The use of a multi‐attribute tool for evaluating accessibility in buildings: the AHP approach

Analysis of Building Accessibility Using Inertial and Optical Sensors

The inclusive use of urban spaces necessitates detailed knowledge of the accessibility of public buildings or places where educational, health or administrative services are provided. Despite the improvements already made in many cities regarding architectural work, further changes to public buildings and other spaces, such as old buildings or areas of historical importance, are still required. To study this problem, we developed a model based on photogrammetric techniques and the use of inertial and optical sensors. The model allowed us to perform a detailed analysis of urban routes in the surroundings of an administrative building, by means of mathematical analysis of pedestrian routes. It was applied to the specific case of people with reduced mobility and included analysis of the building accessibility as well as detection of suitable transit routes, deterioration of the road surfaces and the presence of architectural obstacles on the route.

Inclusiveness assessment tool for disabled persons in higher education facilities

Purpose

Globally, there is a growing proportion of disabled people as a result of different circumstances. This growth generates attention and leads to ways to integrate the affected population into society. Addressing such disability and integration is particularly important at buildings level, enabling and expanding the scope of activities for people with disabilities (PWDs). The rising number of PWDs and the need to integrate them into society create a need for action to improve their living condition and integration into society. This study aims to examine the issue of accessibility for PWDs in higher education facilities in Qatar.

Design/methodology/approach

Addressing accessibility at buildings level is particularly important in higher education because it enables inclusion in training and education and increases the potential for productive engagement in society. The study aims to develop an objective tool to assess and measure accessibility in educational institutions. Five selected buildings were examined and evaluated at Qatar University based on proximity, multi-use, vertical and horizontal circulation availability. The survey respondents were randomly selected. An existing assessment method was used in surveying respondents, including those with and without disabilities.

Findings

A comparative study was conducted to explore the discrepancy between facility users with and without disability, indicating the gap in existing tools.

Originality/value

The developed tool generates the same outcome when conducted by different assessors, indicating the level of compliance and percentage met as a benefit, not a focus. It allows professionals and non-professionals with minimal experience to conduct the assessment.

An analytic network process model for hospital facilities management performance evaluation

Purpose

This study aims to establish a rigorous model that can pragmatically evaluate the facilities management (FM) performance of hospitals.

Design/methodology/approach

Among the applicable performance indicators that were identified from extant literature, a focus group study shortlisted ten key performance indicators (KPIs) in four categories (safety, physical, financial and environmental) and verified their practicality. Using the analytic network process (ANP) method to process the focus group’s responses yielded importance weightings for the KPIs and developed the intended evaluation model. This model was then validated by a case study.

Findings

From the empirical data collected, two types of FM performance data and two scenarios of KPI scores were identified. To process these data and scores, a robust calculation method was devised and then proved useful in obtaining an overall score for holistic hospital FM performance. The case study confirmed the appropriateness and validity of the model developed.

Research limitations/implications

Through illustrating how the ANP method could be applied to develop an FM performance evaluation model, the study contributes knowledge to the multi-criteria decision-making domain. Despite the geographical limitation of the model established (i.e. centered around a group of hospitals investigated in Hong Kong), the study can serve as a reference for developing performance evaluation models for other buildings or infrastructures globally.

Practical implications

The model constitutes a practical tool for evaluating the FM performance of hospitals. Using this model on a regular basis will enable performance benchmarking and hence, continuous improvement of FM services.

Originality/value

The ANP model established is the first of its kind tailored for evaluation of hospital FM performance.

Integrated Strategies for Preserving and Enhancing the Historical Heritage of the University of Pavia

The University of Pavia owns an extensive real estate portfolio, largely consisting of historic buildings still hosting teaching and research activities. This implies a continuous challenge in keeping them efficient, sustainable and completely usable. Indeed, these heritage buildings, alongside an undeniable charm, bring with them deficiencies regarding safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, etc. This work presents an interdisciplinary strategy addressing the issues involved in the management of the multiple needs of conservation and use, complying with modern standards. The legal requirement of a seismic safety assessment was the occasion to launch a comprehensive review of the state of the University building heritage, considering together the different aspects involved, in a perspective of economic sustainability, combining preservation needs and valorisation. The steps of this strategy included a preliminary screening of all the buildings, by simple methods and tools. The aim was to gather homogeneous and comparable information, useful to identify critical structures and/or repeated issues, to allocate resources for deeper analyses and implementation. The case study of San Felice Palace, which presents emblematic features and deficiencies, is illustrated in more detail, with complete seismic safety and accessibility analyses leading to proposals of enhancement interventions.

ASSESSING THE DISABILITY INCLUSIVENESS OF UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS IN HONG KONG

Tended to view disability inclusion as merely another mandate, building and construction practitioners have yet to recognize its value in social sustainability. In academia, similarly, it has received less attention than other building performance attributes such as environmental friendliness and indoor air quality. With rights to access now acknowledged as basic human rights, there is demand for a tool to assess building disability inclusiveness, indicating the extent to which building considerations include persons with disabilities (PWDs). This paper proposes a Building Inclusiveness Assessment Score (BIAS) to fill the existing gap. The BIAS framework comprises two hierarchies of inclusion attributes identified from literature, guides, and standards of barrier-free access and universal design. The final product consists of two building disability inclusiveness assessment tools: the Physical Disability Inclusion Sub-score (PDIS) and the Visual Impairment Inclusion Sub-score (VIIS). These are simple, quantitative, objective tools for assessing buildings. We performed a Monte Carlo simulation to validate the assessment protocols. Following the validation, we assessed 48 university buildings at four universities in Hong Kong to illustrate the real-life application of the tools.

Analytic hierarchy process approach for competitive property management attributes

Purpose

The property service agents (PSAs) are the outsourced agents of Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA), who manage the HKHA's rental properties in a competitive environment. To enhance the competitiveness edges of these PSAs under the inelastic management fee constraint, it is prudent for them to acknowledge those competitive property management attributes upon which PSAs reallocate their limited internal resources to best meet the expectations of the tenants.

Design/methodology/approach

Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was adopted for revealing the preference of tenants on those captioned attributes under a ratio scale. The data were collected through face‐to‐face interviews with the representatives of tenants of housing estates including but not limited to chairmen of Mutual Aid Committees and District Councilors.

Findings

The findings indicated that, amongst all competitive property management attributes, tenants of older housing estates preferred a higher level of repairs and maintenance, while those tenants of younger and larger population housing estates focused more on environmental control issues.

Practical implications

Without an objective quantitative analysis of tenants' preferences, the PSAs might render misallocation of limited resources, which would not only jeopardize their survival in the competitive commercial world but also upset the expectation of the tenants.

Originality/value

The use of quantitative study to solicit the preferences of public housing tenants on property management attributes is the first kind of study which provides comprehensive knowledge of tenants' preferences and could enable PSAs to enhance their competitiveness in the commercial world under the constraints of inelastic management fees structure.

A Computer-Aided Process Simulation Model to Navigate Value Chain Reconfiguration Using a Three-Layered Methodology

This paper develops a computer-aided process simulation model (CPSM) to navigate value chain reconfiguration. The model uses a three-layered methodology incorporating the principle of knowledge-integrated traceability (KIT) to create more efficient performance measures and provides a rigorous and stepwise clustered module structure that will act as a guideline for all entities decision makers are involved. The model is based on three kinds of mature toolsets variable. First, an in-depth interview of a group of experts makes the BSC (Balanced Scorecard) KIT model along with AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) technique into an integrated AHP-BSC structure. Second, internal validation of core propositions during CPSM development is then used to construct an account both qualitative and quantitative decision factors in the best delivery causality diagram of theory-building mode. Defining the KIT of toolset variables into two specific themes allows a practical hierarchy for AHP-BSC structure to be evaluated without excessive computation barriers, and the systems thinking archetype of strategic activities in the ARIS-EPCs (Architecture of Integrated Information System/extending Event-driven Process Chains) architecture delivers the validity and reliability of research methodology as validation model of CPSM development. Third, the hybrid ST-ARIS (System Thinking) simulation model is constructed based on the feasibility test of relevant decision factors whether or not KPI (Key Performance Indicator) could be measured. The reconfiguration provides new insights for contributing to the foundations to link the process capability of the value chain with the three-layered methodology, and emphasises the CPSM development by highlighting a specific approach associated with KIT.