Acta Structilia最新文献

{"title":"Conversion of industrial wastes into marginal construction materials","authors":"F. Aneke, B. Awuzie","doi":"10.18820/24150487/AS25I2.5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18820/24150487/AS25I2.5","url":null,"abstract":"The circular economy concept (CE) makes a salient contribution towards resource efficiency through product-life extension, redistribution/reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling as well as re-engineering of organizational processes. The construction industry is renowned for its influence on the attainment of society’s sustainable development (SD) aspirations. As such, there is a need for the industry to embrace CE principles. Yet, the uptake of these principles has not been widely reported in the context of developing economies where greenfield construction activities are burgeoning. This observation gives rise to this study. This article reports on the findings of an investigation into the utility of industrial wastes in the production of marginal construction material. To achieve this objective, a thorough geotechnical evaluation of a selection of readily available industrial wastes such as dolomitic waste (DW), silica fume (SF), and river sand (RS) deployed in different ratios according to the mass percentage of the fly ash (FA) waste to produce FA bricks was conducted. Findings suggest that the utilization of these industrial wastes in the production of FA bricks did not only portray some outstanding characteristics but also showed potential to make salient contributions to society’s sustainable aspirations. Keywords : Bricks, circular economy, dolomitic waste, fly ash, South Africa","PeriodicalId":42571,"journal":{"name":"Acta Structilia","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2018-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41341440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The use and benefits of Quick Response Codes for construction materials in South Africa","authors":"Tashmika Ramdav, Nishani. Harinarain","doi":"10.18820/24150487/AS25I2.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18820/24150487/AS25I2.4","url":null,"abstract":"This article explores the use and potential benefits of Quick Response (QR) Codes on construction materials in an attempt to ensure that the construction industry continues to be more technologically advanced. This qualitative research study consisted of interviews and case studies. A sample of 30 construction material suppliers in the Durban region were purposively selected and interviewed, using a semi-structured interview schedule. Five case studies were randomly sampled from the Durban region where QR Codes were implemented for selected material samples. Knowledge, experience and the impact of QR Codes on construction materials were examined. The investigation chiefly found that most of the participants are in favour of the concept of using QR Codes, even though these are currently not widely used for construction materials in South Africa. Positive feedback was obtained from those participants who are using QR Codes on products. The findings provided the opportunity to improve the construction materials sector by introducing and implementing QR Codes as a technological advancement in the construction industry. Keywords : QR Codes, construction industry, construction materials","PeriodicalId":42571,"journal":{"name":"Acta Structilia","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2018-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48356876","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Built: The hidden stories behind our structures by Roma Agrawal","authors":"P. Oosthuizen","doi":"10.18820/24150487/AS25I2.7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18820/24150487/AS25I2.7","url":null,"abstract":"This book is a maiden voyage by an energetic and inspiring 35-year-old female engineer, originally from Mumbai, India. She is currently an associate director at AECOM and a fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Roma Agrawal obtained her BA degree in Physics from the University of Oxford in 2004, and her MSc Structural Engineering degree from Imperial College London, in 2005. Her fascinating resume includes the impressive “The Shard” building in London (the tallest building in western Europe). She shares her engineering knowledge and experience as well as some personal stories with her readers in a practical and educational book, written in the first-person.","PeriodicalId":42571,"journal":{"name":"Acta Structilia","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2018-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48898320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating credit accessibility predictors among small and medium contractors in the South African construction industry","authors":"O. Balogun, J. Agumba, N. Ansary","doi":"10.18820/24150487/AS25I2.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18820/24150487/AS25I2.3","url":null,"abstract":"The importance of small and medium construction enterprises (SMEs) in the South African economy has been recognised. However, construction SMEs are faced with difficulties in accessing credit from financial institutions. Furthermore, past research has failed to reach consensus on the demographic and socio-economic factors that predict credit accessibility for construction SMEs in South Africa. This study determines the predicting demographic and socio-economic factors for credit accessibility for construction SMEs from financial institutions in South Africa. A quantitative research approach was used and data was collected, using a questionnaire survey from 250 construction SMEs who were conveniently sampled. The demographic and company profile factors predicting credit accessibility were modelled and set as the independent variables with credit accessibility to the construction SMEs as the dependent variable, irrespective of the amount obtained from financial institutions. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the predictors of obtaining credit. In the first model, the results revealed that the credit accessed irrespective of the amount and those who did not receive credit at all, when modelled with the conceptualised predictors suggested, showed no significant predictors of obtaining credit. However, in the second model, when the conceptualised predictors were modelled with full and partial credit, the results established that age group, current position in the organisation, tax number and location were good predictors of obtaining full credit. The findings of this study cannot be generalised across South Africa, as the study was conducted only in the Gauteng province. The value of this study informs owners of SMEs in the construction industry to provide their age and current position in the organisation when applying for credit. They should also provide the tax number and the location of the business in order to improve their chances of obtaining full credit from financial institutions. Keywords : Credit accessibility, determinants of credit accessibility, full credit, small and medium enterprises","PeriodicalId":42571,"journal":{"name":"Acta Structilia","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2018-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47035972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The valuation of commercial grain silos","authors":"C. Winckler, D. Boshoff","doi":"10.18820/24150487/AS23I2.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18820/24150487/AS23I2.2","url":null,"abstract":"A grain silo is a unique form of real estate because of its construction, use and income generation. The study is based on vertical concrete silos built for the sole purpose of storing grain. Silos are, in essence, income-producing properties, but because the tenant is the owner of grain and oilseed, the income produced by the silo fluctuates from year to year depending on the size of annual grain harvests. The purpose of this qualitative study is to establish which valuation methodology is best applicable to grain silos and to explore the factors that make grain silos unique in the determination of their value. Sources of information include historical research, unstructured interviews and case studies. The results of this study indicate that grain silos should be valued using the income capitalisation method. Income is calculated based on a long-term trend; expenses are calculated on financial information, and a capitalisation rate is calculated by adding risk to a baseline capitalisation rate. This study provides a guide to valuers and silo owners on how to determine the value of silos. The study focuses on grain silos that store maize and soya beans in the Highveld of Mpumalanga. The principles determined will be the same if other silos in other regions charge for storage and handling in the same way as used in this study.‘n Graansilo is ‘n unieke tipe eiendom as gevolg van konstruksie, gebruik en hoe inkomste verdien word. Die studie fokus op vertikale beton graansilos gebou uitsluitlik vir die stoor van graan. Silos is inkomsteproduserende eiendomme, maar omdat die huurder die eienaar van graan en oliesade is, is die inkomste wat ‘n silo kan produseer wisselend gebaseer op die grootte van die jaarlikse oes. Die doelwit van hierdie kwalitatiewe studie is om te bepaal op watter waardasiemetode ‘n graansilo waardeer moet word en om die faktore te bepaal wat ‘n silo uniek maak in die bepaling van die waarde. Die studie is gebaseer op historiese navorsing, ongestruktureerde onderhoude en ‘n gevallestudie. Die bevindings van hierdie studie is dat graansilos op die gekapitaliseerde-inkomste-metode van waardasie gedoen moet word. Inkomste word bepaal deur ‘n langtermyn gemiddeld of tendens in besetting te bepaal. Uitgawes word bepaal uit die finansiele inligting van die silo. Die kapitalisasiekoers word bepaal deur risiko by ‘n basis kapitalisasiekoers te voeg. Die studie is ‘n gids om waardeerders en silo-eienaars te help om die waarde van ‘n graansilo te bepaal. Die studie konsentreer op graansilos in die hoeveld van Mpumalanga wat meestal mielies en sojabone stoor. Die beginsels wat bepaal word deur die studie sal dieselfde wees in ander areas van die land asook vir ander graantipes indien die stoor en hanteringsfooie op dieselfde manier toegepas word.","PeriodicalId":42571,"journal":{"name":"Acta Structilia","volume":"12 1","pages":"25-56"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2017-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75930827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effective utilisation of generation Y quantity surveyors","authors":"E. V. Eck, Michelle Burger","doi":"10.18820/24150487/AS23I2.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18820/24150487/AS23I2.3","url":null,"abstract":"In South Africa, 43% of all quantity surveyors are identified as generation Y,  orn between 1981 and 2000. This highlights the importance of generation Y to the Quantity Surveying (QS) profession, as they are the future upon which the QS profession will build. A lack of knowledge of the differences among generations can easily lead to misunderstandings and conflict in the workplace. QS employers who want to effectively utilise generation Y employees require a sound knowledge and understanding of their attributes and expectations in relation to their job requirements. This study examines the literature on the attributes and expectations as well as the roles and responsibilities of a generation Y quantity surveyor. Suggestions are made as to how QS employers could utilise generation Y more effectively by harnessing their energy and capitalising on their attributes. Initially, 554 published papers, articles and books were generated as references, of which only 68 were purposively selected and extensively reviewed to analyse the key attributes of generation Y as well as to determine the main functions and services rendered by a quantity surveyor. The literature review showed that the key attributes and expectations of generation Y are flexibility; a meaningful job; interesting work; good relationships with supervisors; regular feedback, and career growth opportunities. The literature review also indicated that the service stages offered by a quantity surveyor are inception; concept and viability; design development; documentation and procurement; construction, and close-out. Based on the literature reviewed, generation Y has the potential to be the highest producing workforce in history. QS employers, who practically apply generational knowledge in relation to job requirements, should be able to unlock the potential of generation Y, increase its productivity, and ultimately its profitability. The findings of this article will be of value to employers in the QS profession by expanding their knowledge and understanding of their generation Y employees. Adapting management and leadership strategies according to these findings could lead to higher staff satisfaction, resulting in workforce productivity and increased profitability.In Suid-Afrika is 43% van alle bourekenaars geidentifiseer as generasie Y, wat gebore is tussen 1981 en 2000. Dit beklemtoon die belangrikheid van generasie Y vir die bourekenaarsprofessie aangesien hierdie generasie die toekoms is waarop die professie moet voortbou. Te min kennis van generasie verskille kan maklik lei tot misverstande en konflik in die werkplek. Bourekenaarwerkgewers wat generasie Y-werknemers effektief wil aanwend, benodig genoegsame kennis oor hierdie generasie se eienskappe en verwagtinge in verhouding tot hul werksverpligtinge. Hierdie studie bestudeer die literatuur oor die eienskappe en verwagtinge van generasie Y asook wat die rol en verantwoordelikhede van ‘n bourekenaar is. Voorstelle word gemaak oor ho","PeriodicalId":42571,"journal":{"name":"Acta Structilia","volume":"933 1","pages":"57-78"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2017-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77552504","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The image of the construction industry and its employment attractiveness","authors":"T. Haupt, Nishani. Harinarain","doi":"10.18820/24150487/AS23I2.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18820/24150487/AS23I2.4","url":null,"abstract":"As the construction industry does not seem to enjoy a positive image, it is not necessarily the career of choice when compared with other industries. This study examines the image of the industry in order to establish what the  perception of the industry is, the effects of that perception, and how the image of the sector could be improved. A mixed approach is used that involves a questionnaire survey of a purposive sample of high-school students, employers and employees in the Greater Durban area of KwaZulu-Natal province as well as a focus group of employers. The findings of the study are important if the image of the construction industry is to be improved so that it can become the career of choice for larger numbers of high-school students and other potential new entrants. The study is confined to the KwaZulu-Natal province and high schools in the western suburbs of Durban.Dit blyk dat die konstruksiebedryf se beeld tans negatief is. Dit het tot gevolg dat minder mense hierdie beroep betree of dit as ‘n aanvaarbare beroepskeuse beskou. Hierdie studie ondersoek die beeld van die bedryf ten einde vas te stel wat die persepsie van die bedryf is, die gevolge van daardie persepsie en hoe om die beeld van die sektor te verbeter. ‘n Gemengde benadering is gebruik om ‘n vraelysopname van ‘n doelgerigte steekproef onder hoerskoolleerlinge, werkgewers en werknemers in die groter Durban-area van die KwaZulu-Natal provinsie, asook ‘n fokusgroep van werkgewers te doen. Die bevindinge van die studie is belangrik om die beeld van die konstruksiebedryf te verbeter sodat dit die loopbaankeuse vir meer hoerskoolleerlinge en ander potensiele nuwe toetreders kan word. Die studie is slegs gedoen in die KwaZulu-Natal provinsie en hoerskole in die westelike voorstede van Durban.","PeriodicalId":42571,"journal":{"name":"Acta Structilia","volume":"43 1","pages":"79-108"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2017-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85766591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk management in public sector construction projects: Case studies in Lesotho","authors":"Molefi Nketekete, F. Emuze, J. Smallwood","doi":"10.18820/24150487/AS23I2.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18820/24150487/AS23I2.1","url":null,"abstract":"Construction projects are facing problems that impede their expected performance. Time, cost, quality, and competition limitations place constraints on projects. These challenges require incisive risk-management (RM) practices. This article presents the findings of a multiple case study, which determined how and why public sector construction projects are failing in terms of contemporary RM practices that appear to be lacking in Lesotho construction. The article investigates the stakeholders’ perceptions regarding risks’ likelihoods and impacts (P-Is) on three public sector construction projects. A 5-point Likert measurement scale was used to collect data for the P-I grids. The data are analysed and presented with Scatter plots. The results obtained through cross-case synthesis show that the interviewees perceive the level of risks’ P-Is on the examined construction projects to be high. Moreover, the level of RM practice is found to be inconsistent with best practices. To enhance RM practices in Lesotho, the management of public sector construction projects should promote the use of competent project managers. Keywords: Construction, Lesotho, public sector, risk management","PeriodicalId":42571,"journal":{"name":"Acta Structilia","volume":"10 1","pages":"1-24"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2017-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88434751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A decision support framework for extension of time claims for the JBCC Principal Building Agreement","authors":"T. Maritz, H. Prinsloo","doi":"10.18820/24150487/AS23I2.5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18820/24150487/AS23I2.5","url":null,"abstract":"Delays to contractors’ progress, often resulting in time and cost overruns, are a major source of claims and disputes in the construction industry. The assessment of extension of time (EOT) claims as part of a construction project can have far-reaching consequences for the financial success of the project. The proper and transparent assessment of EOT claims is, therefore, an essential component in the success of any project. In this article, an action-research approach, a very specific qualitative approach, was followed to develop a user-friendly guideline to help practitioners navigate this potential minefield of complexities in the process of the assessment of EOT claims. Focus groups, consisting of industry practitioners, with specialist knowledge in construction contracts, contributed to the development of the decision-support frameworks, and ultimately to the findings. The iterative process followed assisted in producing a tool that can be used in practice as a guideline for the analysis of EOT claims when using the Principal Building Agreement of the Joint Building Contracts Committee (JBCC).Die vertraging van die aannemer se vordering het dikwels ‘n negatiewe impak op tyd en koste en is ‘n groot bron van eise en geskille in die konstruksiebedryf. Die evaluering van eise vir die verlenging van tyd (VVT) kan tot verreikende nagevolge lei in verband met die finansiele sukses van ‘n projek. Die behoorlike en deursigtige evaluering van VVT-eise is dus ‘n noodsaaklike komponent in die sukses van enige projek. ‘n Aksie-navorsing benadering, ‘n baie spesifieke kwalitatiewe benadering, word gevolg in die artikel om ‘n gebruiker-vriendelike riglyn te ontwikkel om praktisyns te help om hierdie potensiele mynveld van kompleksiteit te navigeer in die proses van die evaluering van VVT-eise. Fokusgroepe, bestaande uit industriepraktisyns wat oor spesialiskennis in konstruksiekontrakte beskik, het bygedra tot die ontwikkeling van die besluit-ondersteuningsraamwerke en die bevindings. Die iteratiewe proses wat gevolg is het bygedra tot die ontwikkeling van ‘n instrument wat in die praktyk gebruik kan word om VVT-eise te ontleed wanneer gebruik gemaak word van die Hoofbouooreenkoms van die Gesamentlike Boukontraktekomitee (GBK).","PeriodicalId":42571,"journal":{"name":"Acta Structilia","volume":"9 1","pages":"109-146"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2017-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82904165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the influence of instant messaging and video conferencing on the quality of project communication","authors":"Taryn Jane Bond Barnard, L. Fletcher, H. Steyn","doi":"10.18820/24150487/AS23I1.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18820/24150487/AS23I1.2","url":null,"abstract":"Growth in computer-mediated communication (CMC) technologies such as instant messaging (IM) and video conferencing (VC) has led to a need to explore the utilisation and influence of these tools on the quality of project communication, which must still be established. This article reports the results of a survey conducted among 210 project practitioners using CMC in various industries to determine how, why and what each medium is used for, and how these media influence factors that promote quality communication. Some results showed that the use of both instant messaging and video conferencing in projects is moderate and both improve the quality of communication in virtual teams, however in different ways. Keywords : Project communication, computer-mediated communication, instant messaging, video conferencing, virtual teams","PeriodicalId":42571,"journal":{"name":"Acta Structilia","volume":"62 1","pages":"36-69"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2016-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85106660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}