Journal of Architecture, Planning and Construction Management
Not a member yet
211 research outputs found
Sort by
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS ASCRIBED TO IMPROPER WASTE MANAGEMENT IN KABUL
Get PDFThis study focuses on ensuring a sustainable and livable environment in the 8th district informal settlement of Kabul. It seeks to look at the environmental impacts of improper waste management on informal settlement in Kabul city. The study analyses current waste management situation and challenges and environmental effects on informal settlers in the city. A qualitative methodology approach with direct observation and interview were used for data collection. A total of three experts was interviewed from relevant authorities, and purposive sampling used for selecting respondents. Thematic and template analysis techniques were used for data analysis. The findings of this study revealed that waste management situation was not frequent; lack of infrastructure and facilities, poverty, rapid urbanization, lack of municipality technical capacity, funds, and experts were the main factors to improper waste management. Waste was not collected correctly due to weak accessibility and imperfect nature of roads. Waste burning for house heating in winter and residents of informal settlements were not aware of considering environmental and health issues. Improper waste management creates severe environmental impacts such as land and water pollution, air pollution, infectious diseases, unpleasant smells, drains blockage, and loss of biodiversity. The study concluded with suggestions that infrastructure must be improved, residents should be educated about environment protection, municipality contribution, and community contribution should be ensured as well as a sustainable redevelopment model is suggested to eradicate informal settlement and ensure a sustainable environment. Findings will serve as the basis for information that policymakers should concentrate on when planning a course of action or inaction to improve the waste management systems in informal settlements
ARCHITECTURAL UPCYCLING: BUILDINGS FROM WASTE & UNCONVENTIONAL MATERIALS
No full textRepurposing building materials has been practised since old civilisations, but recently, it has transcended to utilising not only building materials but to general waste items not typically used in construction. The practice is coined as architectural upcycling. Due to its unconventional nature, several drawbacks exist: the challenge of appropriating the item for its architectural purpose, the limitation on the type of buildings it can be applied to, and the scarcity of research that establishes a guide on architectural upcycling. This research aims to provide an insight on how to achieve the excellent practice of architectural upcycling through design considerations based on the type of buildings fit for this practice. The design considerations are outlined from reviewing previous studies, and the types of small-scale structures typically suitable are identified. Sixteen case studies are chosen from four small-scale typologies: community buildings, single residences, lodgings, and pavilions. Variables observed are the role of the material, functionality, modification, ability to be disassembled, and material expression. It is found that the buildings from the four typologies exhibit different approaches to addressing these considerations. The findings serve to guide designers in achieving successful upcycling practice based on the typologies studied
CARBON EMISSION INTENSITY FOR MELAKA GREEN TECHNOLOGY CITY STATE
No full textThe study analyzes the carbon emission absolute number and intensity for Melaka state as a response to the Malaysia voluntary reduction target of up to 40 percent in terms of emissions intensity of gross domestic product, GDP by the year 2030 compared to 2005 levels. It is manifested in the vision of Melaka Green Technology city state by 2020. The Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions, GPC method deploys to calculate greenhouse gas, GHGs emission resulted from the various development activity in Melaka. This method classified GHG emissions into four (4) mains sectors: stationary energy, transportation, waste, and agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) by using secondary data from related government agencies at the state level. The computation by BASIC+ reporting level resulted from an output of GHGs emission translated into carbon emission. Steady increase of GHG emissions was captured from 8,859,802 tCO2e (2013) to 8,911,173 tCO2e (2017). Further, carbon emission intensity calculates by gathering the carbon emission absolute number to Melaka’s population. The emission per-capita increase from 6.19 tCO2e (2013) to 6.88 tCO2e (2017), indicates each person contributes to the increment of GHGs emissions for Melaka state. However, the decrease of emission intensity records from 0.189 tCO2e (2013) to 0.176 tCO2e (2017) compared to an increase in population growth. The study concludes certain influences of the aggressive green technology initiative effect, such as renewable energy, LED street lighting, solar valley, smart metering in the building, electric public bus, no plastic bag, waste recycling to the overall carbon emission intensity of Melaka Green technology City State
AN APPRAISAL OF COST-EFFECTIVE APPROACHES FOR THE PUSU RIVER REHABILITATION
Get PDFThe Pusu River and its tributaries that flow through the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Gombak campus have been suffering from river pollution for years. Hence, one of the efforts that can be made to address this issue is the rehabilitation of polluted rivers. Since the cost of treating the polluted rivers is high, proper measures to rehabilitate the Pusu River are important. Consequently, a study was conducted to identify and propose suitable approaches to rehabilitate the Pusu River, IIUM Gombak. The present study also focuses on the costs associated with rehabilitation work. The primary data for the study was collected using one round of Delphi questionnaires. The outcome of the Delphi study shows that the major sources of pollution in the Pusu River are sand mining, earthwork, land clearing activities for land development, stormwater runoff, waste dumping, and leakage from the wastewater treatment plant. Furthermore, the top three cost-effective methods to be proposed for the rehabilitation of the Pusu River, IIUM Gombak, have been established. The methods include aquatic plant use, a gentle approach to riverbank protection, and sediment dredging. Overall, the outcome of this study contributes to the development of river management strategies to control the pollution issue in the Pusu River. Academically, this study adds to the current body of knowledge in the context of river management, specifically for the Pusu River, IIUM Gombak
INVENTORY OF MALAY ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE IN GOMBAK DISTRICT, SELANGOR
No full textGombak District in the Klang valley contributes considerable importance to the history of Malay settlement which traces back to hundreds of years. This led to the existence of Malay architectural heritage in the Gombak district. Hence, this research seeks to discover the Malay architectural heritage that still retains the Malay traditional features and design identity. The traditional Malay buildings in Gombak were identified and later documented in an inventory form. The research involved a combination of literature review, onsite inventory, and face to face semi-structured interview methods. Thirty-nine (39) Malay traditional houses and masjids from 13 villages in Gombak are identified, which were built more than 80 years while a few were 140 years old. The research also revealed that 35 of the heritage buildings are still sturdy and preserved. Proactive preservation initiatives and conservation efforts need to be carried out immediately to conserve the traditional Malay houses and masjids to be appreciated by future generations
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT: EVALUATION IN KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ
No full textIn the construction industry, material waste contributes to a major problem, and the necessity for managing material waste is vital. The main objective of this research was to determine the significant factors that contribute to construction wastes in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, particularly in the city of Sulaymaniyah. The construction industry provides a foundation for future construction projects and thus it is significant to avoid and eliminate the causes of material wastes in the construction process. The objective of the study is to investigate the practice of material waste in the building construction sector with the goal of motivating the performance of managing construction projects in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. The survey questionnaire was the main technique used for conducting and collecting primary data from relevant governmental bodies and construction companies with a study sample of 50 respondents. The result of the analysis demonstrated that the conventional construction method was the most common method utilised for construction. Also, the result illustrated that the main sources and causes of material waste were weak strategy for waste minimisation, lack of staff's awareness on waste management practices, and poor materials storage system. The most wasteful materials were also determined, which included formworks (from timber/wood), tile, sand, and concrete. Apart from that, the result found that possible measures which might contribute to the minimisation of material wastes included the implementation of effective site management and supervision techniques, employing skilled labour, and on-site material storage that is appropriate.
Keywords: Management, material, waste, construction.
 
ANALYSIS OF SPATIAL REQUIREMENT FOR CONFINEMENT CENTRE TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF WOMEN WITH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
Get PDFWomen during the postpartum period are vulnerable to the problems of mental health. Having manifold emotional, behavioural, and physiological changes in their lives, postpartum women experience negative impacts on their thought, feeling, behaviours, and relationships with others. Some women need special rehabilitative spaces to reduce the negative impacts of postpartum depression. Architectural solutions with designated spatial provisions may help postpartum women to curb the negativity during their confinement stage. Hence, this research intends to analyse the spatial requirement of confinement facilities based on precedent studies that support the psychological and physical needs of postpartum depression women. This research was conducted using a qualitative approach, where precedent studies of postpartum confinement centres were analysed and compared via table research to generate spatial requirements for the effective rehabilitation of postpartum depression women. Researchers conducted interview sessions with experts to substantiate the finding of earlier comparisons. Researchers hoped that the finding of this research could outline the optimum spatial requirements for the design of a confinement centre to support the psychological and physical needs of postpartum depression women, especially those in Malaysia. The research would also serve as a platform for an effective architectural solution for reducing the negative impacts of postpartum depression among women
Appraising A Sense of Community in Designing Senior Housing for Elderly Quality of Life
Get PDFMalaysia's life expectancy may increase by 2030, where the ageing population aged above 65 years and over is growing faster than all other age groups. It is expected that this ageing population will be more than 15% of the total population in the year 2030, and this percentage likely to rise higher over the next three decades. The increasing longevity indicates the climbing numbers of surviving older people, who demand better living and Quality of Life (QoL) later in life and retirement concerning housing, transportation, social participation and health services. However, the most critical issue is the elderly living housing, namely in developed countries where many still lack proper physical environment to accommodate and improve community development among the elderly. Consequently, the rights for appropriate, adequate, decent, and good quality housing for ageing people in either quantitative or qualitative approaches are not well acknowledged. This paper aims to highlight community importance as the elderly require a solid community to promote active ageing and life satisfaction, which is vital to be implemented in their living environments like the elderly housing design planning layout and form making. To achieve this, the first objective of this paper is to identify the sense of community index among the elderly and second to propose the best elderly housing design concept in terms of spatial planning and form making, which considers the sense of community indexes that supports independent living to enhance the Quality of Life (QoL) for the ageing population. This study used the mix method approach where data are collected from case studies through literature review and direct observations. The sense of community index comprising membership, influence, fulfilment, and shared emotional connections are analyzed to see its correlation and representation in the current case study of senior housing spatial design in Malaysia. The findings indicate that for senior housing to have a sense of community, architectural qualities like identifiable forms and spatial values with connected, shared spaces either at horizontal or vertical levels and vast shared public spaces are essential. This study helps establish the best living concept for elderly housing as a reference for developers, policymakers, and designers to produce proper senior housing to enhance Quality of Life (QoL)
Cost Performance for Residential Building Projects
Get PDFThe construction industry is one of the main sectors that play basic role in the urban and rural development of a society. It provides important ingredients for the development of an economy. However, many construction projects experience extensive cost overrun. This study is conducted to: (1) reveal the magnitude and direction of cost overrun in building construction projects implemented in the West Bank - Palestine over the years 2013 to 2018, (2) develop prediction models for predicting project cost overrun based on the contract price value, (3) identify the causes of cost overrun in building construction contracts in the West Bank – Palestine, (4) test the importance of cost overrun causes from consultants and contractors’ perspective. To achieve the study objectives, two methods are followed: (1) Field data collection for 102 building construction projects implemented in the West Bank during the period 2013 and 2018, (2) A questionnaire survey was conducted to identify and rank cost overrun causes from the perspectives of contractors and consultants. The findings reveal that100% of projects suffer from cost overrun with average of 34.58%, ranging from 15% to about 88%. The results show that cost overruns for building projects increased with contract prices. The questionnaire survey reveals that the top five cost overrun causes from combined view are: experience in contracts, insufficient time for estimate, incomplete drawings, materials’ price fluctuation, and political situation. It is hoped that the findings will guide efforts to improve the performance of construction industry in Palestine and other developing countries