Performance evaluation of buildings in educational institutions: a case of Universities in South-East Nigeria

Buildings constitute a substantial percentage of most educational institutions' assets, user needs and operating costs. The performance level of this resource is therefore very critical to educational effectiveness. However, despite the crucial role of this resource in the education and construction sectors of the economy, evaluation of building performance is not a mainstream activity in Africa, particularly Nigeria. Presently, there is limited or no research/data in Nigeria to assess how extensively the use of or lack of building performance evaluation techniques affect teaching, learning spaces and overall organisational performance. The aim of this research was to develop an appropriate model for building performance evaluation in higher education institutions based on performance indicators, for improved awareness, understanding and practice. The research primarily focused on "user needs/requirements" within the organisational context. The methodology employed in the study included a review of the relevant literature and multiple case-studies conducted on four Federal Government universities in South East Nigeria. The target universities constituted the units of analyses and therefore provided opportunity for in-depth examination of the links between users, building facilities and organisational processes as established in the literature review. Epistemologically, the research is objectivist and paradigmically positivist. However, some qualitative aspects of data were relevant to the study and therefore used in a complementary manner. The case approach utilized mixed methods by applying a range of data collection techniques and evidence from multiple sources. The sampling technique was sequential involving both purposive and stratified random sampling. The study reveals apparent lack of a systematic mechanism for evaluating the success or performance of completed and occupied buildings and so the interaction between users and buildings did not add value to learning and working experiences in the target institutions. The bespoke methodology and conceptual process model developed in this research constitute an innovative and pioneering contribution to building performance evaluation as a developing field of knowledge. The study has established a basic level of awareness and understanding among construction practitioners that building performance evaluation can be used as a tool for delivering strategic objectives in the management of educational buildings. The study strongly advocates the inclusion of building performance evaluation as part of the building procurement process. The proposed model in the study provides a useful guide needed by the institutions to navigate to future competitive success in higher education built asset/facilities management

Development of Tendering Duration Models for Federal Government Building Projects in Nigeria

The Study sought to fundamentally generate information on the relationship between tendering duration and project complexity/determinants of cost and duration in order to determine via a scientific model, realistic tendering durations of various types of federal building projects in Nigeria.  To achieve this, historical data on project cost, project duration and tendering duration were obtained for 78 federal building projects.  They were subjected to correlation and regression analysis to test for statistical significance and the relationship between tendering duration and cost variables. Results of the regression analysis revealed that there is a significant relationship between tendering duration and project cost, which can be seen from the strong statistical correlation; R square value = 0.53 and the P(significant) values of 0.00 < alpha value ? (0.05)adopted in the study. Furthermore, a significant relationship between tendering duration and project duration was revealed. The statistical correlation was however observed to be higher; with R square value = 0.80 and P(sig) values < ? (0.05). Hence, the following models were developed which proved significant for the sampled projects based on the quadratic regression equation: First, the tendering duration – project cost model which is in the form; TD = 2.574 + 1.137E-9C – 5.245E-20C2, where TD is the tendering duration in weeks and C, project cost.  Second, the tendering duration-project duration model expressed as TD = 1.299 + 0.073D + 0.000D2, where D is the project duration in weeks. The study recommends that the Federal Government should formulate bidding deadlines for different categories of building projects based on complexity factors of cost and duration, via adoption of the models proposed by the study. This will promote standards, efficiency in project planning, achievement of fairness and transparency in the public tendering system. Key Words: Building Projects, Development, Federal Government, Models, Nigeria, Tendering Duration

Analysis of Building Performance Evaluation and Value Management as Tools in Building Facilities Management

The purpose of this paper was to establish the relationship/utility of building performance evaluation and value management to building facilities management. The full potentials of building performance evaluation and value management are under-utilised by building/facilities managers in many organisations/institutions involved in the procurement of building facilities. This has led to unapprised facilities management decisions in the wider organisational learning cycle. The objectives of the study were achieved through a review of current literature and associated web sources. This methodology was designed to identify and evaluate the utility of building performance evaluation and value management as tools for improving facilities management functions. The study suggests that the maximum effectiveness of building facilities management decisions can be realised if performance evaluation data/information are integrated into the value management studies. The study clarifies the links that exist and gaps that need to be addressed when taking a building facilities management decision and raised a number of methodological and performance evaluation issues that must be explored in further studies. The study provides a better understanding of the use of building performance evaluation and value management Constructs/concepts in facilities management. Keywords: Building facilities management, learning cycles, Performance evaluation, performance data, value management  

Risks of Implementing Sustainable Construction Practices in the Nigerian Building Industry

This study assessed the risks level associated with implementation of sustainable construction practices through a questionnaire survey distributed to 256 building professionals in Nigeria. It identified 47 risk factors with different likelihood of occurrence and magnitude of impacts.  A quantitative risk analysis result based on mean value method and risk prioritisation number showed that the three top-ranked risk factors with highest likelihood of occurrence were unavailability of sustainable materials and equipment, more complex and unfamiliar construction techniques and processes, and high initial sustainable construction costs; whereas the three top-ranked risk factors with highest magnitude of impacts were high initial sustainable construction costs, poor and inefficient communication among project participants, and high cost of sustainable materials and equipment. The criticality index result identified 23 critical risk factors which mostly related to knowledge and awareness, cost, regulatory framework, building materials and socioeconomic issues. However, the Wilcoxon Signed-rank test result indicated that there is significant difference (z = -3.207, p<0.001) between the likelihood of occurrence and magnitude of impacts of the risks factors associated with implementation of sustainable construction practices in Nigeria of which the effect was moderate (r = 0.468). Furthermore, the study revealed that there is no significance difference in the risk level of the risk factors associated with implementation of sustainable construction practices based on the respondents’ roles (p>0.05). The study, therefore, recommended for training of construction practitioners in the multi-risk management approaches and increasing awareness through education on sustainable construction concept for building industry stakeholders. It further recommended for developing of new sustainable and affordable building materials through research institutes like Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) with appropriate regulatory and policy frameworks for successful sustainable building projects

Ecomusicology: A socioecological dimension towards acoustically sustainable residential buildings

This study examined the socioecological roles of music sounds towards achieving acoustically sustainable residential building. The study adopted a survey research approach where questionnaires were distributed to the occupants of different types of residential buildings in three urban cities of Anambra State Nigeria. The survey data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) Software. The results revealed that music plays significant roles towards acoustically sustainable building performance with the overall average mean score index of 4.36 and a range of 3.64 to 4.87. But the three most outstanding roles played by music towards acoustically sustainable building performance were: Enabling pleasant sound environment (4.87), improving quality of relaxation and resting (4.83), and increasing acoustic comfort and satisfaction (4.79). The result of one-way ANOVA revealed that music sounds significantly influence acoustical sustainability performance of residential buildings (p-value (.000) < α (0.05); F-ratio (148.377) > F-critical (3.020)); and that there was no significance difference between opinions of residents of the three urban cities in this regard (p-value (0.713) > α (0.05); F-ratio (0.338) < F-critical (3.020)). This study therefore, canvassed for integration of music principles and acoustics into sustainable building design processes as a way of achieving a sustainable building

Payment of Labour Wage for Construction Site Operations with Safety Risk

The increasing rate of unsafe acts by construction workers during construction operations to earn more wages is raising new concerns due to its negative effects; including accidents on construction sites. This study, therefore, examined the relationship between the level of safety risk in different building construction operations/trades and methods of payment of wages for construction operatives to determine if the wage payment method was predicted by the level of risk in each operation. Prior to this, the study prioritised selected construction operations based on their safety risk level and rated the method of payment of wages for each operation based on their frequency of utilisation. A site-based survey was conducted using structured questionnaire and interview, administered to building tradesmen and labourers in South-East Nigeria. The study identified 12 high-risk level and 7 medium-risk level operations/trades. The study ranked roofing work as the riskiest building operation. It also found that negotiated lump sum, piece rate and time rate wage systems respectively, were the most prevalent wage payment systems in the payment of wages for operatives. Although the study also found that the level of risk has positive effect on the method of payment of wages (β = 0.214; t-stat = 0.640), it revealed that the level of risk involved in each operation/trade does not significantly predict the payment method used in payment of workers’ wages (F-Stat (0.409) < F-Critical (4.451); p (0.531) > 0.05). It identified negotiated lump sum wage payment method as an emerging wage payment system in Nigeria construction industry and suggested for further investigation to unravel the circumstances behind its high acceptance. The study then craved for review of existing labour laws in Nigeria to capture the new trends in the labour management of risky operations on construction sites

Digital Transformation in the Nigeria Construction Industry: The Professionals' View

Abstract This study examined the perception of construction professionals and the extent of digital transformation in the Nigeria construction industry. A questionnaire survey was carried out where 84 copies of questionnaires containing information relating to digital technologies trends and transformation were randomly administered to the selected construction professionals in Anambra State Nigeria. 80 were completed, returned and found useful, thus, giving a response rate of 95.24%. Data collected were analysed and presented using mean, percentages, charts and relative importance index (RII). The study revealed that 69% and 12% of the professionals viewed digital transformation as opportunity and threat respectively, whereas; 19% viewed it as both threat and opportunity. It further revealed that 63% were satisfied with their firms' readiness to transform digitally. The study then observed that application of digital technologies among construction firms in the study area was still at infancy due to lack capacity, critical knowledge and digital transformation enthusiasm among managerial teams. It was therefore, evident that digital transformation would help the industry to better its data storage and management capacity, increase employee productivity and gain competitive advantage. The study recommended collaboration between government and relevant regulatory bodies in Nigeria construction industry to workout appropriate roadmap that would position the industry in the right track towards transforming digitally

Buildability in the construction industry: a systematic review

Purpose Construction management researchers have acknowledged that the use of buildability could improve outcomes of project. Efficient use of resources required for the procurement of construction projects is important for the economy. This study aims to aggregate the current knowledge on buildability within the construction management domain into an understandable whole using the systematic review approach. Design/methodology/approach An interpretivist epistemological approach was used as a lens for the systematic review of published research on buildability. The selected articles cover the time period between 1987 and 2020. The articles published in 2021 and 2022 were excluded to ensure that the scope of the current study is distinct and clear. In this research, qualitative content analysis was used to scrutinise the selected journal papers. Findings Based on the analysis of literature, the trends and gaps in the current knowledge on the topic of interest were identified. It was found that stakeholder’s knowledge and commitment play a huge role in the extent of adoption of buildability as a practice in the construction sector. Also, the study confirms that the use of buildability is beneficial to the project and its stakeholders. Originality/value The study maps the current state of knowledge on buildability and provides information on the gaps that could be explored in the future by researchers. Keyword