《临郭恕先山水》纪年与“粉本”诸问题谳疑

现藏瑞典斯德哥尔摩远东古物博物馆《临郭恕先山水》一作,是董其昌对晚明时期流传的某件郭忠恕《摹王维辋川图》的临仿。美国学者吴纳逊、高居翰和台湾学者石守谦针对其创作时间和所临“粉本”等问题,于上世纪不同时段发表过一些简略并带有分歧的意见。时至今日,学界对《临郭恕先山水》一作依旧缺乏深入关注。这件作品对我们了解董其昌早期画法变革阶段探寻王维雪景山水风格画法、临仿《摹王维辋川图》“粉本”的确切时间,以及晚明时期流传的《摹王维辋川图》长安“周生本”、杭州“高氏本”、和郭世元石刻“墨拓本”之间的关系,都甚有裨益。

IFC implementation in lifecycle costing

Life Cycle Costing (LCC) is always a major concern in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. This paper presents the implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology in the development of a lifecycle cost-estimating tool. The IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) model as an interoperable building information model has been adopted as the central data repository to deliver the integrated information of building designs from CAD design systems into the lifecycle-costing database. In this paper, the conceptions and relevant factors, which could affect the LCC estimation, have been introduced. The problems of current LCC applications have been identified as the lack of LCC data and the complexity of LCC exercises. The software application of IFC models and relevant auxiliary are depicted as a solution of the problem identified. The lifecycle costing tool is a part of the nD Modeling tool and as such is based on its integrated interface prototype toolkit and is able to holistically present an IFC model into a 3D virtual reality view, a tree-view and a list of element properties. The functions and some technical points are also detailed in the paper. Through the research, it demonstrates the potential and possibility of implementing BIM methods and techniques, particularly IFCs to enhance the computer applications in the processes of building construction and facility management.

Sequential fault diagnosis strategy with imperfect tests considering life cycle cost

The problem of sequential fault diagnosis is to construct a diagnosis tree that can isolate the failure sources with minimal test cost. Pervious sequential fault diagnosis strategy generating algorithms only consider the execution cost at application stage, which may result in a solution with poor quality from the view of life cycle cost. Furthermore, due to the fact that uncertain information exists extensively in the real-world systems, the tests are always imperfect. In order to reduce the cost of fault diagnosis in the realistic systems, the sequential fault diagnosis problem with imperfect tests considering life cycle cost is presented and formulated in this work, which is an intractable NP-hard AND/OR decision tree construction problem. An algorithm based on AND/OR graph search is proposed to solve this problem. Heuristic search based on information theory is applied to generate the sub-tree in the algorithm. Some practical issues such as the method to improve the computational efficiency and the diagnosis strategy with multi-outcome tests are discussed. The algorithm is tested and compared with previous algorithms on the simulated systems with different scales and uncertainty. Application on a wheel momentum system of a spacecraft is studied in detail. Both the simulation and application results suggest that the cost of the diagnosis strategy can be reduced significantly by using the proposed algorithm, especially when the placement cost of the tests constitutes a large part of the total cost.

Research on goal-setting method of rock drivage based on the balance among period, cost and quality

On the basis of the analysis on the disadvantages of the original goal-setting about rock drivage, this paper defined the ＂life cycle quality＂. With project management theory and the Cobb-Douglas function, ＂quality-cost and quality-price curve model＂ and the ＂total cost-period prediction model＂ were built. Then the goal-setting method of the balance among quality, cost and period of rock drivage was constructed by finding ＂life cycle cost＂ through ＂life cycle quality＂ using ＂quality-cost and quality-price curve model＂ and ensuring period through ＂life cycle cost＂ using ＂total cost-period prediction model＂ （hereinafter referred to as the ＂three goals balance method＂）. ＂Value contribution＂ which is the value of the contribution to a mine because of rock drivage, was found in the process of constructing the ＂quality-cost and quality-price curve model＂. An industrial test was done in coal mine A with the research results, staff footage efficiency improved by 24.24%, the period shortened by 14.3%, the ＂life cycle cost＂ dropped by 2.09%, the ＂life cycle quality price＂ improved by 3.29%, and value contribution increased by 25.3%. The result shows that the new goal method setting on the basis of coal mine profit maximization can ensure construc- tion period. At the same time, it can realize cost and quality objectives and the optimization and balance of relationship among them; rewarding excavation teams by ＂value contribution＂ can combine organizational goal with personal goal, it significantly raise the employee＇s work efficiency.

Integrating Activity-Based Costing （ABC） and Theory of Constraint （TOC） for Improved and Sustained Cost Management

Implementing effective cost management approaches has recently gained momentum due to intense competition and increasing customer demands. Moreover, effective cost management approaches have contributed to firms＇ competitive advantage in relation to cost leadership strategy. Consequently, firms have implemented contemporary cost management systems, such as activity-based management, business process re-engineering, life-cycle costing, target costing, and theory of constraint （TOC）, to enable them to become low-cost producers and compete effectively and sustain their performance. Furthermore, focusing on cost management to improve profitability has led to the integration of activity-based costing （ABC） and TOC. Therefore, the aim of this study is to review literature and discuss how integration of ABC and TOC can result in improved and sustained cost management. While these methods have different approaches in addressing cost management, treating them as complementary cost management approaches can result in improved cost management due to improved product costing, improved cost reporting, improved product-mix decisions, and improved cycle-time management. Improvement in cost management will then result in sustained cost management. Sustained cost management is further enhanced with the investment in information customer and shareholder value technology that supports cross-functional decision making to continue creating to remain competitive in the market.

Life cycle assessment in the environmental impact evaluation of urbandevelopment--a case study of land readjustment project,Hyogo District, Japan

In this paper, the Life Cycle of Urban Development was firstly analyzed, and the phases of Life Cycle Assessment applied to Urban Development (ULCA) were described. As a case study, ULCA was applied in the environmental impact assessment of the land readjustment project of Hyogo District of Saga, Japan. In addition, mitigation proposals for reducing CO2 were also presented and the relevant environmental ef-fects were simulated.

Service Life Prediction and Management of Concrete Bridge Structures Due to Corrosion

The increasing stocks of public infrastructure and serious deterioration of infrastructure systems due to corrosion present great financial, safety, technical and operational challenges to government organizations in charge of public infrastructure development and management. To meet those challenges, a performance-based life-cycle management model for reinforced concrete structures was proposed in this paper. This model predicts the life-cycle performance of infrastructure based on the corrosion-induced deterioration mechanism： condition index as well as performance limit states. A case study is provided to demonstrate the use of the proposed performance-based life-cycle cost management model.

Life Cycle Cost of Electricity Generation from Biomass Gasifier

India is having more than 500,000 villages of which about 85% have been electrified. But as per RGGVY （Rejiv Gandhi Grammen Vidyutikaran Yojana）, the rate of village electrification is much lower as household connectivity has been fairly low. The rest 15% villages and a larger proportion of households have to be electrified. Villages have been a major concern as cost of electrification is fairly high. The most favored alternative to any kind of users is generation of electricity from diesel generating sets and renewable sources of energy. But the capital cost of renewable energy equipments is fairly high. Gradually, there is a reduction in the prices of these systems due to availability of better technological options and they are becoming competitive to grid electricity. In this paper, an attempt has been made to calculate the cost of production of electricity from stand-alone, off-grid devices biomass gasifiers （both dual fuel and pure gas type） and compare with that of diesel generating sets by using the concept of LCC （life cycle costing） and Homer software. It is found that the cost of per unit electricity generation （kWh） has been always the lowest in comparison to diesel generating sets even if the price of biomass increases to some extent.

Implementing Life Cycle Costing in Malaysian Construction Industry： A Review

The construction industry is a sector that contributes a lot to the economic growth of Malaysia, as it is developing rapidly similar in fashion to other developing countries around the world. In line with the 9th Malaysia Plan, development in Malaysia must meet current and future needs to achieve sustainability in economic development, as well as functioning as a social and environmental responsibility for prosperity without compromising the needs of future generations. To ensure that the government＇s objective is met, construction industry should implement the LCC （life cycle costing） method in structure and infrastructure projects so as to not cause losses to the industry itself and to the government. Through LCC, factors contributing to, and the associated cost of maintenance works for a building are identified at the design stage to obtain a more accurate projection of the total cost. This paper describes the LCC as a vital element in the construction industry since this method can drive quality improvement by taking into account the comprehensive cost of a project. The main aim of this paper is to aid in understanding the application of the LCC concept for the construction industry, particularly for the maintenance phase. This paper also identifies LCC processes involved in a building construction project and subsequently provides recommendation on appropriate measures to implement LCC in the construction industry in Malaysia.

Development of Building Maintenance System for Monitoring Repair and Replacement Histories of Public Facilities

The Korea Water Resources Corporation （K-Water） has encountered four problems during the management of water resources of approximately 1,300 buildings spread throughout the country-degradation, budget constraints, lack of standards, and lack of planning. In this study, we have developed a mechanism for collecting, maintaining, and analyzing ground data for repair and replacement works. Our BMS （building maintenance system） uses the recorded repair and replacement work histories and calculates the life cycle costs of the related items. Further, it enables the performance of repair and replacement tasks through an integrated approach aimed at preventive maintenance. In this manner, the BMS is expected to maximize the efficiency of the formulation of prevention and maintenance work plans, monitoring of work histories, predictions of future tasks from the analyses of repair and replacement histories, and performance of LCC （life cycle cost） calculations. Reliable maintenance of national properties can thus be achieved by using the BMS, which promotes reasonable and efficient repair and replacement activities.

Estimating the Service Lives of Building Products in Use

Reliable service life data of building products are of great importance when completing environmental LCA （life cycle assessment） reviews, for LCC （life cycle costing） and for maintenance planning tasks. A research project was set up to answer the following research questions： （1） what are reliable service life data of current used building products; and （2） how can generic data about the service lives of building products be tailored to specific project circumstances using the ＂factor method＂ described in the ISO （International Standard Organization） 15686 Series： ＂Buildings and Constructed Assets-Service-Life Planning＂. Experts of industry organisations for building materials and products made a final judgement of the new established reference service lives. Reference service lives of building products may show a large unknown bandwidth around the average. That will make the bandwidth of estimated service lives, taking the project situation of building components into account, very big. Experts have raised objections to the use the factor method for deriving mathematically a bandwidth of estimated service lives of a building product from the reference service life of the product. A practical analytical application of the factor method has been made by describing all factors and underlying criteria and a reference situation.

Role of supply chain management in target costing

Standard costing is used as a control for product costing. But with life cycle becoming shorter, costing should be done at the design and development stage of a product. This is achieved through target costing.The implementation of target costing and target pricing is done with the ultimate purpose of cost reduction, cost understanding, continuous improvement, competitiveness, early purchasing and supplier involvement, and improved design and accountability by manufacturers. The study explores the participation of the purchasing and supply chain management＇s role in target costing and target pricing process. Supply management plays an active role in monitoring the ongoing cost and performance of suppliers during the early stages of product development. Implementation of target costing and target pricing in various organizations are also explored. Leading Japanese manufacturers have used target costing and target pricing systems to their advantage and the paper also examines the adaptation of the Western companies to these proactive cost management techniques to improve their product development processes.

Environmental Impact Optimization of Reinforced Concrete Slab Frame Bridges

The main objective of this research is to integrate environmental impact optimization in the structural design of reinforced concrete slab frame bridges in order to determine the most environment-friendly design. The case study bridge used in this work was also investigated in a previous paper focusing on the optimization of the investment cost, while the present study focuses on environmental impact optimization and comparing the results of both these studies. Optimization technique based on the pattern search method was implemented. Moreover, a comprehensive LCA （life cycle assessment） methodology of ReCiPe and two monetary weighting systems were used to convert environmental impacts into monetary costs. The analysis showed that both monetary weighting systems led to the same results. Furthermore, optimization based on environmental impact generated models with thinner construction elements yet of a higher concrete class, while cost optimization by considering extra constructability factors provided thicker sections and easier to construct. This dissimilarity in the results highlights the importance of combining environmental impact （and its associated environmental cost） and investment cost to find more material-efficient, economical, sustainable and time-effective bridge solutions.

Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of an Installed Multiunit Seasonal Thermal Energy Store

The financial viability of a solar STES （seasonal thermal energy store） installed in a mixed commercial and residential multiunit development of low-energy buildings located in Lysekil, Sweden, a maritime Scandinavian Climate has been investigated. Using recorded figures for the installation costs and performance, a financial life cycle analysis has been undertaken to determine the cost effectiveness of the system. The time value of money is considered and an LCC （life cycle cost） analysis undertaken to identify the cost-effectiveness of the solution. It shows that while a direct heating and hot water system incorporating STES can be economically viable in a Swedish maritime climate in the long term, assistance such as that provided by government incentives is required to assist with the high capital cost of the initial investment.

Energy Crisis in Nigerian University System： Implications of Self Auto-generation for Human Capital Development

Energy requirements for tertiary educational purpose is burgeoning, a reflection of its criticality to human asset formation and to use self auto-generation by petrol or diesel generators as the energy supply source is an unsustainable practice. The situation is worrisome in view of the noise pollution and nuisance that constitutes to the learning environment. This paper, therefore, determines the quantity of self generated energy supply, its intensity, the associated CO2 emissions and their possible implications for human capital development. A survey of generating sets was conducted using the University of Nigeria Nsukka as a representative of Nigerian universities. A walk-through-approach was adopted in gathering data and two metrics-life cycle cost and cost of electricity from auto-generation were used to determine the economic implications of the self generation. The results show that self auto-generation contributed installed energy capacity of amount 19 MVA, 20 MVA, 34 MVA, 11 MVA and 22 MVA to run human capital development activities, respectively for academic sessions from July 2006 to November 2010. The study helps us understand that reforms in educational sector are not effective as long as energy insecurity is a dominant factor.

The Use of Life Cycle Cost Analysis to Determine the Most Effective Cost of Installation High Voltage Undersea Cable Bali Strait

Indonesian National Electricity Company （PT.PLN （Persero）） has planned to install additional high voltage undersea cable for circuit llI and IV Java-Bali to fulfill electricity demand in Bali. This project was more prefered compared to building another power plant in Bali which could raise social and cultural resistance. Life cycle cost method was used to complete the financial feasibility study to ensure if the project has economic benefit, and the asset would be used effectively and efficiently along its benefit period. In this paper, a life cycle cost will be simulated to analyze which alternative is the most profitable： installation circuit III and IV in 2012 or installation circuit III in 2012 and circuit IV in 2017 in accordance with load forecasting demand. This study is used to help the management to make a decision about the project.

Longevity,Capital Formation and Economic Development

Many researchers have concluded that longer life expectancies prompt increased investment in education,as a prolonged labor supply raises the rate of return on education.Besides explaining the empirical evidence behind this conclusion(at an absolute level),there is another issue to be discussed:does time spent studying and working increase proportionally with higher longevity? Building on an extended life-cycle model,this paper shows that prolonged life expectancy will cause individuals to increase their time in education but may not warrant rises in labor input.Later we show that higher improvement rate of longevity rather than initial life expectancy will promote economic growth,even we exclude the mechanism of human capital formation,and only consider growth effects of higher improvement rate of life expectancy from physical capital investment.

Economic and Environmental Issues with LCCA Approach of an Offshore Wind Farm

In this paper a new methodological approach, life cycle cost assessment （LCCA）, is applied to evaluate the investment concerning a wind offshore plant location in Sicily East Coast. In particular, we analyze economic quantification of the damage deriving from the construction of the system, divided into environmental impacts deriving from the construction of a single turbine, and environmental impacts as a consequence of the construction of the foundations. The preliminary economic information for the LCCA analysis of the examined wind park offshore regards the management of the monetary capital initially invested, choice of the interest rate and of other necessary financial features, used to compute the net present value of the cash-flows accrued during the project lifetime. In this way, a more precise implementation of the LCCA in whatever type of structural investment is made possible, allowing the examination of all information useful for supporting the decision process.