Search Results (46)

Japan’s 8.5 million vacant homes (Akiyas) represent a paradox of scarcity amid surplus: while rural depopulation leaves properties abandoned, housing shortages and bureaucratic inefficiencies hinder their reuse. This study proposes AKI2ALL, an AI-blockchain framework designed to automate the circular repurposing of Akiyas into ten high-value community assets—guesthouses, co-working spaces, pop-up retail and logistics hubs, urban farming hubs, disaster relief housing, parking lots, elderly daycare centers, exhibition spaces, places for food and beverages, and company offices—through smart contracts and data-driven workflows. By integrating circular economy principles with decentralized technology, AKI2ALL streamlines property transitions, tax validation, and administrative processes, reducing operational costs while preserving embodied carbon in existing structures. Municipalities list properties, owners select uses, and AI optimizes assignments based on real-time demand. This work bridges gaps in digital construction governance, proving that automating trust and accountability can transform systemic inefficiencies into opportunities for community-led, low-carbon regeneration, highlighting its potential as a scalable model for global vacant property reuse. Full article

The rise of information and communication technologies (ICT) has facilitated flexible working arrangements, giving rise to new workspaces like co-working spaces (CWSs). While existing research has focused on the distribution of CWSs within city, this study explores their location patterns and relationships with regional policies in China. Using data from 2015 to 2022, it employs a quasi-natural experiment at the prefecture level, primarily examining the impact of the National Innovation Demonstration Zone (NIDZ) policy. This pilot policy primarily aims to reform the science and technology innovation mechanism in the pilot cities. Notably, the research innovatively applies the multiple Difference-in-Differences (DID) model to compare CWS distribution pre- and post-policy implementation across diverse cities. The findings include the general promotion of CWS growth in NIDZs, yet with a policy focus leading to regional imbalances. Moreover, the positive effect of establishing demonstration zones on CWS growth is relatively smaller in economically developed cities. These insights shed light on the evolving dynamics and patterns of innovative activities, emphasizing the influence of regional policies on the spatial distribution of CWSs. Full article

(1) Background: The safe execution of heavy machinery operations and high-risk construction tasks requires operators to manage multiple tasks, with a constant awareness of coworkers and hazards. With high demands on visual and auditory resources, vibrotactile feedback systems offer a solution to enhance awareness without overburdening vision or hearing. (2) Aim: This study evaluates the impact of vibrotactile feedback regarding proximity to hazards on multitasking performance and cognitive workload in order to support hazard awareness in a controlled task environment. (3) Method: Twenty-four participants performed a joystick-controlled navigation task and a concurrent mental spatial rotation task. Proximity to hazards in the navigation task was conveyed via different encodings of vibrotactile feedback: No Vibration, Intensity-Modulation, Pulse Duration, and Pulse Spacing. Performance metrics, including obstacle collisions, target hits, contact time, and accuracy, were assessed alongside perceived workload. (4) Results: Intensity-Modulated feedback reduced obstacle collisions and proximity time, while lowering workload, compared to No Vibration. No significant effects were found on spatial rotation accuracy, indicating that vibrotactile feedback effectively guides navigation and supports spatial awareness. (5) Conclusions: This study highlights the potential of vibrotactile feedback to improve navigation performance and hazard awareness, offering valuable insights into multimodal safety systems in high-demand environments. Full article

This article provides an overview of coworking spaces and flexible workspaces in Sofia Municipality, Bulgaria. The study aims at examining whether the type of urban plan zone, the particular municipal administrative district, and the purpose of the building in which they are located have an impact on such modern workspaces. Existing spaces in the municipality were counted and classified according to the following criteria: origin of the operators, accessibility, level of specialization, purpose of the hosting building, location in a particular district, and urban planning zone. The average rent for Hot desk, Dedicated desk, Private office, and Virtual office was calculated for the territory determined by the research. The findings demonstrate that the number of coworking and flexible workspaces is influenced by the type of urban planning zone, the municipal administrative district, and the purpose of the building. The study also revealed that the majority of such spaces are concentrated in the zone of the old town center or in a mixed multifunctional zones and are located in administrative, business buildings. Full article

The global rise of coworking spaces (CSs) underscores their potential to foster sustainable urban development by promoting collaboration, community engagement, and strengthening local communities. However, little is known about how CSs in smaller urban or suburban settings are managed. The COVID-19 pandemic added uncertainty to this sector, placing significant strain on these spaces and testing their resilience. This study explored how managers of CSs in small cities organize and sustain their operations, focusing on the challenges posed by the pandemic. We employed a qualitative approach, conducting eleven in-depth semi-structured interviews with managers of small city CSs, followed by nine additional interviews four months later to capture the evolving conditions. Findings show that management strategies crucially shape the sustainability of these spaces: those emphasizing open, collaborative layouts proved more vulnerable to lockdown measures, whereas those offering private offices generally weathered the crisis more effectively—albeit sometimes at the expense of a collaborative culture and community integration. These insights highlight the importance of adaptive management practices that balance economic viability with the core principles of collaboration and community building. By addressing the distinct challenges of smaller urban and suburban contexts, CS managers can strengthen their spaces’ resilience and enhance both social and economic sustainability in their local communities. Full article

The rise in performance and health concerns presents a complex challenge to workplace well-being. While existing research highlights the positive impact of exposure to nature on well-being, there is a gap in supporting biophilic building designs in workplaces. This study addresses this issue by introducing a Type-1 Interval Fuzzy Set (IFS) framework to assess workplace health, and recommends Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for enhancement. The proposed framework comprises two fuzzy subsystems targeting environmental comfort and occupational health that are integrated into a third subsystem to provide tailored NbS recommendations. A case study conducted in a coworking space validated the framework’s practical application, revealing significant improvements in environmental and occupational conditions. Key findings include a reduction in absenteeism, enhancement in employee satisfaction, and creation of more comfortable and restorative environments. Recommendations, such as green walls, indoor gardens, and natural light filters, have been shown to effectively mitigate discomfort and promote well-being. The framework demonstrated flexibility in managing uncertainties, optimizing resource allocation, and providing targeted interventions for workplace conditions. These results highlight the framework’s potential as a robust decision-support tool for improving workplace health and well-being through systematic and evidence-based strategies. Full article

Space sharing for companies has become a trend in the last decade. Many of the benefits of these spaces go beyond the financial scope, creating real value-added processes from these spaces. This study examines the associations between networks developed in coworking spaces and business performance. This research was quantitative, exploratory, and descriptive ex post facto. A survey was conducted among companies installed in coworking spaces in Recife, Brazil. The sample consisted of 77 valid respondents, and the data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics that measure central tendency, factor analysis, and Spearman (ordinal indicators) and Pearson (resulting factors) correlations, in addition to reliability tests and adequacy of the sample, necessary in the refinement of the scales. This study makes a theoretical contribution by specifying the concept of coworking, a topic still underexplored in the literature, and by defining networks in this context, which allowed for the development of a measurement scale. It also discusses the performance construct and its measurement classes, which showed significant internal consistency. Despite the consistency in the data, only the hypothesis of a positive and significant association between network and market performance was partially accepted, demonstrating that more than the network alone was needed to generate results among coworkers. This lack of association contradicts the literature as it is the most discussed aspect in qualitative studies on coworking and suggests that the network may not be a final resource but rather a means by which users obtain benefits such as benchmarks, creative ideas, and adaptation of business practices. Full article

In open and shared workplaces, like co-working spaces or educational studios, thermal preferences vary widely among occupants. With the rise of flexible organizational workplace strategies, the challenge lies in balancing optimum, efficient temperature setpoints with maintaining occupants’ comfort. A potential solution involves a deeper understanding of variations in indoor climate and building occupants’ decision-making and preferences. This paper explores how an Occupant-Centric Digital Twin (OCDT) might address this by mapping indoor microclimates through a grid of IoT temperature sensors in real time. A large-screen display is utilized to present and visualize these data in an open workplace. The goal is to enhance awareness and provide agency for occupants to identify zones that align with their individual thermal preferences. A mixed-method occupant study (N = 27) was conducted to validate the approach. Exposure to the OCDT display resulted in higher thermal satisfaction among participants (p-value = 1.269 × 10⁻⁵, 0.05 significance level). The novelty of OCDT lies in extending the use of digital twin technology from facility managers to occupants, by granting them the agency to address comfort issues even in buildings where they lack direct control over the thermostat. This approach paves the way for a future where occupants in open workspaces can make informed decisions about where to work and how to achieve thermal comfort in those choices. Full article

The presence of background DNA (bgDNA) can hinder the evaluation of DNA evidence at the activity level, especially when the suspect is expected to be retrieved due to their habitual occupation of the investigated environment. Based on real-life casework circumstances, this study investigates the prevalence, composition, origin, and probable transfer routes of bgDNA found on personal items in situations where their owner and person of interest (POI) share the same workspace. Baseline values of bgDNA were evaluated on the participants’ personal items. Secondary and higher degree transfer scenarios of non-self DNA deposition were also investigated. The DNA from co-workers and co-inhabiting partners can be recovered from an individual’s personal belongings. Non-self DNA present on the hands and deposited on a sterile surface can generate uninformative profiles. The accumulation of foreign DNA on surfaces over time appears to be crucial for the recovery of comparable profiles, resulting in detectable further transfer onto other surfaces. For a thorough evaluation of touch DNA traces at the activity level, it is necessary to collect information not only about DNA transfer probabilities but also about the presence of the POI as part of the ‘baseline’ bgDNA of the substrates involved. Full article

The characteristics of an individual patient experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who recovered spontaneous circulation with the assistance of witnesses and paramedics were examined. The analysis of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the professional first aid efforts of paramedics in the pre-hospital environment is pivotal to enhancing the survival rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. The data used in this study were extracted from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) nationally recognized statistics, Acute Heart Failure big data survey. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) customer data were collected from the Gangwon Fire Headquarters public information database as social management data. The data were analyzed using SPSS 24. The study’s results emphasized the significance of offering basic CPR training to the public. This is evident from the fact that 90.5% of the first witnesses in the study performed CPR on OHCA patients, resulting in the recovery of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The majority of patients with ROSC were male, with the highest age group being 41–50 years. Heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes were common medical conditions. The rate of witnessing cardiac arrest was high. Among the first witnesses, about 78.4% were of cardiac arrest incidents involving family members, co-workers, or acquaintances; 12.2% were on-duty medical healthcare personnel; and 9.5% were off-duty healthcare personnel. Cardiac arrest was treated in 83.8% of cases, with 90% of witnesses performing CPR. The percentage of witnesses that used an automated external defibrillator (AED) was 13.5%. In this study, the rates of ECG monitoring, CPR performance, and defibrillation performed by paramedics were high, but intravascular access and drug administration had a lower rate of performance. The time elapsed depended on the patient’s physical fitness. The study found that paramedics had the highest CPC restoration rate in patients with cardiac arrest, followed by EMTs and nurses. Significant differences were observed in cerebral performance scores after care by these paramedics and nurses. To increase the performance of AEDs, more AEDs should be installed in public spaces so that the public can access them conveniently in cases of emergency. In addition, it is necessary to improve the quality of professional first aid physical activity services performed by first-class paramedics. Full article

Coworking spaces are shared workplaces in which desk space is available to remote workers, freelancers, and small enterprises. They offer the social, technological, and networking advantages of an office while allowing workers the freedom to reside in a location of their choice. Remote working has become a common work practice in recent years, accelerated by restrictions introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Irish Government policy strongly supports coworking spaces across the island to support employment diversity and retain populations in towns and villages. Along with the provision of viable workplaces, coworking spaces can provide a range of co-benefits to their localities, such as stimulating local economies and reducing commuting-related emissions. This paper describes a mixed-method study seeking to identify this range of co-benefits through a survey of coworking space users and semi-structured interviews with coworking space founders, managers, and coordinators. The study uses an integrative process to categorise the findings into social, urban, and environmental co-benefits. The research finds that locating a coworking space in a central rather than peripheral urban area can support and optimise many of these co-benefits. Full article

This study presents an overview of the role that clean energy technologies can play in the decarbonisation path of Greece’s most carbon-intensive region, namely Western Macedonia. The region has been requested to adjust its production model to the new requirements of the Green Deal Initiative, while simultaneously proceeding to restructure its productive model towards a full phase-out of coal activities. The survey presented below will summarise the main findings and estimates of the clean energy potential from a technical and research point of view, and furthermore present assessments on the potential impact this could have on job creation and regional economic development in terms of potential investments. This study’s goals are to identify and promote actions to accelerate innovation performance in the clean energy domain and, simultaneously, serve as a co-working space among key stakeholders from business, government, civil society and innovation who share a vision for a sustainable future. Finally, this study highlights the importance of accelerating innovation in the clean energy domain—spanning energy production, distribution and consumption. Full article

Even before the outbreak of the pandemic, new working environments were considered an important trend in the office landscape, accompanied by modern office coffee solutions and catering concepts. Changes within the office environment have now accelerated further, influenced by factors such as progressive digitization, contactless work processes, home offices, open or co-working spaces and changing employee expectations. In the context of getting people back to work from home offices, the availability of coffee and food solutions has a central meaning (gained prominence of 33% (YouGov/Sodexo Study 2023) as a competitive advantage). The communal act of coffee breaks or gathering around coffee machines encourages informal networking, idea sharing and team building, thus fortifying the social fabric of the workplace. Research indicates that coffee consumption can enhance cognitive functions such as alertness, attention and memory, thereby positively impacting productivity and problem-solving capabilities for effective teamwork and interpersonal interactions. Furthermore, the provision of high-quality coffee options by employers not only reflects a commitment to employee well-being, but also serves as a tangible expression of the corporate culture and values. Requirements for modern vending concepts are evolving. It is not only the classic office environment that is subject to major changes; innovative solutions must also be found in the canteen/catering and hotel sectors in order to adapt to the new conditions. What this means for office coffee service and vending services in offices and businesses will be illustrated in this presentation under the motto “This is where New Work meets New Retail”. To this end, new to-go concepts from the out-of-home market will be presented, as well as innovations and modern solutions from the classic vending industry. Full article

As remote work goes from trend to mainstream, digital nomads are on the rise, becoming a market every destination needs to attract. Considering the needs and wants of digital nomads, this paper aims to investigate the strengths and the opportunities of Greece, as an ideal destination for digital nomads, underlining, at the same time, the opportunities and threats challenging the country’s attractiveness towards this market segment. Furthermore, the authors analyze the content of website “Work From Greece: Become Digital Nomad in Greece”, the official Greek website dedicated to digital nomads in order to define Greece’s online presence, within this digital global community. In addition, co-working spaces in Greece are explored as an advanced form of hospitality favorable to digital nomads. The research methodology employed to draw conclusions combines a SWOT analysis and content analysis for websites of tourism businesses and organizations, as has been developed in previous research. The findings of this study reflect the current situation, providing academic and managerial implications when it comes to further research and recommendations for tourism policy and destination planning. Full article

Remote rural areas have been declining in population for decades, partly permanently as people move away and partly temporarily, owing to commuting. This increasing paucity of inhabitants is causing these places to lose vitality and versatility; this, in turn, renders them less attractive overall. In terms of spatial development, policies devised for rural areas have long been concerned not only with agriculture, but also with holistic development. For some years now, ICT has work become increasingly location-independent. This is often seen as an opportunity for rural development. In addition to the general facilitation of remote working, i.e., working from home, coworking spaces make it possible to separate out our private and professional lives. The aim of this research is to find out to what extent public authorities position themselves on this topic and express their views on coworking spaces. Policies in this area have been promulgated by various federal ministries (Bundesebene) and federal states (Länderebene). Thus, we have collected relevant policies from the websites of federal ministries and three federal states (Bavaria, Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony-Anhalt), examined them for their keywords, and read and analyzed the documents that were found. Further, we have interviewed the founders and operators of particular coworking spaces. At the federal level, it is noteworthy that the ministry responsible for rural areas has published the greatest number of policies in which coworking spaces are mentioned. At the state level (Landesebene), the picture is more diverse, between the various state governments and the respective states. However, the contribution of coworking spaces to the vitality and versatility of rural towns is mentioned only rarely, and the importance of location is seldom pointed out. Comparing the results of this study with previous research in the literature, it can be concluded that public authorities should pay more attention to the opportunities and risks of coworking spaces in rural areas. Based on this, clearer objectives for coworking spaces in these areas can be formulated. When subsidies are disbursed, they should be accompanied by a mandatory evaluation to check what the subsidies have achieved and whether the subsidies have been used in a targeted manner. In addition, a larger database could be created for further research. Full article