What are titles, abstracts and keywords?

Workshop at UMS1 June 2009

Lecture 2

Ismail Said (PhD)b-ismail@utm.my

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Things to discuss

• Title• Keywords• Abstract

If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. - Derek Bok

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If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. - Derek Bok If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. - Derek Bok If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. - Derek Bok

Title

• Clearly describe the contents of your research• Independent and dependent variables• Concise and accurate; snappy• Comprise of major variables or subject• Less than 10 words

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Examples of TitleBenchmarking electricity consumption (2006)• The subject is benchmarking electricity consumption in building.• Key indicator is kWh/m 2 usable floor area and year.

Analyzing sunlight duration and optimum shading using a sky map (2007)

• The subject is predicting the sunlight duration on windows• The method is using the hemispherical sky

Children in the City: Reclaiming the Street (2006)• The major variable of this paper is children who live in the city. • The issue is to make the street as a place for children.

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Examples of TitleOpen space planning model: A review of approaches

and methods (2007)• A theoretical review of models of open space planning• Merits and limitations of models

Residential mobility in Chinese cities: A longitudinal analysis (2006)

• The subject is mobility of urban dwellers in China. The study is an analysis of social housing system in Chinese cities from 1949-1994.

Conflicting factors in construction projects: Korean perspective

• The title discuss on adverse effect of conflict in construction projects. One of the factors is differing site condition.

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Longer TitlesDomestic Space Arrangement of the Private Rental

Housing: A Case of Urban Village Housings of Yogyakarta, Indonesia (2005)

• The issue of the paper is space arrangement in rental houses.• The author investigates a specific case of village houses in

Yogyakarta.

Landscape as Playspace: The Effects of Natural Environments on Children’s Play and Motor Development (2005)

• Clearly, the subject is natural landscape as playspace for children.

• The issue is about what are the effects of playing in natural landscape on children’s motor development.

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Longer titles

A Study on the History and Development of the Javanese Mosque Part 2: The Historical Setting and Role of the Javanese Mosque under the Sultanates (2005)

• What is the subject?• Where is the study is carried out?• What is historical era?• Why the paper is divided into two parts?

Correlation between thermal conductivity and the thickness of selected insulation materials for building wall (2007)

Windows in the workplace: examining issues of environmental sustainability and occupant comfort in the selection of multi-glazed windows

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Exercise on titleWhat are concerns of the following papers?  1.      Use of process maps to develop a management briefing sheet

for a design consultancy (Engineering, Construction and Arch Management)

2. The Law of Conservation of Activities in Domestic Space (JAABE)

3. Ecological footprints and sustainable urban form (Journal of Housing and Built Environment)

4. Designing suburban greenways to provide habitat for forest-breeding birds (Landscape and Urban Planning)

5. Contradictions and Complexities: Jane Jacobs's and Robert Venturi's Complexity Theories (Journal of Architectural Education)

6. Artificial neural networks model for predicting excavator productivity (Engineering Construction and Architectural Management)

7. Mapping the design process during the conceptual phase of building projects (Engineering Construction and Architectural Management)

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Abstract

• An abstract is the prelude of your paper. It is usually read first and may be only part read. Therefore, make it accurate, specific, objective, and self-contained (i.e., it makes sense alone without references to the main text).

• It must concisely describe the experimental question, the general methods and the major findings and implications of the experiments

Examples:

Analyzing sunlight duration and optimum shading using a sky map

A method of predicting the sunlight duration on windows in a densely packed building environment is presented.

Open space planning models: A review of approaches and methods

Land use planning systems, worldwide and in Israel, are now taking into account environmental, social, economic and cultural developments.

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Keywords

• Keywords are the main subjects which guide the structure of your paper. Generally, 5 to 6 keywords are required.

• Example

A Study on the History and Development of the Javanese Mosque Part 3: Typology of the Plan and Structure of the Javanese Mosque and Its Distribution

typology; plan of main prayer hall; soko guru; Javanese mosque; distribution

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Abstract

Content

1.  Intent or objective of paper; Problem statement; Issue (1-2 sentences)

2. Method of study (2-3 sentences)

3. Results or Findings (2-3 sentences)

4. Conclusion (1-2 sentences)

5. Implication (1 sentence)--optional

How many words? Generally, 200-250 words.

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Abstract 1

People needs in the urban landscape: Analysis of Landscape And Urban Planning contributions (2007)

The articles published in Landscape and Urban Planning during the past 16 years provide valuable insights into how humans interact with outdoor urban environments. This review paper explores the wide spectrum of human dimensions and issues, or human needs, addressed by 90 of these studies. As a basis for analysis, the major themes tapped by the findings were classified into two overarching groups containing three categories each. The Nature needs, directly linked with the physical features of the environmental setting, were categorized in terms of contact with nature, aesthetic preference, and recreation and play. The role of the environment is less immediate in the Human-interaction group, which includes the issues of social interaction, citizen participation in the design process, and community identity. Most significantly, the publications offer strong support for the important role nearby natural environments play in human well-being. Urban settings that provide nature contact are valuable not only in their own right, but also for meeting other needs in a manner unique to these more natural settings. In addition, although addressed in different ways, remarkable similarities exist concerning these six people requirements across diverse cultures and political systems. Urban residents worldwide express a desire for contact with nature and each other, attractive environments, places in which to recreate and play, privacy, a more active role in the design of their community, and a sense of community identity. The studies reviewed here offer continued evidence that the design of urban landscapes strongly influences the well-being and behavior of users and nearby inhabitants.

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Analyzing the abstract 1• Purpose: The articles published in Landscape and Urban Planning during the past 16 years provide

valuable insights into how humans interact with outdoor urban environments. This review paper explores the wide spectrum of human dimensions and issues, or human needs, addressed by 90 of these studies.

• Method: As a basis for analysis, the major themes tapped by the findings were classified into two overarching groups containing three categories each. The Nature needs, directly linked with the physical features of the environmental setting, were categorized in terms of contact with nature, aesthetic preference, and recreation and play.

• Findings: The role of the environment is less immediate in the Human-interaction group, which includes the issues of social interaction, citizen participation in the design process, and community identity. Most significantly, the publications offer strong support for the important role nearby natural environments play in human well-being. Urban settings that provide nature contact are valuable not only in their own right, but also for meeting other needs in a manner unique to these more natural settings. In addition, although addressed in different ways, remarkable similarities exist concerning these six people requirements across diverse cultures and political systems. Urban residents worldwide express a desire for contact with nature and each other, attractive environments, places in which to recreate and play, privacy, a more active role in the design of their community, and a sense of community identity. The studies reviewed here offer continued evidence that the design of urban landscapes strongly influences the well-being and behavior of users and nearby inhabitants.

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Abstract 2Correlation between thermal conductivity and the thickness of selected insulation materials for building wall

Purpose and analysis Correlation between thermal conductivity and the thickness of selected insulation materials for building wall has been analyzed. Findings The study has found that a relationship between the thermal conductivity (k) and optimum thickness (xopt) of insulation material is non-linear which obeys a polynomial function of xopt = a + bk + ck2, where a = 0.0818, b = -2.973, and c = 64.6. Implication This relationship will be very useful for practical use to estimate the optimum thickness of insulation material in reducing the rate of heat flow through building wall by knowing its thermal conductivity only.

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Exercise on abstract

• Let us do the following exercise by choosing at least two abstracts from list (n=3). Analyze the abstract in the form of purpose, problem statement, method, analysis, findings and conclusion.

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Exercise Abstract 1

A Study on the History and Development of the Javanese Mosque

Part 3: Typology of the Plan and Structure of the Javanese Mosque and Its Distribution

This paper investigates and analyzes a typology of the plan and structure of the Javanese mosque and its distribution. The study will focus on the plan of the main prayer hall and the soko guru principle structure (master pillars in the centre of the main prayer hall, supporting the upper hipped roof of the mosque) since these two elements and the roof are the main characteristics of the Javanese mosque. Until today these were generally well-preserved elements. The study investigates and analyzes 127 mosques that were constructed in the 15th-19th centuries in Java. Based on this analysis, the paper argues that the main/original mosque type is square in plan with four master-pillars in the centre of the main prayer hall. It also finds and argues that there are many variations on these two elements in its development, but the main type is evenly spread throughout

Java Island.

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Exercise Abstract 2

Using Children’s GIS Maps to Influence Town Planning

In a research project carried out in various neighborhoods in Stockholm, Sweden, we have developed a method for facilitating children’s influence on spatial planning. Our goal was to construct a vehicle for communication that could work in practice for both children and teachers as well as for planners. The method uses computerized GIS maps—a common tool in spatial planning. With little assistance, 10- to 12-year-old children map their routes and special places, mark activities and write comments. Teachers can also map routes and places used for education. The results have proved reliable and accessible by planners. Use of the mapping method within the school curriculum and in the planning process is broadly discussed in the paper.

• Keywords: children, communication, children’s participation, GIS, planning,

mapping

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Exercise Abstract 3

Children in the City: Reclaiming the Street

During recent decades, in many cities, important changes in home and neighborhood environments have significantly impacted the play and peer interactions of children. Many urban streets and public spaces have become inhospitable to children. However, parents continue to value outdoor play and access to nature as important to their children’s health and development. Against the background of a re-emerging interest among families and city governments to create child-friendly urban environments, this paper examines social and physical characteristics of such environments, based on research conducted in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It concludes that planners and designers need to support the efforts of families to re-claim the street as an important area for urban livability for children.

Keywords: woonerf, home zone, traffic calming, child-friendly cities, home range, the Netherlands

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Exercise Abstract 4

Residents’ perception toward disruption of the public place in historic city

Place attachments promote and reflect stability, signifying long term bonds between people and their familiar places. However, new development without consideration of sense of attachment, authentic place may be destroyed and inauthentic ones can be produced. Disruption or modification of a place with high level of attachment may create a stressful feeling to the affected people. This study explores local residents’ attachment to a historical public place which has been recently demolished. Data collection strategies involve survey questionnaire, site observation, and referencing on historical documents gathered from archives. The survey responses showed that disruption and changes had brought fragmentation of routines, of relationship and alienated feelings among the residents besides directed to the weakening of place identity. This study renders new evidence for landscape architect and planners that attachment to a historical public place can be a strong motivation for building residents’ support for urban conservation strategies.

•  Keywords: public place, historic city, place meaning, place attachment, place disruption

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Exercise Abstract 5

Attitudes toward urban green spaces: integrating questionnaire survey and collaborative GIS techniques to

improve attitude measurements

Attitudes influence behavior towards urban green spaces. But determining attitudes toward urban green spaces is not well operationalized in urban planning research. A study was conducted in the West Island, Montreal, Canada to elaborate the design and development of a valid and reliable instrument to measure the dimensions of citizen attitudes toward urban green spaces. The use of qualitative and quantitative phases in the instrument design strengthened the operationalization of the attitude concept. In the qualitative stage, a novel approach integrating collaborative geographic information system (GIS) techniques and informal interviews generated complementary insights about the spatial and non-spatial factors influencing attitude towards urban green spaces. Affinity analysis aggregated the issues into three homogeneous categories that guided

the construction of questionnaire items. A self-administered mail-back questionnaire was developed and distributed to 322 households using a multistage cluster sampling strategy; 179 questionnaires were returned (55.6%). In the quantitative phase, factor analysis and reliability analysis were applied to the items set to create a valid attitude measurement scale. The analysis shows that households are characterized by a two-factor attitude structure towards urban green spaces: behavior and usefulness. It is concluded that urban green spaces attitude is a multi-dimensional construct. The implications for green spaces planning are outlined.

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End of Lecture 2