Search Results (56)

The article presents research findings on updating financial contingency estimates for typologically diverse construction projects. The research was carried out from 2006 to 2024 on a sample of 41 investment tasks, represented by five different construction sectors, in which 547 measurements were made of the deviation of the earned cost of construction works from its planned values. The study found significant variability in the cost performance index (CPI) across different construction types. Box plots were determined, and their statistical interpretation made it possible to determine the actual financial contingency, the variation in which in the groups of residential, office and hotel buildings, as well as shopping and logistics centres, is in the range of 3% to 30%. The article concludes with recommendations for banks financing investment tasks in the direction of making financial contingency more realistic when making sustainable lending decisions. Full article

In the realm of real estate, each property owns a unique set of characteristics that distinguish it from others. While each property has its own distinctive features, the appraisal process prioritises only those qualities that meaningfully affect the value in the given market context. However, in the dynamically evolving market situation, expectations of real estate buyers can also transform. This study aims to explore how the surrounding environment and micro-location aspects affect the property value, which can deliver valuable outcomes for real estate market participants and researchers. For that purpose, the authors selected nine factors, called non-market attributes, that may affect the estimated value: air quality, noise emissions, green areas, rivers and water reservoirs, kindergartens and primary schools, universities, medical facilities, shopping centres and religious buildings. Moreover, apart from non-market attributes, the authors selected six market attributes usually used for the determination of residential real estate values according to the Polish regulations in this field. The detailed analysis of factors influencing the property value has been conducted based on the residential apartments in the district Zwięczyca in Rzeszów. Specifically, with the use of Pearson’s total correlation coefficients, authors explored market and non-market attributes and examined their relationships with unit transaction prices, attempting to answer the research question on whether non-market attributes can differentiate market values of residential apartments, when local real estate markets are considered. The results demonstrate that all selected market factors have a visible effect on analysed real estate prices and might be adopted for appraisal. Among nine non-market factors, only three of them have a pronounced effect on prices and might be used for the valuation of residential properties on the local market. The combined database of market and non-market factors reveals eight attributes (five market and three non-market) affecting prices of residential apartments. Full article

Electric vehicles (EVs) play a vital role in the transition to renewable energy and decarbonisation, and there is increasing global interest in expanding their use. However, the growing number of EVs poses challenges to the electricity grid due to increasing energy demand. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology can address these issues by allowing for EVs to charge and discharge energy, thus helping to balance the grid when needed. Aggregating vehicles in designated parking areas optimises energy transfer, making it crucial to identify suitable parking locations and forecast the energy available from parked vehicles. A spatial–temporal framework ensures that V2G services operate efficiently considering both the location and the timing of vehicle parking. This paper reviews studies on temporal–spatial V2G parking demand, identifying high-demand areas such as shopping centres and workplaces, where vehicles park for extended periods. Strategic locations of V2G hubs in these areas ensures seamless integration into existing mobility patterns without disrupting users’ routines. In addition, this review examines user acceptance, technical feasibility, and V2G’s role in reducing grid demand peaks. The findings indicate the potential of effectively implemented V2G services to enhance electricity grid stability and efficiency while minimising disruptions to EV users. Full article

The increase in traffic caused by new development affects the change in traffic conditions on the surrounding roads, and shopping centres are significant traffic generators. The development of local travel generation rates and their characteristics for individual land uses from the aspect of traffic demand is a reliable way to plan traffic in order to come up with preventive solutions to traffic problems, that is, prevention of possible negative consequences on traffic conditions in the street network occurring due to the construction of shopping centres. One of the main aims of this paper is to develop a model for objective assessment of the generated traffic demand for significant changes in land use, such as the construction of shopping centres in medium-sized towns. All these would be steps in the right direction for the promotion of reliable traffic planning and adoption of TIA for every new development before a decision regarding the change in land purpose has been made. This kind of process still has not been established systematically in either Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia, or in surrounding countries. This paper focuses on the formulation of a model for determining the volume of traffic generated by shopping centres in medium-sized towns in two countries of the Southeast Europe region. The survey was conducted in eight different locations (cities) where there are shopping centres with common facilities. The analysis showed that the number of visitors and vehicles attracted by the shopping centre zone can be determined by a model based on a linear regression analysis. The analysis included exploring several different factors of trip generation in shopping centres, including the relationship between trip generation and combinations of several independent variables. The verification of the model was conducted in real conditions of the traffic flow generated by a shopping centre which was not the analysis subject when forming the forecasting model. In this way, the validity of the proposed model is credibly assessed. The developed model can be applied in the procedures of planning the construction of shopping centres in medium-sized cities in the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and wider, in the region of Southeast Europe, in order to estimate the volume of generated traffic demand, that is, its impact on the conditions of traffic on the surrounding traffic network. Full article

This study investigates the innovative use of street puppet theatre performances on the façades of commercial buildings to stimulate social gatherings in smart cities. This research investigates the impact of a unique musical puppet show held throughout the 2024 holiday season in the well-known shopping mall El Corte Inglés in Madrid, Spain. This study utilises both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, such as space syntax analysis and empirical observations. It uses the UCL Depthmap 10 software program to assess urban morphology and identify integrated and segregated areas. Observations and video recordings were conducted to analyse social gatherings and behaviours during the performances. The findings reveal that these performances attract diverse audiences and foster social engagement, transforming commercial façades into vibrant public spaces. The study concludes that such innovative uses of urban architecture can significantly enhance the sociability of detached and segregated urban spaces. The research demonstrates that this particular dynamic façade not only fosters social sustainability by creating lively urban spaces but also contributes to economic sustainability by attracting potential customers to commercial centres. This research advances the discourse on smart city development and public space utilisation, offering valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers on leveraging interactive urban façades to enhance public engagement and revitalise underutilised spaces. Full article

Italy built its ammasso silo network in the 1930s for two purposes: to stockpile grain and to symbolize fascist power. Much of the network was destroyed in World War II, and over half of the silos still standing are now disused and in disrepair. These structures should be protected and refurbished because they are part of Italy’s historic and agro-industrial heritage and because reusing existing buildings instead of constructing new ones reduces the carbon footprint. To evaluate silo repurposing potential, a method developed for inventorying Spanish silos was adapted and applied to the 30 remaining ammasso silos. The method explores the general features, construction, equipment, and socioeconomic environment of each silo. All extant ammasso silos have machinery for receiving, storing, and dispatching grain, and most have equipment for cleaning, sorting, weighing, and packaging. Vertical-cell silos are challenging to convert, unlike horizontally-oriented silos and other open-plan agro-industrial buildings. Even so, some have already been made over into shops, leisure areas, museums, and even homes. Examples of silo reuse in other countries, such as Spain and Portugal, can offer further useful insights. However, socio-economic indicators suggest that silo repurposing projects are viable only in large population centres. Full article

With the soaring interest in art as an alternative investment approach and an asset class, there has been a remarkable rise in the volume of artwork transactions globally. However, trading in the art market differs from the traditional financial market; the cost of taxes, logistics, storage, and other transaction services is enormous for collectors, stimulating the emergence of related businesses, such as warehousing, bonded exhibitions, and art financial services. As an exceptional area serving the offshore economy, art freeports have become an essential venue for art trading and a ‘one-stop-shop’ centre that converges all art market participants. This article critically analyses the current literature and conducts empirical research on Shanghai FTZ International Culture Investment and Development Co., Ltd. (FTZART). It can be concluded that the current research on art freeports is limited and excludes FTZART from those that specialise in storing artworks, overlooking its potential influence in the Asian market. The art freeport has distinctive features that differ from traditional freeport models, and the context, business model, and operations of FTZART match these characteristics. Therefore, as a hub in the art market, the global art freeport agenda should not overlook FTZART, and it is essential to complement this gap in knowledge. Full article

This paper presents a case study conducted at a food supply centre in a shopping centre in São Paulo city, Brazil. A waste digester was developed based on specifications provided by GE for the generator, and the cost of electricity production from food waste generated in the region was subsequently assessed. Results show that 1,368,750 m³ biogas was produced for the year, which provided a reduction of 14% of electricity consumption and is equivalent to USD 854 thousand per year. The amount of carbon credits is equivalent to 10,775 metric tons of CO₂ and 51,840 tons of organic waste humus per year. The energy produced by biogas from food waste had a unit cost of 0.10 USD/kWh. At the end of the project, a profit of USD 3.087 million was achieved, which is equivalent to an ROI of 433%. There is a reduction in energy costs by USD 854 thousand per year and a payback of 1.01 years. These indicate that biogas production from food waste is economically viable. Full article

Digital transformation has a great effect on industries but also in the perception of their products with high consequences on society as a whole, as driver for innovation. However, there are still many barriers to the adoption of digital technologies, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In the present study we propose a new software component that facilitates the adoption of industrial reference architectures (RAs) based on the semantic interoperability concept. Among these RAs, FIWARE has become a key enabler for flexible and resource effective digitalisation of shop floor processes. The proposed software component aims to enable full interoperability between these more widely used technologies and industrial standards and protocols such as OPC UA. As a result, a flexible, open, and adaptable implementation assists the automatic translation of messages from different standards enabling semantic interoperability of shop floor processes. The component aims to enable industrial SMEs to bring current barriers to digitalisation towards a more human-centred, resilient, and sustainable industry and society. Full article

In multicentric and increasingly complex urban regions, a city centre reinvents itself. In the case of Porto, tourism was essential for its “Baixa” renaissance. A relevant increase in visitors meant also a dramatic increase in real estate prices and significant land-use change. In field interviews, retailers noticed a “new life” before COVID-19 arrived, remarking on the positive role of tourism on urban rehabilitation and the economic viability of companies, and the negative effects for residents and traditional shops, directed to the common resident. In this article, we present and discuss its main effects in this exceptional area in Portugal’s second city. We also discuss tourism dependency and the challenge of sustainability in a high-density context, defending public policies oriented for a “city with tourists” that replaces the current construction of a “city of tourists”. Full article

The World Bank has reported that over one billion individuals have a disability, implying that almost fifteen percent of the global inhabitants are susceptible to undergoing levels of discrimination, especially in employment. This issue may prevail on a manufacturing shop floor, whereby a wave of standardisation dominates such as in the design of shop floor workstations. Despite advances made in the literature, people with disabilities are still siloed from manufacturing. Consequently, the aim of this research work was to analyse literature’s current state of the art on the design of workstations for operators with disabilities within the context of Industry 5.0, where sustainability, human-centricity, and resilience are upheld. The study employed a systematic review of 69 publications from Scopus and Google Scholar published between 2013 and 2023, adhering to the updated PRISMA guidelines to identify the major research gaps. The review contributes an understanding of the current academic and industrial limitations such as the absence of social applicability of Industry 4.0 technology, the rift between academic knowhow and industrial implementation, and the lack of alignment with the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Additionally, the review uncovered an absence in work bridging four disciplines together: workstation design, Industry 5.0, sustainability, and disability. An unprecedented understanding of the interdependency between all four disciplines within the remit of smart, sustainable, and inclusive manufacturing workstations is contributed. This review proposes directions amidst the four most relevant SDGs—SDGs 8, 9, 10, and 12 to the topic. Full article

It is well known that finite element analysis (FEA) is a powerful tool when it comes to the design and analysis of complex structures for various load combinations, including light steel curve members. This abstract provides an overview of the FEA simulation process for designing such members (cure members), which involves constructing a 3D model, discretising the member into small elements, assigning material properties, defining boundary conditions, conducting the simulation, analysing the results, and making any necessary modifications to the design. FEA simulations can provide valuable insights into the behaviour of light steel curved members under different load combinations. This enables designers to optimise designs for strength, safety, and cost-effectiveness. This article proposes using two commercial 3D software programs, Rhino 7 and Strand7, to complete the FEA simulation of light steel curved members. The 3D model is created in Rhino 7, and the individual elements are discretised into more minor elements using Strand7 for assigning material properties, defining boundary conditions, running simulations, and analysing the results. The paper presents five case studies of steel–glass façades and applies the proposed methodology to each. Examples include Phoenix International Media Center in Beijing, Kazakhstan Pavilion and Science Museum in Astana, Moynihan Train Hall in New York City, Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne, and the central light rail station in The Hague. Full article

This perspective analysis aims to show the most recent and relevant interventions in a representative sample of selected European railway stations, balancing different criteria by reviewing the most characteristic cases. We analyse its impact at the urban level, assessing whether there is urban regeneration and to what extent; its impact at a functional level, assessing the change in activity as well as the effect on the user, transfer, or dismantling of the railway activity; its impact at an architectural level, assessing whether the actions are global or merely at the level of facade. As a final reflection, we outline the issue of the possibility of reuse in historical railway stations associating it with heritage preservation. The proposed selection contemplates actions in small and large stations and locations; total, partial, and zero dismantling actions in the tracks or the station plot and, finally, new uses ranging from the mixed solution of railway activity and shopping centre to cultural or exclusively leisure solutions. The timeline covers approximately the last three decades (1985–2022). Full article

The correlation between retail trade and the transport system is clear. Shops are customer oriented, and to visit them, the shopper needs to travel by a mode of transport and find a suitable time to do so. Due to the concentration of retail outlets in large-format shopping centres, these have become among the greatest attractors and traffic generators (including car traffic). While their attraction potential and traffic generation are well established in the literature, research on disruptions to the retail market and their impact on the transport system remains sparse. The authors—wishing to extend the scope of research on this subject matter—set themselves the objective of examining the extent to which Sunday retail restrictions affect the efficiency of the local road transport system. They applied time-measured costs (queuing and delayed travel times) as a measure of efficiency. Empirical measurements of traffic volumes were employed in the study, and the measure of efficiency was calculated through microsimulation traffic modelling based on a psychophysical car-following model. However, the returned results prove to be inconclusive. A decrease in the temporal cost incurred by road users is observed in areas around shopping centres located in the city centre and the outskirts. A different pattern, however, is observed close to shopping centres located on an axis connecting the city centre to residential areas. The main conclusion from this study is that the changes in traffic density seen due to Sunday retail restrictions should induce further analyses of the changes in the spatial and temporal distribution of traffic. As a result, a more efficient traffic management that is adjusted to a given day of the week and specific situation on that day could be implemented. Full article

Since the emergence of COVID-19, travel restrictions due to the pandemic have influenced several activities, in particular the mobility patterns of individuals. Our main goal is to draw the attention of scholars and policy makers to a specific segment of the population, namely (1) older people, (2) persons with disabilities (PwDs), (3) females, and (4) low-income population that are more vulnerable for travel behaviour change due to crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This article systematically reviews the studies that have explored the implications of COVID-19 for the mobility and activities of individuals pre-, during, and post-pandemic using the PRISMA method. It is found that there are a few studies regarding the travel and mobility needs and challenges of older people and PwDs, and there is no direct study concerning female and low-income individuals while such crisis exist. Questions such as “What are the adverse impacts of restrictions on their travel behaviour?”, “How can they travel safely to work, shopping, and medical centres?”, “Which transportation modes can be more effective for them?”, and “What are the government and policy makers’ role in providing accessible and affordable mobility services in the presence of such crisis?” are without relevant answers in the literature. Full article