Engineering and Technology Management

Over the last 20 years, research on the management of exploratory projects has shown the need for flexible execution methods. However, while the managers involved in such projects recognize the need for flexibility in the means, supervising managers are reluctant to provide flexibility in evolving project goals. Indeed, supervising managers tighten control rather than loosen it when projects become more uncertain. We show empirical evidence of how this resistance emerges in the gray area between “being flexible on the means” and “losing control.” We also offer proposals on how to make exploration projects more acceptable to top management.

░ 1. Introduction Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) refers to the categorization or classification of human activities and natural elements on the landscape within a specific time frame based on established scientific and statistical methods of analysis of appropriate source materials (SATPALDA, 2022). It is the use of land via agriculture, conservation, development, recreational places, wildlife habitats, and urban regions or any other activity and the outcome of human-environment interaction in a particular location, as influenced by climate change processes and socioeconomic dynamics (Prakasam 2010, Reis 2008 and Rawat 2015). LULC maps play a significant and prime role in planning, management and monitoring programmes at local, regional and national levels. This type of information, on one hand, provides a better understanding of land utilization aspects and on the other hand, it plays an important role in the formation of policies and programme required for development planning. LULC maps also help us to study the changes that are happening in our ecosystem and environment and it establishes the baseline information for activities like thematic mapping and change detection analysis. Traditional methods of land cover mapping have been limited to field surveys that are time-consuming and uneconomical with data collected over long time intervals. The methods are particularly inefficient and impractical for real-time global and regional land cover mapping. Satellite sensor images, also called remote sensing images, due to their synoptic view, are a viable source of gathering effective land cover information. Remote sensing is the main source for several kinds of thematic data A B S T R A C T LULC maps play a significant and prime role in resource planning, management and monitoring in the formation of policies and programme required for development. Satellite sensor images, also called remote sensing images, due to their synoptic view, are a viable source of gathering effective land cover information. In this study the LULC based on the satellite image of years 2021 using remote sensing and GIS application where identify for Modjo river catchment. Hence the satellite images for this particular study were acquired from ETM+ images obtain from FAO Afrikaner database http://www.africover.org./index.htm.web site, which is a FREE Global Orthorectified Landsat Data accessing site via FTP. ArcGIS10.2 were used to process the satellite image and the identity of each class is determined by the combination of experience and ground truth. FISHER classifier technique of supervised image classification technique was applied to uncover commonly occurring and distinctive reflectance patterns in the imagery, on the assumption that these represent major land cover classes since the classes are known at the outset. Consequently valuable LULC Map were developed for Modjo river catchment. From the result, in Modjo river catchment five land use/cover such as agricultural land1086 km 2 , grassland 363 km 2 , Tree & Shrub 330 km 2 , Water body 154 km 2 and Settlement 242 km 2 of the total catchment area have identified and illustrated with different colors on the map. The Map can be utilized in formulating sustainable land development activity as well as in mitigating the challenges of land-degradation in the catchment.

The present study investigates the reliability of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) in monitor and management of vegetation resources for sustainable development. Vegetation change is a major environmental problem experienced in different land use types particularly in lands under uncoordinated practices.. Landsat MSS satellite images, Landsat Operational land imager and field survey were used. Results revealed that woodland (6.5%) and crop/bare land (8.1%) experience a steady decreasing trend. Moreover, annual rate of change for crop/bare land is alarming culminating to about plus 50% during the study, while that of woodland and grassland has been minus 15.59 and 3.9%, respectively. This clearly suggests that vegetation resource in the study area is rapidly decreasing and therefore needs urgent attention. Hence, due to crucial importance of vegetation cover in the provision of food, shelter, wildlife habitat, fuel, daily supplies of medicinal ingredients...

The global economy which is enhanced through changing technologies is pressurizing organisations to improve productivity of their business processes. Competition is forcing organisations to focus their energy on core competencies. Like many industries, the clothing industry is witnessing changes in technology, diversification of labour, managerial implications while competing on the global market. The South African clothing and textile industry has the potential to create jobs, but this potential has been steadily diminishing. The performance of the clothing industry, whether in terms of efficiency, working conditions or degree of social protection, is unstable. The industry's ability to generate sustainable and productive employment varies according to geographical locations. The process improvement methodology that could improve the status quo in the clothing industry is modular manufacturing, which is the focus of this paper. Qualitative results of the implementation of modular manufacturing and its relative experiences at a South African clothing manufacturer are presented through a case history.

This study examined how customers' preferences for pre-paid power metering systems in Ekiti State, Nigeria, were influenced by their perceptions of the billing system. Primary method of data collection was used. Data were obtained via a structured questionnaire that was given to a carefully chosen sample of 381 electricity users in the Ado-Ekiti metropolitan, the state capital of Ekiti, using a systematic sampling technique. The extent to which customers' preferences are impacted by how they perceive the billing system was examined using the Pearson product moment correlation method. The findings showed that customers' preferences for pre-paid power metering systems are positively and significantly influenced by how they view the billing system. The findings showed that customers' preferences for pre-paid power metering systems are positively and significantly influenced by how they view the billing system.

The phenomenon of vehicle braking is very complex, because during the braking process, the heat will be generated on the braking disc and the braking pads. This will cause the penetration in the contacting surfaces. In this research paper, three-dimensional model is developed and validated using finite element technique. It was used ANSYS/Workbench 14.5 software, Transient Structural module to achieve the numerical analysis. During the stopping process, the high temperatures appeared on the braking pads, where the temperature exceeded 150 ℃ when applied pressure is 0.9 MPa. While, when the applied pressure is 1.1 MPa the temperature on the contact surface is exceeded 180 ℃, after just 1.3 s. The important conclusion based on the results is the most significant factors on the distribution and magnitude of temperature that appear on the contact surfaces are applied pressure and the penetration. Besides that, it was found, that the penetration in high measure depends on the temperature, which proves the value of the coherence, which is almost equal to 1.

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is a diagnostic approach used to assess modern structures, which involve monitoring a structure to detect changes in its structural state. Smart materials play a crucial role in the development of functionality. These materials can sense the surroundings and detect the changes thereof and respond to external stimuli. The application of smart materials allows a better understanding of the structure's conditions, leads to cost-effective infrastructure management, and improves structure lifespan and public safety. This paper presents an innovative smart material using Mechanoluminescence (ML) material as a smart sensor to detect damage in structures that emits light when subjected to external mechanical action. ML materials have great potential in applications to stress sensing techniques, damage sensors, and safety management monitoring systems. The characteristics and potential applications of ML in the field of structural health monitoring are discussed. The research achievements of various well known mechanoluminescent materials for a better understanding of ML phenomena are also reviewed. At present, the development of ML material has been initiated by many researchers as a diagnostic method, and it has to be applied to real social infrastructure.

The global economy which is enhanced through changing technologies is pressurizing organisations to improve productivity of their business processes. Competition is forcing organisations to focus their energy on core competencies. Like many industries, the clothing industry is witnessing changes in technology, diversification of labour, managerial implications while competing on the global market. The South African clothing and textile industry has the potential to create jobs, but this potential has been steadily diminishing. The performance of the clothing industry, whether in terms of efficiency, working conditions or degree of social protection, is unstable. The industry's ability to generate sustainable and productive employment varies according to geographical locations. The process improvement methodology that could improve the status quo in the clothing industry is modular manufacturing, which is the focus of this paper. Qualitative results of the implementation of modular manufacturing and its relative experiences at a South African clothing manufacturer are presented through a case history.

Impact of human interference on the degradation of natural forests in the last three decades in Wah Shella microwatershed in Meghalaya (India), a hilly state of North-Eastern India has been reported. Remote Sensing and GIS data were applied to highlight spatial and temporal changes in land use and land cover. The present study is an excellent example of human induced land use changes and later the measures for ecorestoration were suggested.

Projects aim to create avenues of revenue generation for organizations. Successful launch of a new product depends on the ability to clearly map the requirements right from the conceptual phase. This empirical study attempts to establish the need for making 'Concept Exploration' an integral part of NPD projects. Concept Exploration has been studied using internal information and external information. Concept Development Method, Network Usage and Organization Commitment are considered for supporting elements for Concept Exploration. The results of the pilot study have been presented.

The current research work focuses on the variability of brake pads' composition in Malaysian automotive aftermarket, and the correlation with price after the phasing out of asbestos. Survey was done in four of Selangor districts, in order to study the price variation of brake pads for the same passenger vehicle. In total, 13 of semi-metallic brake pads with variation of price group were selected for elemental composition study. For this purpose, a scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray mapping and spectrum was used to identify and analyse different constituents. From the study, the material composition of the brake pads does not influence the commercial price of brake pads in the market. Furthermore, expensive brake pads do not necessarily contain the highest fibre content. Metals are used widely due to their high density, hardness and good thermal conductivity.

Although I consider myself to be a bioethicist, healthcare ethics educator, counselor at law and consultant, prior to returning to an academic setting, I practiced as a trial attorney with an emphasis in patient advocacy, bioethical, and biotechnology issues. I currently hold a faculty appointment at the Alden March Bioethics Institute, Albany Medical Center; I am also a Fellow at the Institute for Emerging Technologies and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. My other honors include an appointment as a Senior Fellow at the American Medical Association's Institute for ...

This article hinges on a complex and interdisciplinary field of study named “Philosophy of Human Technology” in which a first non-exhaustive map of ethical, legal and social, technological issues is presented: Technologies constitute, magnify, amplify human experiences, but can also enslave or put human experience and life at risk for example what concerns the right to a “private Life”. The second part of this paper proposes to think three possible interfaces of the topic of Human Cognitive Enhancement. Firstly the Body-electronic interface such as in the organ-on a chip simulation of an externalized human organ function, secondly the optogenetic and general genetic “editing” interface in which new technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 open up questions for the future of human beings and our self-determination. Third -and more explicitly- the virtual-immersive interface, exemplified by cognitive enhancement by Avatar schizophrenia therapy and uncanny valley effects of digital body double...

Today, businesses continuously monitor what consumers buy but it is always difficult for them to find out 'why' they buy or how meticulously their thought process functions in making buying decisions. This is the reason why many marketers have started taking interest in understanding human brain through various brain mapping tools for understanding their consumer in a better way. Further various neuroimaging techniques like EEG (Electroencephalography), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging), have enabled researchers to plot the crucial brain activity of an individual in response to various marketing stimuli. This paper aims to explore how the emerging field of Neuromarketing plays a pivotal role in unveiling the enigma of consumer psychology and presents neuromarketing as a way to detect brain activation during customer engagement. Paper throws some light on techniques used in neuromarketing, focusing on various parameters in appli...

The braking system is a vital component for high-speed vehicles. A better braking system will improve safety while driving. In general, the braking system used a friction principle. The friction appears between the disk pad and disk rotor. The friction on the disk pad and disk will cause damage on the surface of the braking components. The use of a friction-based braking system requires regular maintenance. The treatment is used to maintain the performance of brake components. In general, the brakes wear on the rapid braking process. The friction will affect heat generation, heat generated will be released to the environment. But, in a rapid braking process, the heat dissipation capability will decrease. The overheating disk will increase the risk of disk damage. The damage is caused by the braking behavior and the selection of materials used as brake components. Material changes will help improve braking performance. A good braking performance can be found when it is capable of high heat dissipation and wear resistance. A better material selection will change heat dissipation capability and has high wear resistance is very necessary. Besides the materials, the design of the brake components is also important. The use of a ventilated brake design with an additional heat pipe can reduce temperatures by up to 10% compared to conventional ventilated disks. This article will present a study about how to make the best design by providing a study about component properties characteristics.

Since the 1960's, complexity has been an applying an "ensemble" view; usually employed by physical important construct for understanding the dynamics of systems and how they exchange resources with the environment. The business literature contains many examples of the application of complexity theory to the analysis of value networks and business ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of the interdependence between participating firms. Frequently, the nature of this interdependence and the resultant market-wide complexity are explored in terms of evolutionary biology or bio-ecology metaphors. While biological metaphors represent a valid framework for characterizing complex business systems, this presentation will broaden the perspective by qualitatively scientists to infer macro-properties of complex systems from the interaction of their micro components. We will review different ways for characterizing complexity, emphasizing organizational complexity and its dynamical consequences near equilibrium and far away from equilibrium. These consequences may be attributable to system components interacting through effectively one-body (many-body) forces at small (large) time scales relative to market-wide disruptive forces. We conclude by summarizing the implications of this framework to strategy formation and strategic planning in corporate food chains for global technology or technology-enabled markets. * Overview of complexity theory. Provides an overview of complex systems with a focus on the four limiting cases of complex system dynamics useful in the analysis of corporate food chains: -Weak vs. strong interaction limits -large time-scale (equilibrium) vs. small time-scale (non-equilibrium) limits * Corporate food chain (FC) concepts. Discuss three basic aspects of the FC model as elements of complex system dynamics: -FC participants -Internal FC power flow -External environmental forces * Evaluate dynamics of FC concepts within a complexity theoretic framework. This analysis will emphasize: -Causal symmetry between descriptions of system and its constituent parts -Applications of the four limits of complex system dynamics to the FC model * Strategic Implications. The implications of complexity theory to strategy formation will be discussed.

The importance of the quantitative statistics related to earth’s natural resources and its land cover maps is undeniable. The data obtained from satellite platforms can offer a detailed overview of the natural processes and physical activities at incredible temporal and spatial resolutions. Mapping satellite images, classifying them and determining the vegetation area is a very important task for management and future planning of natural resources. The change detection practices are very important for discerning the spatial features and their conversion to urban lands. Over the years, the importance of timely and precise information presenting the extent and nature of natural land resources, especially in mountainous areas, has increased. In this paper, we have determined the vegetation cover and derived change maps using remotely sensed image data of the Abbottabad region of Pakistan. For this study, land cover mapping was achieved through interpreting satellite images of the regio...

Shafts are commonly used parts in agricultural machinery. They are responsible for transmitting the torque from the power source to the receiver, which can be, e.g. a mower blade, hydraulic pump or something completely different. In the agricultural industry, where the operator is very often near a rotating part, it is important to have the ability to quickly stop the rotating shaft. This has a direct impact on work safety. Therefore, the health or even life of both the operator and third parties nearby may depend on the proper functioning of the braking system. A characteristic feature of all friction brakes is their heating up during operation. High rotational speeds of shafts combined with the need to quickly stop the rotational element can lead to the generation of very high temperatures in the friction node. Overheating the brake can lead to the socalled fading phenomenon, which reduces the value of the friction coefficient practically to zero. The purpose of the work was to develop a mathematical model of the agricultural machine shaft breaking process and check how the initial speed affects the heating of friction steam. In this work, a mathematical model of a typical peripheral brake was developed, and simulation tests of the shaft braking process from different initial speeds based on it were performed. The CAD model of the brake and the finite element method were used to determine temperature profiles. It was also assumed that the inertia resulting from the non-zero mass of the system is constant for all cases. The stopping time was also the same for each case. The obtained results allow to assess the dependence of heating on the initial rotation speed of the shaft, and the developed model can be extremely helpful at the design stage of agricultural machinery.

The objective of the course is to create awareness amongst the students about different aspects of engineering management. Course contents: Introduction, from science to engineering, people at work, developing engineers, organizing engineering, managing engineering projects, the market for engineering products, development testing, principles of production, quality, reliability and safety, selling, using, and supporting engineering products, engineering in society, engineering standards, concepts of total quality management (TQM), organizational behavior and industrial psychology.

Digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) have infiltrated most sectors of the economy, including the energy sector, where they have been extensively investigated. The aim of the study is primarily to assess the awareness of AI in facility management, and to identify the prospects and challenges of the adoption of AI in the energy sector. The study adopted the quantitative methodology approach, using a structured questionnaire to a sample size of 384 respondents. The questionnaire was administered to professionals such as mechanical, civil, electrical, computer, and mechatronics engineers, and project managers within the North-central geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Data gathered was analysed using descriptive analysis (mean value, weighted total, and relative importance index). The study based on findings concludes that there exists high awareness level about the concept of AI in the energy sector. However, regarding the awareness about some selected AI technologies, machine & ...

PT PLN (Persero) ULP Banyumas is one of the work areas of PT PLN (Persero) UID Jawa Tengah dan DIY. One of the challenge in PLN Banyumas is bill arrears. Electricity bill arrears can result in income being not smooth. The cause of arrears in the PLN Banyumas especially the general category is the culture of the customer, many of the customers pay the electricity bill accumulatively and wait to be billed by the termination officer. There are also other causes, namely termination officers who have not been consistent in applying the rules. Handling the problem regarding arrears is formulated the cause and the selection of solutions that can be done using Root Cause Problem Solving (RCPS). The results of the RCPS analysis in several solutions that could be done to reduce arrears, namely optimization of the implementation of power termination, timely billing and socialization of payment of electricity bills, socialization of replacement to prepaid electricity, and optimization of CMC to...

Ideation is regarded as a critical element in the innovation process; besides, it is transversal to the different design models. Notwithstanding its fundamental characteristics for the innovation process, ideation is the least-studied phase and an ambiguous nature is sometimes assigned to it. Consequently, the Fuzzy Front End (FFE) designation was born to describe this early phase and the interest over its study has recently increased. By means of an extensive literature review, ideation is highlighted from the design process and diverging models for the FFE are comparatively analyzed. The importance of a cross-functional approach for the FFE is underpinned with an analysis of a multidisciplinary and mainly conceptual project over the transportation sector. The innovative character and the perceived value of this project is precisely grounded in its integrated and cross-functional approach, which combines the technological possibilities with the passenger focus.

The importance of the quantitative statistics related to earth's natural resources and its land cover maps is undeniable. The data obtained from satellite platforms can offer a detailed overview of the natural processes and physical activities at incredible temporal and spatial resolutions. Mapping satellite images, classifying them and determining the vegetation area is a very important task for management and future planning of natural resources. The change detection practices are very important for discerning the spatial features and their conversion to urban lands. Over the years, the importance of timely and precise information presenting the extent and nature of natural land resources, especially in mountainous areas, has increased. In this paper, we have determined the vegetation cover and derived change maps using remotely sensed image data of the Abbottabad region of Pakistan. For this study, land cover mapping was achieved through interpreting satellite images of the region using ENVI 5.3 and ArcGIS Pro. Landsat images were utilized to estimate changes in land utilization pattern. To identify the changes between the years 1990 and 2016, the images were preprocessed and were categorized into five classes-i.e. forest, water bodies, settlements, agriculture land, and barren land using the maximum likelihood classifier. The post classification change detection performed over classified images shows a positive change in forest class, water bodies and settlements while a negative change in barren land, with most of the barren land been converted into agricultural land. Some of the previously cultivated areas have been converted into forest.

Most sectors of the Nigerian economy, including the energy sector, have been infiltrated by digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), where they have been extensively investigated. The research aims primarily to assess the perception of AI in facility management and identify the prospects and challenges of the adoption of AI in the energy sector. The study adopted the quantitative methodology approach, using a structured questionnaire to a sample size of 384 respondents. The questionnaire was administered to professionals such as mechanical, civil, electrical, computer, and mechatronics engineers and project managers within the North-central geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Data gathered was analyzed using descriptive analysis (mean value, weighted total, and relative importance index). The study based on findings concludes that there is a high awareness level about AI in the energy sector. Also, awareness about some selected AI technologies, machine & deep learning, robotics, and speech recognition had a high awareness level. The study also concludes that improved energy management, efficiency and transparency, remote reading of energy meters, and improved planning, operation & control of power systems were prevalent prospects of AI adoption. The major challenging factors to adopting AI in the Nigerian energy sector are outdated power system infrastructure, cellular technologies, a scarcity of qualified experts and data scientists, and a growing threat from cyber-attacks. The study recommends improved awareness and technical know-how of energy sector personnel and adequate power system infrastructure to provide a stable power supply.

Energy consumers in Nigeria have long complained about Distribution Companies' unfair billing practices, exorbitant monthly electricity bills resulting from meter estimation rather than accurate meter reading. The study's objectives were to establish the relationship between the prepaid metering system and customer satisfaction; and evaluate the level of satisfaction concerning the usage of the prepaid metering system in Niger State, Nigeria. In carrying out the study, the structured questionnaire was administered to 393 randomly chosen respondents drawn from prepaid meter users, out of which 344 responded, generating a response rate of 87.5%. The data derived were subjected to spearman correlation and multiple regression models. The major findings from the study showed a significant, moderate, and positive relationship between the prepaid metering system and customer satisfaction. Additionally, three significant predictors, Affordability, Availability, and Flexibility with p < .01 are statistically significant. Further findings from descriptive statistics revealed that users had the highest level of satisfaction with their privacy as a result of no meter readers and no accumulated. The study concluded a positive and beneficial link between the prepaid metering system and customer satisfaction. Therefore, the study recommends good customer care units and a marketing campaign for better knowledge of the prepaid metering system.

Metering in the Nigerian Electricity Industry is in desperate need of an emergency response to close the large gap in satisfaction. Energy consumers in Nigeria have long complained about Distribution Companies’ unfair billing practices. The objectives of the study were to find out the benefits and challenges of the prepaid metering system among users in Minna, Niger State. The study adopted a descriptive survey with a structured questionnaire as part of the research design. The questionnaire sought responses from 100 randomly selected residential (domestic) users of prepaid meter in Minna, Niger State. The findings of the study revealed that the most prevalent benets of the meter are no accumulated debt; no struggle with bill payment; careful with electricity usage and no disconnection fee. The findings also show that, while customers have been satisfied (benefited) in many ways, the prepaid metering system has also caused them challenges, the highest level of dissatisfaction expressed by users is the delay in receiving and installation of prepaid meters; increase in electricity tariff and limited use of electrical appliances. The findings enabled this study to reach far-reaching recommendations that are thought to be ideal to improve customer satisfaction and reduce dissatisfaction among users and those planning to switch to prepaid meters. These include receiving and installation of prepaid meters on time, decrease in electricity tari, increase vending points (stations), good customer care service (units)

Metering in the Nigerian Electricity Industry is in desperate need of an emergency response to close the large gap in satisfaction. Energy consumers in Nigeria have long complained about Distribution Companies’ unfair billing practices. The objectives of the study were to find out the benefits and challenges of the prepaid metering system among users in Minna, Niger State. The study adopted a descriptive survey with a structured questionnaire as part of the research design. The questionnaire sought responses from 100 randomly selected residential (domestic) users of prepaid meter in Minna, Niger State. The findings of the study revealed that the most prevalent benets of the meter are no accumulated debt; no struggle with bill payment; careful with electricity usage and no disconnection fee. The findings also show that, while customers have been satisfied (benefited) in many ways, the prepaid metering system has also caused them challenges, the highest level of dissatisfaction expressed by users is the delay in receiving and installation of prepaid meters; increase in electricity tariff and limited use of electrical appliances. The findings enabled this study to reach far-reaching recommendations that are thought to be ideal to improve customer satisfaction and reduce dissatisfaction among users and those planning to switch to prepaid meters. These include receiving and installation of prepaid meters on time, decrease in electricity tari, increase vending points (stations), good customer care service (units)

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the thermomechanical behavior of the dry contact between the brake disc and pads during the braking phase. The simulation strategy is based on computer code ANSYS11. The modeling of transient temperature in the disc is actually used to identify the factor of geometric design of the disc to install the ventilation system in vehicles. The thermal-structural analysis is then used with coupling to determine the deformation and the Von Mises stress established in the disc, the contact pressure distribution in pads. The results are satisfactory when compared to those of the specialized literature.

The aim of this contribution was to present a study based on the determination and the visualization of the structural deformations due to the contact of slipping between the disc and the pads. The results of the calculations of the contact described in this work relate to displacements, Von Mises stress on the disc, and contact pressures on the inner and outer pad at various moments of simulation. We first proceed to view the meshed models and predicting variations of tensile or compressive stress normal to the plane and shear stress in rotating disc and ring bodies. One precedes then the influence of some parameters on the computation results such as rotation of the disc, the smoothness of the mesh, the material of the brake pads and the friction coefficient entering the disc and the pads, the number of revolutions and the material of the disc, the pad groove.

The main purpose of this study is to analysis the thermomechanical behavior of the dry contact between the brake disc and pads during the braking phase. The simulation strategy is based on the calculation code ANSYS11. The modeling of transient temperature in the disk is actually used to identify the factor of geometric design of the disk to install the ventilation system in vehicles. The thermal-structural analysis is then used coupling to determine the deformation established and the Von Mises stresses in the disk, the contact pressure distribution in pads. The results are satisfactory compared to those found in the literature.

The main purpose of this study is to analysis the thermomechanical behavior of the dry contact between the brake disc and pads during the braking phase. The simulation strategy is based on the calculation code ANSYS11. The modeling of transient temperature in the disk is actually used to identify the factor of geometric design of the disk to install the ventilation system in vehicles. The thermal-structural analysis is then used coupling to determine the deformation established and the Von Mises stresses in the disk, the contact pressure distribution in pads. The results are satisfactory compared to those found in the literature.

The vehicle braking system is considered to be one of the most fundamental safetycritical systems in modern vehicles, as its main purpose is to stop or decelerate the vehicle. The frictional heat generated during braking application can cause numerous negative effects on the brake assembly, such as brake fade, premature wear, thermal cracks and disc thickness variation. In the past, surface roughness and wear at the pad interface have rarely been considered in studies of the thermal analysis of a disc brake assembly using the finite element method. The ventilated pad-disc brake assembly is built by a three-dimensional model with a thermomechanical coupling boundary condition and multi-body model technique. The numerical simulation for the coupled transient thermal field and stress field is carried out sequentially with the thermal-structural coupled method, based on ANSYS software, to evaluate the stress fields of deformations that are established in the disc with the pressure of the pads and in the conditions of tightening of the disc; thus, the contact pressure distributions field in the pads is obtained, which is another significant aspect in this research. The results obtained by the simulation are satisfactorily compared with those of the specialized literature.

In its initial phase, bioethics has developed widely as an evolution of medical ethics, imposed by the massive entry of technology into the field of medicine, due to which the possibilities of choice for the actors involved were much wider than those foreseen by the already codified norms and, therefore, the resolution of the dilemmas produced by these new situations was sought in the deepening and application of some general ethical principles, such as those of non-maleficiency, beneficiency, justice, autonomy, respect for dignity, protection of fragility, solidarity, sacredness of life, quality of life, responsibility and so on. Regardless of their differences, these theoretical solutions had the common characteristic of referring to the morally correct conduct of human individuals and their interpersonal relationships. In this sense we might say that they remained within an anthropocentric horizon characterized by two components, that is, the reference to man and the reference to a center. These two concepts find little space in current bioethical discussions, such as those of roboethics, environmental ethics, posthumanism and transhumanism, in which it seems that man no longer occupies the most relevant role. The other interesting aspect is that also the notion of center tends to disappear, that was connected to the idea of a privileged position, a point of reference, a criterion of unification and convergence. Some scholars regret this loss of the center, which they regard as the dissolution of every ideal of order, of orientation and as the source of relativism, particularly in the ethical domain.

In this chapter we evaluate the selection of a call tracking feature for an existing marketing automation solution. This type of selection process has become much more complex over time based on the sheer volume of offerings available, different technical approaches to implementation, and service plans (features plus costs). In order to manage this complexity for decision making, we gathered a set of core requirements from the client, assembled a panel of experts to rank the importance of requirements, and then evaluated the potential solutions based on those criteria. The actual decision making methodology used in this study is the hierarchical decision model (HDM) testing two alternative methods for evaluating the expert criteria ranking. In this case, by focusing on client requirements, rather than specific technologies or implementation approaches, allows us to greatly simplify this complex decision making process in the absence of a more detailed technical analysis of every possible solution.

Abstract-This paper reviews some key structural and design dimensions of organizations and how they apply to electronic business and the virtual organization. The paper reviews the relevant literature on design of electronic commerce organizations. Although few studies have ...

The braking system is an important part of an automobile. During the braking, the brake pads pressed against the rotating disc. it retards the motion of the rotor. During this action lot of heat energy is generated. If the generated heat is more than the expected limit then it will cause a serious problem. At high temperature, the brake fade will cause. Brake pad material should have enough coefficient of friction they will retard the motion of the rotor and also may block the rotor. Previously Asbestos is used as a brake pad material but the Asbestos harms environmental health as well as human health. So, the use of Asbestos is prohibited. Currently, a lot of research is going on to find out the brake pad material which will replace the Asbestos. In this paper, some of the suitable brake pad materials are suggested. These materials are as follows: Carbon Fibre, S 2 Glass Fibre, 60% Al6061 +40% Al 2 O 3 , ZrO 2 , SiC. To select the best material based on their properties the MACBETH method is used. the main output of the MACBETH method is the overall MACBETH score. Carbon fibre shows the highest overall MACBETH score. The best material selected is Carbon fibre. By using Carbon fibre as a brake pad material, static structural and thermomechanical analysis is performed on the brake disc. This analysis is performed in ANSYS Workbench. In this analysis, the deformation and Von misses' stresses are found out. It is found that the results obtained in the thermomechanical analysis are within the expected limit. So, the design is safe. We can use Carbon fibre as a brake pad material.

The global economy which is enhanced through changing technologies is pressurizing organisations to improve productivity of their business processes. Competition is forcing organisations to focus their energy on core competencies. Like many industries, the clothing industry is witnessing changes in technology, diversification of labour, managerial implications while competing on the global market. The South African clothing and textile industry has the potential to create jobs, but this potential has been steadily diminishing. The performance of the clothing industry, whether in terms of efficiency, working conditions or degree of social protection, is unstable. The industry's ability to generate sustainable and productive employment varies according to geographical locations. The process improvement methodology that could improve the status quo in the clothing industry is modular manufacturing, which is the focus of this paper. Qualitative results of the implementation of modular manufacturing and its relative experiences at a South African clothing manufacturer are presented through a case history.

Harmony or balance between people and the environment is the basics requirement of a healthy life. Industrial and human activities have affected the natural ecosystem, leading to changes in land cover in land use, which is a major concern for ecologists and society. The change of land cover structure in land use is the result of natural and socioeconomic factors and human use in time and space. Change analysis plays an important role in natural resource management and environmental change assessment. With the help of remote sensing and geographic information systems, in parts of Sonnebhadra and Singrauli regions, land use and land cover changes have been investigated for 10 years. The impact of NTPC Thermal Power Plant in Shaktinagar and Vindhyanagar of Sonebhadra and Singrauli district of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh state and its surrounding can be well monitored through Geo-spatial Technology. Satellite images of different resolutions are the main source for creating various thematic layers by analyzing digital images and GIS applications. The growth of human settlements, the changes in vegetation cover and surface water, and the growth of mining activities are some of the key factors that can be used to appropriately control environmental impacts. The main purpose of this study is to create several thematic levels for environmental analysis and land use/land cover changes within a 5km radius of the NTPC thermal power station. The study is conducted for the two period of time frame i.e. for the year 2010 and 2020. It is observed that the Dense forest cover is reduced from 3457.95ha (2010) to 2266.54ha (2020) that resulted in the low precipitation in the singrauli region and continuous increase in the temperature. Mining area is estimated at 3514.28ha in 2010 which is increased to 6602.67ha in 2020 which causes negative impact on the ecological balance of the region. Deforestation is a continuous phenomenon as Tree clad area reduced to only 467.63ha (2020) as compared to 907.06ha in (2010). Therefore it is observed that quick and effective measures must be taken to combat the growing environmental degradation and reduce the environmental impact on its surroundings areas through ameiolarative measures like plantation ,treatment of abandoned mining areas, sewerage treatment, ash water recycling ,land reclamation, etc.

Brakes are one of the most important components of every vehicle, including agricultural machines (tractors, harvesters, etc.). The nature of the brakes causes generation of abrasive wear products. Unfortunately, they get into the environment and cause its pollution. Nowadays, great emphasis is placed on environmental protection, which is why in this work an attempt was made to use plant waste materials as one of the components of friction material (as reinforcement) used for the production of friction linings. The fibrous nature of the stalks used gives great hope for a composite suitable for use in the braking systems of vehicles traveling at low speeds (like agricultural machines). Of many available plants, rye stalks were selected for the experiment. They were obtained as a local farm waste. The fibres were milled to the desired size and then mixed with the other ingredients. Five samples with different percentage composition were prepared. Then they were tested in laboratory. For this purpose, a pin-on-disc stand was used, which allows the determination of selected friction pair cooperation parameters. Using this test stand, the values of the friction force between the sample and the counter sample were determined. This value was used to calculate the coefficient of friction for each case. Then, measuring the weight loss (as a difference in the sample weight before and after the test), the abrasive wear rate was calculated for each sample. The obtained results show the differences between the prototype friction material and materials similar to commercial. The quantity of differences gives hope for the possibility of using waste materials of plant origin in the production of friction materials used in brake pads. Therefore, the composition presented in the paper contributes to environmental protection.

The objective of this research is to contribute to the improvement of knowledge of the 'front end' or pre-development of innovation, a process that comprises all the activities prior to the formal start of the development of innovation projects. In this aspect, we identify the most relevant 'front-end' techniques that have been developed in the previous literature.

Although legal personality has slowly begun to be granted to non-human entities that have a direct impact on the natural functioning of human societies (given their cultural significance), the same cannot be said for computer-based intelligence systems. While this notion has not had a significantly negative impact on humanity to this point in time that only remains the case because advanced computerised intelligence systems (ACIS) have not been acknowledged as reaching human-like levels. With the integration of ACIS in medical assistive technologies such as companion robots and bionics, our legal treatment of ACIS must also adapt-least society faces legal challenges that may potentially lead to legally sanctioned discriminatory treatment. For this reason, this article exposes the complexity of normalizing definitions of "natural" human subjects, clarifies how current bioethical discourse has been unable to effectively guide ACIS integration into implanted and external artefacts, and argues for the establishment of legal delineations between various ACIS-human mergers in reference to legal protections and obligations internationally.

Using remote sensing and GIS technique, we analyse the change detection of different land use/land cover (LULC) types that has taken place in Puthimari river basin during a two-decade period from 1999 to 2019. Supervised classification method with maximum likelihood algorithm have been applied to prepare the LULC maps. The LULC change detection has been performed employing a post-classification detection method. Puthimari is a north bank sub-catchment of River Brahmaputra, the northern part of which falls in Bhutan and the rest falls in the Assam state of India. The primary LULC types of the basin are, dense vegetation which is predominant in the upper catchment, crop land and rural settlement. Thus, five different classes have been considered for the analysis, viz., dense vegetation, water bodies, silted water, cropland and rural settlement. The results showed that the rural settlement and water bodies in the basin increased by 42.70% and 30.31% from 1999 to 2019. However, dense vegetation, silted water and cropland decreased by 9.24%, 27.47% and 28.10% during these two decades.

Although legal personality has slowly begun to be granted to non-human entities that have a direct impact on the natural functioning of human societies (given their cultural significance), the same cannot be said for computer-based intelligence systems. While this notion has not had a significantly negative impact on humanity to this point in time, that only remains the case because advanced computerised intelligence systems (ACIS) have not been acknowledged as reaching human-like levels. With the integration of ACIS in medical assistive technologies such as companion robots and bionics, our legal treatment of ACIS must also adapt-least society faces legal challenges that may potentially lead to legally sanctioned discriminatory treatment. For this reason, this article exposes the complexity of normalizing definitions of "natural" human subjects, clarifies how current bioethical discourse has been unable to effectively guide ACIS integration into implanted and external artefacts, and argues for the establishment of legal delineations between various ACIS-human mergers in reference to legal protections and obligations internationally.

The rapid advancement of artificial (computer) intelligence systems (CIS) has generated a means whereby assistive bionic prosthetics can become both more effective and practical for the patients who rely upon the use of such machines in their daily lives. However, de lege lata remains relatively unspoken as to the legal status of patients whose devices contain self-learning CIS that can interface directly with the peripheral nervous system. As a means to reconcile for this lack of legal foresight, this article approaches the topic of CIS-nervous system interaction and the impacts it may have on the legal definition of “persons” under the law. While other literature of this nature centres upon notions of transhumanism or self-enhancement, the approach herein approached is designed to focus solely upon the legal nature of independent CIS actions when operating alongside human subjects. To this end, it is hoped that further discussion on the topic can be garnered outside of transhumanist discourse to expedite legal consideration for how these emerging relationships ought to be received by law-generating bodies internationally.

The rapid advancement of artificial (computer) intelligence systems (CIS) has generated a means whereby assistive bionic prosthetics can become both more effective and practical for the patients who rely upon the use of such machines in their daily lives. However, de lege lata remains relatively unspoken as to the legal status of patients whose devices contain self-learning CIS that can interface directly with the peripheral nervous system. As a means to reconcile for this lack of legal foresight, this article approaches the topic of CIS-nervous system interaction and the impacts it may have on the legal definition of "persons" under the law. While other literature of this nature centres upon notions of transhumanism or self-enhancement, the approach herein approached is designed to focus solely upon the legal nature of independent CIS actions when operating alongside human subjects. To this end, it is hoped that further discussion on the topic can be garnered outside of transhumanist discourse to expedite legal consideration for how these emerging relationships ought to be received by law-generating bodies internationally.