SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES IN ENGINEERING INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: SELECTED SOUTH WESTERN NIGERIA STATES CASE STUDY

It is an undeniable fact that production of maintenance- free infrastructure is not feasible. The reality is that all the elements and components that make up an engineering infrastructure unavoidably, deteriorates with time due to inherent defects in design and construction, and the effects of environmental agents and users activities. All engineering infrastructures are subject to aging, wear and tear in the performance of their functions and deterioration by exposure to outside operating environment. Hence, left to themselves, engineering infrastructures will eventually become inefficient, unreliable and fail. The issue then is how the existing infrastructure can be sustained to the extent that the functions they are designed to perform will not be compromised. To this end, this study will researched into sustainability strategies that can be adopted in engineering infrastructure maintenance. Data will be collected for purpose of extracting information on deployable strategies, including the use of Public engineering infrastructure in Southwestern part of Nigeria as case study. The study will later recommend strategies than can be adopted to aid this present generation provide solution to their environmental needs without compromise ability of future generation to meet their needs, which concept of sustainability has birthed

UNDERSTANDING FACILITY TAXONOMY IN ASSETS CODING FOR MAINTAINANCE OPERATION

Importance of asset coding cannot be overemphasized; facilities of organization have been squandered or left unkempt as a result of expansion often experienced and little or no structure to accommodate increase in asset and their maintenance. However, having a structure in place that caters for asset documentation, archiving and tagging for tracing tools and equipment itinerary is as important as acquiring such assets in the sense of it. This study thus seeks to present rudiment of assets taxonomy, principle and guiding standard in equipment coding and identification for maintenance purpose

ENGINEERING FUNDERMENTAL AND APPRAISAL ISSUES INVOLVED IN PLANT AND EQUIPMENT PROCUREMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKS

Knowledge of engineering funder-mental helps situate study of plant and equipment within the framework of task peculiarity and choice of suitable plants and equipment to achieve the task. Critical to choice of equipment is the financial implication, thus the need for in-depth appraisal of available alternative for cost effective alternative. This presentation attempt to present pivotal issue in engineering funder-mental vis a vis appraisal techniques for selection of an optimum alternative with practical illustration

Performance of Build-operate-Transfer Projects: Risks' cost implications from professionals and concessionaires perspective

Determining cost implication of risk factors on performance of Build Operate Transfer (BOT) projects is a major focus of this study. One-hundred and seventeen structured questionnaires were used to collect information randomly from the respondents which made up of professionals such as Builder, Architect, Quantity surveyor and Civil engineer. Content analysis was carried out on the responses for validation; data were further analyzed with Mean Item Score using Risk Mean Index and validated with regression analysis. Meanwhile, the most common risk to all the projects executed are inflation, variation to works, change in government policy and fluctuating nature of foreign exchange with inflation being the highest on rating scale of 0.1 to 1.0 with corresponding cost implications and years. Against the background of the research outcome therefore, cost and time is used in this context as a model typifying the extent of risk implication experienced on the projects

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

Recycling fine sandcrete block waste (FSBW)as fine Aggregate in the production of sandcrete Block

The study investigated the use of Fine Sandcrete Block Waste (FSBW) as fine aggregate in the production of sandcrete blocks with a view of controlling waste and decongesting block molding production sites. Standard sandcrete blocks of size 450mmX225mmX225mm were prepared from a mix ratio 1:6 (cement: fine aggregate) containing sand and FSBW as fine aggregates. The sand was partially replaced by FSBW in the mix within the range 0% - 90% in steps of 10%. The blocks were cured for 28 days and then tested for compressive strength. The physical properties of both the sand and FSBW were also determined. The results of the study revealed that the physical properties of FSBW compares favorably with those of conventional sand with the exception of water absorption. It further showed that the density and the compressive strength of the tested blocks decrease as the percentage replacement of sand with FSBW increases. The density of the blocks varied linearly with the compressive strength. Blocks prepared for mixes having 50% FSBW content or less were found to satisfy the minimum recommended compressive strength of 3.45N/mm2 (NIS 87:2000)

COST AND TIME PERFORMANCE INFORMATION OF BUILDING PROJECTS IN DEVELOPING ECONOMY

The construction industry plays a very important role in nation development and in construction project delivery and timely provision of shelter and dwelling units for the masses. The aim of the study therefore is to study cost and time performance on building project in developing economy, with a view to finding ways of improving cost and time performance on building projects. Some of the developing in used in this context includes: Nigeria, Togo, Cameroun, and Ghana. A population size of 70 was selected, and a total sample size of 59 respondents was used in this study, with questionnaire distributed to construction professionals. Variables pertaining to the above listed targets were identified and incorporated into questionnaires as the primary source of data. The data was collated and analysed, using mean item score ranking, percentages and the use of descriptive statistics. It was discovered that variables like rising prices of building materials, inclusion of additional work as a result of clients’ request, deterioration in economic situation, were identified as the top causes of variation in construction project from developing countries. Also, cost, poor planning and scheduling, delay in payment approval for additional work, work suspension by client, were identified as top causes of time and cost variations. The study recommend among other things that: full consideration should be given to projects from inception to completion, adequate and effective consultancy services for clients, as well as strict follow up of programme of works by every contractor for a construction project

Expert System-Based Exploratory Approach to Cost Modeling of Reinforced Concrete Office Building

Expert system is a conventional method that is in use in cost modeling, considering its advantage over traditional regression method. It is based on this fact, that this study aimed at deploying neural network in cost modeling of reinforced concrete office building. One hundred (100) samples were selected at random and divided into two; one part was used to develop network algorithm while the second part was used for model validation. Neural network was used to generate the model algorithm; the model is divided into 3 modules: the data optimization module, criteria selection with initializing and terminating modules. Regression analysis was carried out and model validated with Jackknife re-sampling technique. The colinearity analysis indicates high level of tolerance and -0.07403 lowest variation prediction quotients to 0.66639 highest variation quotients. Also the Regression coefficient (R-square) value for determining the model fitness is 0.034 with standard error of 0.048 this attest to the fitness of the model generated. The model is flexible in accommodating new data and variables, thus, it allows for regular updating