Behaviour of normal concrete with Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (ScBA) as partial cement replacementImran, Nik Farhanim; Hashim, Nor Hafida; Hasan, Daliah; Radzi, Ahmad Shalabi Mohd; Harizan, Muhammad Tasnim
doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1238/1/012016pmid: N/A
Concrete has been known to the world to be one of the most crucial components of a developing country but there some downsides to the environment in making the concrete. Mixing concrete needs water, fine aggregates, coarse aggregates, and cements as the main component. Cement is the main cause of the disadvantages of normal concrete mixing because in cement production, it will emit a lot of carbon dioxide to the environment. The emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere is proven as one of the main problems that cause air pollution and greenhouse effect. Furthermore, in an agricultural dependent country like Malaysia, the agricultural waste had been concerning to the public whereby the Sugarcane Bagasse (ScB) is one of the agricultural wastes. Sugarcane Bagasse can be useful towards the civil engineering communities where the Sugarcane Bagasse can turn into ash by burning and grinding the Sugarcane Bagasse residual and turn into Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (ScBA). The Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (ScBA) need to grind to make the particles of the ash to be cement-like of the particle size. Therefore, the purpose of the Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (ScBA) in this research is to replace some percentage of the cement to minimize the production of cements. So, the objective of the research is to identify the optimum percentage of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash that can produce maximum value of compressive strength of concrete when it is being replace by Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (ScBA). The percentage of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (ScBA) that will replace the percentage of cements is 0%, 4%, 8%, and 12%. Based on the results obtained the compressive strength of the concrete mix with 4% of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (ScBA) is higher compared to the control sample which is 45.60MPa where the control sample only have 38.83MPa. In conclusion, by using the Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (ScBA) it is proven that with the agricultural waste, it can be useful to the not only civil engineering communities but also to the world with the invention of using the Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (ScBA) as a replacement for cements where it can reduce the carbon dioxide emissions and the concern towards agricultural waste.
Environmental impact screening for urban land use transitions - a perspective from developing a hill land development in Penang Island and shaping community acceptanceIsmail, Siti Isma Hani; Hassan, Siti Hafizan; Badrul Hisham, Afiq N.; Seng, Loh Yong; Zakaria, Zulfairul
doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1238/1/012009pmid: N/A
The current rate of urbanisation is unprecedented in human history, particularly in Malaysia’s densely populated areas. Natural constraints and hazards are frequently ignored in this informal and sprawling urban growth, exposing the population to these hazards. Deforestation, water catchment loss, extinction of protected species and plants, soil erosion, landslides, water pollution, sedimentation, and downstream flooding have all resulted from inadequate environmental mitigation. Hence, this research quantifies and assesses the environmental and social impacts of hill land development on the affected areas. The community’s opinion on such growth and environmental mitigation measures will be assessed and evaluated at a study site on Penang Island, Malaysia. Environmental Impact Screening (EIS) was conducted by distributing questionnaires to affected residents and businesses, with 69 respondents. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package (SPSS), followed by a thorough elaboration on the pros and cons of expanding this steep land by considering social, economic, and environmental consequences. From the evaluation, most respondents were opposed to hill land development that can harmed community’s ecosystem. As a result, numerous efforts have been made to reduce community and environmental impacts. This study enables stakeholders to assess the environmental impacts from this type of developments and conduct necessary steps to mitigate or eliminate them.
Allowable Limit of Human Annoyance Towards Ground-Borne Vibration Velocity Induced by Rail Traffic: A ReviewLazi, Mohd Khairul Afzan Mohd; Adnan, Muhammad Akram; Sulaiman, Norliana; Kamarudin, Siti Nur Naqibah; Hassan, Sitti Asmah; Warid, Muhammad Naqiuddin Mohd; Samsudin, Mohamad Saifullah; Jasmi, Ahmad Razin; Zolkepli, Muhammad Farhan
doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1238/1/012007pmid: N/A
Many industrialized nations have created their own standards for determining and grading the dangers posed by ground-borne vibration, notably in terms of human irritation. Excessive vibrations created by trains have an impact not only on individuals, but also on sensitive machinery and buildings. The authority as well as practitioners have critical responsibilities in managing and accessing vibrations. This study discusses the differences between the standard and the limit of vibrations caused by trains that can irritate people. The local standard guideline was compared to the standards used by the US, Norway, Sweden, California, Germany, and the Netherlands. This study was mainly interested in the limitations of vibration velocity in residential settings.
From Rio Earth Summit to COP26: Malaysia’s pledges, political leadership, policies, administrative apparatus and performanceAziz, Abdul Rashid Abdul
doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1238/1/012008pmid: N/A
This paper charts Malaysia’s green journey, beginning with its pledge at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 to its most recent commitment at the COP26 (Conference of Parties 26) in 2021. Malaysia’s nationally-determined contributions (NDC) have progressed (as they should be) to the present ambitious claim that the nation will be carbon neutral by 2050. Malaysia has been led by several prime ministers during this 30 years journey. Despite coming from different political shades (especially in the last four years) their commitment to the green agenda has been unwavering, rhetorically at least until when the governments’ actions are scrutinised. Understandably, balancing climate change imperatives and socio-economic progress is not easy. To the layman, the series of policies and related documents unveiled over the course of the duration seem disconnected and do not add up to make a complete whole. Various parts of the administrative apparatus have been assigned the responsibility to address the green agenda through the years, though the disconnect of the various government documents suggests that they may not be in conversation with one another. All Paris Agreement signatories are required to submit biennial update reports (BUR) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC). In 2021, one major investigation by a reputable US newspaper accused Malaysia, just like many other countries, of under-reporting its greenhouse emissions to UNFCC, which the Malaysian government strongly denied. Making climate change pledges is the easy bit, fulfilling those pledges while addressing the nation’s aspirations is not easy. This challenge also manifests in policy formulation, administration and measurement methodology conundrum.
Survey on solar photovoltaic (PV) technology utilization at residential area at Kampar, PerakSanmargaraja, Shalini; Chong, Poh Kien; Olanrewaju, AbdulLateef; Ponniah, Vignes; Kanniyapan, Gunavathy; Mathalamuthu, Anselm Dass
doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1238/1/012011pmid: N/A
The tropical climate of Malaysia is conducive to the development of solar energy, yet the adoption of solar PV technology in the construction industry is relatively low. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify the difficulties faced by home users when installing solar PV and to propose recommendations to encourage solar PV. This research was conducted on residential construction sites in Kampar. More than 100 questionnaires were administered physically and online but only 50 responded, which represents a 50% response rate. The respondents were selected purposively mainly among the clients, contractors, developers, and consultants. The data revealed that the major difficulties that the home users encountered in the installation of solar PV include lack of motivation and incentives, huge capital outlay, and inability to secure financial support for the solar PV. To install solar PV, the research found that there is a need to provide attractive loans and incentives, implement policy, educate the households, reduce fossil fuel subsidies, and others. Although this research has been carried out diligently, there are several limitations such as this research only focusing on residential construction projects, having a very small sample size, and this research only using one method for data collection.
Prefacedoi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1238/1/011001pmid: N/A
TechSUD 2023 is the 1st National Symposium on Technologies for Sustainable Urban Development have been held from May 13 to 14 2023 in Wawasan University, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia. The symposium was organised by the Technological Association Malaysia (TAM) and Wawasan Open University, and supported by the strategic partners, Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT), Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia, River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia (REDAC, USM) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).In recent years, it is becoming evident that sustainability is no longer an option when it comes to development. It must be a critical consideration. Malaysia, as a nation, has also been increasingly committed to this cause. Therefore, this symposium is much needed today. Technology, being an integral part of our daily life has immense potential to drive sustainable development and create a better future for all. By leveraging the latest technological advancements, the negative impact on the environment can be reduced, and sustainable practices can be promoted in various sectors. TechSUD 2023 aims to explore the critical relationship between technology and sustainability, highlighting how technology can be harnessed to achieve sustainable development goals.The symposium witnessed the active participation of all 120 attendees, who engaged enthusiastically in the scientific program featuring 55 oral presentations, 33 of which are included in these Proceedings. The event successfully brought together a diverse group of people, including academic scientists, researchers, technologists, industry practitioners, policy and decision-makers, students, and scholars. Attendees had the opportunity to present and share their recent research results, innovations, and applications in sustainable urban development, promoting the latest advancements in the field. This symposium offered an ideal platform for field experts to present technical papers, fostering the exchange of knowledge, management approaches, and solutions among attendees from various backgrounds, ultimately contributing to the advancement of sustainable urban development practices.The attendees of the symposium comprised individuals from diverse backgrounds, including academia, research institutions, industry companies, non-government organizations, and government agencies. Each participant brought their unique perspectives and expertise, enriching the discussions with a wide range of insights. This interdisciplinary exchange of ideas and information created a valuable opportunity for mutual learning and a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding sustainable urban development. The symposium’s emphasis on collaboration and knowledge-sharing across different sectors seeks to foster innovation and drive progress towards a more sustainable and promising future.The organising committee is deeply grateful for the support and encouragement received from our organizations and the numerous individuals who contributed to the preparation of this event. The success of the conference is a testament to the dedication and enthusiasm of the attendees, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to all for creating a friendly and engaging atmosphere throughout. Our appreciation also goes to the session chairpersons for their expert guidance, the reviewers for their meticulous reviews, and the publishers for their cooperation. Above all, we express our sincere gratitude to PLYTEC Holding Sdn Bhd, whose generous sponsorship was instrumental in making this event a resounding success.EditorsChun Kiat Chang (Chief)Jeen Ghee KhorAbdul Rashid Abdul AzizList of Organising Committee, Scientific Committee, List of Reviewers are available in this pdf.
Assessment of NASA POWER for Climate Change Analysis using the De Martonne Climate Index in Northern Peninsular MalaysiaBandira, Puteri Nur Atiqah; Tan, Mou Leong; Teh, Su Yean; Shaharudin, Shazlyn Milleana; Samat, Narimah; Mahamud, Mohd Amirul
doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1238/1/012029pmid: N/A
Global warming is threatening human population, one of which is the frequent climate disasters, i.e., floods and drought, which affect the global food security. However, the assessment of regional climatic changes is constrained by the lack of high-quality long-term climate data. Taking the Northern Region of Peninsular Malaysia as the study area, this paper aims to assess the performance of NASA POWER in estimating annual and seasonal variability of the climate variables via De Martonne climate indices from 1985 to 2021. The findings shows that NASA POWER performed satisfactory in estimating both mean temperature and rainfall over the northern Peninsular Malaysia. The NASA POWER project performs the best in Bayan Lepas station with C = 0.70 for annual mean temperature while for annual rainfall is at the Ipoh station with C = 0.50. The annual De Martonne climate index shows that the study area is dominated by wet climate conditions, since the index classify the climate as “very humid” to “extremely humid”. The De Martonne climate indes is calculated from both data source is very similar. Therefore, NASA POWER data is useful in climate studies, while the knowledge of climate variability is beneficial for climate change mitigation and adaptation plans, particularly for agriculture.
Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for Environmental Screening of Solar Photovoltaic Utilities in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.Ismail, Siti Isma Hani; Sinnakaudan, Shanker Kumar; Seng, Loh Yong; Zakaria, Zulfairul; Tutur, Nuraini
doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1238/1/012028pmid: N/A
Large-scale solar photovoltaic (LSSPV) farming activities have increased the global popularity of solar energy installations as one of the highest absolute generation growth rates of all renewable technologies. With higher gas and coal prices and rising carbon prices, have resulted in higher electricity prices, making distributed PV as an increasingly appealing alternative for consumers driving investment. However, due to a lack of suitable sites and environmental conditions, building large-scale installations is becoming increasingly challenging. There is a debate among many stakeholders and experts about the actual environmental benefits and consequences altered by this farming, which could have negative effects on both natural and anthropogenic settings. Hence, this paper focuses on the Environmental Impact Screening (EIS) by employing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as part of the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) in examining the environmental impact arising from a LSSPV project in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. The methodology for this study was conducted by evaluating results from in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders, including expert input from academicians, solar consultants, relevant local authorities, etc. This investigation proposed a multicriteria approach to conveying the main environmental aspects of the LSSPV project and assessing the magnitude of impact and significance generated by it. Large projects necessitate an evaluation to ensure that potential problems are identified and addressed early in the planning and design phases. This study had considered the environmental and chemical (EC) impacts, as well as occupational safety (OSH) and economic impact (EI). The data is then analyzed with AHP to determine the final component rankings. The final model provides a structured approach that incorporates detailed criteria that reflect the direct and indirect impacts arising from this LSSPV project, and it is intended to provide assessment magnitude and estimate scenarios based on different stakeholder perspectives in directing for a better decision. According to the study’s findings, sufficient environmental mitigation steps have been implemented prior to project completion to mitigate and gauge all potential environmental degradation.
The Integration of Critical Risk with Building Information Modelling (BIM) Application Strategies in Building Refurbishment Project LifecycleAnuar, Nur Hidayah Khairul; Ishak, Nurfadzillah; Shohime, Nor Suraya
doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1238/1/012004pmid: N/A
Building refurbishment project is rapidly becoming a significant part of the construction industry in Malaysia. Refurbishment projects are typically higher risk, more complex, and require more coordination than new construction projects. The refurbishment industry has the potential to expand and contribute to Malaysia’s overall building output. The growing demand for refurbishment work in Malaysia will be driven by the increasing number of old and failing structures, as well as the limited space available for new development. Therefore, the aim of this research is to establish the most significance integration Building Information Modelling (BIM) application strategies in managing the risk for building refurbishment project lifecycle improvement. In this regard, this study was conducted through a quantitative method using the questionnaire which was distributed by employing a self-administrated approach as a research medium to obtain feedback from project manager who has been a representative from G7 registered construction organization with Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia. As a result, 96.7 percent of the response rate were accepted. The analysis showed that the integration of critical risk with BIM application strategies was recognized as important factors and strategies towards building refurbishment projects lifecycle improvement and found that the mean is in very high range. Additionally, the results indicate that the level of critical risk and BIM application strategies have been measured through descriptive analysis. The findings of this study are expected to establish a foundation for future research in order to develop an adequate framework for managing building refurbishment projects and improve the quality of decision making among the building industry professionals.
Bioretention System as a Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs): A Case Study in MalaysiaAzizan, Nor Ariza; Goh, Hui Weng; Faudzi, Liyana Mohd; Juiani, Siti Fairuz; Kiat Chang, Chun
doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1238/1/012023pmid: N/A
Bioretention systems, such as rain gardens, are landscaped depressions that treat on-site stormwater discharge from impervious surfaces such as roofs, driveways, sidewalks, parking lots and compacted lawns. They are used to collect stormwater and filter it through a mixture of soil, sand and/or gravel. In this study, a pilot-scale bioretention system has been constructed in Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang. This bioretention system will be used as a stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) to solve water quality issues in tropical climates, particularly Malaysia. This study consists of two bioretention pilot sites, a vegetated site with tropical plants, such as Red Hot Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), Amaryllis (Hippeastrum), Singapore Daisy (Sphagneticola trilobata), Lobster claw (Heliconia rostrata), Alternanthera (Alternanthera cultivar) and a non-vegetated control site. The study investigated the pollutant removal efficiency between two pilot sites in treating polluted runoff. The site uptake from the polluted runoff will be observed by testing the effluent with TSS, TN and TP test for three weeks at 30 mins, 2 hours, 4 hours and 8 hours after the runoff being released. The results showed pollutant removal efficiency for TSS (76 %), TN (78 %), and TP (71 %) for the vegetated site, which is slightly better compared to control site (TSS (75 %), TN (76 %) and TP (54 %)). This study concluded that the vegetated site has slightly better performance on nutrient removal efficiency.