Intelligent Materials Tracking System for Construction Projects Management

An essential factor adversely affecting the performance of construction projects is the improper handling of materials during site activities. In addition, paper-based reports are mostly used to record and exchange information related to the material components within the supply chain, which is problematic and inefficient. Generally, technologies (such as wireless systems and RFID) are not being adequately used to overcome human errors and are not well integrated with project management systems to make tracking and management of materials easier and faster. Findings from a literature review and surveys showed that there is a lack of positive examples of such tools having been used effectively. Therefore, this research focused on the development of a materials tracking system that integrates RFID-based materials management with resources modelling to improve on-site materials tracking. Rapid prototyping was used to develop the system and testing of the system was carried out to examine the functionality and working appropriately. The proposed system is intended to promote the employment of RFID for automatic materials tracking with integration of resource modelling (Microsoft (R) Office Project) in the project management system in order to establish which of the tagged components are required resources for certain project tasks. In conclusion, the system provides an automatic and easy tracking method for managing materials during materials delivery and inventory management processes in construction projects

Information technology: a tool for effective SME material management practices

Nowadays, various strategies have been adopted to ensure reduction or elimination of waste in materials management practices in the construction industry for overall project performance. However, there are significant challenges related to Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) materials management practices, these challenges arise due to shortage of skills, practical know how, workers capability and financial difficulties in information technology (IT) adoption. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the potentials of IT as a tool for waste elimination or reduction in the Nigerian SME materials management practices for overall projects performance. The data were collected using structured questionnaires and administered to SME in the construction industry in the Northeast of Nigeria. The obtained data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to determine significant level of IT in SME materials management practices. Outcome from the model of this study revealed that, IT adoption is significant with R2 =0.622 (62.2%) which indicates that adoption of IT can improve SME materials management practices for overall projects performance

An exploration of disaster risk to cultural heritage assets: towards effective conservation

Owning to the losses incurred from the occurrence of certain events at Cultural Heritage Sites (CHS’s), conservation of its Cultural Heritage (CH) assets is reported to be threatened. The losses while qualifying for disasters to an affected CHS have necessitated proactive measures in the conservation of CH assets (individual and collective) aimed at reducing the risks of their exposure to eventual disasters. Foremost in such measures is the assessment of Disaster Risks (DR) whereby good practice (assessment of DR) conceptualises it (DR) to being a collective interplay of four variables namely: hazards, vulnerability; capacity and exposure. While deeper insights to the manifestation of each variable is deemed to be gained through a technique that investigates each variable in a multi-level approach, researches in the CH domain are yet to fully apply such approach (particularly to all the variables). Therefore, this research examined the four DR variables with a view to explore their multi-level manifestations in the domain of CH conservation. With the aid of a structured questionnaire and by means of conducting a survey, data was collected from 204 respondents at The Historic Commercial and Residential Zone (Old Quarter) of the Core Zone of Malacca CHS in Malaysia. Using IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0, a 5-Step Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was carried out to analyse the inputted data. The achievement of certain threshold requirements by the results of this research indicates the fulfilment of some objectives of EFA. For instance, the reduction of manifest items is evident from the 47 manifest items having factor loadings ≥ 0.6 as against the total of 58 manifest items initially used in the study. Additionally, while the 47 manifest items for all 10 factors retained fulfilled convergent validity (loadings of manifest items ≥ 0.6), the loadings for the rotation of all 10 factors fulfilled discriminant validity (loading ≤ 0.3). These 10 factors retained spread across the four DR variables as follows: hazards (natural and human induced); vulnerability (human, material and managementbased); capacity (human, material and management-based); and exposure (heritage values and community assets). The EFA technique used in this research has enabled the multilevelling of each variable within the sphere of variable-to-factor and then factor-to-manifest item. The implication of the approach to multi-levelling of variables is for gaining deeper insights of DR to CHS conservation. However, it is worthy stating that the manifest items used in this study are bound to vary both within and across CHS’s, thus, further studies could embark on a conceptual framework for the assessment of DR that could apply to specific contexts of DR towards the effective conservation of CHS’s and its CH assets therein

Challenges Towards Reducing Illegal Dumping Activities in the Construction Industry

Nowadays an increasing number of construction projects in Malaysia have contributed to the production of construction waste which has had a negative impact on the environment, especially through illegal dumping. The increasing number of illegal dumping activities is a sign that construction waste management needs to be examined. To date, a comprehensive criterion for construction waste management, in developing countries is still not clearly defined. Therefore, the objectives of this paper are to investigate current illegal dumping activities, and identify the challenges towards reducing illegal dumping activities in the Malaysian construction industry. Hence, this research conducted interviews with 20 expert stakeholders related to construction waste management in order to scrutinise illegal dumping activities in Malaysia. The data from these semi-structured interviews were analysed by content analysis. The findings are used to determine the current challenges for reducing illegal dumping activities in the Malaysian construction industry. The elements in the current findings are potentially to improve construction waste management in order to archive the proper construction waste management.  Finally, this findings will help to identify strategies to reduce illegal dumping activities and to enhance challenges towards reducing illegal dumping activities in the Malaysian construction industry

The Level of Indoor Thermal Comfort in Malaysian Student Residential College

Higher education institutions (HEI) are the centre of learning and teaching that are responsible for producing high-quality first-generation. The inadequate number of student accommodations also resulted in stacking several students in one room, leading to discomfort, space constraints, lack of privacy, and other health conditions. This study investigates the level of indoor thermal comfort on occupant living at student residential college, which was built by the private party without complying with the design elements that have been gazette by Malaysian building standard. Besides that, the relationship between the room orientation designs in influencing student comfort level will also be inspected. The method consisted of distributing a questionnaire to the occupants and measuring operative air temperature. The study results found that the respondents have a high level of dependence on the mechanical ventilation system, namely the fan, due to the higher temperature and lack of airflow elements. This study also shows a positive relationship between the room orientation designs affecting the level of comfort of the occupants, supported by a correlation analysis. High average temperature occurs at the peak hour (noon) recorded at 31°C, which is above the recommended standard temperature listed by the Department of Standard Malaysia. This study help increase the knowledge of indoor thermal comfort throughout the design phase that can maximize the occupant’s wellbeing and productivity. &nbsp

Success Factor for Project Management on High Rise Building Project

Abstract: Success of each project and efficiency is required to achieve a greater advantage over the firms in construction industry today. Effective project management overcomes these types of challenges. Each big construction project company strives to achieve the most efficient and effective project management processes. The success factors which are important for project management in high rise building project success. However the main issues that can lead the project to fail are lack of communication among the project team. This study identifies the project management practices in high rise building, success factor for project management on high rise building and un-success factor for project management. The methodology of this study used questionnaire method and the targeted are contractors’ firms in Johor Bahru with sample size of 200 respondents. This study used descriptive statistical analysis which is frequency and mean by SPPS software. The dominant practice from the analysis for the first objective is comprehensive understanding of the work and process. While, the dominant success factor from the analysis for the second objective are project manager ability to coordinate and motivate team. Finally, the dominant factor from the analysis for the third objective un-success factor which is financial difficulties faced by the contractor. Further study can be performed regarding this topic in different ways or methods such as other provinces or cities of Malaysia; another type of construction projects, such as highways construction project, dam construction project, using another grade of contractors such as G6, G5 and etc. Keywords: Construction, high-rise building, project management, succes