Pub Date : 2023-05-16DOI: 10.1108/sasbe-01-2023-0024
Benonia Tinarwo, F. Rahimian, Dana Abi Ghanem
PurposeThe aim of this paper is to discuss a selection of policy strategies, regional initiatives and market approaches to uncover the realities of twenty-first-century building energy performance. A position that market-based approaches, human influence and policy interventions are part of an ecosystem of building energy performance is presented.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory search of secondary sources spanning the last three decades was conducted. Both peer-reviewed and grey literature were included to capture a broader understanding of the discourse in literature. Research questions guided the literature search, and a data extraction tool was designed to categorise the literature. The primary limitation of this study is that only a few applications could be discussed in a condensed format.FindingsSeveral challenges about the current status quo of building energy performance were identified and summarised as follows. (1) Inconsistencies in measurement and verification protocols, (2) Impacts of market approaches, (3) National policy priorities that are at variance with regional targets and (4) Ambiguous reporting on environmental impacts of energy efficiency (EE) technologies.Practical implicationsThe practical implications of the findings in this paper for practice and research are that as part of the building energy performance ecosystem, national responses through government interventions must become adaptive to keep up with the fast-paced energy sector and social trends. Simultaneously, before market-based approaches overcome the messiness of socio-economic dynamics, institutional conditions and cultural nuances, they ought to transparently address environmental impacts and the infringement of several SDGs before they can become viable solutions to building energy performance.Originality/valueThis paper presents building energy performance as an ecosystem comprising human influence, market-based approaches and policy interventions which form interdependent parts of the whole. However, evidence in the literature shows that these aspects are usually investigated separately. By presenting them as an ecosystem, this paper contributes to the discourse by advocating the need to re-align building energy performance to socio-economic-political dynamics and contextually viable solutions.
{"title":"Towards a trajectory for sustainable policies and market strategies governing building lifecycle energy performance","authors":"Benonia Tinarwo, F. Rahimian, Dana Abi Ghanem","doi":"10.1108/sasbe-01-2023-0024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/sasbe-01-2023-0024","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeThe aim of this paper is to discuss a selection of policy strategies, regional initiatives and market approaches to uncover the realities of twenty-first-century building energy performance. A position that market-based approaches, human influence and policy interventions are part of an ecosystem of building energy performance is presented.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory search of secondary sources spanning the last three decades was conducted. Both peer-reviewed and grey literature were included to capture a broader understanding of the discourse in literature. Research questions guided the literature search, and a data extraction tool was designed to categorise the literature. The primary limitation of this study is that only a few applications could be discussed in a condensed format.FindingsSeveral challenges about the current status quo of building energy performance were identified and summarised as follows. (1) Inconsistencies in measurement and verification protocols, (2) Impacts of market approaches, (3) National policy priorities that are at variance with regional targets and (4) Ambiguous reporting on environmental impacts of energy efficiency (EE) technologies.Practical implicationsThe practical implications of the findings in this paper for practice and research are that as part of the building energy performance ecosystem, national responses through government interventions must become adaptive to keep up with the fast-paced energy sector and social trends. Simultaneously, before market-based approaches overcome the messiness of socio-economic dynamics, institutional conditions and cultural nuances, they ought to transparently address environmental impacts and the infringement of several SDGs before they can become viable solutions to building energy performance.Originality/valueThis paper presents building energy performance as an ecosystem comprising human influence, market-based approaches and policy interventions which form interdependent parts of the whole. However, evidence in the literature shows that these aspects are usually investigated separately. By presenting them as an ecosystem, this paper contributes to the discourse by advocating the need to re-align building energy performance to socio-economic-political dynamics and contextually viable solutions.","PeriodicalId":45779,"journal":{"name":"Smart and Sustainable Built Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2023-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43217412","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}
Pub Date : 2023-05-15DOI: 10.1108/sasbe-03-2023-0052
Nermin Dessouky, S. Wheeler, Ashraf M. Salama
PurposeExisting Neighborhood Sustainability Assessment (NSA) tools such as “Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design - Neighborhood Development” (LEED-ND) and “Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method” (BREEAM Communities) are widely criticized for a lack of transparency in the selection of indicators and an unbalanced focus on specific sustainability dimensions.Design/methodology/approachThis paper asks how the expectations and use values of the professionals and residents involved in developing, designing, managing and living in a sustainable neighborhood can shape sustainability indicators that affect progress towards project goals. Taking as its focus The Sustainable City (TSC), a neighborhood in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the paper develops data from in-depth, go-along interviews with 46 different actors.FindingsFindings indicate that when given the opportunity to express their opinion, many actors will prioritize metrics different than the metrics dictated to the by sustainability experts and international rating systems. The findings suggest that NSA tools should place greater emphasis on local factors, public engagement and operational concerns.Practical implicationsThe paper provides a method that any community can replicate to better understand the different use values of local actors and establish its own NSA tool. This can help experts learn how design, management and operational decisions interact to impact different dimensions of performance.Originality/valueThis paper recognizes sustainable neighborhoods as spaces with multiple identities. Hence, the indicators used to evaluate these neighborhoods need to be based on the expectations and use values of different actors. This paper proposes using the priorities of different local actors to reshape how these neighborhoods are assessed.
{"title":"Including local actors' perspective in neighborhood sustainability assessment: evidence from Dubai's sustainable city","authors":"Nermin Dessouky, S. Wheeler, Ashraf M. Salama","doi":"10.1108/sasbe-03-2023-0052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/sasbe-03-2023-0052","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeExisting Neighborhood Sustainability Assessment (NSA) tools such as “Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design - Neighborhood Development” (LEED-ND) and “Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method” (BREEAM Communities) are widely criticized for a lack of transparency in the selection of indicators and an unbalanced focus on specific sustainability dimensions.Design/methodology/approachThis paper asks how the expectations and use values of the professionals and residents involved in developing, designing, managing and living in a sustainable neighborhood can shape sustainability indicators that affect progress towards project goals. Taking as its focus The Sustainable City (TSC), a neighborhood in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the paper develops data from in-depth, go-along interviews with 46 different actors.FindingsFindings indicate that when given the opportunity to express their opinion, many actors will prioritize metrics different than the metrics dictated to the by sustainability experts and international rating systems. The findings suggest that NSA tools should place greater emphasis on local factors, public engagement and operational concerns.Practical implicationsThe paper provides a method that any community can replicate to better understand the different use values of local actors and establish its own NSA tool. This can help experts learn how design, management and operational decisions interact to impact different dimensions of performance.Originality/valueThis paper recognizes sustainable neighborhoods as spaces with multiple identities. Hence, the indicators used to evaluate these neighborhoods need to be based on the expectations and use values of different actors. This paper proposes using the priorities of different local actors to reshape how these neighborhoods are assessed.","PeriodicalId":45779,"journal":{"name":"Smart and Sustainable Built Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2023-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48051050","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}
Pub Date : 2023-05-15DOI: 10.1108/sasbe-11-2022-0253
Jean-Pierre El Wazan, Ruwini Edirisinghe
Purpose Agricultural land loss is a severe issue that Australia faces, along with many other countries. Myriad research studies have discussed the reasons for such land loss, including urban sprawl as the main factor and factor's repercussions. However, there is a knowledge gap in understanding the impact of dwelling type on farming land reduction. Also, there is an application gap, particularly in the local context. The purpose of this study is to discover the effect of differing dwelling types (compact and non-compact) in metropolitan areas with a growing population (such as Craigieburn) toward potentially noticeable agricultural land loss. Design/methodology/approach This paper aims to fill these research and practice gaps through a case study using a mixed methods approach. A quantitative analysis was conducted of housing types, the types' growth and agricultural land area taken up by those different housing types over 18 years. Thematic analysis of policies, strategies, schemes and codes relevant to the case study enabled a better understanding of practice gaps. Findings The study revealed a significant loss of agricultural land. Separate housing was found to be the main culprit due to the number of houses and the area the houses require, thus exhibiting the lack of practical guidelines to prevent the houses' overdevelopment. The findings enabled the identification of opportunities for better practice through government intervention and potential industry alterations. Originality/value Previous literature has primarily explored the issues associated with urban sprawl and the sprawl's unsustainability. This research paper offers a more targeted insight into one of the key factors leading to urban sprawl: the types of dwellings being constructed.
{"title":"Measuring agricultural loss and the impact of differing dwelling types: a case study in Melbourne","authors":"Jean-Pierre El Wazan, Ruwini Edirisinghe","doi":"10.1108/sasbe-11-2022-0253","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/sasbe-11-2022-0253","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose Agricultural land loss is a severe issue that Australia faces, along with many other countries. Myriad research studies have discussed the reasons for such land loss, including urban sprawl as the main factor and factor's repercussions. However, there is a knowledge gap in understanding the impact of dwelling type on farming land reduction. Also, there is an application gap, particularly in the local context. The purpose of this study is to discover the effect of differing dwelling types (compact and non-compact) in metropolitan areas with a growing population (such as Craigieburn) toward potentially noticeable agricultural land loss. Design/methodology/approach This paper aims to fill these research and practice gaps through a case study using a mixed methods approach. A quantitative analysis was conducted of housing types, the types' growth and agricultural land area taken up by those different housing types over 18 years. Thematic analysis of policies, strategies, schemes and codes relevant to the case study enabled a better understanding of practice gaps. Findings The study revealed a significant loss of agricultural land. Separate housing was found to be the main culprit due to the number of houses and the area the houses require, thus exhibiting the lack of practical guidelines to prevent the houses' overdevelopment. The findings enabled the identification of opportunities for better practice through government intervention and potential industry alterations. Originality/value Previous literature has primarily explored the issues associated with urban sprawl and the sprawl's unsustainability. This research paper offers a more targeted insight into one of the key factors leading to urban sprawl: the types of dwellings being constructed.","PeriodicalId":45779,"journal":{"name":"Smart and Sustainable Built Environment","volume":"5 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134959842","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}
Pub Date : 2023-05-02DOI: 10.1108/sasbe-07-2022-0144
J. Olayiwola, A. Yusuf, A. Akanmu, H. Murzi, Xinghua Gao, K. Afsari
PurposeAs video-based interventions are continuously utilized as alternatives to physical site visits, directing students' attention to specific learning contents within videos could increase their comprehension and stimulate their interest. Students' knowledge of construction practice can be reinforced, misconceptions and improper inferences can be reduced by calling out significant learning concepts. However, few studies have formalized practice concepts that could be beneficial in preparing students for the workplace. This paper presents an investigation of construction practice concepts, based on site visits that would be beneficial in complimenting classroom teaching to prepare students for the realities of practice.Design/methodology/approachA mixed methods research approach was employed combining qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. An online questionnaire, semi-structured interviews and a focus group were conducted with industry practitioners and instructors to identify the topics and practice concepts significant for supporting classroom teaching with site visits.FindingsThe findings suggest that the most relevant topics typically supported with site visits are preconstruction management, excavation and foundation work, construction equipment, construction means and methods, project management, road construction, sustainability, building systems, structures, construction technology, building construction, capstone, site logistics and safety. Practice concepts were identified for each of these topics.Research limitations/implicationsThe study will guide researchers in the design of video-based pedagogical tools to be used as an effective complement of or alternative to site visit experiences. The findings will support instructors on how to structure their teaching practices to prepare students for some of the complexities of the workplace.Originality/valueThis study adds value to the existing literature by providing insights into industry perception of practice concepts for complementing classroom teaching.
{"title":"Construction practice knowledge for complementing classroom teaching during site visits","authors":"J. Olayiwola, A. Yusuf, A. Akanmu, H. Murzi, Xinghua Gao, K. Afsari","doi":"10.1108/sasbe-07-2022-0144","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/sasbe-07-2022-0144","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeAs video-based interventions are continuously utilized as alternatives to physical site visits, directing students' attention to specific learning contents within videos could increase their comprehension and stimulate their interest. Students' knowledge of construction practice can be reinforced, misconceptions and improper inferences can be reduced by calling out significant learning concepts. However, few studies have formalized practice concepts that could be beneficial in preparing students for the workplace. This paper presents an investigation of construction practice concepts, based on site visits that would be beneficial in complimenting classroom teaching to prepare students for the realities of practice.Design/methodology/approachA mixed methods research approach was employed combining qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. An online questionnaire, semi-structured interviews and a focus group were conducted with industry practitioners and instructors to identify the topics and practice concepts significant for supporting classroom teaching with site visits.FindingsThe findings suggest that the most relevant topics typically supported with site visits are preconstruction management, excavation and foundation work, construction equipment, construction means and methods, project management, road construction, sustainability, building systems, structures, construction technology, building construction, capstone, site logistics and safety. Practice concepts were identified for each of these topics.Research limitations/implicationsThe study will guide researchers in the design of video-based pedagogical tools to be used as an effective complement of or alternative to site visit experiences. The findings will support instructors on how to structure their teaching practices to prepare students for some of the complexities of the workplace.Originality/valueThis study adds value to the existing literature by providing insights into industry perception of practice concepts for complementing classroom teaching.","PeriodicalId":45779,"journal":{"name":"Smart and Sustainable Built Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41382510","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}
Pub Date : 2023-04-20DOI: 10.1108/sasbe-12-2022-0264
F. Goodarzi, K. Palaniappan, M. Pillay, Mahmoud Ershadi
PurposeExposure to poor indoor air in refurbished buildings is a matter of health concern due to the growing concentrations of various contaminants as a result of building airtightness without amendment of ventilation, or the use of building materials such as glue, paint, thinner and varnishes. Recent studies have been conducted to measure indoor air pollutants and assess the health risks affecting the quality of life, productivity and well-being of human beings. However, limited review studies have been recently conducted to provide an overview of the state of knowledge. This study aims to conduct a scoping review of indoor air quality (IAQ) in the context of refurbished or energy-retrofitted buildings.Design/methodology/approachA systematic screening process based on the PRISMA protocol was followed to extract relevant articles. Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar and PubMed were searched using customised search formulas. Among 276 potentially relevant records, 38 studies were included in the final review covering a period from 2015 to 2022.FindingsResearchers mapped out the measured compounds in the selected studies and found that carbon dioxide (CO2) (11%) and total volatile organic compounds (11%) were among the most commonly measured contaminants. Two trends of research were found including (1) the impact of ventilative properties on IAQ and (2) the impact of introducing building materials on IAQ.Originality/valueThe contribution of this study lies in summarising evidence on IAQ measurements in refurbished buildings, discussing recent advancements, revealing significant gaps and limitations, identifying the trends of research and drawing conclusions regarding future research directions on the topic.
目的:由于建筑物不通风，或使用胶水、油漆、稀释剂和清漆等建筑材料，使各种污染物的浓度不断增加，因此，在翻新的建筑物中接触不良的室内空气是一个健康问题。最近进行了一些研究，以测量室内空气污染物并评估影响人类生活质量、生产力和福祉的健康风险。然而，最近进行了有限的审查研究，以提供对知识状况的概述。本研究旨在进行室内空气质量(IAQ)的范围审查在翻新或能源改造的建筑物的背景下。设计/方法学/方法采用基于PRISMA方案的系统筛选流程，提取相关文章。使用定制的搜索公式对Web of Science、Scopus、b谷歌Scholar和PubMed进行了搜索。在276项可能相关的记录中，有38项研究被纳入了最终审查，时间跨度从2015年到2022年。研究人员在选定的研究中绘制了测量的化合物，发现二氧化碳(CO2)(11%)和总挥发性有机化合物(11%)是最常测量的污染物。研究发现了两个研究趋势:(1)通风性能对室内空气质量的影响;(2)引入建筑材料对室内空气质量的影响。原创性/价值本研究的贡献在于总结了翻新建筑室内空气质量测量的证据，讨论了最近的进展，揭示了重大的差距和局限性，确定了研究的趋势，并就该主题的未来研究方向得出结论。
{"title":"A scoping review of indoor air quality assessment in refurbished buildings","authors":"F. Goodarzi, K. Palaniappan, M. Pillay, Mahmoud Ershadi","doi":"10.1108/sasbe-12-2022-0264","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/sasbe-12-2022-0264","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeExposure to poor indoor air in refurbished buildings is a matter of health concern due to the growing concentrations of various contaminants as a result of building airtightness without amendment of ventilation, or the use of building materials such as glue, paint, thinner and varnishes. Recent studies have been conducted to measure indoor air pollutants and assess the health risks affecting the quality of life, productivity and well-being of human beings. However, limited review studies have been recently conducted to provide an overview of the state of knowledge. This study aims to conduct a scoping review of indoor air quality (IAQ) in the context of refurbished or energy-retrofitted buildings.Design/methodology/approachA systematic screening process based on the PRISMA protocol was followed to extract relevant articles. Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar and PubMed were searched using customised search formulas. Among 276 potentially relevant records, 38 studies were included in the final review covering a period from 2015 to 2022.FindingsResearchers mapped out the measured compounds in the selected studies and found that carbon dioxide (CO2) (11%) and total volatile organic compounds (11%) were among the most commonly measured contaminants. Two trends of research were found including (1) the impact of ventilative properties on IAQ and (2) the impact of introducing building materials on IAQ.Originality/valueThe contribution of this study lies in summarising evidence on IAQ measurements in refurbished buildings, discussing recent advancements, revealing significant gaps and limitations, identifying the trends of research and drawing conclusions regarding future research directions on the topic.","PeriodicalId":45779,"journal":{"name":"Smart and Sustainable Built Environment","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2023-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"62315472","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}
Pub Date : 2023-04-14DOI: 10.1108/sasbe-12-2022-0275
PurposeThis study presents the results of an assessment of the barriers that can hinder the deployment of robotics and automation systems in developing countries through the lens of the Nigerian construction industry.Design/methodology/approachA scoping literature review was conducted through which barriers to the adoption of robotics and automation systems were identified, which helped in the formulation of a questionnaire survey. Data were obtained from construction professionals including architects, builders, engineers and quantity surveyors. Retrieved data were analyzed using percentages, frequencies, mean item scores and exploratory factor analysis.FindingsBased on the mean scores, the top five barriers were the fragmented nature of the construction process, resistance by workers and unions, hesitation to adopt innovation, lack of capacity and expertise and lack of support from top-level managers. Through factor analysis, the barriers identified were categorized into four principal clusters namely, industry, human, economic and technical-related barriers.Practical implicationsThis study provided a good theoretical and empirical foundation that can be useful to construction industry stakeholders, decision-makers, policymakers and the government in mapping out strategies to promote the incorporation and deployment of automation and robotics into the construction industry to attain the safety benefits they offer.Originality/valueBy identifying and evaluating the challenges that hinder the implementation of robotics and automation systems in the Nigerian construction industry, this study makes a significant contribution to knowledge in an area where limited studies exist.
{"title":"Robotics and automation for sustainable construction: microscoping the barriers to implementation","authors":"","doi":"10.1108/sasbe-12-2022-0275","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/sasbe-12-2022-0275","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeThis study presents the results of an assessment of the barriers that can hinder the deployment of robotics and automation systems in developing countries through the lens of the Nigerian construction industry.Design/methodology/approachA scoping literature review was conducted through which barriers to the adoption of robotics and automation systems were identified, which helped in the formulation of a questionnaire survey. Data were obtained from construction professionals including architects, builders, engineers and quantity surveyors. Retrieved data were analyzed using percentages, frequencies, mean item scores and exploratory factor analysis.FindingsBased on the mean scores, the top five barriers were the fragmented nature of the construction process, resistance by workers and unions, hesitation to adopt innovation, lack of capacity and expertise and lack of support from top-level managers. Through factor analysis, the barriers identified were categorized into four principal clusters namely, industry, human, economic and technical-related barriers.Practical implicationsThis study provided a good theoretical and empirical foundation that can be useful to construction industry stakeholders, decision-makers, policymakers and the government in mapping out strategies to promote the incorporation and deployment of automation and robotics into the construction industry to attain the safety benefits they offer.Originality/valueBy identifying and evaluating the challenges that hinder the implementation of robotics and automation systems in the Nigerian construction industry, this study makes a significant contribution to knowledge in an area where limited studies exist.","PeriodicalId":45779,"journal":{"name":"Smart and Sustainable Built Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2023-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42240976","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}
Pub Date : 2023-04-12DOI: 10.1108/sasbe-07-2022-0154
M. S. Samsurijan, R. B. Radin Firdaus, Mohd Isa Rohayati, Andrew Ebekozien, C. Aigbavboa
PurposeThe COVID-19 impact across major sectors did not exempt the low-cost housing (LCH) sub-sector. This may have increased the existing LCH demand-supply gap, especially in developing countries such as Malaysia. Studies showed that government policy (GP) aids in mitigating COVID-19 impact on goods and services, including housing-related issues. However, there is an academic literature scarcity regarding GP on LCH demand-supply gap during the COVID-19 crisis in Malaysia. Hence, this study aims to investigate the moderating effect of GP on the relationship between LCH demand-supply gap and COVID-19 impact in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachThe research utilised a quantitative method in collating the data from four major cities in Malaysia. SmartPLS was utilised to analyse the usable 305 questionnaires retrieved from respondents. Structuralist Theory supported the developed framework.FindingsFindings show that GP moderates the relationships between the LCH demand-supply gap and COVID-19 impact on Malaysia's low-income groups' (LIGs) homeownership delivery. It implies that the study's findings provide more understanding of issues influencing LCH demand-supply gap in the COVID-19 era via applying GP to mitigate the gap and improve homeownership for the disadvantaged.Practical implicationsThe study intends to stir policymakers toward formulating policies and programmes that will mitigate LCH demand-supply gap during the present and future pandemics.Originality/valueBesides the theoretical value of the developed model, policymakers can use the study's recommendations to mitigate future LCH demand-supply gaps during pandemics in developing countries using Malaysia as a case study.
{"title":"Moderating effect of government policy on the relationship between low-cost housing demand-supply gap and COVID-19 impact","authors":"M. S. Samsurijan, R. B. Radin Firdaus, Mohd Isa Rohayati, Andrew Ebekozien, C. Aigbavboa","doi":"10.1108/sasbe-07-2022-0154","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/sasbe-07-2022-0154","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeThe COVID-19 impact across major sectors did not exempt the low-cost housing (LCH) sub-sector. This may have increased the existing LCH demand-supply gap, especially in developing countries such as Malaysia. Studies showed that government policy (GP) aids in mitigating COVID-19 impact on goods and services, including housing-related issues. However, there is an academic literature scarcity regarding GP on LCH demand-supply gap during the COVID-19 crisis in Malaysia. Hence, this study aims to investigate the moderating effect of GP on the relationship between LCH demand-supply gap and COVID-19 impact in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachThe research utilised a quantitative method in collating the data from four major cities in Malaysia. SmartPLS was utilised to analyse the usable 305 questionnaires retrieved from respondents. Structuralist Theory supported the developed framework.FindingsFindings show that GP moderates the relationships between the LCH demand-supply gap and COVID-19 impact on Malaysia's low-income groups' (LIGs) homeownership delivery. It implies that the study's findings provide more understanding of issues influencing LCH demand-supply gap in the COVID-19 era via applying GP to mitigate the gap and improve homeownership for the disadvantaged.Practical implicationsThe study intends to stir policymakers toward formulating policies and programmes that will mitigate LCH demand-supply gap during the present and future pandemics.Originality/valueBesides the theoretical value of the developed model, policymakers can use the study's recommendations to mitigate future LCH demand-supply gaps during pandemics in developing countries using Malaysia as a case study.","PeriodicalId":45779,"journal":{"name":"Smart and Sustainable Built Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2023-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43231967","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}
Pub Date : 2023-04-12DOI: 10.1108/sasbe-12-2022-0274
F. Tajani, D. Anelli, F. Di Liddo, P. Morano
PurposeThe European Commission has established the reference value of the social discount rate (SDR) to be used in the cost-benefit analysis according to the subdivision of the states relating to the beneficiaries of the Cohesion Fund. This criterion does not allow to adequately consider the economic, social and environmental conditions of each European states for ensuring an equitable and inclusive growth. The aimof the work is to provide an innovative methodology for assessing the “adjusted” SDR according to the socioeconomic and environmental conditions that differently affect the sustainable development of each European state.Design/methodology/approachThrough the implementation of a methodological approach that consists of ordered and sequential phases and the synergic adoption of the Multi-Criteria Techniques with the Data Envelopment Analysis, a corrective coefficient of the SDR established by the European Commission is determined.FindingsThe results obtained for the 27 European states highlight how the different conditions of each of them could affect the correct choice of the SDR to be used in the Cost-Benefit Analysis.Originality/valueThe proposed research represents a useful reference for identifying national reference SDR values for each European state, consistent with its specificities and with the goals of inclusive growth of the countries and of social and territorial cohesion. Furthermore, the traceability of the methodology in its phases will allow to adapt the SDR to sudden events or exogenous shocks.
{"title":"An innovative methodology for the assessment of the social discount rate: an application to the European states for ensuring the goals of equitable growth","authors":"F. Tajani, D. Anelli, F. Di Liddo, P. Morano","doi":"10.1108/sasbe-12-2022-0274","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/sasbe-12-2022-0274","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeThe European Commission has established the reference value of the social discount rate (SDR) to be used in the cost-benefit analysis according to the subdivision of the states relating to the beneficiaries of the Cohesion Fund. This criterion does not allow to adequately consider the economic, social and environmental conditions of each European states for ensuring an equitable and inclusive growth. The aimof the work is to provide an innovative methodology for assessing the “adjusted” SDR according to the socioeconomic and environmental conditions that differently affect the sustainable development of each European state.Design/methodology/approachThrough the implementation of a methodological approach that consists of ordered and sequential phases and the synergic adoption of the Multi-Criteria Techniques with the Data Envelopment Analysis, a corrective coefficient of the SDR established by the European Commission is determined.FindingsThe results obtained for the 27 European states highlight how the different conditions of each of them could affect the correct choice of the SDR to be used in the Cost-Benefit Analysis.Originality/valueThe proposed research represents a useful reference for identifying national reference SDR values for each European state, consistent with its specificities and with the goals of inclusive growth of the countries and of social and territorial cohesion. Furthermore, the traceability of the methodology in its phases will allow to adapt the SDR to sudden events or exogenous shocks.","PeriodicalId":45779,"journal":{"name":"Smart and Sustainable Built Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2023-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48792661","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}
Pub Date : 2023-04-11DOI: 10.1108/sasbe-11-2022-0242
K. Manoharan, P. Dissanayake, C. Pathirana, D. Deegahawature, Renuka Silva
PurposeA rise in productivity is associated with higher profits, competitiveness and the sustainability of an industry and a nation. Recent studies highlight inadequate labour supervision and training facilities as the main causes of productivity-related challenges among construction enterprises. This study aims to evaluate the construction supervisors' capabilities in applying the required elements of work practices for enhancing the performance and productivity of construction operations using a case study.Design/methodology/approachA new construction supervisory training programme was developed through comprehensive sequential processes, and 64 construction supervisors underwent training . Marking guides with different levels of descriptions/standards were developed through consultations with experts and literature reviews, and the supervisors' capabilities were assessed under 64 competency elements of 12 competency units.FindingsThe findings show a clear cross-section of all the required competencies of construction supervisors with various levels of standards/descriptions, leading to a new generalised guideline that helps to comprehend what degrees of skills can be taken into account in supervision attributes. Statistical tests and expert reviews were used to ensure the generalisability of the research applications and the reliability of the results.Research limitations/implicationsDespite the study findings being limited to the Sri Lankan construction industry, its applicability could create considerable impacts on the current/future practices of the construction sector in developing countries as well as other developing industries.Practical implicationsThe study adds new characteristics and values to construction supervision practices that can be remarkable in encouraging construction supervision to drive the sustainability of construction practices. The study findings are significant in decision-making/planning procedures related to technical comprehension, industry training, scientific documentation, adherence to workforce employment constraints and job outputs. This paper describes the further extensive implications and future scopes of the study elaborately.Originality/valueThis study addresses the knowledge gap in the industry related to the development of protocols and application methodologies necessary to track their performance. The study opens a new window that inflows knowledge attributes to the industry sector along with the necessary comparison of the relevant competency elements to predict/comprehend what levels of capabilities can be theoretically considered and practically applied in supervision characteristics.
{"title":"A systematic evaluation on the competencies of construction supervisors in productivity and performance improvement practices – Sri Lankan perspective","authors":"K. Manoharan, P. Dissanayake, C. Pathirana, D. Deegahawature, Renuka Silva","doi":"10.1108/sasbe-11-2022-0242","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/sasbe-11-2022-0242","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeA rise in productivity is associated with higher profits, competitiveness and the sustainability of an industry and a nation. Recent studies highlight inadequate labour supervision and training facilities as the main causes of productivity-related challenges among construction enterprises. This study aims to evaluate the construction supervisors' capabilities in applying the required elements of work practices for enhancing the performance and productivity of construction operations using a case study.Design/methodology/approachA new construction supervisory training programme was developed through comprehensive sequential processes, and 64 construction supervisors underwent training . Marking guides with different levels of descriptions/standards were developed through consultations with experts and literature reviews, and the supervisors' capabilities were assessed under 64 competency elements of 12 competency units.FindingsThe findings show a clear cross-section of all the required competencies of construction supervisors with various levels of standards/descriptions, leading to a new generalised guideline that helps to comprehend what degrees of skills can be taken into account in supervision attributes. Statistical tests and expert reviews were used to ensure the generalisability of the research applications and the reliability of the results.Research limitations/implicationsDespite the study findings being limited to the Sri Lankan construction industry, its applicability could create considerable impacts on the current/future practices of the construction sector in developing countries as well as other developing industries.Practical implicationsThe study adds new characteristics and values to construction supervision practices that can be remarkable in encouraging construction supervision to drive the sustainability of construction practices. The study findings are significant in decision-making/planning procedures related to technical comprehension, industry training, scientific documentation, adherence to workforce employment constraints and job outputs. This paper describes the further extensive implications and future scopes of the study elaborately.Originality/valueThis study addresses the knowledge gap in the industry related to the development of protocols and application methodologies necessary to track their performance. The study opens a new window that inflows knowledge attributes to the industry sector along with the necessary comparison of the relevant competency elements to predict/comprehend what levels of capabilities can be theoretically considered and practically applied in supervision characteristics.","PeriodicalId":45779,"journal":{"name":"Smart and Sustainable Built Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2023-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42578804","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}
Pub Date : 2023-03-22DOI: 10.1108/sasbe-12-2022-0266
K. Ibrahim, F. Simpeh, O. Adebowale
PurposeConstruction organizations must maintain a productive workforce without sacrificing their health and safety. The global construction sector loses billions of dollars yearly to poor health and safety practices. This study aims to investigate benefits derivable from using wearable technologies to improve construction health and safety. The study also reports the challenges associated with adopting wearable technologies.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a quantitative design, administering close-ended questions to professionals in the Nigerian construction industry. The research data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.FindingsThe study found that the critical areas construction organizations can benefit from using WSDs include slips and trips, sensing environmental concerns, collision avoidance, falling from a high level and electrocution. However, key barriers preventing the organizations from adopting wearable technologies are related to cost, technology and human factors.Practical implicationsThe time and cost lost to H&S incidents in the Nigerian construction sector can be reduced by implementing the report of this study.Originality/valueStudies on WSDs have continued to increase in developed countries, but Nigeria is yet to experience a leap in the research area. This study provides insights into the Nigerian reality to provide directions for practice and theory.
{"title":"Benefits and challenges of wearable safety devices in the construction sector","authors":"K. Ibrahim, F. Simpeh, O. Adebowale","doi":"10.1108/sasbe-12-2022-0266","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/sasbe-12-2022-0266","url":null,"abstract":"PurposeConstruction organizations must maintain a productive workforce without sacrificing their health and safety. The global construction sector loses billions of dollars yearly to poor health and safety practices. This study aims to investigate benefits derivable from using wearable technologies to improve construction health and safety. The study also reports the challenges associated with adopting wearable technologies.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a quantitative design, administering close-ended questions to professionals in the Nigerian construction industry. The research data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.FindingsThe study found that the critical areas construction organizations can benefit from using WSDs include slips and trips, sensing environmental concerns, collision avoidance, falling from a high level and electrocution. However, key barriers preventing the organizations from adopting wearable technologies are related to cost, technology and human factors.Practical implicationsThe time and cost lost to H&S incidents in the Nigerian construction sector can be reduced by implementing the report of this study.Originality/valueStudies on WSDs have continued to increase in developed countries, but Nigeria is yet to experience a leap in the research area. This study provides insights into the Nigerian reality to provide directions for practice and theory.","PeriodicalId":45779,"journal":{"name":"Smart and Sustainable Built Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2023-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42387897","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}
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