The type of plant layout has very significant impact on the structure and operation of a manufacturing system. The current common and intuitive methods of selecting a suitable type of layout by using simple graphs of production volume versus number of parts manufactured in the plant, or production volume versus flexibility, can result in inaccurate decisions for such an important issue. This paper presents an alternative approach to the choice of plant layouts, which applies the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The methodology considers three main objectives for the selection of layouts: increasing flexibility, increasing production volume and reducing manufacturing costs. Each objective has a number of subobjectives. Three main types of layout are considered: functional (process) layout, group technology (cellular) layout and transfer (flow) lines. The AHP methodology has been applied as a knowledge-based system, which is integrated with another three knowledge-based systems for the technical and social conditions required for the successful implementation of each of the above types of layout. An example of the application of the AHP methodology is presented, which represents an important step towards proper validation of the methodology.

Apparently, Nigeria is struggling with the developmental issues of the incessant power outage and lack of energy services. The primary sources of energy for office building are from national grid and gasoline generators. However, the former is not reliable and the latter is unsustainable; hence, the need to explore energy efficiency strategies to cut down the energy demand for cooling office building in Nigeria is unavoidable. The article aimed to assess the energy efficiency or performance index of the Nigerian Universities’ senate buildings in the north-eastern region (dry sub-humid climate). The research employed a case study approach, construction of baseline model with the Revit architecture software and applied DesignBuilder building analysis software to evaluate the energy performance of the senate building as built. The research findings showed that energy efficiency indexes for both universities’ senate buildings (57% and 63%) which were relatively below the recommended standard checklist. Also, the simulation results further showed that both case studies require 141.4wh/m2 and 127.3wh/m2 heating/cooling per annum compared to the stipulated LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard of 15wh/m2. Therefore, research implication is that it is essential for the architects and engineers to incorporate more proactive energy efficiency strategies in the design of office buildings in Nigeria

The importance of optimizing thermal comfort in interior spaces through passive means cannot be over-emphasized, especially in tropical regions in order to lower energy demand for cooling and to promote sustainable practices in Sub-Sahara Regions like Nigeria. This paper aimed at assessing the potential of passive cooling potentials in selected Nigerian Universities’ buildings in the North-East sub-region. In this study, quantitative method of data collection was adopted. Three cases were studied such as Administrative Building of Gombe State University (GSU), Senate Building of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (ATBU) and Administrative Building of Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola (MAUTECH). The results of the study are presented in simple percentages, tables, figures and frequencies in adherence to the checklists derived from Contemporary Methods of Passive Cooling established by Santamouris & Kolokotsa as follows: MAUTECH’s Administrative Building scored 45% while ATBU Senate Building assessed to have 48% and GSU Administrative Building got 55%. This connotes that, designers should embrace passive elements in design and construction of office buildings in Nigeria as two of the three case studies fell below 50%.

This paper presents analysis of a cost effective methodology using remotely sensed data analysed within a geographical systems (GIS) environment for mapping out potential habitats of anthropod vectors responsible for trypanosomiasis in northern Nigeria. These geographical locations are areas with high population of livestock in Nigeria. Animal Trypanosomiasis is considered as an arthropod-borne viral disease which is endemic in about 37 countries of the sub-Saharan Africa and in particular northern Nigeria. This anthropod-borne viral disease remains a threat to both humans and livestock in many communities, and the outbreak of such diseases is shown to relate to fluctuations in the changing climate mostly experienced whenever there are changes in global precipitation which also relates to changes in sea surface temperatures otherwise known as "El Niňo Southern Oscillations" (ENSO). Monthly Satellite imageries in the form of Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) at 250 meters spatial resolution obtained from NASA-MODIS/CMD were subjected to principal component analysis utilizing the standardized principal components within a GIS environment and supplemented with Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data in the analysis. Results from the maps showed that pockets of probable habitats of these anthropod vectors responsible for trypanosomiasis mostly located around forest islands characterized by dry woodland and savanna, and in some cases around gallery forests and few lowland and riverine areas. This study provides baseline information for policy makers in Nigeria and other stakeholders as a cost effective measure for mapping potential habitats for anthropod vectors responsible for trypanosomiasis in Northern Nigeria. Further studies are encouraged so as to clearly understand the magnitude and actual loca-

Lack of government policies on efficient use of energy in buildings is one of the limiting factors toward achieving sustainable environment and development. Although, government has been setting targets to increase electricity generation in Nigeria, there is little or no consideration for its efficient usage in buildings. In order to propose an energy efficient office building, energy audit of existing similar structures should be conducted. Thus, this research aims at finding the energy demand of University Senate Buildings in North West-Nigeria (hot dry climate) in order to serve as a bench mark for further researches. Senate Buildings of three universities were studied, namely: Northwest University, Kano (NUK), Bayero University, Kano (BUK) and Umaru Musa Yaradua University, Katsina (UMYUK). Quantitative approach was adopted to carry out the audit and results were recorded as follows: NUK: 258,770.4kwh, BUK: 190,338.24kwh and UMYUK: 190,338.24kwh. The three results indicated high demand for energy by the existing case studies which necessitate researches on how to lower this demand to the barest minimum and to propose more sustainable design approaches.

Design of competitive and effective manufacturing and assembly systems has to take account of a large number of technical, human and economic parameters. Frequently this information is not readily available to the system designers. This paper describes the systemization of knowledge relating to the large number of technical and human parameters which can affect the choice of automated dedicated and automated programmable assembly systems. D~cision trees and production rules are used to link the different parameters. The structured knowledge, in the form of a prototype decision support system, has been validated using a number of case studies.