Search Results (104)

The Moon has become the focus of renewed interest for numerous space agencies and private companies worldwide. In the coming years, various scientific and commercial missions are planned, with a particular emphasis on exploring the South Pole. These missions include orbiters, landers, as well as both static and mobile rovers. For all these operations, continuous and accurate position knowledge is essential. This paper evaluates the performance of a navigation system designed for a lunar rover using the future satellite navigation infrastructure. It highlights the critical role of integrating multiple information sources, including a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the lunar surface and a high-precision Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). The results demonstrate that a comprehensive suite of instruments enables highly accurate and reliable navigation for a mobile rover. While standalone satellite navigation, due to the reduced number of available sources, offers navigation accuracy of the orders of tens of meters, the addition of the DEM lowers the error at 5 m level; the IMU further improve by roughly 40% the performance on horizontal positioning. Full article

Human capital is a key element necessary for the smooth operation of an organization based on sustainable development. It is not only important for building strategy but also affects the performance of day-to-day operations. Managers must constantly monitor the changes taking place around the organization and make quick decisions in line with sustainability. They enable the organization to adapt to current market conditions and meet closed-loop requirements. These solutions are an important issue in forest management organizations. Considering the expanded mission of forests, it is clear that the role of forests today is much broader than just protecting biodiversity. Forestry institutions need adequate staff and human resources to effectively carry out forest management tasks and properly analyze trends and patterns of the sustainable use of forest resources. The purpose of the article was to analyze and evaluate human capital through its commitment to the organization’s tasks within the framework of sustainability. The research involved a sample for employees working in a selected unit of the State Forest Holding in Poland. The research was based on an anonymous employee survey on job engagement. The following aspects were assessed, commitment to the organization, sense of responsibility to the organization, interest in the work, and willingness to make sacrifices for the company in order to meet the demands of a modern forestry company oriented to the requirements of the new forestry strategy. Our reanalysis showed that gender and job type do not have a significant impact on commitment. However, an employee’s age and length of service do influence the behaviour and commitment of state forestry employees. Full article

In light of the drawbacks of using fossil fuel, this paper investigates the competition between geographically spread charge point operators for future battery electric long-haul trucks along one of the busiest highways in Sweden. This is achieved using an agent-based model where trucks try to charge for a low price and still avoid queues in order to complete their transport mission. The charging need for a typical day at full electrification is derived from data from the Swedish Transport Administration. This typical day is simulated several times and in between these iterations the charge point operators adjust their prices and number of chargers, aiming to increase their profit. After a sufficiently long time of competition, a quasi-equilibrium is reached where, for example, prices and queueing times can be studied. The goal of the study is to estimate conditions for trucks and charge point operators in a future public fast-charging market. Assuming a price for electricity of 0.08 EUR/kWh, the results indicate that a system with low queuing problems is attainable with a mean price of 0.27 EUR/kWh or lower for public fast charging. It is also found that the behaviour of haulage companies, as a collective, can affect the future fast charging market to a great extent. If the hauliers are price-sensitive, they will be offered a low mean price, down to 0.11 EUR/kWh, but with queues, while if they are queue-sensitive, there will be almost no queues, but they will pay more to charge. Full article

Background: Logistics and supply chain management are crucial in modern commerce, impacting global competition, and both can directly benefit by using enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. This case study examines key success factors behind a significant operational transformation in a company in the countryside of Alagoas, Brazil. From this context, two research questions emerge: (a) What are the main success factors that drove a significant operational transformation in logistics and supply chain management, and how did these factors impact the company’s growth? (b) How does digital transformation and adopting an ERP impact the company’s logistics activities? Methods: Data were collected through on-site observations, interviews with supervisors and a manager, and analysis of company-provided documentation. Results: The study identified key processes, stakeholders, and practices, focusing on critical success factors, mission-critical processes, and the integration of core and support functions. Notable changes were observed through key logistics performance indicators, tracking the evolution from pre-implementation to post-implementation and revealing their impact on the company’s growth. Conclusions: Improved decision making between departments significantly enhanced performance and growth. The analyzed company’s success can be attributed to a process-oriented approach, digital transformation in logistics, and investment in information technology. Full article

This study presents how integrating natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) optimizes strategic management in the port sector. Using hybrid NLP-ML models, the accuracy of classification and prediction of strategic information is significantly improved by analyzing large sets of textual data, both unstructured and semi-structured. The methodological approach is developed in three phases: first, a strategic analysis of port systems is performed using NLP; then, ML is integrated with NLP for text classification using advanced tools such as BERT and Word2Vec; finally, advanced models, including Decision Trees and Recurrent Neural Networks are evaluated. Applied to 55 companies in three countries, this method extracts key strategic data such as mission, vision, values and corporate objectives from their websites to obtain strategic terms related to innovation and sustainability. The study improves the ability to interpret textual data, enabling more informed and agile decision-making, which is essential in a highly competitive and dynamic environment. Full article

The current growing interest in lighter-than-air platforms (LTA) has been fueled by the significant development of some enabling technologies, in particular electric motors and on-board electronics. The localization of multiple thrust forces in the layout of the airship, as well as the ability to manage them through automatic control, promises to mitigate the controllability issues connatural to this type of flying craft. Employed on unmanned missions and close to the ground, LTA vehicles now appear to be a technically viable alternative to other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or low-flying manned machines and are similarly capable of effectively achieving the corresponding mission goals. A key step in establishing the credibility of LTA vehicles as industrial solutions for an end user is an assessment of the economic effort required for producing and operating them. This study presents an analytic approach for evaluating these costs, based on the data available at a preliminary design level for an airship. Three missions currently flown by other types of flying machines were considered, and for each mission the sizing and preliminary design of a LTA platform capable of providing the same mission performance was carried out. Correspondingly, a newly introduced method for the estimation of the cost of a LTA platform was applied. Also, an estimation of the costs currently sustained by operators for each mission was obtained from the available data and with the support of relevant companies, who currently do not fly LTA platforms but operate with more standard flying machines (in particular, multicopter or fixed-wing UAVs or manned helicopters). Finally, the costs corresponding to both currently flying non-LTA vehicles and suitably designed LTA solutions were compared, yielding indications of the emerging economic trade-offs. Full article

The escalating volume of space operations and the proliferation of satellites underscore the urgent need for a pivotal shift towards sustainable space use. This paper highlights the importance of addressing space sustainability through a holistic framework. Robust international commitments, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and 13 (Climate Action), alongside the implementation of legislative measures, are essential for fostering responsible and sustainable practices in space activities. Furthermore, innovative technology advancements can potentially convert this space sustainability problem into an opportunity for the space sector. Mitigating the risk of debris is no longer sufficient. This article advocates for prioritizing sustainability in the design phase of the new missions and constellations. To achieve this objective, it is crucial to develop a comprehensive understanding of how various design parameters—such as orbital altitude, the number of satellites, the inclusion or exclusion of inter-satellite links, system interoperability, and reconfigurability—impact the sustainability of space systems. Hence, the investigation suggests creating innovative Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that specifically target space sustainability. These KPIs would enable the evaluation of specific missions/constellations and the comparison of different design alternatives. The absence of current research on these KPIs requires the creation of new ones. This research introduces a preliminary framework for establishing these novel metrics, which can be vital for governments and companies to develop and oversee a sustainable future in space. By implementing a holistic strategy combining robust policy frameworks with cutting-edge technology solutions, we can guarantee the ongoing, secure, and environmentally responsible space utilization for future generations. Full article

The purpose of this study is to analyze the mission statements of 49 companies listed on the Palestine Exchange (PEX), focusing on their structure and alignment with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the extent to which Palestinian companies embed sustainability issues into their mission statements. This was done with a qualitative research design and a descriptive content analysis method, letting mission statements from different fields be looked at in excellent detail. This analysis offers valuable insights into how Palestinian companies articulate their strategic goals and communicate their commitment to ESG factors. The findings reveal that Palestinian companies demonstrate a clear understanding of sustainability and its relevance to their operations. A lot of companies are also working hard to include sustainability principles in their mission statements. This shows that people are becoming more aware of how important ESG factors are for shaping business strategy and creating long-term value. Full article

Against the backdrop of increasing global environmental pollution and energy consumption, green innovation is necessary to achieve green transformation. As an industry with a huge demand for resources and energy consumption, the construction industry shoulders the mission of the times to promote green innovation to enhance the ability of sustainable development. Digital technology provides new opportunities for green innovation in the construction industry. However, the impacts and mechanisms of digital transformation driving green innovation have not been thoroughly studied. In this paper, 121 listed companies in China’s construction industry are selected as a sample from 2011 to 2021, and a total of 1331 annual observations are obtained, and the impact and mechanism of digital transformation on construction enterprises’ green innovation are empirically analyzed by establishing regression models. The study indicates that digital transformation can facilitate green innovation in construction companies by enhancing corporate risk-taking and improving corporate governance. Compared with non-state-owned enterprises, state-owned enterprises have more endogenous incentives for green transformation based on multiple pressures, which to some extent weakens the driving role of digital transformation. The driving effect of enterprises’ digital transformation is more significant when the intensity of regional environmental regulation is high. This paper examines how the digitization of construction enterprises can lead to new greening ideas from the perspective of green innovation. It provides an important theoretical basis and decision-making reference to support the construction industry in its digital transformation and realize the goal of “dual carbon”. Full article

In recent years, the attention paid to the metaverse in the scientific world has increased; the hottest topics include system architecture and enabling technologies, as well as business, privacy, ethical, and security issues. On the other side, at the mainstream level, it is well known that the company Meta (formerly Facebook) is striving to realize its interpretation of a “social” metaverse. As Meta is a big leader of social media, it is reasonable to guess that, in the future, users will participate in a new social platform, such as that which the company is building by depicting unlimited and engaging opportunities. Regardless of Meta, we ask what the opinion of people is about this possible future scenario. A literature search of previous works about this topic has been done; the few results we found were not properly on topic and showed heterogeneous content. A survey on interpretations of the metaverse of major information and communication technologies (ICT) companies that impact the consumer world was undertaken; the results show that Meta is the most prominent company with the mission of building a ”social” metaverse worldwide. Finally, a draft of a tool for assessing the predilection of people for a “social” metaverse, based on various facets of the future social platform, is proposed. Full article

Robert Morrison 馬禮遜, the first Protestant missionary to China, came to Guangdong as an employee of the East India Company and with the support of the London Missionary Society in 1807. Amongst his path-breaking translation work, he published the first Chinese Bible (Shen Tian Shengshu 神天聖書) in 1823. As many foreigners in Guangdong could not speak Cantonese, Morrison compiled a three-volume Cantonese learning aid, A Vocabulary of the Canton Dialect (1828), using specifically Cantonese Chinese characters and his Cantonese romanization system. In consequence, missionaries translated Christian literature and the Bible into Cantonese, for they realized that proficiency in Cantonese was essential for proselytization among ordinary people. Over the past twenty years, we have collected and identified around 260 Cantonese works written and translated by Western Protestant missionaries, and these Cantonese writings can be categorized as follows: 1. dictionaries; 2. textbooks; 3. Christian literature; 4. Bibles; and 5. miscellanea. In the study of the Western Protestant missions, their linguistic contribution is relatively under-represented. Through analyzing the phonological, lexical, and grammatical features of early Cantonese expressions in these selected missionary works, we strive to highlight the missionaries’ contributions to the diachronic study of the Cantonese language in modern southern China. Full article

The long-standing, unrestrained utilization of energy resources by China’s manufacturing sector has created irreversible obstacles to regional sustainable development. Consequently, the Chinese government has implemented a water resource tax policy in certain regions, with the aim of compelling manufacturing enterprises to adopt green and energy-saving innovations. This study used panel data from Chinese manufacturing companies listed on the A-share market from 2009 to 2020 and employed a double machine learning model to explore whether the water resource fee-to-tax reform can compel enterprises to enhance their tripartite green energy-saving innovation drive. These innovations consist of vision-driven and mission-driven green energy-saving technological innovations and green management energy-saving innovations. Following a quasi-natural experiment, our findings revealed the following: (1) The water resource fee-to-tax policy promoted the internal coupling coordination of the triple-driven system. (2) The policy compelled progress in mission-driven green energy-saving technological innovations and green energy-saving management innovations but hindered vision-driven green energy-saving technological innovations. (3) Within the internal systems of manufacturing enterprises, green energy-saving management innovations play a positive mediating role between the water resource fee-to-tax policy and the mission-driven green energy-saving technology innovation subsystem, but they lack a similar positive mediating mechanism for the vision-driven green energy-saving technology innovation subsystem. (4) The counterfactual framework verified that the mechanistic pathway “water resource fee-to-tax → green energy-saving management innovation → mission-driven/vision-driven green energy-saving technological innovation” could be further extended to other manufacturing enterprises not currently under policy compulsion. (5) In the interaction system between manufacturing enterprises and external markets, the development of marketization and financial technology positively regulated the promoting effect of the water resource fee-to-tax policy on mission-driven green energy-saving technological innovations and green energy-saving management innovations, but it did not have a similar effect on vision-driven green energy-saving technological innovations. Full article

In recent years, the business environment has experienced a fast-paced change due to issues such as geopolitics or COVID-19. Accordingly, business internationalisation has been accelerated while the approaches followed for such an end have been improved to maintain companies’ competitiveness. Within this context, this paper presents a new framework for the internationalisation of Earth Observation SMEs in two target countries: Australia and Chile. Internationalisation can be an effective strategy for SMEs to grow and expand, but it requires careful research, analysis and agile adaptation to markets and cultures through an integrative and innovative methodology. Secondly, a series of preparatory actions and several internationalisation strategies have been developed, including online bilateral meetings and online trade missions. This work is an innovation driver for the internationalisation of European SMEs, helping them to make the leap into two markets of great interest and in two very attractive sectors, agriculture and maritime, with remote sensing as the nexus. Full article

Bitcoin is a complex phenomenon, whether in terms of the macro factors affecting its price or its role in the global energy infrastructure. However, extant literature pays too little attention to exploring the internal mechanisms of the protocol to be able to link them to how they affect the visible characteristics of Bitcoin. This paper uses secondary data from highly reputable Bitcoin-focused sources to systematically map the processes that enable Bitcoin to function as a peer-to-peer cash system. Novelty is achieved by applying the established and versatile “4I” organisational learning framework to provide a new lens through which to understand how the processes within Bitcoin enable and facilitate different types of changes to the protocol. Further insights are provided to organisational learning from Bitcoin, in relation to managing mission-critical changes to organisational systems. In addition, it presents an option for dealing with irreconcilable internal differences to “hard-fork” part of the organisation. While the scope of this paper is limited to secondary data, opportunities for further research, including primary data collection, are outlined to explore how Bitcoin knowledge disseminates within communities or companies. Full article

Background: Disabled people in Vietnam are some of the most vulnerable to disadvantage. Employment involving microenterprises can provide economic empowerment and wealth generation. This qualitative study aims to address a gap in the literature regarding the establishment of microenterprises for physically disabled people in Vietnam. Method: Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with seven physically disabled individuals, including the founder and Director of ‘Company of Grace’ a non-governmental organisation with a mission to support physically disabled people in establishing their own microenterprises. Company of Grace (COG) supported six entrepreneurs in establishing microenterprises that provided English language instruction to school-aged children after regular school hours. Data were analysed utilising a framework that improves the probability of entrepreneurial success in developing countries. This framework aided in examining the approach of establishing microenterprises by the non-government organisation. Results: The physically disabled entrepreneurs reported earnings above average wages and feeling empowered by participating in the microenterprises. These feelings of empowerment were reportedly associated with greater independence, increased self-efficacy and confidence in planning for their futures. Conclusion: Microenterprises, exemplified by COG’s model, empowered disabled individuals to teach English, enhanced student engagement and fostered confidence and economic self-sufficiency among disabled entrepreneurs, thereby making a notable contribution to entrepreneurship for disability inclusion. Full article