Abstract This paper focuses upon the contribution which adequate use of the latest development in... more Abstract This paper focuses upon the contribution which adequate use of the latest development in IT can make to the enhancement, development and improvement of professional expertise in the construction domain. The paper is based on the author's ...
The aim of the paper is to give a synthesis of current Research and Technological Development (RT... more The aim of the paper is to give a synthesis of current Research and Technological Development (RTD) initiatives and results in Europe in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). These initiatives have the aim to set-up an agenda for future RTD, so as to ensure ...
Purpose – The paper aims to explore the role of knowledge management systems (KMS) in promoting v... more Purpose – The paper aims to explore the role of knowledge management systems (KMS) in promoting value creation in the construction sector. Design/methodology/approach – An action research methodology using a multiple case study approach, which includes participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Findings – The findings indicate that KMS promote value creation when they embed and nurture the social conditions that
IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 2010
The paper reviews mobile government (m-Government) adoption and diffusion factors in developed an... more The paper reviews mobile government (m-Government) adoption and diffusion factors in developed and developing economies. m-Government is viewed as a class of e-Government applications and refers to any transaction via mobile technologies, such as ...
Journal of Cloud Computing: Advances, Systems and Applications, 2013
The Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) sector is a highly fragmented, data intensive,... more The Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) sector is a highly fragmented, data intensive, project based industry, involving a number of very different professions and organisations. Projects carried out within this sector involve collaboration between various people, using a variety of different systems. This, along with the industry's strong data sharing and processing requirements, means that the management of building data is complex and challenging. This paper presents a solution to data sharing requirements of the AEC sector by utilising Cloud Computing. Our solution presents two key contributions, first a governance model for building data, based on extensive research and industry consultation. Second, a prototype implementation of this governance model, utilising the CometCloud autonomic Cloud Computing engine based on the Master/Worker paradigm. We have integrated our prototype with the 3D modelling software Google Sketchup. The approach and prototype presented has applicability in a number of other eScience related applications involving multi-disciplinary, collaborative working using Cloud Computing infrastructure.
In the context of an increasing demand for data and computational services, the benefits of cloud... more In the context of an increasing demand for data and computational services, the benefits of cloud computing are substantial. However, cloud computing capabilities (as currently provisioned) can prove limited when accessed through a single provider. Extending capabilities of clouds by using user owned and provisioned devices can address a number of challenges arising in the context of current cloud deployments–such as data centre power efficiency, availability and outage management and secure access. We present a ...
IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 2010
Sustainability requires the engagement of every single constituent of the "building" product supp... more Sustainability requires the engagement of every single constituent of the "building" product supply chain, from concept design to operation. The research explores ways of creating circles of impacts that bind building professionals, energy administrations, and citizens in a shared low carbon experience through a "one-stop-shop" Sustainable Construction Service Platform. The paper discusses awareness raising, stakeholders' engagement, technical requirements, and adoption and diffusion factors related to the platform. The research identifies the need to use advanced knowledge management functionality to leverage the value dimension of the proposed "one-stop-shop" service platform initiative.
5th IEEE International Conference on Management of Innovation and Technology, ICMIT2010, 2010
Fostering the nation's innovation is the key role of public research... more Fostering the nation's innovation is the key role of public research and development (R&D). However, there has been little research into how to manage innovation in public R&D. This paper reviews innovation management in the context of public R&D by focusing on the following four aspects: the mission of public R&D, publicly in-house R&D, collaborative projects, and the application of
IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 2012
There is a need for research regarding how to manage public research and development (R&D) to cre... more There is a need for research regarding how to manage public research and development (R&D) to create societal values. The paper focuses on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in a case study, the microelectronics research center. Twenty-four factors (e.g. mission, internal R&D, collaboration and management-related factors) were constructed in a hierarchy model for assessing three innovation plans: knowledge, societal and commercial orientation. The AHP analysis reveals that commercial orientation has the highest impact score on innovation factors. However, given that the selected case study is a taxpayer-funded public R&D organisation, societal expectations have to be factored into their innovation plans. Hence, the paper provides a sensitivity analysis as a result of which a suggestion is made to increase the priority of collaboration-related factors to improve the impact of societal orientation.
ABSTRACT Built environment data is of varying nature embedding various forms of sensitivities wit... more ABSTRACT Built environment data is of varying nature embedding various forms of sensitivities with potential legal, contractual, intellectual property, and security implications. The paper presents a governance approach for managing multi-actor, multi-discipline, and total lifecycle data, informed by a wide industry consultation conducted in the UK between March and September 2011. The study identifies a number of barriers in engaging with Building Information Modelling (BIM) efforts with a view of facilitating collaboration around a common and integrated project specification. A governance model is proposed that addresses the identified adoption blockers underpinned by a “mixed approach”, that factors in various modes of information delivery, ranging from paper-based documents to object-based information conveyed by IFC (Industry Foundation Classes). A demonstrator system is developed and used to validate our BIM governance concepts. Our governance model is discussed in the context of the recent UK government BIM industry consultation document supported by a research and development (R&D) roadmap taking into account current industry structure and its various levels of stakeholders’ maturity, capability and readiness.
... Autonomous Malicious Activity Inspector AMAI Umar Manzoor1, Samia Nefti1, and Yacine Rezgui... more ... Autonomous Malicious Activity Inspector AMAI Umar Manzoor1, Samia Nefti1, and Yacine Rezgui2 ... Information Sciences 178, 21052127 (2008) 3. Shah, N., Iqbal, R., James, A., Iqbal, K.: Exception representation and management in open multi-agent systems. ...
2009 7th IEEE International Conference on Industrial Informatics, 2009
Abstract - To improve the performance of building facility management tools and optimize operatio... more Abstract - To improve the performance of building facility management tools and optimize operational costs, a semantic model is being developed that is synchronized in almost real time with a range of sensors throughout the building. The semantic aspect of the model will be comprised of ...
ABSTRACT What key qualifications do universities seek when hiring chief information officers, and... more ABSTRACT What key qualifications do universities seek when hiring chief information officers, and do the responsibilities differ from ClOs in other industries? A shortage of ClOs in higher education warrants a closer look at this position. This paper explored what universities seek in and expect from a CIO candidate. We reviewed CIO advertisements to determine the key qualifications sought, the expected roles, and whether the ads included sufficient information. Our findings offer a benchmark that universities can use to build their IT leadership profiles and compare them to other industries.
IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 2009
The paper discusses technical requirements to promote the adoption of alliance modes of operation... more The paper discusses technical requirements to promote the adoption of alliance modes of operation by SMEs in the construction sector. These requirements have provided a basis for specifying a set of functionality to support the collaboration and cooperation needs of SMEs. While service-oriented architectures and semantic web services provide the middleware technology to implement the identified functionality, a number of key technical limitations have been identified, including lack of support for the dynamic and non-functional characteristics of SME alliances distributed business processes, lack of execution monitoring functionality to manage running business processes, and lack of support for semantic reasoning to enable SME business process service composition. The paper examines these issues and provides key directions for supporting SME alliances effectively.
Computing in Civil and Building Engineering (2014), 2014
Much recent work has been conducted towards reducing the energy consumption of mixed mode buildin... more Much recent work has been conducted towards reducing the energy consumption of mixed mode buildings through rule-based automation. This paper presents a novel rule generation methodology through the simultaneous use of historical sensor data and theoretical models. The theoretical rule generation methodology will be explained, encompassing the development of an energy model to the inclusion of rules within the building specific ontology. This will include the development of use-case scenarios, their refinement through a sensitivity analysis and the generation of rules through an artificial neural network embedded evolutionary optimisation algorithm. Following a review of relevant literature, the methodology will be contextualised within the architecture of the KnoholEM project and applied to the first demonstration object, a mixed use public building in the Netherlands. An example of a rule generated will then be presented and the system will be considered within the existing solution space before comments regarding future developments.
IFIP – The International Federation for Information Processing, 2008
Value networks underpinned by global and localised virtual teams are believed to have high potent... more Value networks underpinned by global and localised virtual teams are believed to have high potential for SMEs. Yet, the successful migration to value-added alliances is blended in the right combination of organizational, legal, economic, socio-cultural, and technical factors, and requires further research into innovative business models. These models should leverage existing SME competences and transcend existing virtual collaboration barriers and limitations. Grounded in state-of-the-art literature, the paper identifies current insight for the deficient research in virtual teams and presents them in the form of open research questions.
IFIP – The International Federation for Information Processing, 2008
The construction sector has adopted for decades the modus operandi of the virtual enterprise. In ... more The construction sector has adopted for decades the modus operandi of the virtual enterprise. In this context, a large number of semantic resources have been developed to support seamless collaboration between individuals and teams on projects. However, these tend to be (a) discipline oriented and geared towards servicing specific user community needs or applications; and (b) incomplete in terms of concept, and relationships between concepts covered and conveyed. Therefore, none of these (a) enable effective knowledge management across projects and organizations, (b) are accepted across disciplines, and (c) provide a true conceptualization of the construction domain. The paper argues the case for the development of knowledge-rich ontologies, and explores the factors that may hinder or promote their wide adoption and diffusion.
Abstract This paper focuses upon the contribution which adequate use of the latest development in... more Abstract This paper focuses upon the contribution which adequate use of the latest development in IT can make to the enhancement, development and improvement of professional expertise in the construction domain. The paper is based on the author's ...
The aim of the paper is to give a synthesis of current Research and Technological Development (RT... more The aim of the paper is to give a synthesis of current Research and Technological Development (RTD) initiatives and results in Europe in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). These initiatives have the aim to set-up an agenda for future RTD, so as to ensure ...
Purpose – The paper aims to explore the role of knowledge management systems (KMS) in promoting v... more Purpose – The paper aims to explore the role of knowledge management systems (KMS) in promoting value creation in the construction sector. Design/methodology/approach – An action research methodology using a multiple case study approach, which includes participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Findings – The findings indicate that KMS promote value creation when they embed and nurture the social conditions that
IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 2010
The paper reviews mobile government (m-Government) adoption and diffusion factors in developed an... more The paper reviews mobile government (m-Government) adoption and diffusion factors in developed and developing economies. m-Government is viewed as a class of e-Government applications and refers to any transaction via mobile technologies, such as ...
Journal of Cloud Computing: Advances, Systems and Applications, 2013
The Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) sector is a highly fragmented, data intensive,... more The Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) sector is a highly fragmented, data intensive, project based industry, involving a number of very different professions and organisations. Projects carried out within this sector involve collaboration between various people, using a variety of different systems. This, along with the industry's strong data sharing and processing requirements, means that the management of building data is complex and challenging. This paper presents a solution to data sharing requirements of the AEC sector by utilising Cloud Computing. Our solution presents two key contributions, first a governance model for building data, based on extensive research and industry consultation. Second, a prototype implementation of this governance model, utilising the CometCloud autonomic Cloud Computing engine based on the Master/Worker paradigm. We have integrated our prototype with the 3D modelling software Google Sketchup. The approach and prototype presented has applicability in a number of other eScience related applications involving multi-disciplinary, collaborative working using Cloud Computing infrastructure.
In the context of an increasing demand for data and computational services, the benefits of cloud... more In the context of an increasing demand for data and computational services, the benefits of cloud computing are substantial. However, cloud computing capabilities (as currently provisioned) can prove limited when accessed through a single provider. Extending capabilities of clouds by using user owned and provisioned devices can address a number of challenges arising in the context of current cloud deployments–such as data centre power efficiency, availability and outage management and secure access. We present a ...
IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 2010
Sustainability requires the engagement of every single constituent of the "building" product supp... more Sustainability requires the engagement of every single constituent of the "building" product supply chain, from concept design to operation. The research explores ways of creating circles of impacts that bind building professionals, energy administrations, and citizens in a shared low carbon experience through a "one-stop-shop" Sustainable Construction Service Platform. The paper discusses awareness raising, stakeholders' engagement, technical requirements, and adoption and diffusion factors related to the platform. The research identifies the need to use advanced knowledge management functionality to leverage the value dimension of the proposed "one-stop-shop" service platform initiative.
5th IEEE International Conference on Management of Innovation and Technology, ICMIT2010, 2010
Fostering the nation's innovation is the key role of public research... more Fostering the nation's innovation is the key role of public research and development (R&D). However, there has been little research into how to manage innovation in public R&D. This paper reviews innovation management in the context of public R&D by focusing on the following four aspects: the mission of public R&D, publicly in-house R&D, collaborative projects, and the application of
IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 2012
There is a need for research regarding how to manage public research and development (R&D) to cre... more There is a need for research regarding how to manage public research and development (R&D) to create societal values. The paper focuses on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in a case study, the microelectronics research center. Twenty-four factors (e.g. mission, internal R&D, collaboration and management-related factors) were constructed in a hierarchy model for assessing three innovation plans: knowledge, societal and commercial orientation. The AHP analysis reveals that commercial orientation has the highest impact score on innovation factors. However, given that the selected case study is a taxpayer-funded public R&D organisation, societal expectations have to be factored into their innovation plans. Hence, the paper provides a sensitivity analysis as a result of which a suggestion is made to increase the priority of collaboration-related factors to improve the impact of societal orientation.
ABSTRACT Built environment data is of varying nature embedding various forms of sensitivities wit... more ABSTRACT Built environment data is of varying nature embedding various forms of sensitivities with potential legal, contractual, intellectual property, and security implications. The paper presents a governance approach for managing multi-actor, multi-discipline, and total lifecycle data, informed by a wide industry consultation conducted in the UK between March and September 2011. The study identifies a number of barriers in engaging with Building Information Modelling (BIM) efforts with a view of facilitating collaboration around a common and integrated project specification. A governance model is proposed that addresses the identified adoption blockers underpinned by a “mixed approach”, that factors in various modes of information delivery, ranging from paper-based documents to object-based information conveyed by IFC (Industry Foundation Classes). A demonstrator system is developed and used to validate our BIM governance concepts. Our governance model is discussed in the context of the recent UK government BIM industry consultation document supported by a research and development (R&D) roadmap taking into account current industry structure and its various levels of stakeholders’ maturity, capability and readiness.
... Autonomous Malicious Activity Inspector AMAI Umar Manzoor1, Samia Nefti1, and Yacine Rezgui... more ... Autonomous Malicious Activity Inspector AMAI Umar Manzoor1, Samia Nefti1, and Yacine Rezgui2 ... Information Sciences 178, 21052127 (2008) 3. Shah, N., Iqbal, R., James, A., Iqbal, K.: Exception representation and management in open multi-agent systems. ...
2009 7th IEEE International Conference on Industrial Informatics, 2009
Abstract - To improve the performance of building facility management tools and optimize operatio... more Abstract - To improve the performance of building facility management tools and optimize operational costs, a semantic model is being developed that is synchronized in almost real time with a range of sensors throughout the building. The semantic aspect of the model will be comprised of ...
ABSTRACT What key qualifications do universities seek when hiring chief information officers, and... more ABSTRACT What key qualifications do universities seek when hiring chief information officers, and do the responsibilities differ from ClOs in other industries? A shortage of ClOs in higher education warrants a closer look at this position. This paper explored what universities seek in and expect from a CIO candidate. We reviewed CIO advertisements to determine the key qualifications sought, the expected roles, and whether the ads included sufficient information. Our findings offer a benchmark that universities can use to build their IT leadership profiles and compare them to other industries.
IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 2009
The paper discusses technical requirements to promote the adoption of alliance modes of operation... more The paper discusses technical requirements to promote the adoption of alliance modes of operation by SMEs in the construction sector. These requirements have provided a basis for specifying a set of functionality to support the collaboration and cooperation needs of SMEs. While service-oriented architectures and semantic web services provide the middleware technology to implement the identified functionality, a number of key technical limitations have been identified, including lack of support for the dynamic and non-functional characteristics of SME alliances distributed business processes, lack of execution monitoring functionality to manage running business processes, and lack of support for semantic reasoning to enable SME business process service composition. The paper examines these issues and provides key directions for supporting SME alliances effectively.
Computing in Civil and Building Engineering (2014), 2014
Much recent work has been conducted towards reducing the energy consumption of mixed mode buildin... more Much recent work has been conducted towards reducing the energy consumption of mixed mode buildings through rule-based automation. This paper presents a novel rule generation methodology through the simultaneous use of historical sensor data and theoretical models. The theoretical rule generation methodology will be explained, encompassing the development of an energy model to the inclusion of rules within the building specific ontology. This will include the development of use-case scenarios, their refinement through a sensitivity analysis and the generation of rules through an artificial neural network embedded evolutionary optimisation algorithm. Following a review of relevant literature, the methodology will be contextualised within the architecture of the KnoholEM project and applied to the first demonstration object, a mixed use public building in the Netherlands. An example of a rule generated will then be presented and the system will be considered within the existing solution space before comments regarding future developments.
IFIP – The International Federation for Information Processing, 2008
Value networks underpinned by global and localised virtual teams are believed to have high potent... more Value networks underpinned by global and localised virtual teams are believed to have high potential for SMEs. Yet, the successful migration to value-added alliances is blended in the right combination of organizational, legal, economic, socio-cultural, and technical factors, and requires further research into innovative business models. These models should leverage existing SME competences and transcend existing virtual collaboration barriers and limitations. Grounded in state-of-the-art literature, the paper identifies current insight for the deficient research in virtual teams and presents them in the form of open research questions.
IFIP – The International Federation for Information Processing, 2008
The construction sector has adopted for decades the modus operandi of the virtual enterprise. In ... more The construction sector has adopted for decades the modus operandi of the virtual enterprise. In this context, a large number of semantic resources have been developed to support seamless collaboration between individuals and teams on projects. However, these tend to be (a) discipline oriented and geared towards servicing specific user community needs or applications; and (b) incomplete in terms of concept, and relationships between concepts covered and conveyed. Therefore, none of these (a) enable effective knowledge management across projects and organizations, (b) are accepted across disciplines, and (c) provide a true conceptualization of the construction domain. The paper argues the case for the development of knowledge-rich ontologies, and explores the factors that may hinder or promote their wide adoption and diffusion.
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Papers by Yacine REZGUI