Factors influencing the performance of architects in construction projects

The construction industry has been accused of ineffectiveness and inefficiency because of delays, cost overruns and defects that are partly due to flaws in the design. As professionals responsible for design, architects should achieve optimum performance in the project delivery process. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence the performance of architects in construction projects. This study employs a questionnaire survey for data collection and partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS–SEM) for data analysis. Using a census method, a total of 222 useable responses are gathered from registered architects in Indonesia. Results reveal significant and positive relationships between working condition, organisational support and effective design process and the performance of architects. The strongest effect is found from the influence of effective design process on the performance of architects. Thus, these factors should be applied to enhance the performance of architects, thereby improving the project outcome

Intelligent Transport System Why should Building Physicists, Architects and Urban Designers Care?

Urban traffic systems can be called intelligent if they react on changing circumstances with problem solving strategies. Unintelligent traffic systems create problems, enhance problems not only in transport, but also in economy and urban structures. They are damaging and destroying urban structures, social connections and economic stability. Pedestrians, cyclists and (to a certain amount) public transport are intelligent urban traffic systems. They are socially agreeable, environmental-friendly, flexible and - if they are not operated with high speeds - sustainable. Traffic itself is not the goal, traffic itself is a mean. Intelligent traffic systems are therefore dependent on intelligent urban structures. If urban structures are shaped in an unintelligent way as it happened in the 20th century by individual optimization of cars and human activities on every place, intelligent traffic systems are not possible any more. Precious urban space, was occupied not by the intelligent but by the powerful and ruthless car user. Caused by the fascination of effortless individual mobility, urban and transport planning created a word for cars and not for human needs. Traffic management removed obstacles for free car movement, but put barriers for all nonmotorized modes and public transport. The result was the unintelligent city, totally dependent on continuous inflow of fossil fuel. During this time period decisions and planning principles have not been built on sound scientific background, but on unquestioned extrapolation of individual experiences, on observations of symptoms without any understanding of the deep inner mechanisms between man, city and traffic. Scientific findings from the last 30 years show the necessary basic paradigm change toward an intelligent traffic system embedded into an intelligent urban structure

Bridging the Divide: Why Landscape Architects Should Start Preaching to the Choir

abstract: While Lynn White’s 1967 article, The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis, ignited a firestorm of controversy regarding the relationship between religion, particularly Christianity, and the environment, the testing of White’s hypothesis, that Christians are anthropocentric and anti-environment, has produced results that are significantly less clear. Additionally, little research has been conducted with experts in the field of Christianity, the clergy, adding to already significant gaps in the literature. The current research study helps fill that gap by providing the perspective of clergy on the relationship between Christianity and the environment. This qualitative study uses in-depth interviews to assess the topics of importance to members of the clergy within the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan region as well as their professional perspective of the relationship between religion and the environment. The results indicate that community is of great importance to leaders of faith-based organizations, but stewardship is also a primary foundation of the church. While no support was found for White’s hypothesis, a willingness to learn and a need for expertise on environmental issues was identified. In this regard, environmental professionals, specifically landscape architects, have been identified as the ideal group to provide the bridge between faith-based organizations and the environment.Dissertation/ThesisDoctoral Dissertation Design, Environment and the Arts 201

Fire safety education and training in architecture: an exploratory study

Studies have shown that building designs contribute greatly to the magnitude of fire in building with severe consequences on safety of life and property. Hence, fire safety is an important consideration in building design which architects seek to fulfil at the early stage of design. Knowledge of fire safety amongst architects can aid the design of safer buildings in terms of fire protection. Fire safety designs are expected to meet the provisions in Approved document B of the UK Building Regulations which specifies basic fire safety requirements. The main objective of this paper is to explore the educational underpinning of architects with respect to designing fire safe buildings. This paper is based on literature review and interviews conducted among architects both in academia and in practice to ascertain the need for fire safety education in architecture, and as a working knowledge for practicing architects. Findings show that architects undergo fire safety education under different modules, but not as a distinct course. Fire safety education provides architects with basic understanding of fire safety principles, and to determine when to consult fire experts. Recommendations include creating a separate course on fire safety and if taught as part of other modules, more time/ depth should be allocated to its contents

Professional Ethics in the Construction Industry

The results are provided of a small, but reprersentative, questionnaire survey of typical project managers, architects and building contractors concerning their views and experiences on a range of ethical issues surrounding construction industry activities. Most (90%) subscribed to a professional Code of Ethics and many (45%) had an Ethical Code of Conduct in their employing organisations, with the majority (84%) considering good ethical practice to be an important organisational goal. 93% of the respondents agreed that "Business Ethics" should be driven or governed by "Personal Ethics", with 84% of respondents stating that a balance of both the requirements of the client and the impact on the public should be maintained. No respondents were aware of any cases of employers attempting to force their employees to initiate, or participate in, unethical conduct. Despite this, all the respondents had witnessed or experienced some degree of unethical conduct, in the form of unfair conduct (81%), negligence (67%), conflict of interest (48%), collusive tendering (44%), fraud (35%), confidentiality and propriety breach (32%), bribery (26%) and violation of environmental ethics (20%)

Design codes and design language

Self-funde