UCT Open Access Journals (Univ. of Cape Town)
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Towards Examining the Social Implications of Technology Adoption on the Well-Being of Facilities Management Professionals
Get PDFThis study examines the effects of adopting technological innovations on the social well-being of facilities management professionals. The paper takes the form of an in-depth literature review of peer-reviewed publications focused on the primary constructs of the study, namely: technological innovations in facilities management; the role of facilities management professionals; and, social sustainability in facilities management. The study found that the adoption of innovative technology has significant positive outcomes in the facilities management profession, but negatively affects the social well-being of the facilities management professionals. This paper provides the basis for the development of a social sustainability framework for the analysis of the impact of technological innovation on facilities management professionals. Further empirical study is needed to verify the findings. This review will sensitise facilities managers as it illustrates the impact of technological innovation beyond improved efficiency and service delivery by considering the facilities management profession as a whole
Weavers as prey of Barn Owls.
Get PDFBarn Owls Tyto alba are widespread globally, and feed largely on rodents, but also birds. In Africa, weavers are an important component of avian prey. 44 studies were found that list weavers as prey of Barn Owls, with 11 species of Ploceidae weavers identified to species level, although there are likely many other weaver species that have been taken but not yet identified. Hunting strategies of the Barn Owl are taking weavers at their nests at night (four records), or taking roosting weavers from reedbeds. Barn Owls have been recorded at Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea colonies, where they presumably pick up recently fledged juveniles
Duties and Required Competencies of a Management Contractor
Get PDFOne of the responses to the critical failings of separation of design and construction processes of traditional procurement system is the development of management contracting (MC) procurement system. Several studies have indicated MC procurement system to be most suitable for large and complex projects, when on-time project delivery is required, and when flexibility during construction is desired. Owing to the involvement of the Management contractor at both design and construction stage of projects, the management contractors play more significant role in the benefits that MC system has shown to deliver. This study aims to investigate the duties performed by the management contractor and the required competencies for a management contractor, to provide knowledge and understanding on important considerations for the selection of a management contractor. Empirical data was collected using documentary analysis of three management contracts tender documents and a semi-structured interview with a key role player of two of the management contracts in South Africa. Findings revealed the duties performed by management contractors to be multitasking, covering both the pre-construction and construction stage of building projects. Also, owing to the increased responsibilities of management contractors, the competencies required to perform as a management contractor are distinguishable when compared to competencies needed of contractors to perform in other procurement systems. The knowledge and understanding of the duties and required competencies to perform as management contractors provided in this study will help construction clients and the construction industry in the selection process, performance management and evaluation of management contractors.
Keywords: Construction procurement, Management and relationship formation duties, Management contracting procurement system, Management contractor
Common Fiscal using man-made object during feeding.
Get PDFde Swardt (2016) reported on a Common Fiscal Lanuis collaris impaling its prey on thorny objects such as Acacia thorns or on the barbs of barbed wire fences. It was always speculated that the shrikes used the thorns of trees or wires to have a better hold on the food item during feeding (see references in de Swardt 2016; Dean 2005)
Odonata of the Kruger National Park: Odonata of the Kruger National Park
No full textThe number of species of dragonflies and damselflies recorded in the Kruger National, South Africa, was 103 in April 2018. This figure was based on a database containing 2,817 records of Odonata, made since 1980, from the 52 quarter degree grid cells which intersect with the Kruger National Park. Records were available for 41 of the 52 grid cells. The most frequently recorded species were Red-veined Dropwing Trithemis arteriosa (167 records) and the Orange-veined Dropwing Trithemis kirbyi (144 records), both recorded in 33 grid cells, and Southern Banded Groundling Brachythemis leucosticta (175 records) and Broad Scarlet (141 records) both in 29 grid cells. Based on records up to April 2018, the median date of the most recent record for species was September 2017, so that half of the 103 species had been recorded during summer 2017/18. This report could be used to motivate the proclamation of the river and wetland systems of the Kruger National Park as a “Wetland of International Importance” in terms of the Ramsar Convention. Two-thirds of the Odonata of South Africa, and one-eighth of the Odonata of Africa, have been recorded in the Kruger National Park
Between Abuja and Lagos: Insights of Price and Value in Residential Real Estate
Get PDFNigeria’s most prominent real estate markets are Lagos and Abuja. Between the years 2011 to 2015 saw unusually steep prices and pronounced vacancies in Abuja’s high-end residential segment compared to Lagos’. This discrepancy suggests market differences which are deserving of investigation. This paper, therefore, comparatively examines these two markets by exploring the economic concepts of price and value which sustain the market system. The data was sourced by a questionnaire administered to estate surveyors and valuers as well as the asking prices from property archives. The main finding of this paper is that Abuja’s prices and rents significantly exceed Lagos’ despite it being a less economically productive city. One can conclude that the Lagos market is more resilient while Abuja’s buoyancy is more apparent than real
Eh!woza: intersection of art and science to engage youth on tuberculosis
Get PDFDespite substantial expenditure by national tuberculosis (TB) programmes, significant efforts by advocacy groups, and heavy investment in clinical and biomedical research, TB remains a health emergency disproportionately impacting the poorest and most vulnerable in southern Africa and other endemic regions. Personal experiences of TB are varying and contrasting in these areas where misconception, stigma and taboo are commonplace. An urgent need therefore exists for projects that engage community members as active partners in reducing the impact of TB and other diseases. Eh!woza aims to address this need by fostering collaborative interactions between biomedical TB researchers, a conceptual artist, a non-governmental organization, and young people living in Khayelitsha, a township outside Cape Town. In a series of workshops, the project engages high-school learners with biomedical TB research and provides space, guidance and equipment for participants to produce documentaries about personal experiences of TB. Here, we describe the project’s growth, the results of a formal evaluation which suggest that Eh!woza is responsive to changing dynamics within the study setting, and preliminary findings from anthropological research investigating how knowledge is configured within the project. Finally, we consider prospects for expanding the project and briefly discuss challenges whose resolution could ensure long-term sustainability
Negative impacts of waste on human health and environment in Nigeria’s urban areas: innovative solutions to the rescue
Get PDFExamination of the Levels of Development of Building Information Models in the Nigerian Construction Industry
Get PDFBIM can be used to illustrate the entire building lifecycle, from cradle to inception, design and demolition and materials reuse; quantities and properties of materials, which can be easily extracted from the model; and the scope of works, including management of project targets and facilities management throughout the building’s life. The implementation of BIM in projects or organization is in phases and building information models can be developed as 2D, 3D, 4D, 5D and 6D BIM depending on the stage of BIM implementation and level of details required. This study examined the levels of details of building information models being generated by two hundred and eighty two construction professionals in Lagos State, Nigeria using respondents driven sampling technique. Frequency distribution and percentage, clustered bar chart, mean ranking, Kruskal Wallis test and Fisher exact test were used to analyse the data obtained from the respondents. The study found that the implementation of BIM in the study area is for visualization purpose. The findings also revealed that the levels of generating 2D and 3D BIM were very high in the study area; and that 3D architectural model, 3D architectural and structural model, and 3D architectural and building services model were the most developed variants of 3D BIM. It was concluded that that the status of BIM adoption in construction industry in Lagos State, Nigeria is at the visualization phase.Keywords: BIM details, BIM, BIM development, 4D BIM, federated BIM
Editorial
Get PDFWelcome to the fourth issue of the Journal of Construction Business and Management. The themes covered in this issue are related to information technologies, building materials, risk factors and practices used in the procurement of construction projects. These papers expose the readers to innovative technologies, career advancement, risk factors, alternative building materials and cost analysis that fills the key gaps in knowledge. The issue contains five articles that were written by authors based in Nigeria and South Africa. Overall, twelve authors produced these articles aimed at strengthening the debate in and improving research undertaken in the area of the management of construction project organizations and delivery processes.
The first paper by Olugboyega and Aina examines the Levels of Details of Building Information Models being generated by two hundred and eighty-two construction professionals in Lagos State, Nigeria using respondents driven sampling techniques. The authors found that the levels of generating BIM visualization purposes were very high in the study area. Paper two by Dada investigates the progression of Quantity Surveyors towards developing a career path framework for Quantity Surveyors in private practice in Nigeria. The proposed framework demonstrates the benchmark necessary for resolving common problems about career progression towards promoting harmonious working relationship and quality service delivery in Quantity Surveying practice. Leo-Olagbaye and Odeyinka’s paper assessed the risk factors encountered in the delivery of road projects in Osun State, Nigeria. The study results revealed that the risk factors on these projects with a high likelihood of occurrence are the scope of work, defective design, error and rework and change in design, in order of magnitude. Paper four by Alade, Oyebade and Nzewi examines the availability and level of usage of Local Building Materials (LBM) in Ado-Ekiti, South Western Nigeria. Based on information provided by One Hundred and Fifty construction professionals, the research found that LBMs such as stone, timber, laterite, clay and bamboo were available in sufficient quantities in the study area for building construction. The final paper by Windapo, Moghayedi, Oliphant and Adediran explored the components of cost on construction projects in South Africa using a qualitative research approach. The study found that the primary cost constituents of construction projects were building materials and sub-contracted work, accounting for 63.69% and 74.6% of the value of renovation and new construction work respectively, and recommends that the sub-contractor and building material inputs in construction projects should be carefully managed to ensure that construction projects are completed effectively and efficiently.
Lastly, I wish to acknowledge all authors who submitted papers for consideration, members of the JCBM Editorial Board and panel of reviewers for their support, timeous review and comments that have helped in defining and improving the quality of manuscripts submitted to the JCBM for review. In conclusion, we welcome feedback and suggestions from readers towards improving the quality of the journal and in maintaining the integrity of the findings published.
Abimbola Windapo PhD
Editor-in-chief