Bridging BIM and LCSA to greening existing buildings : From a literature review to development of conceptual framework

Instead of looking into new building, this study shifted the focus to existing buildings considering the area has been less explored although the amount of energy released during the phase has significant influence towards sustainability impacts. Deriving from the situation, the purpose of this paper is to explore the potential of bridging BIM and the four-steps approach of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) as an assisting tool to improve the performances of existing non-green buildings. To achieve aforementioned aim, an extensive literature review to identify the nexus between the two areas is done, as well as possibilities and challenges surfaced pertaining to the idea. Literature review process consists of several approaches including literature searching, classifying, and analysis were conducted. Based on literature review, a research gap is identified, and an initial conceptual framework is developed. The framework entails several areas of research that highlight on integrating LCSA approach, sustainability indicators and BIM functions. Apart from that, several implementation considerations to integrate both areas have been identified too. The conceptual framework presented in this study will serve as a basis to further develop an implementation framework that integrates BIM and LCSA to greening existing buildings. The final implementation framework is expected to assist project stakeholders including project manager (or facility manager), building owner, and consultants in making decision towards improving existing buildings' sustainable performance

Factors affecting the ownership of low-cost housing for socio-economic development in Malaysia

Malaysian government has a special commitment to provide the adequate, affordable housing and quality to all income levels, particularly for low-income group. Over the recent years, Malaysian property market was not balance in terms of supply and demand, where the demand is exceeding supply especially for low-cost housing. However, high demand for housing in urban areas could affect the homeownership issue for low-income group. The first objective of this paper is to study the relationship between household income and housing affordability. Besides, the second objective is to examine housing satisfaction level by the residents focusing on the public low-cost flats under the supervision of Kuala Lumpur City Hall. A survey has been carried out using questionnaires distributed to 500 residents of the three-low-cost housing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The finding contributes to an establishment of a strategy to improve homeownership of the low-income earners to own PPR house. This study is recommended that more effort should be taken by the government to improve quality of house to ensure the better life of low-income population in the current PPR flats

The assessment of waste segregation exercise among Malaysian contractors: a descriptive analysis

Construction waste that emerges from construction sites has become a major global concern due to its negative carbon footprint on the environment. Due to underrepresented construction waste specific data in Malaysia, this paper aims to identify sources, causes, types of construction waste and decision-making factors of construction waste management in Malaysia's construction sites. A questionnaire survey was administered to 60 construction practitioners representing different construction sites in Peninsular Malaysia. A descriptive analysis using the Relative Importance Index (RII) was used to rank the items asked in the survey and categorised them into high (RII>70%), medium (50%<RII<70%) or low (RII<50%) importance levels. The findings show that the top-ranked sources of construction waste categorised as high importance level are demolition, site clearance, and refurbishment. The causes, insufficient construction waste management plan, incorrect materials, design changes, over-ordering, errors in the contract document, and on-site technical errors are ranked as highly important. The top common waste materials include concrete, brick, metal, wood, glass and paper. The importance of all decision-making factors is high-rated; unexpectedly, environmental impact is the least important reason for construction waste management contractors. The results provide a perspective of the current practices of construction waste in Malaysia. The outcome is useful for waste managers and policymakers in developing potential waste management strategies for a more sustainable construction industry

Defects of Tensioned Membrane Structures (TMS) In Tropics

The wide use of tensioned membrane structures (TMS) becomes prominent in many designs because of its aesthetic, ergonomic, and economical nature. Recently, TMS has been applied in the tropics with success, yet defects specific to this region have received little attention. Through a questionnaire survey of 890 uses and technicians of TMS in three different areas in Malaysia, this study identified the most frequently occurring TMS defects in the tropics, such as "deterioration of roof coatings", "corrosion or fatigue in fixings", "fungal decay, mould growth, and dirt in membrane", "corrosion in anchor cables", and "degradation of fabrics". These defects are quite different from those in other climatic zones. The top five causes of TMS defects in the tropics are weather, aging, design, construction/installation, and material selection. However, only "corrosion or fatigue in fixings" is a significant predictor for "deterioration of roof coatings". While this is not a causal effect, a practical implication is that TMS maintenance workers do not have to climb up to the roof to check the deterioration in coating but only need to predict the deterioration through the corrosion levels of the fixings. Further, seven countermeasures for TMS in tropic are recommended. This study is the first comprehensive study examining tensioned membrane structure defects in the tropics

Environmental assessment schemes for non-domestic building refurbishment in the Malaysian context

The increase in global warming, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions has gained attention in various regions. In Malaysia, the government announced a voluntary commitment to reduce 40% of CO 2 emissions by 2020 and to refurbish 100 government buildings. Existing buildings make a large contribution to energy consumption and CO 2 emissions, therefore refurbishing existing buildings is an essential strategy to achieve the commitment. There is no single assessment scheme for building refurbishment in Malaysia and hence, this study aims to develop a comprehensive list of assessment themes and sub-themes for building refurbishment purposes. It examines and compares 10 assessment schemes from various countries: BREEAM, LEED, CASBEE, BEAM Plus, GBLS, Green Star, HQE, Green Mark, GBI and MyCrest. The findings revealed fourteen themes that were considered for assessment: management, sustainable site, transport, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), water, waste, material, energy, pollution, innovation, economic, social, culture and quality of services. Energy and IEQ are dominant themes in all assessment schemes. Most of the schemes are considered relatively weak in evaluating economic and social aspects, in comparison to environmental aspects. The assessment of quality of services is overlooked in most of the schemes, including GBI and MyCrest in Malaysia. Outcomes from this paper will form the baseline for a new environmental assessment scheme that aimed at non-domestic building refurbishments in Malaysia. A new model is proposed for the development of an environmental assessment scheme in the further stage

Integrating Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Sustainability to Greening Existing Building: Potentials in Malaysian Construction Industry

Apropos to numerous environmental issues highlighted globally and locally, Malaysia has now moving forward towards new agenda of greening the cities. A positive movement trend of new green building in the country can be seen as number of projects going into green rating application are increasing yearly. Nevertheless, sustainability impact is considered as significantly small since newly developed green building represent small percentage as compared to the existing non-green building. Therefore, the idea of greening the existing building through refurbishment emerged in order to achieve wider sustainability objectives. Apart from that, supported with recent evolvement of technology and digitalization in construction industry, in lieu with governments’ strategies to adopt Industry 4.0, Building Information Modelling (BIM) has also been acknowledged and used broadly as a solution to integrate and facilitate management of information throughout building lifecycles. Considering these two areas; sustainability and BIM are continuously gaining momentum these days, this paper attempts to explore BIM’s potentials as an enabler to help greening the existing non-green building. Literature review is conducted focus on reviewing BIM and sustainability present status in Malaysian construction industry, also their relationship including examining potential areas where BIM may contribute to enhance the buildings’ sustainability performances. Based on the reviews, there is a potential of bridging the two areas considering both has becoming a national construction industry agenda since the government released CITP2016-2020. To further concur the ideas, literature reviews has also proven that the ability of BIM to facilitate various functions has enable it to support several sustainability analyses such as energy, carbon emission, lighting, water, materials and waste, building and site, and costing analysis

Developing a Quality-Embedded EVM Tool to Facilitate the Iron Triangle in Architectural, Construction, and Engineering Practices

In modern architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) practices, the Iron Triangle of schedule, cost, and quality remains the key measurement to gauge project success. Existing tools do not work well at monitoring all three measures of the Iron Triangle, resulting in a huge cost and time overrun, and the existing functionality of Earned Value Management (EVM) covers only time and cost, but not quality. Thus, this study aims to develop a quality extension to EVM that caters to quality measurement. Firstly, this research introduced a measurable index and developed a new quality assessment method named the Quality Performed Assessment Method (QPAM) through a quantitative approach. Subsequently, a new tool named Earned Quality Value Management (EQVM) was developed to manage the Iron Triangle in a single reporting setting. The QPAM and EQVM were validated through three tiers of validation processes, namely, a pilot run to test its functionality in a conceptual model, a scenario analysis to identify its sensitivity, and a real case study to validate its functionality. QPAM and EQVM performed satisfactorily in systematic reporting and monitoring enhancement. This single reporting tool enables project stakeholders to make cross-comparisons and gain more insight into the project portfolio. Academically, this research minimized the gap among Iron Triangle management, quality management, and project portfolio management. Practically, this research developed a method for Iron Triangle control on a daily basis for both a single project and a portfolio

Critical success factors in implementing flexible IT infrastructure in the Malaysian construction industry

Improved IT products and services are continually being introduced around the world. However, although an increasingly common approach in many industries, little is known of the characteristics of flexible IT infrastructure associated with its successful construction industry implementation. To rectify this situation, this study aimed to identify the critical success factors (CSFs) involved in the delivery of Information Technology Infrastructure Flexibility (ITIF) to the construction industry. An initial list of 38 potential factors divided into technical, people, and management dimensions and associated elements were identified by literature review and preliminary interviews with seven Malaysian companies representing a variety of construction industry participants and IT experts. This was followed by a main study comprising a questionnaire survey of 211 construction industry practitioners in Malaysia. Eighteen critical factors contributing to successful ITIF delivery are identified. Of these, two CSFs of hybrid skill and willingness to change appear to be unique to the Malaysian construction industry. Further research is recommended to assess the opinions of a wider variety of experienced practitioners to validate the findings and its applicability in the Malaysian context and beyond.</p

The Rise Of BIM in Malaysia And Its Impact Towards Quantity Surveying Practices

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a new buzzword that is gaining a momentum within the construction industry in Malaysia, and worldwide. BIM is a way of working that involves the automation of the entire project team using a 4D model that can do many of the traditional fuctions of a Quatity Surveyor (QS). As BIM is removing more of the traditional work of QS, there are rising fears that it could threaten the viability of the QS professions especially for small firms that still rely on producing bills of quantities. This paper aims to review the challenges and opportunities gained from BIM advancement in QS profession, especially in Malaysia. Despite of serious cost and commercial challenges of BIM implementation, BIM will work wonder as a tool that will cut the amount of time QS have to spend on analysis and provides opportunities to direct QS talents towards being more efficient. This is resulting to better project coordination with a lot less conflict, a more sustainable building in the final instance and also throughout the process, as less time is spent on each stage

Risk in Implementing Building Information Modelling (BIM) in Malaysia Construction Industry: A Review

Building Information Modelling (BIM) terminology in the construction industry has been widespread used as industry standard buzzword term. BIM could open up a broad range of benefits in the construction industry. However, rate of implementation does not match its benefits. Why BIM has not been fully adopted in construction industry? The underlying problem to the above-mentioned issue were arisen due to the barriers, challenges and risks. These can be a potential factor to jeopardise the successfulness of the construction project by affecting the cost, time and quality. The said factors can be an actual risk which later on bringing construction project to failure. Thus, it crucial to identify the potential risk as a basis for risk assessment and risk response process. Moreover, risk identification relatively important since the risk assessment and risk response process are applied only to the regornised risk factors. Therefore, the aim for this paper is to review the possible risks in implementing BIM in construction industry