LEARNING FROM THE PAST: INNOVATION EVALUATED BY STRATEGIC NICHE MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY

The leading question in this paper concerns the reasons that may stimulate or hamper a wider diffusion of innovative technologies in the construction industry. The Strategic Niche Management (SNM) approach provides an evolutionary framework that is supposed to give a better insight into the reasons why new technologies may be successful or fail even though they promise superior performance compared to incumbent technologies. The SNM approach has been applied in a number of cases of innovative energy and transport technology solutions. The findings will be discussed by thriving on the theoretical backgrounds of the SNM approach and on literature describing the application of the SNM methodology in energy and transport technology cases as well as on the conclusions of the study on the application of it on the wider diffusion of an innovative prefab building system in the Dutch construction industry

INNOVATION FOR A SUSTAINABLE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Despite the indisputable contribution of innovations to socio-economic development, the world has realized that many innovations and technologies have been a major cause of climatic change and resource depletion. This research aimed to identify how and whether innovation in construction contributes to achieve a sustainable built environment. An analytical framework -derived from literature studies on evidence and theories on innovation in manufacturing-was applied in Dutch construction. The study underpinned that sustainable construction requires innovative solutions which go beyond the traditional and generally accepted way of building. Government support appeared necessary for a regime shift to stimulate innovation for a sustainable built environment. Policies thus should be directed to tackle a major bottleneck in construction: knowledge, expectations and beliefs concerning innovation for sustainable construction

Achieving sustainable building education the case of polytechnics in Ghana

The construction industry in Ghana is suffering a number of problems at all levels with regards to materials, machinery, personal organization and information. This has its consequences for the production of buildings and amongst them housing. One of the solutions is thought in improving the technical education of the new staff for the construction industry. This paper reports of a successful (NPT) Nuffic project whereby the TU/e worked closely together with the two Ghanaian partners the Polytechnics in Sunyany and Cape Coast and the Kwame Nkruma University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi. The approach of improving education was at different levels: a) The development of a new curriculum. b) Upgrading of laboratories and workshops at both polytechnics. c) The staff could follow upgrading courses to get a graduation of Bsc or Msc level. d) Some ((Msc) level) staff members were allowed to leave the country for a phd study in one of the specific teaching areas at the TU/e. The main point was to involve the construction industry in both the curriculum development and in the practice of teaching and apprenticeships. In December 2006 was a mid-term review as the project is half way. A number of promising results can be reported. Although some financial input is required in our view this way of approaching a problematic construction industry will bear its fruits in the nearby future. Already in September 2007 the new curriculum will be launched so that the industry will be reinforced with staff of a higher quality. The sustainability is guaranteed as the upgrading project was fully embedded Ghanaian context with full support of all parties involved

Serum esterases in mackerel, Scomber scombrus L.

Special Meeting "The Biochemical and Serological Identification of Fish Stocks"

Lezing door mr A.W.H. Docters van Leeuwen

In zijn lezing op 11 mei 1998 voor de Bestuurskundige Interfacultaire vereniging Leiden acht Docters van Leeuwen op de rand van het millennium, de vraag naar transformaties meer dan ooit actueel

The stakeholder requirements of building systems for coastal low income housing concerning safety and adaptability

Many coastal settlements in humid tropical developing countries face the burdens of risks due to their location as well as due to a rather low quality of housing that does not meet the requirements of sustainability. An important aspect is that the provided building systems for coastal houses in some developing countries (DCs) do not cater for the stakeholder requirement of building safety and adaptability in the coastal area. This paper describes the results on stakeholder requirements and preferences of building systems for determination and adaptation of the performance of low cost housing in HTCCs towards improved sustainability concerning safety and adaptability. Keywords : stakeholder requirements, sustainability and lifespan, building systems, humid tropical coastal cities , safety and adaptabilit

The stakeholder requirements of building systems for coastal low income housing concerning safety and adaptability

Many coastal settlements in humid tropical developing countries face the burdens of risks due to their location as well as due to a rather low quality of housing that does not meet the requirements of sustainability. An important aspect is that the provided building systems for coastal houses in some developing countries (DCs) do not cater for the stakeholder requirement of building safety and adaptability in the coastal area. This paper describes the results on stakeholder requirements and preferences of building systems for determination and adaptation of the performance of low cost housing in HTCCs towards improved sustainability concerning safety and adaptability. Keywords : stakeholder requirements, sustainability and lifespan, building systems, humid tropical coastal cities , safety and adaptabilit

Activities and space use for enabling local economy in coastal low income housing : towards a methodologycal approach

Many low income households are supported by Home Based Enterprises (HBE) for their income generation. However, settlements in coastal areas have physical problems related to the corrosive land and climate condition, as well as the possibilities of natural hazards such as flooding (ADB, 2003: UNHABITAT 2003). The rapid growth of cities especially in developing countries (DCs) contributes to social problems, serious burdens for human health and the environment. In order to improve the quality of human life in the coastal cities, some local governments decided to remove some settlements to the inland area such as problems in some big coastal cities in Indonesia. In many cases, many resettlements of housing failed to meet community’s and user’s requirements. To reduce and avoid sustainability problems, it is necessary to have more insight and understanding of the used of space in coastal low income housing. This paper describes user’s activities and methodological approach used in order to determine user’s requirements in coastal low income housing (LIH). Keywords: coastal settlements, low income housing, home based enterprises (HBE), user’s activities, space design