A Virtualization Infrastructure Cost Model for 5G Network Slice Provisioning in a Smart Factory

Network slicing is a key enabler for providing new services to industry verticals. In order to enable network slice provisioning, it is important to study the network slice type allocation for different device types in a real industrial case. Furthermore, the costs of the required virtualization infrastructure need to be analyzed for various cloud deployment scenarios. In this paper, a cost model for the virtualization infrastructure needed for network slice provisioning is developed and subsequently applied to a real smart factory. In the model, slice types and devices are mapped such that each factory device is provisioned with one or more slice types, as required. The number of devices to be supported per slice type is forecasted for 2021–2030, and the total costs of ownership, costs per slice type, and costs for every slice type, for each device are calculated. The results are analyzed for three cloud deployment scenarios: local, distributed, and centralized. The centralized scenario was found to have the lowest cost. Moreover, sensitivity analysis is conducted by varying the device growth, the number of factories, the level of isolation between network slices, and resource overbooking. The resulting evaluation and cost breakdown can help stakeholders select a suitable deployment scenario, gauge their investments, and exercise suitable pricing.

An economic assessment framework for decommissioning of offshore wind farms using a cost breakdown structure

Purpose As wind power generation increases globally, there will be a substantial number of wind turbines that need to be decommissioned in the coming years. It is crucial for wind farm developers to design safe and cost-effective decommissioning plans and procedures for assets before they reach the end of their useful life. Adequate financial provisions for decommissioning operations are essential, not only for wind farm owners but also for national governments. Economic analysis approaches and cost estimation models therefore need to be accurate and computationally efficient. Thus, this paper aims to develop an economic assessment framework for decommissioning of offshore wind farms using a cost breakdown structure (CBS) approach. Methods In the development of the models, all the cost elements and their key influencing factors are identified from literature and expert interviews. Similar activities within the decommissioning process are aggregated to form four cost groups including: planning and regulatory approval, execution, logistics and waste management, and post-decommissioning. Some mathematical models are proposed to estimate the costs associated with decommissioning activities as well as to identify the most critical cost drivers in each activity group. The proposed models incorporate all cost parameters involved in each decommissioning phase for more robust cost assessment. Results and discussion A case study of a 500 MW baseline offshore wind farm is proposed to illustrate the models’ applicability. The results show that the removal of wind turbines and foundation structures is the most costly and lengthy stage of the decommissioning process due to many requirements involved in carrying out the operations. Although inherent uncertainties are taken into account, cost estimates can be easily updated when new information becomes available. Additionally, further decommissioning cost elements can be captured allowing for sensitivity analysis to be easily performed. Conclusions Using the CBS approach, cost drivers can be clearly identified, revealing critical areas that require attention for each unique offshore wind decommissioning project. The CBS approach promotes adequate management and optimisation of identified key cost drivers, which will enable all stakeholders involved in offshore wind farm decommissioning projects to achieve cost reduction and optimal schedule, especially for safety-critical tasks.

Specifics of organic crop production and it’s impact on accounting

In recent years, there has been a tendency for a rapid growth in organic crop production both in Ukraine and in the world. Due to the dynamic increase in organic production, crop production provides food security of the state, as well as becomes the template for creating new jobs in rural areas and remains a key budget-forming factor for the Ukraine’s gross domestic product’s growth. The purpose of the study is to analyze the state of organic crop production, disclose its specifics in order to effectively form accounting at agricultural enterprises in terms of the organic fertilizers’ reasonable cost breakdown. The article systematizes information on the development trends in organic crop production, compares the state of organic crop production in Ukraine with the world’s major economies, and forecasts the prospects for the organic production development in Ukraine until 2030. It has been determined that organic crop production is a competitive industry and is gradually developing. It has been established that organic crop production has the following organizational and technological characteristics: the production process is associated with biotransformation; the production cycle lasts for a year; the main production tool is agricultural land with organic status. It has been proven that these organizational and technological characteristics of organic crop production impact on accounting at agricultural enterprises. The study has analyzed the cost structure for organic crop production at agricultural enterprises in Kyiv region. It has been determined that the largest percentage in the crop production cost structure is occupied by the costs of fertilizers. It has been proven that this cost item needs to be breakdown when keeping records of costs for growing organic crop production in order to control them and obtain economic benefits for agricultural enterprises. The offered cost breakdown for organic fertilizers provides the information flows to control costs taking into account their worthiness, physical and chemical characteristics, analytical accounting, rational cost accounting and economic efficiency of organic crop production at agricultural enterprises.

Improvement of Cost Performance Based on Bim Quantity Take-off Hospital Structure Work

Indonesia's population is ranked 4th in the world after India and the United States, as well as the global Covid-19 pandemic, Indonesia is also recorded with the most cases of infections and deaths due to Covid-19 in ASEAN, therefore Hospitals in Indonesia has not been able to represent the need for beds and health services. Therefore, the hospital building construction project has become a driven demand for the fulfillment of health services for the Indonesian population. Estimation is one of the causes of the cost overrun. Implementation of Building Information Modeling Quantity take-off (BIM QTO) in hospital structural work can be done if the cost breakdown is ≤ 24%. Statistical analysis by using the Relative Importance Index (RII) has a result in 10 rankings of factors that influence the implementation of BIM QTO, namely drawing, completeness Bill of Quantity (BoQ), TOR & specifications, cost reduction, preparation of activities in the work breakdown structure, cost breakdown, 3D modeling details, Data Interoperability, Quantity Take Off, Subcont & Supplier pricing, and cost database. Study cases with the implementation of BIM QTO on hospital building structures work cost efficiency up to 6.18%.

Life-cycle cost as basis to optimize waste collection in space and time: A methodology for obtaining a detailed cost breakdown structure

Extensive research has been carried out on waste collection costs mainly to differentiate costs of distinct waste streams and spatial optimization of waste collection services (e.g. routes, number, and location of waste facilities). However, waste collection managers also face the challenge of optimizing assets in time, for instance deciding when to replace and how to maintain, or which technological solution to adopt. These issues require a more detailed knowledge about the waste collection services’ cost breakdown structure. The present research adjusts the methodology for buildings’ life-cycle cost (LCC) analysis, detailed in the ISO 15686-5:2008, to the waste collection assets. The proposed methodology is then applied to the waste collection assets owned and operated by a real municipality in Portugal (Cascais Ambiente – EMAC). The goal is to highlight the potential of the LCC tool in providing a baseline for time optimization of the waste collection service and assets, namely assisting on decisions regarding equipment operation and replacement.

Airline maintenance strategies – in-house vs. outsourced – an optimization approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer a new mathematical modeling approach to help airlines identify which types of heavy aircraft maintenance checks be performed in-house or outsourced. Design/methodology/approach – This study offers a mathematical model to minimize the total cost of heavy maintenance programs over a planning period subject to performing all maintenance programs on time and other side constraints. Findings – The results are very encouraging and somewhat counter-intuitive. The solutions recommend that more expensive and labor intensive checks be outsourced. A detailed analyses of the total maintenance cost breakdown is presented with implications and recommendation. Originality/value – To the best of the knowledge, the literature on quantitative models for airline in-house and outsourced maintenance checks is very limited. The author believes the model and airline cases presented in this paper can help airlines with their strategic maintenance strategies and will initiate further studies in this important area.

The Role of Cost Breakdown Structure in Life Cycle Cost Model

This paper highlights the basic process of developing a life cycle cost model and the role of cost breakdown structure for water distribution pipeline networks. A life cycle cost is the total cost of owning an asset during its predicted useful life, while a cost breakdown structure illustrates all the costs emerged in each single phase of the asset’s life cycle cost. Its purpose is to identify, define and organize all cost elements to be taken into account in a life cycle cost. Each cost element included in developing a cost breakdown structure will also be discussed in this paper.