Architecture, Building and Planning - Theses
Permanent URI for this collection
Search Results
1 - 10 of 160
-
ItemThe impact of the organizational relationship between landscape designer and landscape constructor on the client experience(University of Melbourne, 2003)
-
ItemAged care services and locational disadvantage in Melbourne(University of Melbourne, 2003)
-
ItemTransit rich or transit poor : is public transport policy in Melbourne exacerbating social disadvantage?(University of Melbourne, 2003)
-
Item
-
ItemEvaluating cultural learning in virtual environments( 2006)There is still a great deal of opportunity for research on contextual interactive immersion in virtual heritage environments. The general failure of virtual environment technology to create engaging and educational experiences may be attributable not just to deficiencies in technology or in visual fidelity, but also to a lack of contextual and performative-based interaction, such as that found in games. This thesis will suggest improvements will result from more research on the below issues: 1. Place versus Cyberspace: What creates a sensation of place (as a cultural site) in a virtual environment in contradistinction to a sensation of a virtual environment as a collection of objects and spaces? 2. Cultural Presence versus Social Presence and Presence: Which factors help immerse people spatially and thematically into a cultural learning experience? 3. Realism versus Interpretation: Does an attempt to perfect fidelity to sources and to realism improve or hinder the cultural learning experience? 4. Education versus Entertainment: Does an attempt to make the experience engaging improve or hinder the cultural learning experience? This doctoral thesis outlines a theoretical definition of place, culture, and presence that may become a matrix for virtual environment design as well as a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of appropriating game-style interaction to enhance engagement. A virtual environment was built using Adobe Atmosphere to test whether cultural understanding and engagement can be linked to the type of interaction offered. The thesis also includes a survey of evaluation mechanisms that may be specifically suitable for virtual heritage environments. In its review of appropriate methodology, the thesis suggests new terms and criteria to assess the contextual appropriateness of various evaluation methods, and provides seven schematic examples of game-style plot devices that lend themselves to evaluation. The test-bed is the evaluation of a virtual archaeology project in Palenqué Mexico using theories of cultural immersion as well as computer game technology and techniques. The case study of Palenqué involved five types of evaluation specifically chosen to assess cultural awareness and understanding gained from different forms of interaction in a virtual heritage environment.
-
ItemIntroducing safe city planning into China(University of Melbourne, 2006)
-
ItemUrban planning and development(University of Melbourne, 2006)
-
ItemCreative places vs consumption places : the role of placemaking in Melbourne's redevelopment projects(University of Melbourne, 2006)
-
ItemUrban consolidation and housing affordability in Melbourne : an examination of housing supply and affordability(University of Melbourne, 2006)
-
ItemClient and contractor attitudes to prequalification and selection processes for construction work(University of Melbourne, 2002)Pre-qualification is a process of screening contractors prior to tender using a predetermined set of criteria. The criteria should be such that the decision maker can reduce risk factors in the choice, and also have a high probability that the firm will complete the project within time and cost, and also meet the appropriate quality standards. Pre-qualification criteria are intended to provide clients with a framework, understanding and methodology for pre-qualifying and selecting only those firms most suitable for future projects. Pre-qualification in some form has become almost standard practice within government procurement processes. The primary objective of this research is to examine the pre-qualification processes used by public sector clients in order to examine the effectiveness of their procedures. The justification for pre-qualification has been that it improves the quality and certainty of the construction process. The objective of this research is to determine the attitudes of contractors and clients to pre-qualification. The issue is to examine if the perceived advantages of pre-qualification outweigh the perceived disadvantages and thus provide some indication of its worth. This research identified two significant research questions. The first question relates to the effectiveness of existing pre-qualification criteria. Many past researchers have suggested criteria that client's consider to be important, however very little research has considered the perceptions of contractors. The success of pre-qualification is partially dependant on the attitudes of contractors, because they are stake-holders in the process. This research shows that clients and contractors often hold very different opinions on the importance of pre-qualification decision criteria; this is likely to undermine the effectiveness of the pre-qualification process. This represents a gap in past research that needs to be investigated. This research used a questionnaire to elicit the views of both clients and contractors to commonly used pre-qualification criteria. The second research question examines the effectiveness of the selection decision-making process. Once a project has been identified pre-qualified contractors are shortlisted down to a small group that are latter invited to tender. Past research established that the selection decision is highly subjective, and possibly adhoc. This research used semi-structure interviews and a series of case studies to investigate selection decision-making processes of public sector clients. The results show that a number of decision factors can be identified, and that their influence is dependant on the circumstances in which the decisions are made. The main conclusion is that stake-holders have different attitudes to the value of pre-qualification, and that this may have affected its success in the past. This research suggests that pre-qualification and selection decisions should be managed using a quality management process. All stake-holders must work more closely together in order to resolve their differences, and use benchmarking practices to more effectively manage the pre-qualification and selection environment. This research has important implications for clients that are seeking to reduce their dependence on low-bid selection procedures, and increase the use of partnering and alliance arrangements. Keywords: Contractor selection, pre-qualification, non-price selection, tendering