Dispute avoidance procedure:formulating a workable legal system in the Malaysian construction industry

Research on dispute avoidance procedure (DAP) particularly in Malaysia is lacking as most of the current research and development deals with various issues within the dispute resolution procedure and management field. It is therefore significant to conduct a country-specific research by exploring the viability of DAP based on socio-legal research. The aim of this article is two-fold: to present the perceptions of the Malaysian construction industry players on the substantive elements of a viable DAP mechanism and; to formulate a necessary legal reform to accommodate and support the formulated DAP mechanism within the Malaysian construction industry. As part of a socio-legal research approach, interviews were conducted with the selected construction industry players to disclosethe pattern, which may help to explain the underlying issues. NVivo software has been used to manage and organize the complete interview transcripts and facilitate the data analysis process for this study. Among others, this research suggests that a viable DAP mechanism consists of the following substantive elements, namely, to introduce the mechanism through contract and to provide a contractually binding settlement. In essence, this research also advocatesa necessary legal reform to accommodate and support the formulated DAP mechanism within the Malaysian construction industry. This research generally confirms that a country-specific research is required through a socio-legal research

Integrating risk and value management using IRVM workshops: Case studies in infrastructure projects in UK

In infrastructure projects, even though both value management (VM) and risk management (RM) are widely accepted as tools for effective project management, they have never been synthetically practiced. To combine the two processes within a single project is practical and logical when both methods share the same resources. Both VM and RM are systematic processes and involve a multi-disciplinary team in creative IRVM workshops. This paper attempts to examine the application of IRVM workshop to integrate RM and VM through case studies as a qualitative approach in four infrastructure projects in UK. Results show that even through the application of IRVM workshop is very much dependent on several factors such as time and budget constraint, complexity of project, and client's requirement, it could effectively quantify the VM and RM approaches to increase the exercisability.Department of Building and Real Estat

Plastic Roads in Asia: Current Implementations and Should It Be Considered?

The rapid economic and industrial growth experienced in the Asian region has significantly increased waste production, particularly single-use plastic. This surge in waste poses a significant challenge for these countries’ municipal solid waste management systems. Consequently, there is a pressing need for progressive and effective solutions to address the plastic waste issue. One promising initiative involves utilizing used plastic to produce components for asphalt pavement. The concept of plastic road technology has gained traction in Asia, with 32 countries displaying varying levels of interest, ranging from small-scale laboratory experiments to large-scale construction projects. However, as a relatively new technology, plastic road implementation requires continuous and comprehensive environmental and health risk assessments to ascertain its viability as a reliable green technology. This review paper presents the current findings and potential implementation of plastic-modified asphalt in Asian countries, with particular attention given to its environmental and human health impacts. While plastic asphalt roads hold promise in waste reduction, improved asphalt properties, and cost savings, it is imperative to thoroughly consider the environmental and health impacts, quality control measures, recycling limitations, and long-term performance of this road construction material. Further research and evaluation are needed to fully understand the viability and sustainability of plastic asphalt roads. This will enable a comprehensive assessment of its potential benefits and drawbacks, aiding in developing robust guidelines and standards for its implementation. By addressing these considerations, it will be possible to optimize the utilization of plastic waste in road construction and contribute to a greener and more sustainable future