Search Results (23)

As global warming and environmental issues become increasingly prominent, steel enterprises, as a carbon-intensive industry, face urgent challenges in energy saving and emission reduction (ESER). This study develops a novel evaluation model integrating the WSR methodology, the cloud matter-element model, and an improved D-S evidence theory to address the fuzziness, randomness, and uncertainty in ESER assessments. A case study demonstrates that this approach can address the correlation between ESER indicators; quantify the evaluation process; and optimize issues related to fuzziness, randomness, and uncertainty. This finding provides a systematic evaluation framework for ESER in steel enterprises operating under the long-process production model (the blast furnace-converter model), offering valuable insights for formulating comprehensive ESER strategies throughout the entire production process. Full article

The energy-saving retrofit (ESR) of existing buildings under the energy performance contracting (EPC) mode depends on the effective risk early warnings of energy service companies (ESCOs); therefore, this paper constructs an ESCO risk early warning model for energy-saving retrofit projects of existing buildings based on cloud matter element theory (CMET). The ESCO risk early warning indicator system is established according to the essential characteristics of ESR projects of existing buildings. The subjective weighting method (G1 method) and the objective weighting method (entropy weight method) are introduced to determine the comprehensive weights of ESCO risk early warning indicators. The ESCO risk warning level of ESR projects of existing buildings is evaluated based on the cloud matter element model concerning the randomness and ambiguity of the ESCO risk early warning indicators. Finally, the risk early warning model is applied to the ESCO risk management practice of an existing building ESR project in Tianjin. By comparing the actual project and the risk early warning model constructed in this paper, it is concluded that the model has high levels of feasibility, reasonableness, and efficiency. This model has scientific guidance value for ESCO enterprise risk control. Full article

The selection of insulation materials during the renovation of enclosure structures in old communities significantly impacts project quality, cost, and carbon emissions. Many insulation materials currently in use only meet energy-saving standards as required by design specifications, often neglecting important aspects such as ancillary construction materials, construction techniques, and environmental protection. Furthermore, they fail to adequately address the unique characteristics of old communities. This study establishes a performance evaluation framework for low-carbon insulation materials in old community enclosures, assessing their suitability from four dimensions: technical performance, economic benefits, social impact, and environmental standards. By introducing the attribute hierarchy model (AHM), subjective weights are determined, while objective weights are obtained using the entropy method and variation coefficient method. A combination of subjective and objective weights are then applied to create a scientific and rational comprehensive evaluation model. The evaluation of insulation materials is conducted using a combination of the matter–element extension method and the cloud model. A case study of a specific old community retrofit project demonstrates that the use of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) as the insulation material is more suitable for the low-carbon retrofit of the enclosure structures. The results indicate that the proposed evaluation system is both applicable and effective for similar projects. Full article

Based on the analysis of the influencing factors of the current planning and utilization of river and lake shorelines, an index system of the current planning and utilization of river and lake shorelines is constructed. Based on the triangular fuzzy number method and the improved CRITIC method, the evaluation indicators are weighted and analyzed and then integrated to obtain the combined weight. An improved matter-element extension model was constructed to evaluate the current situation of shoreline planning and utilization in typical regions. At the same time, the TOPSIS evaluation model and the cloud theory evaluation model were compared and analyzed to verify the accuracy of the model. The improved matter-element model accounts for indicator incompatibility and the uncertainty of evaluation boundaries, offering a clearer reflection of the planning and utilization status. Full article

The evaluation and classification of goaf stability are fuzzy and random. To address this problem, a new classification method is proposed. A cavity monitoring system is used to detect the goaf, 3DMine and FLAC3D software are used to conduct the 3D visual modeling of the scanning results, and numerical simulation analysis is performed on the goaf. According to the analysis results, the stability classification standard of the goaf is constructed, and the characteristics of each classification are described. The evaluation indicator system of goaf stability is constructed in accordance with similar engineering experience, and the evaluation indicator is weighted by using the analytic hierarchy process. The cloud–element coupling evaluation model is built, the field measured values of indicators are collected, the cloud correlation degree of goafs belonging to each stability level is calculated, the stability level is evaluated according to the principle of maximum membership degree, and the results are compared with the numerical simulation to analyze the reasons for the differences in the stability evaluation results obtained by the two methods and to improve the accuracy of the evaluation of goaf stability. The pillar stress and surrounding rock deformation are monitored in Room 1# of the inclined mining area of Shirengou Iron Mine. The monitoring results are consistent with the evaluation results, which proves the accuracy of the proposed goaf stability classification method. Full article

Owing to its rapid advancement, information technology has emerged as a critical tool in assembly construction for addressing market demands, improving project quality, and reducing costs. However, the absence of unified informatization standards within the assembly construction industry has led to the adoption of different technologies and systems by various businesses during the development of informatization systems; this has generated issues such as unbalanced development and mutual incompatibility. While researchers have examined these issues, a comprehensive assessment of the maturity of informatization in assembly-building projects is lacking. Assessment of the maturity of informatization can provide evaluation standards and methods for the development of informatization of assembly buildings, explore the important and difficult points of applying informatization technology to assembly buildings, and put forward corresponding countermeasures and suggestions to promote the benign development of informatization of assembly buildings. Therefore, this study strives to develop a model for assessing the maturity of informatization of assembly-building projects. This study begins by determining the level of the maturity level of informatization, key process areas, and key practices for assembly-building projects using the capability maturity model (CMM). On this basis, the maturity evaluation index system was constructed through expert interviews and questionnaires. Furthermore, in order to assign weights to the indicators comprehensively, the ordinal relationship method and entropy weight method were implemented. The evaluation criteria were determined by consulting the relevant literature and expert opinions. Followingly, an evaluation model was established based on the cloud matter element (CME) theory. Finally, a case study demonstrates that the methodology can be utilized to quantify the maturity of project informatization. In conclusion, this study unearths a system for assessing the level of maturity of informatization of assembly-building projects, which provides a valuable reference for promoting the continuous development of the maturity of informatization in assembly-building projects. Full article

In the construction of urban rail transit projects, the disturbance of equipment, sudden failure, rainstorms, and other emergencies may bring serious safety risks. Resilience theory emphasizes the ability of the system to resist, adapt, absorb, and learn from risks in the whole process before, during, and after the occurrence of risks. It is introduced into the safety management of construction organization of urban rail transit projects to describe the ability of urban rail transit projects to cope with risks in the whole process of dealing with construction risks. This study defines the connotation of the resilience of the project construction organization and uses the literature frequency statistics method to determine the resilience evaluation indexes. The game theory combination weighting method is used to determine the index weights, and the cloud matter element model is used to establish the evaluation model of construction organization resilience of urban rail transit projects. Taking Nanchang West Station of Phase 1 Project of Nanchang Line 2 as an example, the validity and accuracy of the model are verified. The results show that the resilience grade of the construction organization of the project is “higher resilience,” which is consistent with the actual survey situation, and the evaluation model is reasonable. In addition, in the evaluation results, the key indexes and risk indexes of the project are determined, and the safety management measures of the construction organization of the project are put forward according to the key indexes and risk indexes. Full article

This paper aims to evaluate and analyze the application effect of intelligent construction technology in the process of building construction because of the complexity and uncertainty of the technology itself. It also aims to promote the digital application of intelligent construction technologies throughout the life cycle of building construction and sustainable construction. Combining questionnaires and the Delphi, an indicator system for the evaluation of the application effect of intelligent construction technology was constructed, which contained twenty indicators, and then a cloud matter-element model was subsequently established by combining the cloud model with the matter element theory and took a practical engineering project as an example, so as to determine the application effect level of the technology. Results show that the evaluation grade of the effectiveness of the application of intelligent construction technology in this project is three-star and the application of intelligent construction technology in the construction phase is average, but there is a trend towards good development. The evaluation of the application effect of intelligent construction technology provides a direction for the specific application of new construction technology and promotes the transformation and upgrading of the construction industry and sustainable development. Full article

Water network construction is one of the important ways to solve complex water problems at present. It is crucial for the optimal allocation of water resources, flood control, disaster reduction, protection of water ecology, water security, and sustainable urban development. Accordingly, this study formulates an index system for assessing the efficacy of water network construction based on the Driving Force–Pressure–State–Influence–Response (DPSIR) model, taking into account the four dimensions of optimal allocation of water resources, flood control and disaster reduction in river basins, protection of water ecosystems, and intelligent water network management. The proposed index system comprises four key aspects, which are utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of water network construction efforts. Then, the game-weighting method and the matter-element extension method improved by the cloud theory established an evaluation model to evaluate and compare the water network construction effects of the two cities in Henan Province. Finally, the GM (1,1) model was used to evaluate the water network construction effects, and future trends were predicted. The results show the following: (1) On the whole, the effect of water network construction in the two cities is constantly improving; (2) There has been a significant improvement in the intelligent management of water networks. The main reason for this result is that the “Internet +” has promoted the intelligent construction of water networks; (3) The water ecological environment, flood control, and drainage capabilities continued to improve, which has largely guaranteed the basic security bottom line of urban development space; (4) The advancement and utilization of water resources has undergone gradual improvements over time, with key impact metrics centered on water supply safety factors and the development and utilization of water resources. As water supply sources continue to diversify, it is expected that the aforementioned situation will be ameliorated in the future; (5) The predicted value shows that the water network construction of the two cities can basically meet the planned value of each index when the water network construction reaches the planning level. This paper provides help to promote the sustainable use of water resources and ensure the sustainable development of cities. Full article

Prefabricated construction offers numerous advantages, such as high efficiency and energy efficiency. However, its promotion is impeded by the significant associated costs. Thus, the primary objective of this study is to investigate the overall life-cycle costs of prefabricated construction, with a specific focus on hidden costs. To achieve this objective, the study establishes a comprehensive evaluation index system comprising 31 factors that facilitate the assessment of hidden cost risks at each stage of the construction’s life cycle. In order to effectively evaluate these risks, the study proposes a novel evaluation method that combines the structural equation model (SEM) with the matter–element extension cloud model (MEECM). Subsequently, the proposed model is applied to an actual case of prefabricated construction projects. The findings prove valuable in managing the hidden cost risks associated with prefabricated construction and offer effective means for evaluating such risks. The stage considered in this paper is more comprehensive than that of previous studies, and a quantitative analysis of the hidden cost risk index is constructed and a SEM–MEECM evaluation model is established. Based on the model presented in this paper, future research can further enhance the hidden cost risk index and explore suitable quantitative indicators to facilitate cost risk control in prefabricated construction projects, thus promoting the widespread adoption of prefabricated construction in developing countries. Full article

Ship lock as a typical hydraulic structure has become an important node in waterway transportation. Due to the long operating life and high demand of throughput, many locks are under the overloaded operation situation. However, the service condition assessment of ship locks has rarely been directly studied, and there is a lack of an efficient and standardized method owing to the complex structure of the ship lock system. In this paper, a multi-level hierarchical system including 36 indexes was constructed based on the engineering breakdown structure theory. The synthetic weights of indexes were determined by the order relation method and entropy weight method combining subjectivity and objectivity. The extension cloud model combining the extension theory and cloud model was put forward, aiming to deal with the uncertainty of fuzziness and randomness in the evaluation process. Then, two typical locks were investigated, and the numerical scores indicated that their states belong to Level III and Level IV, respectively. The proposed method reveals the structural condition and provides theoretical reference for the maintenance of ship locks, which can be applied with generalizability and operability. Full article

Urban water security problems such as water scarcity, water pollution, and flood disasters have restricted the sustainable development of cities. In order to scientifically evaluate the urban water security situation, this study combined the DPSIR (driver, pressure, state, impact, response) model and HEVD (the hazard of disaster-causing factors, the vulnerability of disaster-affected bodies, the instability of the disaster-pregnant environment, and population loss) model to propose a new conceptual framework for DPEBLR (driver, pressure, environment, insecurity-affected body, loss, response). Based on this conceptual framework, 35 indicators were selected to establish an urban water security evaluation index system. In order to solve the problem of randomness and fuzziness of the boundary values of urban water security classification levels, the cloud matter element model was applied. Chongqing was used as an example for verification, and the results showed that the water security status of Chongqing City improved from 2011 (Ⅴ) to 2019 (Ⅱ). This indicates that the water ecology restoration project, centralized water source protection project, centralized water supply project, water-saving society transformation, and flood and drought prevention system construction project implemented in Chongqing has achieved significant results. However, Chongqing still faces the problem that the construction of an urban flood control system cannot meet the speed of urban development. The government should slow down the urbanization and allow the urban flood control system to be ready before the area is occupied. In addition, the awareness of water conservation for industrial use in Chongqing has been formed, and citizens’ awareness of water conservation for domestic use should be enhanced in the future. Full article

Compared with highway tunnels, hydraulic tunnel linings are in the water environment for a long time, and their lining materials and structures are more vulnerable to damage. Therefore, a comprehensive scientific durability evaluation of hydraulic tunnel linings is of great significance for the safe operation and daily maintenance of hydraulic tunnels. This paper proposes a new method for evaluating the durability of hydraulic tunnel linings. The paper first constructs a hydraulic tunnel concrete lining durability evaluation system, taking into account the feedback between the indices, and using the analytic network process (ANP) to calculate the weights of each index, as well as multiple-expert scoring to reduce its one-sidedness and subjectivity. Considering the randomness and fuzzy nature of the evaluation, the cloud model was used to modify the matter–element theory to evaluate the durability of the hydraulic tunnel lining. Finally, an example application was carried out, and the durability classes of five segments of the Nawei Tunnel were calculated as III, II, II, II, and III. The results were compared with the evaluation results of the method in the related literature, which proved that the method has good accuracy in evaluating the durability of hydraulic tunnel linings. Full article

Due to their complex geological structure, it is difficult to systematically analyze the surface subsidence of coal mines in southwest China, and the factors that cause surface subsidence are also different from other coal mines. Focusing on the problem of surface subsidence caused by mining in southwest China’s mines, a grade evaluation system for surface subsidence of southwest mines is constructed based on the analytic hierarchy process, and ten evaluation indicators are established from the perspectives of mining disturbance and geological structure. A matter–element model of surface subsidence based on matter–element extension theory and a cloud model of surface subsidence based on cloud theory are then constructed. A coal mine in Anshun, Guizhou, is taken as an example to calculate the evaluation level of surface subsidence and thus verify the scientificity of extension theory and cloud theory. The results show that the main factors that affect the surface subsidence of southwest mines are the number of coal seam layers, mining height and comprehensive Platt hardness of rock, similar to that of northern plain coal mines. Surface slope and subsidence area are also very important. The comprehensive correlation degree of each grade of the coal mine is −0.29836, 0.192232, −0.1093 and −0.46531, and the coal mine is concluded to be in grade 2. The calculated similarity of the overall index evaluation cloud map of the coal mine and each grade is 0, 0.3453, 0.7872 and 0, respectively. The coal mine is in grade 2, which is a relatively safe state. Consistent with the calculation results of the extension model and in line with the field situation, the extension matter–element model and cloud model built in this paper can verify each other and have a certain scientificity. Full article

With the ever-increasing demand for air traffic over the years, safety risk assessment has become significant in maintaining the operational safety of the air transport system for long-term development towards sustainability. This paper conducts a safety risk assessment of the air traffic control (ATC) system based on game theory and cloud matter element analysis. The safety risk of the ATC system is evaluated from four aspects, including human, machine, environment, and management. The Nash equilibrium is introduced from game theory to weigh the indicators. The cloud matter element assessment adopts the cloud model from fuzzy sets and probability theory to replace the certain value in conventional matter element theory, which takes the randomness, ambiguity, and incompatibility of the indicators into consideration. In this sense, the safety risk level of the ATC system can be evaluated by calculating the correlation degree of the standard cloud matter element between the indicators and the risks. This paper expands the research scope by introducing and combing game theory and cloud matter element analysis. Furthermore, the applicability and the robustness of the method are examined with a case study of the ATC system, which enriches the existing literature and points out the direction for future work. Full article