Abstract: Generating an optimal planning of building retrofit for a portfolio of buildings may include providing a plurality of objective functions that may be selected for maximizing cost reduction, maximizing green house gas emission reduction, or maximizing energy reduction, or combinations thereof. The objective function may be solved based on information including at least a retrofit cost for retrofitting a building, payback period specifying the length of time needed to recover the retrofit cost, a budget available for retrofitting the building, expected price of energy, estimated energy savings from retrofitting and estimated green house gas emission from retrofitting. The planning of building retrofit may be generated based on the solutions of one or more of the objective functions, which may provide for an optimal plan of building retrofit.

Abstract: A green building materials system and method are provided in which a decision engine determines one or more designs (each have one or more building components) based on a set of building related inputs and a utility function of each particular user.

Abstract: This invention relates to providing a system for project planning and scheduling which supports simplified, interactive, graphics-based project planning and scheduling using new planning concepts, new scheduling concepts and new graphics-based software systems. Further, this invention permits an inexperienced user to simultaneously plan and schedule a project including establishing appropriate relationship (or dependency) links between activities, also commonly referred to as tasks, and between activities and milestones. This invention offers the simplest possible scheme of thought that can tie together activities, relationships and milestones, with or without deadlines, to yield a complete, correct network project schedule in the shortest possible time.

Abstract: A method for creating a maintenance release (MR) record containing operational status information for a mobile platform. The method may involve electronically accessing a database to acquire operational items relating to operational worthiness of the mobile platform, displaying the selected operational items to the user; and performing a synchronization check of the database system. The synchronization check verifies that the selected operational items represent the most recently stored information in the database system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to efficiently round requested quantities to efficient transportation quantities in the supply chain. Target locations are organized in a sequence. A tolerance interval around the requested quantity is calculated for each target location. The requested value is then rounded to an efficient transportation quantity for each target location in its sequential order.

Abstract: A capital project optimization tool is presented. Engineers can interact with the tool by submitting one or more capital project components to an optimization engine. A current component can be correlated with historical components to identify if similar historical components have been used in similar circumstances. If so the engine can determine if the similar historical components where over-engineered. Alternatives components can be found that would have a better satisfaction level for historical or current project requirements. The alternative components can also have a different level of estimated impact on one or more project metrics.

Abstract: A system and method for a computerized purchasing system. The design of products or projects consists of descriptions that are converted into a coded takeoff element(s). The elements are further defined by linked scopes of work descriptions and can include contract language. Contractor and vendor codes are linked to the system codes. Bids are requested in prescribed formats and when returned are processed into the coded takeoff elements. From the design coded takeoff elements and the returned bid data we get, pro-forma budgets, actual contracted budgets, automated reconfigurable billings, standardized product elements with unitized costs, automated pricing updates, and contracts.

Abstract: A system allowing a user to answer a series of questions to generate survey data, associating system data with the survey data to generate a highly accurate report. The user may, customize the survey by selecting categories corresponding to certain series of questions and be presented with a running total of costs associated with each selected action, a total cost for all selected actions, and an impact on the property FCI corresponding to the selected action. The report allows, for example, for targeted assessment of select facilities systems including a time frame within which work to be performed on select facilities systems and/or a cost associated with work to be performed.

Abstract: A system and method for gathering, analyzing, managing and sharing data from a ground modification project is disclosed. The system includes a process, a data producer interface, a storage device and a data consumer interface. The data producer interface interfaces with one or more data producers, which are located on-site of the ground modification project and produce data associated with the ground modification project. The storage device stores the data produced by the one or more data producers and received using the data producer interface. The data consumer interface interfaces with one or more data consumers, the data consumer interface providing access to the data stored in the storage device.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method to estimate training development hours includes receiving data on factors selected by a user using a user interface and using a computer processor to estimate training development hours based on the data on the factors. The method may further include determining the training development hours based on the data on the factors an assigned base development hours, estimated contact hours and an analysis percentage.

Abstract: Approaches for employing computerized processes to conform the behavior of users to a set of best practices and policies is provided. In an approach, a tool for use in performing a desired task may be identified. A plurality of characteristic values is stored, on a machine-readable medium, for each of a plurality of tools. Each of the plurality of characteristic values identifies a number that reflects how much the tool associated with the characteristic value supports a particular characteristic. A score for each of the plurality of tools is computed. The score for each tool is the sum of the characteristic values that are associated with each tool. Thereafter, display data that describes how to render a pictorial representation, which uses the scores in depicting a relative measure of how appropriate each of the plurality of tools is for the desired task, may be transmitted to a client.

Abstract: A system allowing a user to answer a series of questions to generate survey data, associating system data with the survey data to generate a highly accurate report. The report allows, for example, for targeted assessment of select facilities systems including a time frame within which work to be performed on select facilities systems and/or a cost associated with work to be performed.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for designing a cost-effective and reliable distribution network for a utility are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A graph connecting a set of consumers of the utility with a set of suppliers of the utility is reduced to form a plurality of clusters. A first network between a supplier and a subset of consumers in a first cluster in the plurality of clusters is improved, the improving adding a first connection in the first network to provide continuity of supply of the utility to the subset of consumers after a predetermined number of failures in the first network. A design is generated for a second network connecting the set of suppliers to the set of consumers, the second network including the first network after the improving, wherein the second network has a cost that is within a lower threshold and an upper threshold.

Abstract: A workflow system which restricts improper operations on an object circulated in a workflow by dynamically modifying access rights for the object according to the working status of the workflow. For example, the workflow system is a system which processes an object according to a workflow having a plurality of working statuses. When the working status for the object is changed, a modifying unit modifies access rights applied to the object. A control unit then controls operations on the object based on the modified access rights.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an environmental load assessment system, which is capable of efficiently and simply assessing an environmental load of a building in all stages (e.g., a planning stage, a design stage, a construction stage, and a use stage after construction) in doing executing a business by subdividing an assessment process, such as simple assessment in the design stage, detailed assessment in the start stage, and site assessment in the construction stage according to the progress of a construction project.

Abstract: An inland freight management module for managing inland moves of freight from a plurality of vendor supply locations to port includes a profile maintenance component, a load planning component, and a load routing and booking component. The profile maintenance component is adapted for maintaining an inland planning zone profile including information relating to a plurality of inland planning zones generated according to one or more customs districts. The load planning component is programmed for planning field consolidation of one or more container loads via a multi-stop route between the plurality of vendor supply locations, where the multi-stop route is generated within one of the plurality of inland planning zones.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product collaboratively reallocate resources across business modules. A collaboration vector, which describes primary and second abilities for each of multiple resources, is defined. A decision matrix is created from multiple collaboration vectors, and a pipeline for transferring the multiple resources among multiple business modules is defined based on the decision matrix. A recurring time interval to measure an effectiveness of the multiple business modules is defined, and the multiple resources are reallocated according to a measured effectiveness of the multiple business modules. The collaborative matrix is optimized to reflect reallocation of the multiple resources.

Abstract: A trust look-up protocol is described that allows a meta-trusted third party, or trust directory, to mediate between parties of potential business collaborations and trusted third parties that are counted on to authorize or otherwise validate the business collaborations. The trust directory receives a trust request for a collaboration from one or more parties, and, based on the request, determines a specialty of a trusted third party that is suited to the request and the collaboration. The trust directory then obtains interface information for the trusted third party for forwarding to the requesting party. In this way, the trusted third party may make a determination as to whether the requesting party should proceed in the business collaboration. Afterwards, the trust directory may monitor communications that take place as part of the collaboration, for use in evaluating future requests and collaborations.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for providing efficient planning through analyzing data. One process includes operations for generating a business object containing parameters and plan data of a business plan, the plan data represented by a plurality of aggregation levels. A change to a particular item in the plan data is identified, the change associated with a particular aggregation level. The change to the particular item is automatically propagated to a lowest level of granularity of the plan data, and the change to the particular item is available to each of the plurality of aggregation levels.

Abstract: A capital asset planning system for selecting assets for improvement within an infrastructure that includes one or more data sources descriptive of the infrastructure, one or more databases, coupled to the one or more data sources, to compile the one or more data sources, one or more processors, each coupled to and having respective communication interfaces to receive data from the one or more databases. The processor includes a predictor to generate a first metric of estimated infrastructure effectiveness based, at least in part, on a current status of the infrastructure, a second metric of estimated infrastructure effectiveness based, at least in part, on a user-selected, proposed changed configuration of the infrastructure, and a net metric of infrastructure effectiveness based, at least in part, on said first metric and said second metric.

Abstract: Techniques for project management instantiation and configuration are provided. A master project includes policy directives that drive the dynamic instantiation and configuration of resources for a project. The resources are instantiated and configured on demand and when resources are actually requested, in response to the policy directives.

Abstract: A system and method for routing and processing jobs in a production environment considers the setup characteristics of each print job. Each set of jobs may be classified as a first job processing speed set, a second job processing speed set, or another job processing speed set based on the corresponding setup characteristics. First job processing speed sets are routed to a first group of job processing resources, while second job processing speed sets are routed to a second group of job processing speed resources. Each resource group may include an autonomous cell.

Abstract: An Enterprise-wide Value chain management (EVCM) system for real-time monitoring and control of enterprise-wide value generation and consumption is disclosed. The EVCM system comprising, an interface unit to interact with pluralities of entities in an organization to track and collect event records, compute value generation or consumption, measure the value and aggregate it at various levels of enterprise, make it available though dashboard to provide cockpit view of the enterprise value, provide control system, both internal and external, for influencing the value dynamics across the enterprise.

Abstract: Crowdsourcing is described, for example, where solutions to tasks such as designing a logo, writing a piece of code or answering a question are solicited by making open calls to large scale communities. In an example, a crowdsourcing node models a plurality of contests as all-pay auctions, each contest having a task and a reward. In examples, the crowdsourcing node is arranged to set rewards for the contests so that the optimal results are received for each contest owner, those owners having provided a budget and using a utility function for each of the contests.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for dynamically facilitating project assembly. A project plan with a chosen set of plan components is submitted and a cloud portal is queried for information on chosen plan components. Information on the chosen plan components is received from the cloud portal. Plan recommendations are generated based on the received information, and a recommended plan is selected.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for dynamically facilitating project assembly. A project plan with a chosen set of plan components is submitted and a cloud portal is queried for information on chosen plan components. Information on the chosen plan components is received from the cloud portal. Plan recommendations are generated based on the received information, and a recommended plan is selected.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer-readable storage media for managing a product include receiving event data related to one or more events associated with a lifecycle of a portfolio of one or more products. The received event data is compared with a resource model. An estimated number of resources required to implement the one or more events is determined based at least in part on the comparing. Based at least in part on the received data, a dashboard including one or more analytic modules is displayed. At least one of the analytic modules includes a roadmap across the portfolio of one or more products. The roadmap includes a timeline of the one or more events and the determined estimated number of resources required to implement each of the one or more events.

Abstract: An expert system for providing optimized recommendations regarding a construction project is configured to generate conflicting optimization recommendations. Multiple expert system engines are implemented, where each engine provides one or more recommendations optimized in accordance with the priorities of a functional discipline. A conflict engine will identify conflicts between optimized recommendations and will package the conflicts into conflict objects that are presented to a conflict user interface for resolution. The user could resolve the conflicts him/herself, or could configure a cross-functional conflict object to resolve such conflicts based upon specified resolution criteria.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing time recording. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a Project Processing process component that supports the management of projects, a Time and Labor Management process component that supports the management of employees timekeeping and work planning, an Accounting process component that records relevant business transactions, a payroll processing process component that supports the execution and monitoring of payroll processes, and a Goods and Service Acknowledgement process component that receives a confirmation from an employee of goods received or services rendered.

Abstract: A technique for assisting one or more individuals in planning a meeting or event using metrics. It has been determined that a core job of planning a meeting or event can entail 15 different steps (with possibly 5 additional sub-steps) and have 141 different outcomes. The outcomes enable the job executors (which, in this paper, are the persons executing the job of planning the meeting or event, also referred to herein as the “planners”) to judge if the meeting or event has been adequately planned and executed. The techniques described in this paper enable a system and method to satisfy the outcomes (customer needs) for the job of planning a meeting or event.

Abstract: A system and method for determining earned values (EVs) of progress of a project. At least one EV calculation rule is defined for calculating EVs in terms of components to be combined into the EVs, locations in which the components are located, and formulae required to combine the components. The defined at least one EV calculation rule is used to calculate the Evs. The at least one EV calculation rule, which includes the components, the locations, and the formulae, is stored. Defining the at least one EV calculation rule includes: identifying the components used to calculate the Evs; identifying the locations in which the components are located; and identifying the formulae specifying how the components are combined to create the EVs.

Abstract: A system for managing allocation of resources based on service level agreements between application owners and cloud operators. Under some service level agreements, the cloud operator may have responsibility for managing allocation of resources to the software application and may manage the allocation such that the software application executes within an agreed performance level. Operating a cloud computing platform according to such a service level agreement may alleviate for the application owners the complexities of managing allocation of resources and may provide greater flexibility to cloud operators in managing their cloud computing platforms.

Abstract: As provided, a method for real time optioning includes providing, for each of multiple projects in a software development pipeline, a set of inputs, the inputs comprising at least one input from a group consisting of 1) work-in-progress inputs relating to a current project in a software development pipeline and 2) placeholder inputs relating to a future project in the software development pipeline. The method also includes aggregating the inputs resulting in one or more constraints. The method further includes implementing a test change that has an impact on one or more constraints in the software development pipeline, and outputting, in real-time, the impact of the test change on the one or more constraints in the software development pipeline. The impact is at least one of positive and negative.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a computer implemented method, system and computer usable program code for automatically generating executable components from a process model. An input is received, wherein the input comprises a model that describes activities that needs to be performed as part of a business operation, a sequencing of the activities, and input and output data of the activities, forming a process model. A model of a set of connected business artifacts based on the process model, forming a business operation model, is generated. The business operation model is saved. The business operation model is displayed to a user. Executable components definitions based on the business operation model are generated.

Abstract: Gradually automation of a workflow by a configuration change management system is provided by a first workflow template having a relatively low level of automation and complexity in which at least a plurality of tasks require manual input, manual response, or manual approval, operating the first workflow by a workflow automation system engine, monitoring a measurement of the maturity level of the process during the operation the first workflow, and responsive to detecting the maturity level meeting pre-determined benchmark, automatically selecting, engaging, and operating a second workflow template which increases automation by automating one or more subprocesses, adding one or more subprocesses, or eliminating one or more subprocesses.

Abstract: A system provides program management for indeterminate scope initiatives. The system includes a user interface, a processor, and a management component. The management component, when executed by the processor, receives initiative data defined by preliminary initiative development, assigns the initiative to a program management team if the initiative is indeterminate in scope, and enables the program management team to develop the initiative to determine whether the initiative is to be developed as multiple projects. The management component assigns the initiative to a project management team if the initiative is not to be developed as multiple projects, and enables the program management team to develop the initiative as multiple projects if the initiative is to be developed as multiple projects. The program management team has a capacity to manage a group of related projects in a coordinated manner to obtain benefits and control unavailable from managing the group of related projects individually.

Abstract: A portable measurement system is described herein that provides accurate real-time data for a subject object at a job site. The acquired data may include photos, laser mapping, thermal images, sonar imaging, electronic measurements, or other types of measurement data. The system leverages commonly available remote control helicopters or other flying vehicles mounted with a camera or other equipment to acquire images or other measurement data that would be difficult to obtain without climbing onto a target structure or placing personnel in other dangerous situations. A portable platform is described herein that can include helicopters as well as other types of portable measurement devices that can fly or otherwise maneuver to capture measurement data at a job site. In many cases, these connected devices can provide near instant availability of captured data to a processing center or other remote location, reducing delays that are typical today.

Abstract: A computer implemented system and method for evaluating the impact of a project implementation within a customer situation allows building a business case model for each category of products to be associated within the project implementation and then consolidating all the category business case models into a final general business case model.

Abstract: A system and method is described for using a component business model to partition a business into non-overlapping components, and then allocating different components to appropriate organizing strategies, based on attribute values assigned to each component. In the best mode of implementation there are two attributes: whether or not the component differentiates the business within the market place; and whether the component is industry standard or is tailored by the organization. These attributes and their values map the components of the business to a matrix. Based on the combination of attribute values in each cell of the matrix, available organizing strategies are also mapped to the matrix, thereby identifying for each component an appropriate organizing strategy.

Abstract: Technician control, in which a control system is configured to control scheduling and dispatch operations for work orders being handled by technicians. Multiple technician devices are each associated with one or more technicians, are configured to communicate, over a network, with the control system, and also are configured to provide output in response to communications that are received from the control system and that are related to the scheduling and dispatch operations performed by the control system. A set of scheduling configuration options may be pre-defined and user input weighting at least one of the scheduling configuration options relative to other of the scheduling configuration options may be received. A scheduling application used by the control system to perform scheduling operations may be configured based on configuration data that reflects the weighting and scheduling operations may be performed using the configured scheduling application.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for selecting one of a plurality of information technology (IT)-led innovation projects include obtaining a plurality of IT-led innovation projects. A selection of one or more research projects for each of the obtained IT-led innovation projects is determined based at least on one or more research project criteria. One of the obtained IT-led innovation projects is selected based at least on the determined selection of one or more research projects for each of the obtained IT-led innovation projects and one or more innovation project criteria. The selection of the one of the obtained IT-led innovation projects is provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for determining an allocation of resources among a plurality of channels. In one embodiment, a business objective is received as user input that corresponds to a participant in a market or business sector. A business segment corresponding to the market participant's products or interests, one or more products within the business segment, and a market channel of the plurality of channels is selected by the user, also as user input. Once these inputs have been established, an high performing allocation resources for achieving the business objective is generated for that market channel.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method to assist in managing supplier capacity to supply a supplied unit to at least a first user of the supplied unit by at least one supplier, for a series of periods, based on data as of a reference date, the series of periods being in the future relative to the reference date, comprising calculating a supplier capacity contingency ratio for each period, the supplier capacity contingency ratio for each period being a ratio between, a difference between the supplier future load for that period and the supplier reference-date available capacity for that period, and the supplier available capacity for that period. A computer-readable information storage device containing computer-executable instructions to carry out this method.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product generate an optimal training policy and an optimal promotion policy to accommodate an upcoming project. Required new job positions are identified for an upcoming project. A skillset matrix, which describes a current skill level of each worker in a work unit, and a promotion matrix, which describes historical evaluations of how well each worker achieved predefined goals of past projects, are generated. The skillset matrix is utilized to create an optimal training policy that identifies which workers are in need of additional training in order to qualify for one or more of the identified new job positions, and the promotion matrix is utilized create an optimal promotion policy that identifies which workers will be candidates for being promoted into one or more of the identified said new job positions.

Abstract: A tool integrates various components of project planning and management. The tool enables the creation and tracking of authorization for expense (AFE) information for a project. Also, the tool allows risks to be assigned to corresponding activities of the project.

Abstract: A project management system uses a work breakdown structure to define the project tasks. The work breakdown structure is organized as set of hierarchical related project tasks. The work breakdown structure can be loaded in part from a template. A calendar breakdown structure defines events associated with project resources. The calendar breakdown structure is defined on departmental basis. A resource breakdown structure defines available resources. The resource breakdown structure includes personnel and tools. The allocation of available resources to the project tasks is optimized within the constraints of the work breakdown structure and calendar breakdown structure. A histogram of project demand versus available resources is generated. The histogram of project demand versus available resources is used to optimize resource allocation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product creates a physical information environment for a specific industry type. A candidate industry type, which has specific information environment requirements, is selected to describe a customer's operations. A set of information environment components that is specific to the candidate industry type is selected. Inherent constraints, for the set of information environment components, are identified. A processor recursively optimizes the set of information environment components to create a set of optimized information environment components that meet the inherent constraints and key performance indicators (KPIs) of the candidate industry type. A hierarchy of KPIs for the candidate industry type is defined. The processor predicts access patterns to the optimized information environment components based on the hierarchy of KPIs.

Abstract: Harmonizing business process tasks comprehends comparing descriptors associated with each of a plurality of business process tasks in response to a process variation input and identifying tasks as a candidate task pair for consolidation. Input and output attributes of the candidate pair tasks are compared and consolidation confirmed if the compared input and output attributes are similar. Consolidating the confirmed candidate pair tasks includes merging the confirmed candidate pair into a new merged task or replacing one with the other, and an output from the consolidated candidate pair is generated as a common harmonized output for the first and second tasks. Identifying the candidate task pairs for consolidation may be a function of similarity of task descriptors, of input/output business process relationships to other candidate task pairs, and also of both.

Abstract: A system, a method, computer-readable medium for conveying software, or business methods for gradually automating a workflow in a configuration change management system by providing a first workflow template having a relatively low level of automation and complexity in which at least a plurality of tasks require manual input, manual response, or manual approval, operating the first workflow by a workflow automation system engine, monitoring a measurement of the maturity level of the process during the operation the first workflow, and responsive to detecting the maturity level meeting pre-determined benchmark, automatically selecting, engaging, and operating a second workflow template which increases automation by automating one or more subprocesses, adding one or more subprocesses, or eliminating one or more subprocesses.

Abstract: A stowage and center of gravity verification and assessment tool which assists users in locating items within an environment, determining the center of gravity of the environment, and calculating item location changes that facilitate altering the center of gravity. Each item to be tracked within the environment is equipped with one or more remotely pollable identifiers, such as, without limitation, barcodes, or RFID or ultrasonic tags, and the system stores the mass of each item. As items are moved in the environment, the system tracks the impact of such movement on the environment's center of gravity and recommends item location changes. The system can also assist users in locating items within the environment, provide access to detailed information about individual items, and assist with task scheduling.