ABSTRACT
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown restrictions prolonged residents' exposure to their home environment. The impact of lockdowns could be heightened for apartment residents as they typically have smaller, less versatile homes, and share communal and circulation spaces. This study examined changes in apartment residents' perceptions and experiences of their dwelling before and after the Australian COVID-19 national lockdown. Methods: Participants consisted of 214 Australian adults who completed a survey on apartment living between 2017 and 2019 and a follow-up survey in 2020. Questions focused on residents' perceptions of their dwelling design, apartment living experiences, and personal life events/changes due to the pandemic. Differences between pre- and post-lockdown periods were assessed via paired sample t-tests. The lived experience of a subset of residents (n = 91) following lockdown was also assessed using qualitative content analysis of free-text responses to an open-ended survey item. Results: Compared to the pre-pandemic period, after the lockdown residents reported less satisfaction with the amount/layout of their apartment space and private open space (e.g., balconies or courtyards). Increased noise annoyance from indoor and outdoor noise sources was also reported, however disputes with neighbours decreased. The qualitative content analysis highlighted a complex interplay of personal, social and environmental impacts of the pandemic on residents. Conclusions: Findings suggest an increased 'dose' of the apartment facilitated by stay-at-home orders negatively influenced residents' apartment perceptions. Design strategies that maximise spacious, flexible dwelling layouts with health-promoting elements (e.g., enhanced natural light/ventilation and private open space) are recommended to promote healthy and restorative living environments for apartment residents.
ABSTRACT
In the year 2020, countries were in a race against the spread of Covid-19, leading to major deficiencies in the areas of health, economy, and construction. For this reason, the robotics industry emerged as a viable and safe option to perform important and critical tasks in different sectors, one of them is the real estate. For this reason, a robotic arm was designed to wall painting, this study is supported by the mechatronics engineering department of the Universidad Tecnológica del Perú. The designed robot called: 'UTP-ISR01' has 6 axes and a linear displacement of 2.8 m with turns of 0.24 sec/60°. For the calculation of the forward kinematics the Denavit Hartenberg method was used, then the homogeneous transformation matrices were used to calculate the rotation and translation movements of the robotic manipulator. With the equations identified in the inverse kinematics, the positions and orientations of the robot were plotted, as well as the dimensions of the working area. The CAD design was carried out with engineering software, such as Autodesk Inventor for the mechanical design and assembly of the parts. In addition, with RoboDK software, kinematic simulations and analysis were performed. In conclusion, the robotic arm will reduce the delivery times of the apartments built by the real estate companies. © 2022 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
The micro- and mini-distributed generation (MMDG) has significantly increased after the normative resolution No. 482/2012 in Brazil;the installed capacity surpassed 7 GW in 2021. In the international context, a similar event was observed, whose process generated a cross-subsidy for other consumers, in addition to other problems that affect the economic balance of concessionaires. To mitigate this issue, the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) is in the process of revising current rules. Thus, this study estimates the weight of this decision, through a methodology adapted from international assessment models, based on information from the Brazilian regulatory system. In order to achieve it, this paper presents metrics to define the potential market MMDG, based on the consumption patterns of consumers. Then, through time series analysis, the MMDG demand curve is estimated under two scenarios up to 2030. Finally, the economic impact on tariff adjustments and revisions, and their effect on the electric power concessionaires are evaluated. In the distribution companies of the Enel Group alone, economic losses are estimated at USD 1.2 billion by 2030;53% of this will be passed on to consumers’ tariffs. Thus, based on international experiences, it can be concluded that the best model is the adequate grid remuneration.