1. Active BIM system for optimized multi-project ready-mix-concrete deliveryHana Begić, Mario Galić, Uroš Klanšek, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Purpose – Ready-mix concrete delivery problem (RMCDP), a specific version of the vehicle routing problem (VRP), is a relevant supply-chain engineering task for construction management with various formulations and solving methods. This problem can range from a simple scenario involving one source, one material and one destination to a more challenging and complex case involving multiple sources, multiple materials and multiple destinations. This paper presents an Internet of Things (IoT)-supported active building information modeling (BIM) system for optimized multi-project ready-mix concrete (RMC) delivery. Design/methodology/approach – The presented system is BIM-based, IoT supported, dynamic and automatic input/output exchange to provide an optimal delivery program for multi-project ready-mix-concrete problem. The input parameters are extracted as real-time map-supported IoT data and transferred to the system via an application programming interface (API) into a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) optimization model developed to perform the optimization. The obtained optimization results are further integrated into BIM by conventional project management tools. To demonstrate the features of the suggested system, an RMCDP example was applied to solve that included four building sites, seven eligible concrete plants and three necessary RMC mixtures. Findings – The system provides the optimum delivery schedule for multiple RMCs to multiple construction sites, as well as the optimum RMC quantities to be delivered, the quantities from each concrete plant that must be supplied, the best delivery routes, the optimum execution times for each construction site, and the total minimal costs, while also assuring the dynamic transfer of the optimized results back into the portfolio of multiple BIM projects. The system can generate as many solutions as needed by updating the real-time input parameters in terms of change of the routes, unit prices and availability of concrete plants. Originality/value – The suggested system allows dynamic adjustments during the optimization process, andis adaptable to changes in input data also considering the real-time input data. The system is based on spreadsheets, which are widely used and common tool that most stakeholders already utilize daily, while also providing the possibility to apply a more specialized tool. Based on this, the RMCDP can be solved using both conventional and advanced optimization software, enabling the system to handle even large-scale tasks as necessary. Ključne besede: active building information modeling, BIM, internet of things, IoT, multi-project environment, optimization, ready-mix-concrete delivery, RMC Objavljeno v DKUM: 11.09.2024; Ogledov: 32; Prenosov: 0 |
2. Decomposition and fragmentation of conventional and biobased plastic wastes in simulated and real aquatic systemsOlivija Plohl, Lidija Fras Zemljič, Alen Erjavec, Noemi Sep, Maja Čolnik, Yee Van Fan, Mojca Škerget, Annamaria Vujanović, Lidija Čuček, Julija Volmajer Valh, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Plastics play a crucial role in our daily lives. The challenge, however, is that they become waste and contribute to a global environmental problem, increasing concerns about pollution and the urgent need to protect the environment. The accumulation and fragmentation of plastic waste, especially micro- and nanoplastics in aquatic systems, poses a significant threat to ecosystems and human health. In this study, the decomposition and fragmentation processes of conventional and biobased plastic waste in simulated water bodies (waters with different pH values) and in real water systems (tap water and seawater) are investigated over a period of one and six months. Three types of plastic were examined: thermoplastic polyethylene terephthalate and thermoset melamine etherified resin in the form of nonwovens and biobased polylactic acid (PLA) in the form of foils. Such a comprehensive study involving these three types of plastics and the methodology for tracking degradation in water bodies has not been conducted before, which underlines the novelty of the present work. After aging of the plastics, both the solid fraction and the leachate in the liquid phase were carefully examined. The parameters studied include mass loss, structural changes and alterations in functional groups observed in the aged plastics. Post-exposure assessment of the fragmented pieces includes quantification of the microplastic, microscopic observations and confirmation of composition by in situ Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The leachate analysis includes pH, conductivity, turbidity, total carbon and microplastic size distribution. The results highlight the importance of plastic waste morphology and the minor degradation of biobased PLA and show that microfibers contribute to increased fragmentation in all aquatic systems and leave a significant ecological footprint. This study underlines the crucial importance of post-consumer plastic waste management and provides valuable insights into strategies for environmental protection. It also addresses the pressing issue of plastic pollution and provides evidence-based measures to mitigate its environmental impact. Ključne besede: polylactic acid, polyethylene terephthalate fabric, melamine etherifed resin fabric, aquatic environment, fragmentation, waste disposal Objavljeno v DKUM: 09.09.2024; Ogledov: 73; Prenosov: 7 Celotno besedilo (3,73 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
3. Investigating the influence of reflective materials on indoor thermal environment and solar reflectance in buildingsJihui Yuan, Yasuhiro Shimazaki, Masaki Tajima, Shaoyu Sheng, Zhichao Jiao, Marko Bizjak, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: This in-depth study explores the intricate dynamics of reflective materials, emphasizing their impact on the indoor thermal environment and urban heat island (UHI) mitigation. Examining diffuse highly reflective (DHR), general reflective (GR), and retro-reflective (RR) materials on a simplified building model during summer days, the research utilizes outdoor experiments to analyze air and surface temperatures, as well as solar radiation. Prioritizing key metrics—mean radiant temperature (MRT), operative temperature (OT), and solar reflectance (ρ)—the study uncovers nuanced distinctions in DHR, GR, and RR materials. Solar reflectance calculations consistently show higher values for DHR and RR materials compared to GR material, highlighting reflectance's pivotal role in influencing surface temperatures and indoor thermal environment. When evaluating the impact of exterior wall materials on building temperatures, RR material with a 76% reflectance performs similarly to DHR material (82%). Notably, with a 6% lower reflectance in RR, the temperature contrast between external and internal walls is only about 1.5 °C at its maximum, underscoring RR's effectiveness as an outer wall material for UHI mitigation and building energy conservation, surpassing both DHR and GR materials. Ključne besede: urban heat island, reflective materials, indoor thermal environment, solar reflectance, simplified building model Objavljeno v DKUM: 23.08.2024; Ogledov: 110; Prenosov: 7 Celotno besedilo (4,82 MB) |
4. SME top management perception of environmental uncertainty and gender differences during COVID-19Sabina Veršič, Polona Tominc, Tjaša Štrukelj, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Environmental scanning has become increasingly crucial for an organisation’s existence and a matter of interest for scholars and professionals. This research presents an outline of the situation in the field of multidimensional environmental scanning, focusing on Slovenian micro, small and medium sized organisations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the paper aims to examine if top managers perceive the multidimensional (external) environment as uncertain and if there have been gender differences in multidimensional (external) environmental uncertainty perception during the COVID-19 pandemic. We researched the field of ecological, social, technological, economic, and political–legal environments. The nonparametric Mann–Whitney U test and descriptive statistics were used to test the research hypotheses. The results show that top managers are not aware enough of multidimensional environmental uncertainty. They do not perceive the ecological and social environment as unpredictable at all. Among the studied environments, they perceive the political–legal environment as most unpredictable. There are no statistically significant gender differences in perceptions of ecological, social, technological, economic, and political–legal environmental uncertainty. We suggest SME top managers pay more attention to environmental uncertainty and use environmental scanning methods to achieve more sustainable development. Ključne besede: strategic management, environmental uncertainty, ecological environment, social environment, technological environment, economic environment, political–legal environment, SME top managers, COVID-19 pandemic, Slovenia Objavljeno v DKUM: 05.07.2024; Ogledov: 146; Prenosov: 20 Celotno besedilo (688,83 KB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
5. Healthy and entrepreneurial work environment for older employees and its impact on work engagement during the COVID-19 pandemicMaja Rožman, Polona Tominc, Katja Crnogaj, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Managing older employees is a major challenge for companies, especially during COVID-19. Therefore, creating a healthy and entrepreneurial work environment as well as an inclusive culture within organizations is crucial for companies to maintain their sustainable advantage. The main objective of this paper is to develop a multidimensional model of a healthy and entrepreneurial work environment for older employees and determine its impact on their work engagement during COVID-19. Structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. The results show that workplace health promotion, entrepreneurial working conditions, and leadership lead to better well-being of older employees. In addition, entrepreneurial working conditions that promote intergenerational synergy lead to higher work engagement of older employees, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the elderly, the entrepreneurial work environment is therefore particularly important, even though entrepreneurship is mostly attributed to younger men. In addition, older employees’ well-being and the promotion of intergenerational synergy have a positive impact on their work engagement. The results will help companies better manage their older employees, shape their workplace, and increase the sustainable benefits of their businesses during and after the COVID-19 crisis. Ključne besede: older employees, health promotion, entrepreneurial work environment, business competitiveness, COVID-19 pandemic Objavljeno v DKUM: 04.07.2024; Ogledov: 123; Prenosov: 13 Celotno besedilo (445,44 KB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
6. 8th FEB International Scientific Conference : Challenges in the Turbulent Economic Environment and Organizations’ Sustainable Development2024, zbornik recenziranih znanstvenih prispevkov na mednarodni ali tuji konferenci Opis: The proceedings of the 8th scientific conference, organized by the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor, titled "Challenges in the turbulent economic environment and organizations’ sustainable development," present research and findings on the challenges that companies as well as other organizations face in unpredictable economic environments and efforts towards sustainable development. Various distinguished European authors address the impacts of global economic fluctuations on business operations and emphasize the importance of adaptability and innovation in tackling these challenges. Additionally, they underscore the significance of sustainable development as a crucial factor for the long-term success of companies and present strategies for its effective implementation. Through analyses and case studies, authors reveal key factors influencing the success of organizations in turbulent economic environments and offer guidelines for designing responsive and sustainability-focused business models. Ključne besede: sustainability, economic environment, sustainable development, business challenges, competitiveness, turbolent environment Objavljeno v DKUM: 23.05.2024; Ogledov: 314; Prenosov: 24 Celotno besedilo (12,55 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
7. Artificial intelligence and agility-based model for successful project implementation and company competitivenessPolona Tominc, Dijana Oreški, Maja Rožman, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: The purpose of the paper is to present a model of factors affecting the successful project implementation by introducing agility and artificial intelligence to increase the company’s competitiveness. In the model, the multidimensional constructs describing the implementation of an agile work environment and artificial intelligence technologies and tools were developed. These multidimensional constructs are agile work environment, agile leadership, agile team skills and capabilities, improving the work of the leader in the project, adopting AI technologies in the project, and using AI solutions in a project. Their impact on successful project implementation and on the company competitiveness was tested. The fundamental reason for conducting this research and developing the model is to enhance the understanding of factors that contribute to the successful implementation of projects and to increase a company’s competitiveness. Our developed model encompasses multidimensional constructs that describe the agile work environment and the utilization of AI technologies. By examining the impact of these constructs on both successful project implementation and company competitiveness, we aimed to establish a comprehensive framework that captures the relationship between agility, AI, and successful project implementation. This model serves as a valuable tool for companies seeking to improve their project implementation processes and gain a competitive edge in the market. The research was based on a sample of 473 managers/owners in medium-sized and large companies. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. In today’s turbulent environment, the results will help develop guidelines for a successful combination of agile business practices and artificial intelligence to achieve successful project implementation, increasing a company’s competitiveness. Ključne besede: artificial intelligence, agile work environment, company competitiveness, project management Objavljeno v DKUM: 26.03.2024; Ogledov: 294; Prenosov: 170 Celotno besedilo (1,68 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
8. Ephemerality in personal memory travel : encountering the changing environmentAndreja Trdina, Maruša Pušnik, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: This article approaches personal memory travels with the aim of investigating people’s encounters with the changing environment in relation to time. It centers on the intra-actions with perceptual ephemera as immaterial non-solid entities to argue that our relational reality is a cyclical, dis-continuous process of past and present encounters. The study is grounded in the post-humanist performativ-ity approach and based on personal life histories of memory trips gathered in Slovenia with the help of in-depth interviews and photo-elicitation. Findings suggest that travelers’ engagements with ephemera at site illustrate complex entanglements between human and other (immaterial) entities as co-constituted in time and from within time, provoking the production of situated and temporally sensitive knowledge about the more-than-human world. The article endorses the significance of memory work and human engagements with absences and resonances, both allusions to other (past) contexts, as fundamental for cultivating post-anthropocentric attitudes and advancing the habit of timefulness. Ključne besede: personal memory travel, encounters, environment, absence, anthropocene, ephemera, memory, time, trave Objavljeno v DKUM: 16.02.2024; Ogledov: 255; Prenosov: 13 Celotno besedilo (1,42 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
9. Urban greening as a cooling tool towards the heat island effectAnja Bubik, Lucija Kolar, 2019, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Roofs, as the top layer of the urban environment, significantly contribute to overheating and creating a heat island, which is known as one of the most critical global warming effects. There are several ways to mitigate the effects of such heat islands, among which greening is the most natural, sustainable solution, and also economically acceptable and socially valued principle. Vegetation is known to significantly improve the urban microclimate and directly reduce the effect of the urban thermal core. At the Environmental Protection College in collaboration with the Institute Complementarium, both based in Slovenia, we conducted a pilot experiment to evaluate greening, in our case the principle of a flat green roof, as an effective and promising approach for reducing an urban heat island and its effects. Temperature measurements have shown that the green surface can lower both the surface temperature itself (e.g., the roof) and the air surrounding the green surface. We have presented an initial pilot case, which is planned to be upgraded in the future to confirm our current results and assumptions. In addition, we summarized data showing that Velenje is, in view of annual higher average temperatures, a highly suitable urban environment for the introduction of greening principles on the top urban layers. Ključne besede: air temperature, greening principle, heat island effect, pilot study, urban environment Objavljeno v DKUM: 05.12.2023; Ogledov: 435; Prenosov: 5 Celotno besedilo (1,31 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
10. Impacts of zero-emission powertrains based on hydrogen technologies in public transportNiko Natek, Boštjan Krajnc, 2020, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: This article reviews the development potentials and environmental impact of introducing category M3 vehicles (for passenger transport/buses) with fuel cell electric powertrains to an urban and inter-urban public transport service (PTS) to be operated in the Savinjsko-Šaleška region. The main focus is the demonstration of the PTS modelling and preliminary environmental impact assessment of the operation compared to conventional (modern) diesel-powered internal combustion engines. Ključne besede: Hydrogen, Fuel Cell, Transport, Energy efficiency, Green-house gas emissions, Energy transition, Environment, Public transport service, Internal combustion Engine, CO2 Objavljeno v DKUM: 15.11.2023; Ogledov: 415; Prenosov: 6 Celotno besedilo (1,66 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |