From the article: "ABSTRACT: The research group Supply Chain Redesign in the Built Environment of HU University of Applied Sciences is working on research that combines principles of the circular economy with open source architectural design & urban planning. The aim is finding new ways to re-use demolition waste and recycled materials in small scale urban area developments. And to “democratize” traditional processes in the built environment. Different recent studies have shown the potential benefits, such as a reduction of emissions. In “Hof van Cartesius”, a practical case-study in Utrecht, the ambitions and implications of this approach are being questioned, investigated and tested."
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At the department of electrical and electronic engineering of Fontys University of Applied Sciences we are defining a real-life learning context for our students, where the crossover with regional healthcare companies and institutes is maximized. Our innovative educational step is based on openly sharing electronic designs for health related measurement modalities as developed by our students. Because we develop relevant reference designs, the cross fertilization with society is large and so the learning cycle is short.
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SUMMARY Architecture compliance checking (ACC) is an approach to verify conformance of implemented program code to high-level models of architec tural design. Static ACC focuses on the modular software architecture and on the existence of rule violating dependencies between modules. Accurate tool support is essential for effective and efficient ACC. This paper presents a study on the accuracy of ACC tools regarding dependency analysis and violation reporting. Ten tools were tested and compare d by means of a custom-made benchmark. The Java code of the benchmark testware contains 34 different types of dependencies, which are based on an inventory of dependency types in object oriented program code. In a second test, the code of open source system FreeMind was used to compare the 10 tools on the number of reported rule violating dependencies and the exactness of the dependency and violation messages. On the average, 77% of the dependencies in our custom-made test software were reported, while 72% of the dependencies within a module of FreeMind were reported. The results show that all tools in the test could improve the accuracy of the reported dependencies and violations, though large differences between the 10 tools were observed. We have identified10 hard-to-detect types of dependencies and four challenges in dependency detection. The relevance of our findings is substantiated by means of a frequency analysis of the hard-to-detect types of dependencies in five open source systems. DOI: 10.1002/spe.2421
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In 2017, renowned Prof Kate Raworth from Oxford University and Amsterdam University introduced Doughnut Economics, an economic model to enable humans to thrive within the planetary boundaries and resources. Several private and public actors, including the city of Amsterdam, adopted the model in their circular economy development's strategies. Doughnut-Architecture aims to develop further the AREA (Atelier for Resilient Environmental Architecture) Framework, a tool designed by graduating students Charlotte Uiterwaal, Isabella van der Griend, Ryan McGaffney, Karolina Bäckman, at the faculty of Architecture, Delft University of Technology (TU-Delft), under the supervision of Henri van Bennekom. AREA-Framework support architects to intervene in the built environment taking as a reference the Doughnut Economics model. The AREA-Framework is at an initial stage, and its categories and subcategories are only qualitative. TU-Delft, the architectural practices Space&Matter and SuperuseStudios, in collaboration with the interdepartmental research group Circular Built Environment Hub (CBEH) and architectural practices from the network of 400 construction companies belonging to the Ex'tax project, the advice from Kate Raworth and the Amsterdam-Donut-Coalitie will further develop the AREA-Framework primarily quantitatively and also qualitatively. TU-Delft, Space&Matter, SuperuseStudios, other architectural practices from the Ex'tax-network will test the framework on different phases of real projects, interdepartmental research and education. The ultimate goal is to develop the framework further, to increase the number of architectural practices successfully implementing the Doughnut Economics in the built environment at a national level. The framework will contribute to positioning the architectural practices concerning Doughnut Economics and the Circular Economy. The project results are firstly an online open-access publication about the further developed Framework to be applied by architects; secondly, the preparation and submission of a follow-up research proposal about the extended development and implementation of the Framework applicable to the built environment by all the Ex'tax construction sector companies.
Automating logistics/agrifood vehicles requires dependable, accurate positioning. Automated vehicles, or mobile robots, constantly need to know their exact position to follow the trajectories required to perform their tasks. Precise outdoor localization is helped by the increased price/performance ratio of RTK-GNSS solutions. However, this technology is sensitive to signal deterioration by e.g. biomass and large structures like poles/buildings. Robust localization requires additional localization technologies. Several absolute and relative positioning technologies exist and available sensor fusion solutions allow for combining these technologies. However, robot developers require modularity, and no integral solutions exist. Commercial solutions are either customized or high-priced testing solutions. Academics mainly propose specific sensing combinations and lack industrial applicability. Market demand articulation expresses the need for redundancy besides modularity, both for vehicle safety and system resilience, referring to the current geopolitical GPS jamming reality. MAPS aims for an open-source, ROS2-based, multi-modal, robust and modular localization solution for outdoor logistics and agrifood applications, enabling dependable and safe vehicle automation, allowing both sectors to handle labor shortages, introduce durable solutions and enhance resilience. MAPS focuses on a sensor fusion approach allowing modularity, with integrated redundancy. It includes online confidence level estimation, supporting both continuous fusion and modality switching, aiming for location/situation aware behavior and allowing for market-requested hybrid in-vehicle/infra solutions. MAPS intents to maximally utilize the consortium’s vehicle dynamics knowledge - including vehicle-(soft)soil interaction - in the solution for plausibility and dead reckoning. An accompanying PhD/EngD research is foreseen. With project partners enabling scalable, industry-grade solutions MAPS aims to bridge the gap between academic-level research and market-desired applicability. MAPS is independent, though aims to cooperate with AIFusIOn from Saxion on re-usable architectures and integration of AIFusIOn specifics, like AI-based situational awareness and indoor-outdoor switching, if both are granted.
