AHFE Open AccessSustainable Construction in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Editors: Clinton Aigbavboa, Emmanuel Oke, Wellington Thwala
Topics: Sustainable Urban Planning and Infrastructure
Publication Date: 2023
ISBN: 978-1-958651-83-4
DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1004000
Articles
Does size matter? Findings on the Green building cost premium in South Africa for 2009 - 2018
Since the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) was established in 2007, the frequent perception that green building has a significant and unaffordable cost premium challenged the progress of green building. Various studies confirmed that this opinion exists worldwide. In response, the GBCSA, the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) and the University of Pretoria (UP) started a joint study in 2014 to provide accurate data on the actual cost of South African green buildings. The study findings are based on the cost data of all new office buildings awarded a Green Star certification by the GBCSA using the Green Star Office v1/v1.1 rating tool. A total of 170 new office buildings fit this profile. The study findings were published in industry booklets in 2016, 2019 and 2022. In addition to reporting on the cost premium of green building, the aim of the study was also to consider prominent building features driving green building costs to develop a deeper understanding of the nature of green building cost. These building features include the certification level, the size, the base building cost, the certification date, the tenant mix and the vertical façade ratio of the buildings. The study found an average green building cost premium (GBCP) of only 3,96% in 2019, reducing to 3,63% in 2022. The study also found that the construction area of the study population’s buildings had a consistent negative correlation with their green building cost premium. This study will describe a more detailed relationship between building size and green building cost premium. The information will add value to the green building industry and all the relevant stakeholders, such as property owners and developers, the GBCSA, the ASAQS and the quantity surveying profession. The findings can also be compared internationally to serve the wider green building industry.
Danie Hoffman, Hoffie Cruywagen
Open Access
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Conference Proceedings
Evaluating sustainable and green building designs using human factor approaches
In response to government requirements for zero carbon emissions for existing and new buildings, a number of organizations committed to explore the most efficient ways to build new buildings or renovate their aging infrastructure, and to implement the necessary measures and technologies supporting net zero standards and sustainable building designs. In many cases, this means deep energy retrofits within buildings, including upgrades to the exterior and the interior building design features. By using modelling techniques and following standard specifications, a building’s performance can be optimized through a number of energy efficient measures and implementation of sustainable, net zero technologies. However, research has shown that in many cases the modelled performance is not often easily achievable in real life settings. This can be specifically relevant to cases where the comfort requirements are surpassed by an increased focus on energy efficiency measures. Methodology: This paper outlines a case study where the National Research Council Canada (NRC) has committed to complete a pre- and post-renovation evaluation of the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) headquarter building, which was retrofitted to achieve net zero emissions. The main methodologies used during the data collection included occupant surveys, physical environment measurements and energy monitoring across the various stages of the project. Findings: This paper outlines the methodology used during the pre- and post-renovation data collection. The post-renovation data collection is currently in progress, therefore, only data from the pre-renovation phase is currently discussed. The results identified many opportunities for improvement through renovation, including a variety of occupant satisfaction and comfort dimensions related to the physical indoor environmental conditions.Conclusion: By using human factor methodologies and user-centric approaches, we can improve our understanding of the human factor impacts caused by sustainable and green building design practices. Successfully completed projects present great examples of how buildings, old or new, could meet modern-day needs, such as net zero standards and carbon neutrality, whilst at the same time providing efficient workplaces that support occupant wellbeing and productivity.
Natalia Cooper, Anca Galasiu, Farid Bahiraei
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Improving cost modelling of residential property replacement costs for short-term insurance purposes: A South African Perspective
The residential property market in South Africa has an extraordinarily high number of first-time homeowners. Cost information assistance available to the South African public consists of crude cost models to be found on individual short-term insurers’ websites. The financial cost to obtain an accurate replacement cost estimate from a professional built environment cost advisor outweighs the perceived risk of insuring a residential property for an accurate replacement cost. The need for an alternative cost model that could deliver more accurate replacement costs without employing the onerous cost-estimating techniques as employed in the quantity surveying practice within a short time is apparent. This research aims to develop an alternative approach to building cost modelling for insurance purposes. The building cost model developed, other than that commonly used in the marketplace, is premised on the case-based reasoning (CBR) technique. The four stages of retrieving, reusing, revising and retaining cases are performed. The retrieving incorporates the k-nearest neighbour (kNN) machine learning algorithm to retrieve comparable cost data from a database of residential properties. The database employs the most accurate cost model used in quantity surveying practice and is structured according to recognised building elements. The reusing and revising of the cases are based on specific building features to suit a particular residential property and are performed by applying a mathematical model.The outcome suggests that 75% of predicted replacement costs fall within the acceptable 5% accuracy level of the actual replacement costs, indicating significantly improved replacement cost estimates as the dataset represents costs based on the most accurate cost model used in practice. The study’s findings are important for the South African insurance industry and the built environment as it implies the possibility of providing more accurate insurance values that could curb underinsurance and possible financial setbacks to insureds in future. The findings will also add to the existing generic knowledge on building cost modelling for purposes other than insurance.
Inge Pieterse
Open Access
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Design Strategies of Bamboo Fiber-based Composites Pavillon under the dual-carbon background
The "Pavillon System" is a means of urban renewal, a service facility with integrated functions such as aesthetic education, resting Shelter, outdoor furniture, etc. It is a kind of artistic urban infrastructure. In 2021, The author was invited by Shanghai Urban Public Space Art Season（SUSAS） to design and construct a "cycling pavillon " in the Lingang Future Community Sample Exhibition, as a demonstration project in the new area of Lingang, which aims at the low-carbon system of future living and green city construction. One of the demonstration projects in the new area of Lingang with the goal of a low-carbon system for future lifestyle and green city construction.This design attempts to reduce carbon emissions with bamboo structures from the beginning, and then considers low carbon green construction in the production and processing of materials, transportation of materials and equipment, the construction process and building operation. Bamboo matrix fiber composite is a new material with structural performance equivalent to FRP, higher outdoor weather resistance than preserved wood, and close to the price of preserved wood, which has the value of promotion.In the face of the completed site, the building foundation of the cycling pavillon adopts a minimal approach to the ground pavement to intervene in the site, abandoning the traditional need to pour concrete slabs on site for the foundation and using I-beams as the foundation anchored to the ground, reducing carbon emissions generated during the construction and material production process. This construction method allows the cycling pavillon shaded roof to withstand typhoons in the summer in the port area, and gives it the ability to be rebuilt off-site after demolition, a repeatable feature that extends the life of the structure in a rapidly growing urban area and reduces the carbon footprint of the demolition process.The construction process is highly efficient and can reduce carbon emissions by more than 40% over the life cycle of an assembled building, which is an important technological path to achieve "peak carbon" and "carbon neutrality" in the construction industry. The construction process also has a good dust reduction effect, saving water, electricity and other energy, while achieving the original purpose of building energy saving and environmental protection.The cycling pavillon is built in an assembled manner, enabling rapid construction in 60 hours. Thus, it is combined with the built-up site in a light intervention manner. Material utilization is improved through material optimization and reuse of components. With two types of parking, "interlocking" and "hanging", it can meet the different needs of daily use and professional cycling competition. The design concept of space-time movement stable structure is inspired by the trajectory of the wheels, and the mechanical movement of the bicycle in four-dimensional space-time is fixed in three-dimensional space to form a stable structure.The design of the cycling pavillon starts from the demand of urban public space life, in order to provide a possibility of public communication while solving the demand of small and micro space of public life. Through the distinctive artistic image of the space itself, the balance between artistry and practicality is achieved，More importantly, through the use of high-strength bamboo fiber materials, a low-carbon artful infrastructure construction model is explored
Shun Yin, Xinhe Lu, Xiuqing Zeng, Jiyao Wei, Shiyuan Zhang, Weiwei Yao
Open Access
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A Smart Sustainable City Tailored to Changing Needs
MethodologyThe idea of a smart sustainable city has been developed for years. It encompasses such aspects of the functioning of a city as its user-friendliness, which particularly refers to its inhabitants, and, at the same time, efficiency as regards the use and distribution of resources and eco-friendliness, both for current consumers and future generations. Despite the increasingly common understanding of such a direction of urban development, there is an ongoing intensive search of the tools which would make it possible to collect, analyse and evaluate the solutions of creating and perfecting a smart sustainable city. The primary aim is to gather information about the expectations of city residents and the assessment of the possibility of implementing them. The basis for the considerations were literature research and an analysis of management methods and tools used in enterprises. On this basis, it was assumed that it is possible to implement these methods and tools for the management of cities and urban agglomerations.ConclusionsAs a consequence, the focus was on two tools supporting management and the concept of their use in city management was presented. It is possible to collect the proposals of implemented solutions from the users by way of systematic improvement. On the other hand, if any of them does not fulfil its role in the expected scope, the application of the Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) may be helpful. Both methods have basically the same goal – to promote the constant development of the adopted mode of operation by introducing improvements or adjustments. The very knowledge of them is not sufficient to make decisions on the introduction of changes, though. It is necessary to analyse the causes for which the current arrangement must be modified. Recommendations It is postulated to implement these methods after their preparation in an IT form, so that they are available on various mobile devices. This will allow for broad access to obtaining information from users of the agglomeration, i.e. people who are interested in improving urban spaces.
Daria Motała
Open Access
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Benefits of the Expanded Public Works Programme in South Africa: A Direct Stakeholder’s Perception
There are several socio-economic challenges ravaging the continent of Africa and other developing countries. Among these issues is unemployment, which is directly linked to the high crime rate, poverty, and other societal ills in South Africa. To develop sought-after skills and to facilitate gainful employment toward the goal of poverty alleviation in the country, several programmes are initiated by the South African government. One of the various interventions is the expanded public works programme (EPWP). This paper is aimed at identifying the beneficial factors of the EPWP in South Africa from the stakeholders’ point of view. A quantitative research approach was employed in the study. Data collection was achieved through the duo of literature review and the use of a structured closed-ended questionnaire survey. The data from the returned survey was analyzed using descriptive and exploratory factor analysis. The findings showed that employment creation, strengthened community participation, infrastructure improvement, skills enhancement of participants, and provision of social security are the major benefits of the EPWP. Continuous revising and re-conceptualizing of the EPWP operations are recommended to maximize and sustain the benefits of the programme.
Olusegun Oguntona, Opeoluwa Akinradewo, Boitumelo Kgoetyane, Babatunde Fatai Ogunbayo, Clinton Aigbavboa
Open Access
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Ethical elements influencing leadership development in the South African Construction industry: A Delphi study
This study aims to establish whether different ethical elements impact leadership development in the South African construction industry (SACI). This Delphi study revealed 16 moral elements that affect leadership development in the construction industry. All sixteen ethical elements recorded high Impact (HI:7.00-8.99) on leadership development in the South African construction industry. The study established that ethical elements that impact the SACI include adhering to organizational ethical values, developing the right moral identity, developing accountability features, and speaking out when something is morally wrong. These ethical elements are similar to those of other industries. It is recommended that leaders in the SACI should cultivate the right conduct in adhering to procedures and policies. This study informs industry stakeholders of the relevant ethical elements that impact leadership development in the South African construction industry.
M Liphadzi, Clinton Aigbavboa
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Empirical scrutiny of the human resources management features for effective maintenance management of educational buildings
This paper presents the findings of an empirical assessment of human resources management features required for the effective maintenance of higher education institutions (HEIs) buildings in South Africa. This was done to improve the maintenance management of HEI buildings in the country for better performance of buildings. The study adopted a post-positivism philosophical perspective using a quantitative research approach with questionnaires as the instrument for data collection. The questionnaire survey was distributed to the users of academic buildings and head of maintenance departments in six HEIs in Gauteng, South Africa. Data collected was analysed using mean item score, Kruskal-Wallis H-test, and confirmatory factor analysis. The study found that the availability of skilled and experienced personnel, adequate staffing of the maintenance department, effective occupational health and safety practices of maintenance staff, and top management support for training are key to the effective maintenance of HEIs buildings. This study offers a theoretical contribution to the existing discourse on the maintenance of educational buildings by exploring the human resources management dimension – an aspect that has gained little attention in recent times.
Ntebo Ncogbo, Clinton Aigbavboa, Douglas Aghimien
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Assessing the role of organizational features in maintenance management of buildings in Higher Education Institutions
This paper presents the results of a study conducted on the importance of organizational features in the maintenance management (MM) of HEI buildings in South Africa. The study was undertaken with the aim of improving the MM of buildings used by HEIs in South Africa. The study adopted a post-positivism philosophical perspective which informed the use of a quantitative research approach using a questionnaire survey. The survey was conducted amongst the users of academic buildings and the head of maintenance departments in six HEIs in Gauteng, South Africa. Data gathered were analysed using mean item score, Kruskal-Wallis H-test, and confirmatory factor analysis. The study's result shows that for HEIs to maintain their buildings effectively, they should prioritise asset management capability, maintenance action plans, and adequate resources. This study offers a theoretical contribution to the existing discourse on the maintenance of educational buildings by exploring the organizational features – an aspect that has gained little attention in HEIs building maintenance studies.
Ntebo Ncogbo, Clinton Aigbavboa, Douglas Aghimien
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Unearthing the outcome of construction digitalisation – a South African perspective
For most construction organisations in developing countries like South Africa, embracing digitalisation is constrained by the absence of evidence pointing to the outcome features of using digital technologies. This study, therefore, set out to unearth the potential outcomes of construction digitalisation by drawing from the perspective of construction professionals in diverse construction-related organisations across South Africa. The study adopted a post-positivism philosophical stance using quantitative research conducted through a questionnaire survey. Data were analysed using mean item score, Kruskal-Wallis H-Test and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). With good internal consistency, construct validity, and acceptable fit indices, CFA confirmed that an organisation's ability to deliver projects within the agreed schedule, quality and cost is improved with digitalisation, with better digital uptake and transformation achieved in the process. This implies that for a construction industry like South Africa, characterised by poor project performance due to the slow adoption of technological advancement, embracing construction digitalisation is a must in this current era of the fourth industrial revolution.
Douglas Aghimien, Clinton Aigbavboa, Ayodeji Oke, Ahmad Taki
Open Access
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Limitations of Futuristic Building Materials for Achieving Sustainability in the Construction Industry
Globally, the construction industry (CI) is regarded as one of the largest consumers of raw materials and natural resources. The industry is also known to be a major source of pollution, waste, and other adverse environmental issues within the built environment. It is therefore imperative to introduce strategies, processes, materials, and technologies that have the potential to revolutionize the CI to a sustainable state, especially in this fourth industrial revolution (4IR) era. Futuristic building materials (FBMs) are the generation of novel and cutting-edge materials with significant potential to solve ongoing challenges and address environmental issues attributed to the CI. Hence, the objective of this paper is to evaluate the hindrances to the utilization of FBMs in realizing a sustainable CI in South Africa. The quantitative research approach was employed in this study. A structured questionnaire survey was administered to construction professionals in the South African construction industry (SACI). Data collected were analyzed using a descriptive statistical method and exploratory factor analysis. Findings from the study revealed the impact of the 15 barriers identified in the reviewed literature. The study also revealed a lack of awareness, lack of knowledge, shortage of skills, poor economic conditions, and escalating costs of building materials as the major barriers hindering the adoption of FBMs. In conclusion, the availability, and accessibility of FBMs are discovered to be limited in the SACI. Research and development (R&D), awareness creation, and multi-disciplinary collaboration is recommended to maximize the effectiveness of FBMs for a sustainable and innovative SACI.
Olusegun Oguntona, Opeoluwa Akinradewo, Onalerona Mokono, Babatunde Fatai Ogunbayo, Clinton Aigbavboa
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Achieving Circular Economy Adoption In The Construction Industry: Hurdles To Cross In A Developing Country
Sustainability and the ability to manage waste in the construction industry are critical to the construction industry efficiency. It is also important as it preserves the environment. The study adopted a quantitative approach via a well-structured questionnaire to identify the barriers to achieving the circular economy in the south African construction industry. Data was collected from construction industry professionals. The data collected was analysed, and the findings reveal that lack of education and awareness, lack of penalties on illegal dumping, and lack of knowledge of CE principles are the three most significant barriers to achieving CE in the construction industry. The study is important as it provides insight into the hurdles to overcome in achieving CE.
Samuel Adekunle, Nyiko Chauke, Matthew Ikuabe, Clinton Aigbavboa, Beauty John
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Key Leadership Skills for Effective Project Delivery: Placing the Lens on Construction 4.0
The revolutionary drive ushered in by the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) is altering the traditional modes of delivering construction projects. This has influenced leadership skills which are portrayed as a fundamental tenet for the successful accomplishment of construction projects. Against this backdrop, this study evaluates the critical leadership skills necessary for effective project delivery in the era of 4IR. The study adopted a quantitative approach using data elicited from construction professionals, while the methods of data analysis were mean item score, standard deviation, and one-sample t-test. Findings from the study indicate that the most significant leadership skills aligning with 4IR for effective project delivery are creative and critical thinking, strategic problem-solving, and technological expertise. The outcome of this study contributes to the growing conversation of the digitalization of the construction industry as it fills the gap in knowledge of the requisite skills necessitated by leadership in the construction industry for optimum alignment with the digital revolution. Furthermore, it presents a solid theoretical base for future studies probing into leadership qualities required for improved construction project delivery.
Matthew Ikuabe, Clinton Aigbavboa, Ayodeji Oke, Samuel Adekunle, Sibusiso Khambule
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Principal Component Analysis of Factors Affecting Construction Project Transaction Costs in Developing Economies
The delivery of any construction project is the outcome of economic exchange, usually involving multiple actors. This economic exchange is attributed to costs other than the traditional cost elements of project delivery and is referred to as transaction costs. Optimizing construction transaction costs is a vital constituent in the deliberations of project success, especially from the project client’s perspective. On this basis, this study evaluates the factors affecting construction project transaction costs in the Nigerian construction industry. A questionnaire survey was used in collecting data from the target respondents, while the retrieved data was analyzed with exploratory factor analysis. Findings showed that four constructs critically influence transaction cost in construction project delivery: the client’s behavioral traits, project characteristics, managerial skills, and contractor's behavioral traits. The study’s findings make theoretical contributions to the literature on improving construction project delivery by unraveling the influential factors to transaction costs.
Matthew Ikuabe, Clinton Aigbavboa, Ayodeji Oke
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Comparative technical-economic study of a reinforced concrete building and a building with prestressed prefabricated elements. Samborondón - Ecuador
This work is aimed at recognizing the system that has more advantages and technical, environmental, and financial efficiency between buildings using a reinforced concrete structure and this same building with prestressed prefabricated components; from establishing the design of a building that has reinforced concrete and that same building has prestressed prefabricated components, create a technical comparison study of a reinforced concrete buconstructionogether with a structure of prestressed prefabricated components, create a financial comparison study of a building that is made of reinforced concrete together witnetworkture of prestressed prefabricated components, Carry out a comparison study according to the environmental scope of a reinforced concrete construction that has a structure of prestressed prefabricated components. In conclusion, it is observed that according to the technical part, it has the advantage of the reinforced concrete system over the conventional one that provides mental comfort to the promoters in some cases. As far as prestressed concrete is concerned, there are advantages as such time-whichhichich results from the simultaneity of the activitiesandnd, e ease of selecting more lights between the support,t,s and the lower valuTheages are the handling and implicit risks, transportation and lifting of these components, which can be avoided with proper planning, a certain reliable schedulechnician responsible for the project which is hawhiccanfacturing parts of these elements, minimizing errors. The conclusions above only represent this comparison accorconclusions above cited. Not always does the assembly and manufacture that is in prestressed concrete lower cost, so it depends on the project.
Leonardo Villacreses, Boris Orellana-Alvear, Natalia Pacurucu
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