the positive aspects of social networking, while at the same time mitigating the negative characteristics. An initial set of factors for successful use of social networking sites, as well as measures to test successful use of social networking sites were derived from the literature. These factors were tested by means of an online survey of students at a university, the results of which informed the final factors for successful use of social networking sites. The factors enable users to overcome the negative characteristics associated with social networking sites. If used successfully, social networking sites can offer lecturers and students a useful tool with which to develop their relationship and contribute to their learning experience.

Women and sanitation: Urban reality experiences of government programmes, NGOs and CBOs

Social Change ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 192-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renu Khosla
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Poor ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
City Governments ◽  
Women's Associations ◽  
Community Organisation ◽  
Poor Households ◽  
Women And Children ◽  
City Systems

Between 20-40 million persons in urban areas are without access to a toilet. Of these, two thirds are women and children. High on the list of urgent priorities in urban poor communities are toilets, whose absence is known to exacerbate health and nutritional burden of the poor, and increase susceptibility to abuse. Municipal solutions to toilet needs are invariably big community toilet complexes. This paper discusses problems of big toilets versus smaller alternatives, building a case for household toilets and networking poor households/communities to city systems using examples from some best practices in the country. Sanitation needs require a whole city perspective with the objective of reaching all poor in a city, especially the un-reached. No problem of sanitation can however be resolved without people's involvement. UBSP demonstrated a strategy for community organisation that enabled people to dialogue with city governments. Adopting the strategy under PEEP, women's associations are being armed with information to negotiate for their rights. People's participation ensures sustainable and cost effective alternatives based on their life strategies. Some recommendations at the end of the chapter are aimed at addressing the challenge of urban sanitation in an effort at creating a Sanitation Suraksha Chakra, that envelopes the entire city.

Analysis of Deterioration Models for Lightly Loaded Thin Seal Flexible Pavements

2003 ◽  
Vol 1819 (1) ◽  
pp. 294-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerry J. McManus ◽  
John B. Metcalf
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Visual Assessment ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Performance Measure ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Full Data ◽  
Pavement Condition ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Pavement Deterioration ◽  
A Performance

A set of deterioration models is required to manage local government authority (LGA) pavements in a cost-effective manner; yet, most existing deterioration models have been derived for the major highways of the State Road Authority system. LGA pavements are different in terms of pavement life, the effect of the environment, loading, and expectations of performance with respect to riding quality. There is a greater emphasis on sustained light routine maintenance in LGAs. There is a need to develop models that more closely represent LGA pavements so they can be used to forecast the deterioration of the asset and to provide better guidance for rehabilitation planning. Existing pavement deterioration models, such as Highway Development Management-III (HDM-III), were examined for application to the Australian LGA pavement set. In general, such models were too complex for use in LGAs, and they also used roughness as a performance measure. Roughness is not commonly measured in LGA pavement networks. Other studies have shown that HDM-III could overestimate the deterioration of lightly loaded pavements. For this study, data on deterioration of several LGA pavements were collected and analyzed. Visual assessment data on pavement condition were captured in a “snapshot” survey of pavements of different ages. Thus, the data represent an age cross-section sample. Little or no correlation was found between any of the performance indicators and age when the full data sets were used for the analyses. Some correlation was apparent with the averaged data for each age. Even then, some of the trendlines observed indicated a performance with age, contrary to normal expectations. It appears that factors besides age have a significant influence on the behavior of LGA pavement.

Best Practices for Pipeline Management: Shaan-Jing Pipeline Integrity Management and Practice

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shohua Dong ◽  
Bill Gu ◽  
Wei Yao
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Risk Assessments ◽  
Underground Gas Storage ◽  
Industry Standards ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Pipeline Management ◽  
The World ◽  
Integrity Management ◽  
Pipe Materials

Pipeline integrity management is essential for today’s operators to operate their pipelines both in a safe and cost effective manner. Around the world, the latest developments of pipeline integrity management are driven by changes in regulation, industry standards and the latest innovations in technology. Beijing Huayou Gas Company (BHGC) is a pioneer in the Chinese pipeline industry through its implementation of pipeline integrity management and utilization of the latest developed technologies such as in-line inspection (ILI), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), risk assessments and advanced repair technologies. By using smart pigging inspections combined with GIS and EAM (Enterprise Assets Management) on 1,000 km of Shaanxi-Beijing gas pipeline, BHGC is able to manage the pipeline’s integrity in five areas, pipe materials safety, natural and geotechnical hazards management, coating and corrosion protection, stationing plus associated facilities maintenance and underground gas storage integrity. This paper describes the latest achievements of BHGC in their pipeline integrity programs.

Strategic planning in grassland farming: Principles andapplications

1997 ◽  
pp. 191-197
Author(s):  
W.J. Parker ◽  
N.M. Shadbolt ◽  
D.I. Gray
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Key Performance Indicators ◽  
Strategic Plans ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Farm Business ◽  
Pastoral Farming ◽  
Financial Environment

Three levels of planning can be distinguished in grassland farming: strategic, tactical and operational. The purpose of strategic planning is to achieve a sustainable long-term fit of the farm business with its physical, social and financial environment. In pastoral farming, this essentially means developing plans that maximise and best match pasture growth with animal demand, while generating sufficient income to maintain or enhance farm resources and improvements, and attain personal and financial goals. Strategic plans relate to the whole farm business and are focused on the means to achieve future needs. They should be routinely (at least annually) reviewed and monitored for effectiveness through key performance indicators (e.g., Economic Farm Surplus) that enable progress toward goals to be measured in a timely and cost-effective manner. Failure to link strategy with control is likely to result in unfulfilled plans. Keywords: management, performance

scholarly journals Novel Regeneration Approach for Creating Reusable FO-SPR Probes with NTA Surface Chemistry

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 186
Author(s):  
Jia-Huan Qu ◽  
Karen Leirs ◽  
Remei Escudero ◽  
Žiga Strmšek ◽  
Roman Jerala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Chemistry ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Nitrilotriacetic Acid ◽  
Antibody Fragments ◽  
Rapid Screening ◽  
Red Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Surface Regeneration ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

To date, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors have been exploited in numerous different contexts while continuously pushing boundaries in terms of improved sensitivity, specificity, portability and reusability. The latter has attracted attention as a viable alternative to disposable biosensors, also offering prospects for rapid screening of biomolecules or biomolecular interactions. In this context here, we developed an approach to successfully regenerate a fiber-optic (FO)-SPR surface when utilizing cobalt (II)-nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) surface chemistry. To achieve this, we tested multiple regeneration conditions that can disrupt the NTA chelate on a surface fully saturated with His6-tagged antibody fragments (scFv-33H1F7) over ten regeneration cycles. The best surface regeneration was obtained when combining 100 mM EDTA, 500 mM imidazole and 0.5% SDS at pH 8.0 for 1 min with shaking at 150 rpm followed by washing with 0.5 M NaOH for 3 min. The true versatility of the established approach was proven by regenerating the NTA surface for ten cycles with three other model system bioreceptors, different in their size and structure: His6-tagged SARS-CoV-2 spike fragment (receptor binding domain, RBD), a red fluorescent protein (RFP) and protein origami carrying 4 RFPs (Tet12SN-RRRR). Enabling the removal of His6-tagged bioreceptors from NTA surfaces in a fast and cost-effective manner can have broad applications, spanning from the development of biosensors and various biopharmaceutical analyses to the synthesis of novel biomaterials.

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