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Abstract: Abstract Remote care has become common place and widespread. As affordability improves there has been a magnitude of increase in end users. Communication is paramount in healthcare and even more so in intensive fields like critical care and surgery. Remote technology allows geographically disparate providers and patients to interact. Unlike a bedside interaction there are certain parameters to monitor when remote communication occurs. These include technical factors, privacy, fidelity of audio and video communication, data standards, adequacy of interaction time and depth of conversation and documentation among various components. The article will identify these elements and try to trace its evolution as relevant to critical care. PubDate: 2023-03-24
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Abstract: Abstract The article focuses on developing methods and techniques for improving accident- to-discharge workflows that could in turn enable smarter, de-congested hospitals. The paper analyzes the role of large corporations with expertise in building sensors, solutions for healthcare, and smart cities. This could be the desired catalyst in speeding up the transformation. The paper explores about three large players – patients, the ecosystem, and the hospitals that would play a key role in ensuring effective accident-to-discharge workflows. We performed multiple interviews with first responders and care providers that were primarily involved in ferrying and treating accident victims in and around large cities in southern India. The study involved observing trauma stations at multiple public and private hospitals that handle accident victims. Key findings indicate that the infrastructure around the hospitals is not conducive to enable hospitals to provide quality care during emergencies. This limits the timely delivery of critical care. Barriers were beyond the hospital environment. They included the unavailability of full life care support ambulances support in an optimal vicinity, difficulty in relaying messages to the receiving hospital, unplanned traffic deviations, and unacknowledged right of the way for ambulances to name a few. While smarter and connected hospitals are the need of the hour to ensure timely emergency care—any transformation powered by information and communication technology should be seen holistically. This includes the role of urban infrastructure, and the ecosystem in supporting a smoother movement of traffic and awareness among people. PubDate: 2023-03-23
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Abstract: Abstract Digital Heath is steadily evolving, spreading worldwide and radically transforming health care and its delivery. The global urban rural health divide is likely to be bridged using Digital Health in its entirety. Futurology is a pseudo-science involving imagining, envisioning, projecting and predicting what is likely to be realized. Visualising and predicting the future is generally based on how cutting-edge technology is currently evolving. In this article the author a hard-core clinician who in the last two decades has been attempting to introduce Telehealth into main stream health care has surveyed the literature and attempted to do some crystal ball gazing understanding that the future is always ahead of schedule and to paraphrase Mark Twain “ain’t what it used to be”. PubDate: 2023-03-20
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Abstract: Abstract With the proliferation of digital health around the globe, there is involvement of one too many stakeholders, across the entire spectrum of service offerings. What may have started as a focus on the platforms, and care providers, now witnesses and ascribes several duties and obligations which are carved out for the end users, the patients in this case. In this article, we are deep diving into the rules and regulations involving the digital health ecosystem. Some are common across the globe, while some are still finding its bearings in a nascent community and heterogenous structure, like the healthcare system in India. This article will also highlight ethical concerns tied to the practice, especially where reliance is placed on human-centric data, submitted by individuals (caregivers, patients, alike), and populated in the devices used by the stakeholders. With challenges around privacy growing, digital health is also bracing its shields, without losing sight of the primary objective of universal health coverage and wellness being brought to the last mile. PubDate: 2023-03-16
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Abstract: Abstract The “Every Child A Scientist” (ECAS) program, since its inception in 2002, has emphasized the importance of experiential and activity based learning to supplement standard “chalk and talk” learning. In a modified version of this program (2021–22), 153 middle school students from two corporation schools of Chennai participated in a two-week science learning sessions using digital e-learning modules. The present study summarises the outcomes of this program. The customised course content developed based on the state school curriculum, delivered using digital smart boards, with audio-visual learning, hands on practical sessions, provided easy grasp of scientific concepts. Integration of practical laboratory based sessions bridged the gap between theory and practice. Simplifying science learning using digital tools has the potential to enhance school academic performance. Students could consciously relate scientific concepts to events in their day-to-day life. Bilingual teaching contributed to easy assimilation and understanding of science concepts. An enabling academic environment with approachable educators is crucial to science learning. Access to internet and desktop systems, awareness of internet based learning resources as secondary sources of learning facilitated and fostered self-learning. Providing nutri-dense meals in schools for overall cognitive development, better learning and physical growth will also ease parental pressures. Thus, technology and science based methods will provide solutions to big challenges in the future. In this context, providing quality science education using digital tools can help integrate socio-economically marginalised students into the main stream. PubDate: 2022-11-22 DOI: 10.1007/s40012-022-00368-5
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Abstract: Abstract eGurukul system is derived from the ancient Indian’s Gurukul education, where students gather in one place and learn from their master. Early childhood is the right time for children to improve their foundation skills. Children in Urban areas are exposed to such an environment where parents put their kids in kindergarten school. In rural areas, children would be admitted in school only at the age of eight years. Also, in our current education system, many rural schools across India do not have sufficient teachers to educate the children. So, we propose an eGurukul system, teaching aid to engage the students to learn the basics of communication language without the presence of a teacher/human. The Yantramanav is designed to teach the students with basic language (English, Tamil & Hindi) alphabets writing, pronunciation of the alphabets and rhymes, also the basics of Mathematics to the rural kids under the age of eight. The Yantramanav is designed with a mini projector, camera & speakers as a teaching and monitoring aid during time of activity. The humanoid uses the projector as a major tool for teaching. The projector helps the students to gather in one place and make the students to be attentive during the activities. The humanoid takes the attendance using the camera with the help of face recognition. Humanoid uses the speakers’ to deliver audio contents during activities. The entire activities are controlled by a MCU Board, which operates based on the programmed instructions. Switches are used to choose the communication language and activities. The content can also be delivered to other regions of various districts through online mode at the same time. PubDate: 2022-11-09 DOI: 10.1007/s40012-022-00367-6
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Abstract: Abstract Ignite began as an innovative learning program started by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in 2007, under the close mentorship of the then CEO Mr. S Ramadorai, to include science graduates into the mainstream Information Technology (IT) roles. These roles were otherwise traditionally exclusively earmarked for engineering graduates. Designing a suitable program for this cohort was a challenge since the cohort was traditionally under-represented in IT companies and came with a minimal formal intellectual apparatus in software engineering. This includes women, first-generation graduates and students from low-income brackets who did not get an opportunity to pursue an engineering education. Over the years, we have been able to identify talent from this cohort through a democratic hiring process. We have designed a world class, training program for a thousand graduates who get selected and trained each year for IT roles. The program is high-tech and high touch; designed to support and catalyse several opportunities and modes of learning. This includes hands-on tools for practice, gamification via competitive programming, peer-to-peer learning, ambient learning from the design of the space and an incubator model of learning, to name a few. We have continuously and deliberately sought to refine our processes, curricula and pedagogy for this cohort through experimentation. Along the way, we have designed a learning organization (Senge in 126–138, 1990) [1] that continuously evolves with time. In this paper, we share a replicable system of identifying and training this under-represented and under-served talent; and set them on a path of becoming world class professionals. We share some of our most effective pedagogical practices along with qualitative outcomes that were learnt over a 15-year long period and with over 12,400 + science graduates who have passed through our program. PubDate: 2022-11-05 DOI: 10.1007/s40012-022-00366-7
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Abstract: Abstract It is always a proven statement that the education industry keeps growing and it has been witnessed a reflectivetransformation in the meadow of edification. Swiftprogress and skill augmentation for teachers are the need of the hour. Chalk and Talk Method, so called conventional teaching have distorted into smart boards, interactive teaching and virtual reality and augmented reality mode of teaching. Access to innovative tools and technology has made education expedienttransversely in all platforms. This study has envisaged the real impact of Covid’19 towards the continuous up skilling of the teaching faculty irrespective of their disciplines. A sample size of 182 teaching professionals of Engineering and Arts and Science in growing institutions of Coimbatore City has been included for the study. A well structured questionnaire was framed and distributed among the teaching community and the data is analyzed through descriptive statistics. The pandemic has made a drastic change in all the fields, especially education as the teachers perception towards teaching mode has transformed from conventional to contemporary in most of the prominent cases. PubDate: 2022-09-27 DOI: 10.1007/s40012-022-00365-8
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Abstract: Abstract The journey of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in India has been from skepticism to acceptance to leveraging the higher potentials of BIM. Excelize Software, serving the global Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations industry from their headquarters in Aurangabad, has been a witness to and participant in this transformational journey for nearly last two decades. This paper is aimed at exploring their journey of offering BIM services to a wide variety of projects that were undertaken in the construction industry of India during this period. The construction sector has historically grappled with the challenges of managing productivity with respect to completion of projects on time, management of labor and materials and maintenance of built assets. BIM made its foray into the Indian construction industry towards the end of the first decade in this millennium. Typical of any technology adoption curve, BIM was met with a fair share of skepticism across stakeholders. Yet, awareness about its potential benefits, scope of application in design and management of various aspects of the project and subsequent adoption has grown slowly yet steadily in the past decade. Data published by Invest India (Source: https://www.investindia.gov.in/sector/construction) states that the construction Industry in India is expected to reach $1.4 Tn by 2025. Urban population is said to contribute 75% of GDP (63% present), and 68 cities will have a population of more than 1 million; up from 42 today. The construction industry market in India works across 250 sub-sectors with linkages across sectors. Given these projections, India is likely to go through massive urbanization and economic growth. All construction activities that result from this growth will need proper planning, scheduling, design and information management. Meeting these needs will require a strong framework for implementation, a sophisticated level of design communication, project co-ordination and documentation as well as robust technology tools. BIM is well-designed to be the first building block of such a framework that can radically support and enhance the massive needs of the construction sector in India. Through the various projects executed by Excelize and a set of parameters that reveal the BIM adoption metrics for the said period, this paper will navigate the journey of BIM from ‘We are not interested’ to ‘Nice to have tool’ to ‘Must have technology aid’ to ‘Exploring BIM for greater possibilities.’ PubDate: 2022-06-20 DOI: 10.1007/s40012-022-00364-9
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Abstract: Abstract Initial investment or capex phase in capital infrastructure constitutes about 20% of project lifecycle costs but this phase causes significant time and cost overruns. Emergent nature of projects and its inherent dynamicism is one of the primary root causes that prevents decision makers from being able to better manage capital projects. Fragmented nature of the capital projects industry and disconnected systems that capture information of these projects in silos are added dimensions that add to the complexity. Lean construction was invented in such a realm with an objective to increase plan reliability, improve project delivery performance without compromising quality and safety. The strength of lean construction is in its ability to provide process for effectively and efficiently managing projects across multiple organizations and systems. But decision makers in these projects still are only guessing when they make promises, primarily due to inability to account for interactions of other projects in their business or processes within the project to make an informed decision. In an environment wherein they need to take into account these conflicting objectives, there is a need for IT enabled decision support solutions that will provide decision making capabilities to these decision makers. Stakeholders involved in capital projects primarily use scheduling solutions, ERP systems, and design management solutions to manage information during this capex phase of the project. The primary tool that decision makers have at their disposal today schedule projects based on the critical path method (CPM). And that drives time, cost, and associated promises. Practical reality dictates that CPM method falls short of needs of decision makers. Hence, promises are made based the experience of the decision maker. With today’s availability of near ubiquitous cloud computing and technologies to process structured and unstructured data, there are more powerful options available for decision makers to make more informed decisions. This paper discusses the limitations of the CPM scheduling technique and discusses the need for an effective constraint based planning tool that reflects the reality of the project and site conditions. Such a tool can effectively analyze data using analytics and machine learning to provide the missing link to augment the CPM scheduling that takes the capital project needs into account. The author feels that availability of such solutions combined with the process of lean construction will make a potent combination for effective collaboration and control to deliver projects within time and costs. Constraint based planning tools, if effectively designed and tailored for the capital projects industry, can provide the forward looking visibility needed by decision makers to manage projects proactively and provide a framework for them to make promises with better confidence. PubDate: 2022-06-07 DOI: 10.1007/s40012-022-00362-x
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Abstract: Abstract The research aims to demonstrate the role of BIM and construction management tools as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in enabling efficient production planning, monitoring, and control, which helps streamline construction project delivery. The research demonstrates the importance of effective communication through efficient information management by deploying digital technology that helps overcome inherent inefficiencies and wastes in the construction management processes. The research follows a case study-based approach to highlight the success of deploying ICT for efficient production management through improved collaboration and communication on an Instructional Building project in California. The research demonstrates the success of ICT in enabling efficient production planning by allowing accurate visualisation of the sequence of works to be executed. With accurate and timely updates from site, multiple trades have been able to communicate effectively, thereby enabling effective control of any issues or deviation. The result was a 6-weeks early completion of the project than initially planned. While ICT has played a crucial role in streamlining construction project delivery over the past few decades, this research dives deeper into understanding where the improvement stems from, i.e., the quality of information offered by technology and its best use towards driving efficiency and collaboration within the project teams. Inefficiencies are common across the construction industry stemming from inaccurate project planning and control. With ICT and its efficient deployment, project teams can define accurate production sequencing, visualise the flow of work, and take proactive decisions to control the impact on schedule. The research provides process-based key insights by focusing on the critical aspects of ICT for data visualisation, data sharing, and data analysis, that helped take informed planning and control decisions for efficient production management for successful early completion of the project. PubDate: 2022-06-04 DOI: 10.1007/s40012-022-00359-6
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Abstract: Abstract Digitization in Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC) is warranted future of the AEC/infrastructure industry. A significant percentage stake of project value is being allocated and gradually invested for creating a digital eco-system in organizations and projects among developing economies. However, implementation intentions often fail to succeed because stakeholders are unable to envision the key factors in formulating an executable implementation plan. The current paper has two main objectives. First, it highlights the critical factors which should be considered while implementing a digital eco-system in projects. Second, it discusses the implications of adoption on existing AEC culture from an implementers’ perspective. The research discusses case studies over a decade, highlighting a paradigm shift involving Information and Communication Technology adoption in an organization. PubDate: 2022-06-04 DOI: 10.1007/s40012-022-00361-y
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Abstract: Abstract Digitization is having a significant impact on several industries and there has been a lot of eagerness to adopt it over the past few years. The case is similar in Construction Industry, and companies have been trying all stops to reap the paybacks and bring in a sense of technology disruption, to a segment which was otherwise hard-wired to the analog era. The benefits are there to realize, both in tangible and intangible forms. And with passing months, we are able to get deeper into the construction core activities and explore more and more areas that can benefit from digital technology. Among all the returns which were generated from the digital disruption, we in our organization are looking at it to solve a very subtle concern, having a large scale and long duration impact. We wanted to treasure a solution for Knowledge Management thru Digitization and have started working towards it. This paper takes you thru the steps taken at our organization in this endeavor. In brief, we discuss on the approach taken towards building organizational knowledge management system and a look at how this intent is being imparted in the steps taken during digital transformation. PubDate: 2022-06-04 DOI: 10.1007/s40012-022-00360-z
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Abstract: Abstract Many applications of search and optimization can be found in engineering design. However, its potential for improving process efficiency has not been evaluated in construction, particularly in the adoption of automated processes. This paper demonstrates a methodology for evaluating multiple construction processes and selecting an optimal solution. The methodology combines compositional modeling, case-based reasoning, and stochastic search. Potential solutions consisting of automated construction processes are explored through generating various combinations of process fragments. An example of the construction of a structural frame for a residential building is taken to illustrate the methodology. Through this example, it is demonstrated that this is a combinatorial problem resulting in a large number of potential solutions and a systematic method of exploring the possibilities is needed. The discussed methodology has significant potential for application during the initial planning, pre-construction, as well as the project execution phases; by selecting suitable construction processes with appropriate automation systems, overall project performance can be enhanced. PubDate: 2022-05-28 DOI: 10.1007/s40012-022-00358-7
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Abstract: Abstract The metro rail links many parts of a large city and offers one of the best modes of transit across it. However, the construction phase of the metro causes inconveniences to the people living in cities by significantly escalating the noise and dust pollution. During the construction of metro rails, citizens face problems in their everyday lives, especially as the elevated corridors go through thick-populated areas and high-vehicle traffic areas, creating traffic snarls and impediments. The literature review revealed additional concerns, such as public green cover depletion, potholes, building waste disposal, and vibrational issues. With the advent of social media, urban citizens use platforms like Twitter to express their opinions on inconveniences. The interactions over these social media platforms constitute big data. This data has immense potential for public engagement, accountability, and timely resolution of public inconvenience. The examination and analysis of social media posts on these issues are important as such analysis would inform the metro rail agency about the factors that affect the public and their emotional reaction to a specific activity or series of activities performed by the construction team. In this work, Twitter posts about the inconveniences associated with metro rail projects in four cities across India were analyzed. Social network analysis (SNA), text analytics, topic modeling, and sentiment analysis were conducted to analyze the data. SNA helped find the Twitter accounts with above-average betweenness centralities, while text analytics and topic modeling helped find latent discussion topics among the stakeholders. Sentiment analysis gave an idea of the public sentiments towards the projects. PubDate: 2022-05-23 DOI: 10.1007/s40012-022-00356-9
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Abstract: Abstract In today’s world where speed and efficiency is improving on a daily basis, the importance of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) is critical. ICT has become the backbone of every part of human life and Construction Industry is no different from the others. ICT in general is a mix of software & hardware which are specialised applications for construction industry. Earlier construction has been all human labour centric starting from Neolithic age, copper & Bronze Age to Iron Age in terms of using tools for construction. Till the late 1800’s construction were using similar technologies till steel has been used as a material which brought the new era in construction. Earlier all knowledge of design and drawings has been stored in paper in 2D format. Also all those knowledge was communicated in drawing or texts. This entire process of knowledge gathering & distribution has been revolutionised with the invent of ICT. Now ICT has been adding value to different phases of construction such as preconstruction, design, construction, operation & maintenance. ICT is useful in improving each phases and improved collaboration between teams where with right ICT usage can give all data centrally in single location. This has increased speed of error tracking and corrective action which in turn has reduced overall cost by timesaving & reduction in waste. Also ICT has changed the construction industry perspectives for environmental impact, health & safety, gender equity, increased confidence on the industry, increase in appetite for adopting new technologies etc. ICT in construction industry includes the adoption of IT tools in design, construction, operation and management of infrastructure projects. PubDate: 2022-05-21 DOI: 10.1007/s40012-022-00357-8
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Abstract: Abstract Construction industry (AECO sector) have been fragmented and laggards in adopting digital process. The productivity has been of major concern globally, pulling total economy substantially down. Study shows that the value created through higher productivity, can meet half the world’s infrastructure need. High and persistent cost and time overruns are common. Study also shows that the digitization in construction is in the lowest rung; just above agriculture. infrastructure needs to be comprehended from the Asset perspective, shifting from present project paradigm; moving towards Infrastructure (Asset) Lifecycle Management (ILM) assuring Asset performance; delivering value to the user. At the same time, OPEX, being multiple times higher than the CAPEX, when addressed in the early stage of design and delivery, productivity increases substantially. ICT has major role to play in connecting the information and people across the entire infrastructure lifecycle; thus, facilitate accomplishing ILM in similar lines of PLM in manufacturing sector, delivering value to the users. ICT can facilitate transforming from digitisation (using technologies in creating digital contents) in silos, to digitalisation of information flow process; bringing visibility of status along with accessibility of reliable information to its users down the line, from a single source of truth and on real-time basis. The process flows of infrastructure asset delivery and operation have now been laid down clearly in ISO 19650 series. The digitalization of these ISO process, Standardizing Information exchange format, Asset classification with LOD & LOI etc. are among the major way forward interfacing ICT and construction industry (AECO sector). PubDate: 2022-05-18 DOI: 10.1007/s40012-022-00354-x
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Abstract: Abstract The construction industry is the backbone of a nation’s economy. It is a matter of great concern that such an industry suffers from time and cost overruns, especially in these challenging times. Coupled with the overrun issues, the sector is often criticized for lacking adequate quality and quantity of structured secondary data. The emerging technologies in data science and machine intelligence present a unique opportunity to understand the sector better and aid in effective decision-making. To better understand the utility of such technologies, the Management Discussion and Analysis ssections of the annual reports of publicly listed top Indian construction contracting firms are analyzed to identify the presence of ‘strategy themes’ and further map them to the organizations considered. Natural Language Processing (NLP)-based topic modeling algorithms, namely Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF), are used in this study to perform a qualitative content analysis to identify the latent themes. From a methodological standpoint, considering the context of this study, the NMF results are better in accuracy, precision, and recall compared with the LDA. The results show that while most construction contracting firms prioritized a ‘revenue-focused’ strategy to expand their order books, a smaller set of large-sized firms seem to prioritize process improvement to improve their execution productivity and therefore are ‘profit margin improvement focused’ or ‘lean-focussed’ in their approach. Although a proof-of-concept, this study unlocks the immense potential of unsupervised NLP-based topic-modeling tools to understand and infer from unstructured and freely available text data in the public domain to aid sectoral analysis and policymaking. PubDate: 2022-05-13 DOI: 10.1007/s40012-022-00355-w
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