Hidden innovation in the construction and property sectors

The construction and property industries have a poor reputation for innovation. Indeed, this reputation appears to be backed by official statistics which projects these industries as being devoid of innovative activity. However, the reputation is undeserved. Official statistics misrepresent the extent and nature of innovation in these sectors. A closer analysis reveals that much of the innovation that exists in the sector is hidden from conventional measures. By its nature therefore, it is difficult to measure the precise extent of this innovation and disaggregate it from general improvement. This opaqueness strengthens the need for policymakers, practitioners and researchers within, amongst others, the surveying sector to go beyond the visible spectrum of innovation and design and implement appropriate policies, knowledge bases and practices which engage and leverage the hitherto hidden aspects of innovation

Performance and efficiency measurement in local authority building organisations

This work constitutes a study of the operations of localauthority building direct labour organisations (DLOs)during the 1980s,An overt aim of Part III of the 1980 Local Government,Planning and Land Act was to improve efficiency in theoperations of local authority building direct labourorganisations (DLOs). Whilst the Act did not specifyhow DLOs should be organised, the legislation onaccounting and accountability clearly had Importantorganisational implications.Even prior to 1981, some DLOs already obtained themajority of work via competitive tender, had controlover their functions and had systems for demonstratingtheir efficiency. Others were not operated in such waysand fundamental changes were needed to successfully meetthe challenge of the new legislation.By 1988, the Audit Commission admitted that DLO5 hadvery largely been successful in meeting the competitiverequirements of the 1980 Act, but expressed concern overthe varying levels of effectiveness and efficiency ofoperation that existed amongst organisations. An objective of the study is to look at the problemsassociated with efficiency and productivity measurementin the context of DLO performance. The Conservativegovernment of this period had a strong conniitment to theimprovement of efficiency of the public sector. Inother areas of public services, various forms ofperformance Indicator were being employed to monitorperformance, but for a DLO the sole measure ofefficiency was the ability to meet the 5a target rate ofreturn. The concern with efficiency produced newinterest in the application of quantitative techniquesto provide methods of efficiency measurement.This work undertakes a study of the problems associatedwith efficiency and performance measurement In thissector of the U.K. construction Industry.The availability of appropriate data at the Individualorganisation level from 1981 onwards, enabled, for thefirst time, viable lnter-DLO comparisons to beundertaken at the micro-level and sectoral comparisonsto be made at the macro-level.The data used In the study were obtained over a fiveyear period from a variety of sources of published andunpublished sources. A unique database of expenditureand revenue Information from over 150 DLOs has beendeveloped, which in many ways is even more comprehensive than the 'official' statistics collected by theChartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.Methods used for efficiency measurementWith the great emphasis placed on ensuring that thepublic sector of the construction industry acts in anefficient manner, the data are employed In variousmethods for the measurement of efficiency.1. At the sector level, total factor productivityneasurement is used to gauge the rate of growth of theDLO sector of the industry.2. At the organisation level, 'Farrell' measures ofefficiency are used.A model for measuring the efficiency of Individualorganisations is presented.Data Envelopment Analysis I used to considerinefficiency that raises Costs above their feasibleminimum

Performance analysis of a Cold Asphalt Concrete Binder Course Containing High Calcium Fly Ash Utilizing Waste Material

It has been established that cold bituminous emulsion mixtures (CBEMs) have a comparatively low initial strength in comparison to hot mix asphalt (HMA), however its superior performance with regard to carbon emissions, is a significant driver regarding its manufacture. In this research, high calcium fly ash (HCFA) together with a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst (FCC) - a rich silica-alumina waste material - have been incorporated to develop a new cold asphalt concrete binder course (CACB) bituminous emulsion mixture. HCFA was used as a substitute for traditional limestone filler while FCC was the additive used to activate the HCFA. The mixtures’ performance was assessed using the indirect tensile stiffness modulus test (ITSM), assessment of resistance against permanent deformation, temperature and water sensitivity tests. Surface morphology was tested using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A considerable improvement was identified by the ITSM test in addition to a substantial enhancement in rutting resistance, temperature susceptibility and water sensitivity. It was also established that the addition of FCC to CACB mixtures was found to improve early strength as well as long-term strength, rutting resistance, temperature sensitivity and durability

UK construction companies’ strategies in the face of business cycles

Firms in the construction industry have always had to deal with the challenges of the economic cycle and develop strategies to deal with the resulting fluctuations in their business environment. In the context of the 2008–2011 double-dip recession in the UK, the results of a survey targeting the top one hundred construction companies in the UK are reported here. This research is particularly intended to assess whether the strategies of large companies in the construction sector, when faced with the issues associated with the variation in the economic cycle, have changed since the previous business cycle (i.e. the 1986–1990 boom followed by the 1990–1991 recession). The survey reveals the challenges that companies have faced, reports on company behaviour and on the policies adopted. While there are many similarities between policies adopted during the recessionary periods of the two cycles, the research found notable changes in attitudes towards diversification, human resource management and price bidding

Economic value determination as a strategy for building resilient communities in the Niger Delta region

In a novel approach to disaster resilience that embodies a multidisciplinary problem solving process in determining the value of damaged property, a framework has been developed for determining the economic value of damages to property due to contamination from human-caused oil spill disaster in the Niger Delta. The framework will result in a reduction of the recovery process of affected communities following an oil spill as they know in advance what will be done and result in standardisation of the valuation process. it will enable the polluter to know the cost of their malfeasance and provide the property owners with the economic value of their polluted property to enable them to continue their livelihood. Professional valuers and property owners are very dissatisfied with the current practice without a standard framework and oil company operators hardly realise the economic cost of disasters imposed on the communities. Reviewing the theory and practice of economic value and ecosystem valuation, a mixed-methodology was employed using questionnaires and expert interviews to ascertain how contaminated wetland property is valued, the professionals involved and their respective roles. The proposed framework will provide a systematic process leading to the determination of the economic value of damages due to contamination of wetlands property

Glutathione s-transferase omega in the lung and sputum supernatants of COPD patients

BACKGROUND: The major contribution to oxidant related lung damage in COPD is from the oxidant/antioxidant imbalance and possibly impaired antioxidant defence. Glutathione (GSH) is one of the most important antioxidants in human lung and lung secretions, but the mechanisms participating in its homeostasis are partly unclear. Glutathione-S-transferase omega (GSTO) is a recently characterized cysteine containing enzyme with the capability to bind and release GSH in vitro. GSTO has not been investigated in human lung or lung diseases. METHODS: GSTO1-1 was investigated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis in 72 lung tissue specimens and 40 sputum specimens from non-smokers, smokers and COPD, in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and in plasma from healthy non-smokers and smokers. It was also examined in human monocytes and bronchial epithelial cells and their culture mediums in vitro. RESULTS: GSTO1-1 was mainly expressed in alveolar macrophages, but it was also found in airway and alveolar epithelium and in extracellular fluids including sputum supernatants, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, plasma and cell culture mediums. The levels of GSTO1-1 were significantly lower in the sputum supernatants (p = 0.023) and lung homogenates (p = 0.003) of COPD patients than in nonsmokers. CONCLUSION: GSTO1-1 is abundant in the alveolar macrophages, but it is also present in extracellular fluids and in airway secretions, the levels being decreased in COPD. The clinical significance of GSTO1-1 and its role in regulating GSH homeostasis in airway secretions, however, needs further investigations