Search Results (2)

System dynamics (SD) is a fundamental model that facilitates research by defining and modeling a project’s scope and estimation. Scoping and estimation is a set of approaches that ensure engineering managers that a project’s accuracy and cost estimation are properly specified and mapped. Engineering management’s primary project planning responsibilities include project scoping and estimating. Insufficient project scoping and estimation criteria significantly fail the project plan. The study authors collaborated with five distinctive journal institutions to address project scoping and estimation challenges. The authors thoroughly analyzed one core research issue and five secondary research questions from each article. In terms of core issues, most project managers dislike SD modeling because of its complexity, especially if they lacked engineering, programming, mathematical analysis, or IT expertise. The first secondary question revealed that project managers’ awareness of scoping and estimating problems ranges from $78.3333\%$ to $91.6666\%$. The secondary question revealed that $83.3333\%$ to $90\%$ of managers are familiar with SD, which can help resolve scoping and estimation issues in project management. The third secondary question showed that $83.3333\%$ to $91.6666\%$ of managers are aware of SD during the project’s scoping and estimating phases. The fourth secondary question found that $83.333\%$ to $91.6666\%$ of managers can use mathematical equations and programming for SD design during the scoping and estimating phases. The authors developed a novel SD scoping and estimating model since the last question indicated that there were no downloadable models from the five journals. Full article

Optimal operation of reservoirs is very essential for water resource planning and management, but it is very challenging and complicated when dealing with climate change impacts. The objective of this paper was to assess existing and future hydropower operation at the Tekeze reservoir in the face of climate change. In this study, a calibrated and validated Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to model runoff inflow into the Tekeze hydropower reservoir under present and future climate scenarios. Inflow to the reservoir was simulated using hydro-climatic data from an ensemble of downscaled climate data based on the Coordinated Regional climate Downscaling Experiment over African domain (CORDEX-Africa) with Coupled Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) simulations under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP)4.5 and RCP8.5 climate scenarios. Observed and projected inflows to Tekeze hydropower reservoir were used as input to the US Army Corps of Engineer’s Reservoir Evaluation System Perspective Reservoir Model (HEC-ResPRM), a reservoir operation model, to optimize hydropower reservoir release, storage and pool level. Results indicated that climate change has a clear impact on reservoir inflow and showed increase in annual and monthly inflow into the reservoir except in dry months from May to June under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate scenarios. HEC-ResPRM optimal operation results showed an increase in Tekeze reservoir power storage potential up to 25% and 30% under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate scenarios, respectively. This implies that Tekeze hydropower production will be affected by climate change. This analysis can be used by water resources planners and mangers to develop reservoir operation techniques considering climate change impact to increase power production. Full article