STRATEGIES FOR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IN NIGERIA

Population in urban areas are growing at a rapid rate, thus recycling of land becomes necessary despite that fact that land is a finite resource. The gap between supply and demand for housing is an issue for the government to address in order to provide housing at a cheaper rate which is the basic need of man. The purpose of this study is to assess the strategies for affordable housing in Nigeria. Research design was used and the population of the study was Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Engineers, Contractors and project managers. Random sampling technique was adopted for this study. A total of 70 questionnaires were distributed and 51 were returned. This represents a response rate of 73%. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for analysis via descriptive and inferential statistics. The study showed that problem of land inaccessibility, stunted financial and mortgage system were the factors affecting housing delivery. Challenges of housing delivery were high cost of acquiring land, social miscreants (“Omo Onile”) and affordability. Anti-corruption measures and a responsive judiciary, Cost – saving house design, Land reforms/reviews of land use act and review of fiscal and monetary  policies to reduce inflation and interest rate were the strategies to be used to ensure affordable housing. In conclusion, the Government should create an enabling environment for private sector by reducing the interest rate, taxes collected and creation of a viable housing mortgage sector to cater for the need of interested mortgage loan applicants. The use of the land should be constrained to affordable housing

Constraints and challenges in the implementation of total quality management (TQM) in contracting organisation

Total Quality Management (TQM) is managing people and business processes to ensure complete customer satisfaction at every stage. As building projects get large and becoming complex, clients are requiring a higher quality standard for project delivery with lower construction cost. This study intends to assess the constraint and challenges in the implementation of TQM of construction companies. The cross-sectional research design is used for this study and the population entails construction professionals in indigenous and expatriate construction companies in Nigeria. Random sampling procedure was used to select the respondents. A total of 50 questionnaires were distributed and 30 was retrieved and used for the analysis. It gives a response rate of 60%.Statistical Package for Social Science(SPSS) 17 th version is used to analyse using descriptive statistic and the Relative Importance Index(RII) of the level of importance of the factors were calculated. From the study is show that the factors affecting the implementation of TQM are management commitment factors, the role of quality department and training and education. The challenges of TQM are lack of available quality system documentation, lack of understanding of the process requirement and high cost to implement TQM. In conclusion, Nigeria construction companies do not have quality control and assurance manual that will be a guide to monitor the quality of the end products as such most projects are abandoned as a result of poor quality workmanship. It was therefore recommended that Nigeria construction companies should develop a framework for the purpose of quality standard and for them to compete with their counterpart globally

Challenges affecting leadership development in the construction industry

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Making a Case for the Adoption of Industry 4.0 Technologies for Sustainable Housing Delivery in Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) grapples with the challenge of achieving sustainable housing delivery amidst rapid urbanization and rising construction costs. Current housing strategies have failed to offer a lasting solution to the crisis. To address these issues, this study advocates the adoption of fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies for sustainable housing. The previous literature highlights the versatility of 4IR technologies, prompting an examination of their suitability and benefits for housing delivery. Thus, this study was aimed at evaluating suitable 4IR technologies for housing delivery and the benefits of adopting the technologies for sustainable housing delivery. The data used were collected via random sampling from stakeholders in the housing sector and analyzed using SPSS V 24, including mean scores, frequencies, and principal component analysis (PCA). The KMO and Bartlett’s test of sphericity confirmed that the data were appropriate for PCA and identified three key components of 4IR technology: Immersive technologies, smart connectivity, and automated construction sites suitable for sustainable housing delivery. These components enhance decision-making, operational efficiency, and project management throughout the housing delivery process. The study emphasizes the potential of 4IR technologies to transform the housing sector in the KSA sustainably, offering insights for both practice and research

Users' perspectives of fire safety in high rise buildings in Lagos, Nigeria

High rise buildings all over the world are becoming popular due to their capacity in ensuring optimum use of land, increasing urban density and housing more number of households. Despite the numerous advantages, occupants of high-rise buildings are confronted with fire safety challenges. In view of the aforementioned, this study examines the perception of high-rise building occupants in Lagos State with a view to ensuring fire safety consciousness. Random sampling method was used in gathering data from occupants of 1004 estates through a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 172 questionnaires were obtained from the occupants and used for the analysis. The data were analysed with statistical package for social science (SPSS version 17), using frequency and mean score (descriptive statistics), while correlation analysis (inferential statistics) was used for the test of hypotheses. The study revealed that fire policy regarding the development of high rise building focuses more on active policies, involving the provision of equipment to combat fire outbreaks rather than policies that facilitate easy means of escape. Also, there is a positive relationship between fire safety measures provided by the facility managers and prescribed fire safety standards. This implies that if facility managers ensure that occupants are aware of fire safety measures. Their level of compliance with the prescribed fire safety standards in the building increases and in return will enhance occupants’ safety. This study recommends that investors should incorporate more ways and means of escape in the high rise buildings development plan. Also, facility managers should educate the occupants on fire safety measures and ensure their participation in a fire drill or other training related to life safety. Furthermore, the government should set up a regulatory body to monitor and assess fire safety facilities and measures put in place for in high rise buildings

Socio-ecological risks management dynamic simulation in megaproject development of the Edinburgh Tram Network

Purpose: The inherent risks and their interactive impacts in megaproject development have been found in numerous cases worldwide. Although risk management standards have been recommended for the best practice in engineering construction projects, there is still a lack of systematic approaches to describing the interactions. Interactions such as social, technical, economic, ecological and political (STEEP) risks have complex and dynamic implications for megaproject construction. For a better understanding and effective management of megaprojects such as the Edinburgh Tram project, the dynamic interaction of concomitant risks must be studied. Design/Methodology/approach: A systems dynamic methodology was adopted following the comprehensive literature review. Documentary data were gathered from the case study on Tram Network Project in Edinburgh. Findings: A casual loop of typical evolution of key indicators of risks was then developed. A hypothesised model of social and ecological (S.E.) risks was derived using the system dynamics (S.D.) modelling technique. The model was set up following British Standards on risk management to provide a generic tool for risk management in megaproject development. The study reveals that cost and time overruns at the developmental stage of the case project are caused mainly by the effects of interactions of risk factors from the external macro project environment on a timely basis. Originality/value: This article presented a model for simulating the socio-ecological risk confronting the management and construction of megaprojects. The use of system dynamics provided the opportunity to explain the nature of all risks, particularly the S.E. risks in the past stages of project development. Keywords: Megaproject; Risks; System dynamics; Tram projec

Socio-ecological risks management dynamic simulation in megaproject development of the Edinburgh Tram Network

PurposeThe inherent risks and their interactive impacts in megaproject development have been found in numerous cases worldwide. Although risk management standards have been recommended for the best practice in engineering construction projects, there is still a lack of systematic approaches to describing the interactions. Interactions such as social, technical, economic, ecological and political (STEEP) risks have complex and dynamic implications for megaproject construction. For a better understanding and effective management of megaprojects such as the Edinburgh Tram project, the dynamic interaction of concomitant risks must be studied.Design/methodology/approachA systems dynamic methodology was adopted following the comprehensive literature review. Documentary data were gathered from the case study on Tram Network Project in Edinburgh.FindingsA casual loop of typical evolution of key indicators of risks was then developed. A hypothesised model of social and ecological (SE) risks was derived using the system dynamics (SD) modelling technique. The model was set up following British Standards on risk management to provide a generic tool for risk management in megaproject development. The study reveals that cost and time overruns at the developmental stage of the case project are caused mainly by the effects of interactions of risk factors from the external macro project environment on a timely basis.Originality/valueThis article presented a model for simulating the socio-ecological risk confronting the management and construction of megaprojects. The use of SD provided the opportunity to explain the nature of all risks, particularly the SE risks in the past stages of project development

Towards Improved Performance in Marketing: The Use of Property-based websites by Estate Surveyors and Valuers in Lagos, Nigeria

The increase in globalisation has changed marketing strategies available to professionals within the built environment. This study investigated the marketing methods most used in Lagos' metropolis. It assessed the extent to which estate surveyors and valuers in Nigeria have adopted property-based websites for the marketing of their real estate services. A random sampling method was used to obtain data from 82 estate surveyors and valuers within Lagos' metropolis. The data were analysed with SPSS V24 (statistical software), using Friedman's Test and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The study concluded that conventional/traditional methods of marketing dominate the marketing activities of estate surveyors and valuers, weakening agency practice in Nigeria in relation to the current global context

Roles of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Enhancing Construction Processes and Sustainable Communities

Machine Learning (ML), a subset of Artificial Intelligence (AI), is gaining popularity in the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) sector. This systematic study aims to investigate the roles of AI and ML in improving construction processes and developing more sustainable communities. This study intends to determine the various roles played by AI and ML in the development of sustainable communities and construction practices via an in-depth assessment of the current literature. Furthermore, it intends to predict future research trends and practical applications of AI and ML in the built environment. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines, this study highlights the roles that AI and ML technologies play in building sustainable communities, both indoors and out. In the interior environment, they contribute to energy management by optimizing energy usage, finding inefficiencies, and recommending modifications to minimize consumption. This contributes to reducing the environmental effect of energy generation. Similarly, AI and ML technologies aid in addressing environmental challenges. They can monitor air quality, noise levels, and waste management systems to quickly discover and minimize pollution sources. Likewise, AI and ML applications in construction processes enhance planning, scheduling, and facility management

Survey dataset on fusing RFID with mobile technology for efficient safety of construction professionals

The fourth industrial revolution has encouraged technologies such as the RFID fused with mobile software for monitoring construction workers on site. In this dataset, a structured questionnaire was design directed to thirty-four (34) construction professionals in Gauteng province South Africa through random sampling. The set of descriptive statistics is presented with tables, bar and pie charts. The willingness level of construction professionals to adopt RFID and mobile technology on construction sites was identified. The barriers to the adoption of fusing mobile technology and RFID for construction safety can be determined when the data is analyzed. Moreover, the construction professional's agreement with RFID as a tool for preventing health hazards on construction sites can be obtained from the analysis of the survey data