Abstracts – Browse Results
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Abdullah, A-N M (2019) Assessing economic, social, political and environmental issues related to mega-projects : A case study of Merowe Dam in Sudan, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Plymouth.
Adeyinka Shittu, T (2012) Development of a framework for sustainable repair of adobe building in an urban area in Nigeria, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Plymouth.
Alharbi, S (2020) The influence of human resources management on job embeddedness and voluntary turnover intention: a case study of the constructions industry in Saudi Arabia, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Plymouth Business School, University of Plymouth.
Almami, A (2014) Investigating the antecedents and consequences of Saudization in the construction sector, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Plymouth Business School, University of Plymouth.
Alsofyani, S (2021) An analysis of how culture influences the arbitration process used to resolve disputes on construction projects in Saudi Arabia, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Plymouth.
Dangana, S (2015) A decision support framework for selecting innovative sustainable technologies for delivering low carbon retail buildings, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Architecture, Design and Environment, University of Plymouth.
Garmston, H M (2017) Decision-making in the selection of retrofit facades for non-domestic buildings, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Plymouth.
Heffernan, E E (2015) Delivering zero carbon homes and sustainable communities: The potential of group self-build housing in England, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Plymouth.
Latorre, V (2009) Construction manager's influence on project success, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Architecture, Design and Environment, University of Plymouth.
Mathews, J D (2000) Optimisation and decision support during the conceptual stage of building design: New techniques based on the genetic algorithm, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Plymouth.
- Type: Thesis
- Keywords: decision support; flexibility; optimisation; building design; integration; programming; structural design; visualisation; designer; experiment; case study
- ISBN/ISSN:
- URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/726
- Abstract:
Modern building design is complex and involves many different disciplines operating in a fragmented manner. Appropriate computer-based decision support (DS) tools are sought that can raise the level of integration of different activities at the conceptual stage, in order to help create better designs solutions. This project investigates opportunities that exist for using techniques based upon the Genetic Algorithm (GA) to support critical activities of conceptual building design (CBD). Collective independent studies have shown that the GA is a powerful optimisation and exploratory search technique with widespread application. The GA is essentially very simple yet it offers robustness and domain independence. The GA efficiently searches a domain to exploit highly suitable information. It maintains multiple solutions to problems simultaneously and is well suited to non-linear problems and those of a discontinuous nature found in engineering design. The literature search first examines traditional approaches to supporting conceptual design. Existing GA techniques and applications are discussed which include pioneering studies in the field of detailed structural design. Broader GA studies are also reported which have demonstrated possibilities for investigating geometrical, topological and member size variation. The tasks and goals of conceptual design are studied. A rationale is introduced, aimed at enabling the GA to be applied in a manner that provides the most effective support to the designer. Numerical experiments with floor planning are presented. These studies provide a basic foundation for a subsequent design support system (OSS) capable ofgenerating structural design concepts. A hierarchical Structured GA (SGA) created by Oasgupta et al [1] is investigated to support the generation of diverse structural design concepts. The SGA supports variation in the size, shape and structural configuration of a building and in the choice of structural frame type and floor system. The benefits and limitations of the SGA approach are discussed. The creation of a prototype DSS system, abritrarily called Designer-Pro (OPRO), is described. A detailed building design model is introduced which is required for design development and appraisal. Simplifications, design rationale and generic component modelling are mentioned. A cost-based single criteria optimisation problem (SCOP) is created in which other constraints are represented as design parameters. The thesis describes the importance of the object-oriented programming (OOP) paradigm for creating a versatile design model and the need for complementary graphical user interface (Gill) tools to provide human-computer interaction (HCI) capabilities for control and intelligent design manipulation. Techniques that increase flexibility in the generation and appraisal of concept are presented. Tools presented include a convergence plot of design solutions that supports cursor-interrogation to reveal the details of individual concepts. The graph permits study of design progression, or evolution of optimum design solutions. A visualisation tool is also presented. The DPRO system supports multiple operating modes, including single-design appraisal and enumerative search (ES). Case study examples are provided which demonstrate the applicability of the DPRO system to a range of different design scenarios. The DPRO system performs well in all tests. A parametric study demonstrates the potential of the system for DS. Limitations of the current approach and opportunities to broaden the study form part of the scope for further work. Some suggestions for further study are made, based upon newly-emerging techniques.
Maull, W M (1998) An investigation into the development of engineering students' conceptual understanding of mathematics, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Plymouth.
Sherif, K F (2010) Total quality management and construction project management in Libya, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Engineering, University of Plymouth.
Soliman, E M (2005) Delay hierarchy propagation model, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Engineering, University of Plymouth.
Ulrich de Alencastro, J P (2019) The impact of quality management on the thermal performance of social housing in the United Kingdom, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Art, Design and Architecture, University of Plymouth.