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.
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%.
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
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-
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.