INNOVATIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES INVOLVED IN GREEN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

The paper describes the attempt made in the direction of innovative approach to management and sustainability of Green projects concept. Green project concept involved the practice of increasing the efficiency with which building use resources-energy, water, materials, while reducing building impact on human health and the environment. Atmosphere above the earth has suffered high degree of pollution from buildings in recent times resulting in destabilization of ecosystem and ozone layer depletion which culminates in global warming phenomenon. In order to curtail the effect of negative impact of building on human health and environment, the complete building life cycle from design to post construction period should be thoroughly monitored. To this end, this study attempt, to describe innovative approaches to a sustainable Green project development including the attendant sustainability issues

DEVELOPMENT OF COMPETITIVENESS INDICES FOR INDIGENOUS CONSTRUCTION FIRMS IN NIGERIA

Competitiveness of indigenous construction firms plays a vital role in the economic development of any nation. The significance of competitiveness to economic development lies in the fact that it increases the level of profits earned by indigenous construction firms, thereby contributing to a nation‟s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, foreign construction firms dominate the Nigerian construction market on account of managerial and technological capabilities in which foreign construction firms have a significant comparative advantage. This research, therefore, aimed at developing a set of indices which can be used as a benchmark for evaluating the competitiveness of indigenous construction firms in Nigeria. The study adopted a quantitative research design. Questionnaire was used to elicit information from indigenous construction firms registered with the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB). Data obtained from the survey were analyzed using bar charts, tables, ranking analysis and correlation. Competitiveness indices were developed by means of the „weighted summation‟ a statistical tool for evaluating multi-criteria concepts. Forty significant competitiveness indices were developed in this research. The five most significant competitiveness indices for indigenous construction firms in Nigeria were: effectiveness of cost controlling methods, effectiveness of site management, method of procurement, effectiveness of time controlling methods and client relationship. Finally, this study recommended that indigenous construction firms should allocate sufficient resources to the competitiveness indices developed in this study in order to increase their chances of winning more jobs and ultimately significantly bridge the gap between them and their foreign counterparts

Effect of aerosols loading and retention on surface temperature in the DJF months

The effect of aerosols loading most often results in aerosols retention in the atmosphere. Aside the health hazards of aerosol retention, its effect on climate change are visible. In this research, it was proposed that the effect of aerosol retention also affects the fluctuation of the surface temperature. The location of study is Enugu, Nigeria (6.4584° N, 7.5464° E). Twenty-nine years GISS Surface Temperature Analysis (GISTEMP) data set and sixteen years MISR aerosol optical data set were used. The fluctuations in the sixteen years aerosol optical depth (AOD) tallied with the surface temperature. The curve-fitting tool of Matlab was used to generate a polynomial for the surface temperature and used to project a five years prediction of the surface temperature

Atmospheric configurations of aerosols loading and retention over Bolgatanga-Ghana

Bolgatanga is located on latitude of 10.78 oN and longitude 0.85 oW. This research is aimed to estimate the aerosols loading and retention over Bolgatanga-Ghana through a conceptual model that is made up of analytical, statistical and Matlab curve-fitting tool. The model’s accuracy was established over the aerosol optical depth for a thirteen-year satellite data set from the Multi-angle imaging specto-reflectometer (MISR). The maximum aerosol retention was 31.73%. Its atmospheric constants, tunning constants and the phase difference over Bolgatanga was found to 0.67, 0.24 and / 4 respectively. The phase difference expresses the different kinds of network topologies and beam forming methods for measuring devices that may be used in Bolgatanga. Therefore a good estimation of the aerosols loading and retention over Bolgatanga, we may be in the best position to controlling its effect on health, farming, rainfall pattern, cloud formation and regional climate

MULTILAYER PERCEPTRON NETWORK MODEL FOR CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL PROCUREMENT IN FAST DEVELOPING CITIES

Material contributes greatly to the total cost of construction. Effective material procurement can yield significant cost savings, profit maximization and improved client satisfaction. The a influence on material procurement. research design, with the aid of mainland area of Lagos metropolis, Nigeria multilayered perceptron network model. The findings reveal volume of reputation of manufacturers/suppliers outcome of material price to predict material quality. procurement is unstable. At some time material prices are docile and pick up gradually while at other times material prices appreciate and suddenly crash. findings of the study have strong implications construction site, particularly in fast adoption of effective material between material price, material quality and time of material important in achieving constructio

Survey dataset on occupational hazards on construction sites

The construction site provides an unfriendly working conditions, exposing workers to one of the harshest environments at a workplace. In this dataset, a structured questionnaire was design directed to thirty-five (35) craftsmen selected through a purposive sampling technique on various construction sites in one of the most populous cities in sub-Saharan Africa. The set of descriptive statistics is presented with tables, stacked bar chats and pie charts. Common occupational health conditions affecting the cardiovascular, respiratory and musculoskeletal systems of craftsmen on construction sites were identified. The effects of occupational health hazards on craftsmen and on construction project performance can be determined when the data is analyzed. Moreover, contractors’ commitment to occupational health and safety (OHS) can be obtained from the analysis of the survey data

STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING INDIGENOUS CONTRACTORS PARTICIPATION IN R&D IN NIGERIA

It has been noted that Indigenous Nigerian Contractors Participation in R&D is insufficient. This paper aims to suggest strategies for improving Indigenous Nigerian Contractors Participation in R&D based on empirical evidences from previous studies. It uses the Malaysian Construction Industry Model to develop a framework for improving Indigenous Nigerian Contractors Participation in R&D. The paper envisages that Indigenous Nigerian Contractors Participation in R&D would improve if the strategy of sufficient Government support for Indigenous Nigerian Contractors is employed

Balancing the Female Identity in the Construction Industry

The fundamental rights of equity and justice call for a balance in the identity of both males and females in every sector. In spite of several strategies aimed at increasing women engagement, the female identity is still blurred in the construction workplace scenery. The study evaluated measures to balancing the female identity in the construction industry. The dataset was obtained through a questionnaire instrument of 105 women in the construction industry. The data were presented using stacked bars, cross tabulation/mean score, principal component analysis (PCA) and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The study revealed that anti-feminine characteristics exist in the industry in form of work growth gap, position/pay gap and symbolic intimidation. The study showed that there is the need for attitudinal changes in the bullying culture and the sexual orientation towards co-workers. Strategies to balance the female identity can be achieved at the national level, construction organisation level, union level and client level. In conclusion, the female identity can be balanced in the construction industry by encouraging adequately funded female mentors/role model programmes. The study recommended that beyond legislation, the onus is on women to inspire women. In order to attract, retain women and reduce the anti-feminine characteristics in the construction sector, there is a need for female mentors/role models to be actively engaged. Strategies and approaches that can alter a female-biased attitude need to be engaged in the minds of construction professionals

Target Output, Extended Output and Site Productivity: Tales of the Expected

Target output, extended output and moderate output are compared for selected construction projects in some selected sites in Nigeria. The objective of this study is to examine the attributes of extended and moderate output, setting of benchmarks for purpose of analysis of worker productivity, determination of derivable benefits, with a view to identifying if the effects are the same for both methods. The study procures the primary data used in this study through the use of questionnaires designed in Likert scale 1 to 5, which are sent to clients, builders and consultants. In all, 120 questionnaires were sent to these respondents who recently completed their housing projects based on the two methods. Results of the study indicate that there is significant difference between both methods in terms of risks of value for money, guaranteed sense of self accomplishment, while a significant difference exists between both methods in job burnt- out effect, timely completion of project, and exhaustion, Moderate target output method demonstrates less risk of timely completion of project than the extended target output. This study concludes that there are various types of risks inherent in use of both methods in housing projects. The study displays characteristics of early completion of project and prospects of getting good value for money. Recommendations of the study are that clients, contractors and consultants should use Moderate target output for execution of their future housing projects job allocations, and also they are at liberty to use any of the two methods as they best satisfy their requirements. Implications of this study to policy makers and other stakeholders in the construction industry is that Moderate labour output method should be explored for use in large and complex projects as considerable cost savings can be achieved, timely delivery of project and good value for money are equally derivable benefits of the method. The outcome of this study serves as a watershed to other peculiar issues inn site productivity and job beats’ allocations