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Torku, Alex; Chan, Albert P.C.; Yung, Esther H.K.
2021 Built Environment Project and Asset Management
doi: 10.1108/bepam-01-2020-0008
The purpose of this study is to identify the barriers that hinder the implementation of age-friendly initiatives in smart cities.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review of the literature was conducted using Scopus search engine. Relevant keywords were used to discover 81 publications in academic journals. The titles, abstracts, keywords and full texts of the publications were examined to select 39 publications that were relevant for identifying the barriers that hinder the implementation of age-friendly initiatives in smart cities. The contents of the 39 relevant publications were analysed to ascertain the key barriers. A system thinking approach was adopted to understand the interaction among the barriers.FindingsThe study identified five key groups of barriers – namely physical barriers and environmental characteristics, technological barriers, social barriers, financial barriers and political barriers – that smart cities encountered or are likely to encounter in implementing age-friendly initiatives. Moreover, practical examples of good age-friendly implementation practices were highlighted.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation of this study is in the number of publications reviewed. Despite the comprehensive review, the number of publications reviewed may not be exhaustive. This is justified by the inapplicability of considering all possible keywords in one review study.Practical implicationsThe systemic perspective of the barriers that hinder the implementation of age-friendly initiatives in smart cities would support policymakers in formulating policy recommendations to improve age-friendliness in cities.Originality/valueThis study underscores the variable and dynamic nature of developing age-friendly smart cities and forms novel basis for gaining insights into the multiple factors that can promote the integration of age-friendly initiatives within smart cities.
Ratnasabapathy, Shiyamini; Alashwal, Ali; Perera, Srinath
2021 Built Environment Project and Asset Management
doi: 10.1108/bepam-01-2020-0012
Waste diversion rate (WDR) is a key indicator of effective waste management and circular economy. However, it has not yet been widely used in the construction and demolition waste (C&DW) sector. This study aims to promote the application of WDR as an effective measure for waste management through the investigation of the current status of C&DW diversion in the Australian construction industry.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-method approach, which combines a desk study and a case study of 12 residential projects was used in this study. Data retrieved from the National Waste Database (NWD) were used for the descriptive analysis.FindingsThe analysis of the national waste data revealed that the national average WDR in Australia is 64%. WDR varies based on material types and across the states. The analysis facilitated the forecasting of the possible future trend of waste diversion in Australia. The studied projects from two states in Australia presented slightly different results. Most of the waste stream, except mixed waste, presented above 95% of WDR in each project.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the studied projects showed a higher recycling rate, this study claims that achieving a higher rate of recovery by diverting the waste could not be assured unless accurate estimation is carried out with reliable and verifiable data. Lack of reliable data is considered as the limitation of this study. While the scope of descriptive analysis of waste generation and diversion covers the whole country, the case study analysis is limited to the states of New South Wales and Victoria.Originality/valueThe study highlights the significance of WDR in assessing the performance of effective waste management in the C&DW sector. WDR is a comprehensive measure that takes the output of the waste life cycle into account for benchmarking waste management. The results provide a critique of the current practices of waste management and the essence of the consistent, transparent and verifiable waste data to enable accurate WDR estimation in Australia. The outcome is useful for waste managers and policymakers in developing potential waste management strategies and C&DW specific legislation for building a more ecologically sustainable industry.
Jian, Izzy Yi; Chan, Edwin H.W.; Yao, Terry Ye Peng
2021 Built Environment Project and Asset Management
doi: 10.1108/bepam-01-2020-0007
POSPD, as supplementation of public open spaces (POS), has become a common policy to moderate the intensification of urbanization. However, some access restrictions, both physical and information-wise, were deliberately designed by private developers to reserve the POSPD for their own gains, which further hampers POSPD’s publicness and leads to their failure to bear social responsibilities.Design/methodology/approachBy analyzing the current situation of the availability of public open space in private developments (POSPD) from the perspective of information justice, this research aims at proposing a policy framework for an “accessible and interactive platform” which advocates promoting informational justice by integrating public participation into the establishment of an interaction loop to promote the revitalization of POSPD. The methodology includes the review of previous solutions and platforms, the establishment of a POSPD database and geographic information system (GIS) analysis.FindingsThe POSPD in Hong Kong are unevenly distributed physically while the information about them is injustice and inadequate. Understanding the existing informational injustice associated with POSPD and revitalizing the stock spaces is timely and vital. Using the user-generated data from volunteers as the information flow, the proposed responsive POSPD platform will provide continuous positive feedback for policy improvement to help realize the collaborative management and sustainable development of the POS.Originality/valueMaking use of information and communication technology (ICT) to extend the “public” to the “internet-based”, the proposed framework regards the exploitation of ICT to enhance information justice as a novel way to revitalize POSPD. It involves collaborative operation among citizen participation and official POS management.
Musonda, Innocent; Gambo, Nuru
2021 Built Environment Project and Asset Management
doi: 10.1108/bepam-12-2019-0139
The procurement strategy challenges that influence the development of sustainable smart housing require a holistic system approach that models the relationships between procurement strategies and sustainable smart housing development approach. This considers the use of technology partnering to ensure value for money. The purpose of the paper is to assess the mediation effect of the technology partnership on procurement strategy influencing sustainable smart housing development.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a quantitative approach and primary data were collected via a structured questionnaire. In total, 500 survey questionnaires were administered to project managers in the Nigerian construction industry and a stratified proportionate random sampling method was used for the selection of respondents.FindingsThe results indicated that the procurement strategy influenced sustainable smart housing development in Nigeria, and the technology partnership mediates the relationship between procurement strategy and sustainable smart housing development.Research limitations/implicationsThis quantitative study is based on the perception of construction project managers in Nigeria. The findings serve as an awareness of the government and other stakeholders in the construction industry on the development of sustainable smart housing in Nigeria.Practical implicationsThe study establishes that technology partnership mediates the relationship between procurement strategy factors and sustainable smart housing development through enhancement of smart housing development and serves as awareness to stakeholders on the factors influencing smart housing development in Nigeria.Social implicationsThe study suggests that technology partnership influences the effect of procurement strategy factors on sustainable smart housing and hence improves the development of smart housing in developing countries.Originality/valueMediation roles of technology partnership minimize procurement strategy challenges and enhance sustainable smart housing development.
Rai, Himanshu; Jagannathan, Murali; Delhi, Venkata Santosh Kumar
2021 Built Environment Project and Asset Management
doi: 10.1108/bepam-01-2020-0011
Claims have become an inseparable part of construction projects across the world. Construction claims often tend to result not only in time and cost overruns but in case of a dispute arising from the claim, it may result in erosion of the brand value and the working relationship between the parties. Thus, construction claim prediction is important but is complicated because of a large number of dependent factors and the complex inter-relations between them. With the aid of machine learning techniques, claim tenability assessment for real estate projects in India is attempted in this paper.Design/methodology/approachIn this research, artificial neural network (ANN) and decision tree models are used for assessment of claims in the Indian real estate sector using project and claims data from 275 real estate projects.FindingsThe developed ANN model assesses the claim tenability in a project with a high degree of accuracy. Both ANN and decision tree models identify that “inconsistency between drawings and specification” as the most influencing factor in claim tenability assessment.Research limitations/implicationsNotwithstanding the claim tenability assessment, the model, in its current form, cannot be used to predict the “extent of claim” in the real estate projects.Originality/valueClaim tenability assessment in real estate projects, especially in India, is scantily discussed in literature. This research, by adding to the body of knowledge, helps in both claim assessment and identification of factors that need to be controlled to reduce the claim tenability in real estate construction projects in India.
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