Journal of Architecture, Planning and Construction Management
Not a member yet
121 research outputs found
Sort by
The Implementation of Environmental Management System (EMS) ISO 14001 among Construction Companies in Malaysia
Get PDFToday, with the deteriorating and unpredictable world climate, the need to preserve the environment is crucial in preventing rapid environmental deterioration. Sustainable development requires a balance between economic growth, social expansion and environmental protection. In order to pursue sustainable development, the construction industry itself has to be sustainable and gives emphasis on environmental matters, in addition to economic gains and social obligations. The ISO 14001 is a set of international standards for voluntary environmental management that has the potential to significantly impact the activities in construction to industry. This study aimed to investigate the level of awareness on the EMS 14001 among construction companies and to seek any obstacle or problems that obstruct the implementation of ISO 14001 in construction industry in Malaysia. Questionnaire-based interview was done on selected Grade 7 contractors in Selangor and Wilayah Persekutuan to achieve the objective of this study. Frequency Statistical Analysis and Average Index Analysis were used to measure the questionnaire done. Seven construction companies were successfully interviewed of which three of them are contractors who have not yet implemented the EMS ISO 14001 and the other four are companies that have applied the system. Based on the findings and analysis, it is found that level of awareness of non-certified construction companies about ISO 14001 is still very low compared to the certified companies. Ten barriers also have been identified to be the problems which obstruct the implementation of EMS ISO 14001 in Malaysia Construction Company. Among them are the lack of government pressure, lack of client support and weak environmental culture among other competitors. In conclusion, several strategies including compulsion from government to make EMS ISO 14001 a compulsory requirement and support from the government have been proposed based in interviews and other countries’ action to facilitate the adoption of environmental management system (EMS) ISO 14001 in Malaysia Construction Industry
Modelling of Unauthorized Land Use Sprawl using High Resolution Data and GIS Based-Cellular Automata
Get PDFThis study uses Cellular Automata (CA) model, Geography Information System (GIS) and remote sensing data to produce trend and sprawl pattern simulation of un-authorized land use in Kuantan, Pahang. The objective of this study is to forecast the trend and movement of un-authorized land uses for the year 2015. The author has identified three categories of land use that have the potential to sprawl as un-authorized land uses which consist of housing, commercial, and industry. Two land use maps were produced, the land use map for the year 2005 was produced using remote sensing image of IKONOS, meanwhile the land use map for the year 1990 was produced through digitizing process using GIS software. Based on the two maps, the un-authorized land use sprawl direction and pattern simulation for the year 2015 were produced. Sprawl analysis that uses spatial development features namely leap frogging, land use segregation and highway strips for the year 1990 and 2005 was also carried out to determine the trend of sprawl based on their development features. A calibration process was also carried out on the 1990-2005 land use map by using a combination of CA component and GIS in order to fix CA parameter on simulation for year 2015. The result shows land use mapping using remote sensing achieved an accuracy level of more than 85 percent (%). Using spatial development analysis, it was found that the three spatial development features studied showed that the study area experienced land use sprawl and that most land use development occurred along major roads within the study area. The result for sprawl calibration also showed correlation level of more than 90% was achieved for analysis done on land use simulation result for the year 2005 and the actual land use for the same year. The simulation also showed land use changes that are significant where percent of changes showed an increase of 20.6% change of non-built-up land use to built-up land use compared to year 1990. The trend and movement pattern also shows that land uses in the study area expanded following the development of major road infrastructure producing ribbon land use development pattern more than 50% were developed as housing area. This proved the tendency of land use classes to develop as un-authorized land use and used as input in producing a general guidelines for urban planning particularly for detecting un-authorized land use development. This also provide evidence that the combination of operational technologies in CA model is able to produce a model development that is sound both from the technical and practical aspects to be used in the field of urban planning
Editorial
Get PDFThis volume (Volume 2, Issue 1, 2012) of the Journal of Architecture, Planning and Construction Management (JAPCM) consists of six research articles covering various facets of the built environment field
EVALUATION ON ACOUSTICAL PERFORMANCE OF CLASSROOM SPATIAL AND LAYOUT ARRANGEMENT BY USING COMPUTER SIMULATION
Get PDFA classroom should be created to accomplish good acoustical conditions in order to support an effective learning process. Study shows that one of the ultimate significant solutions around acoustic issues in classroom is by changing the seating arrangement to establish the best and functional proximity for students and improve their performance. The objective of this research is to identify various seating arrangements of classroom, namely traditional arrangement – rows and columns, modular arrangement, horseshoe arrangement and stadium arrangement and evaluate their acoustical performance in the classroom by using computer simulation, ODEON Room Acoustic Software. The base model of the classroom is derived according to study done in 2018, School A which fulfills least of the acoustical criteria with poor speech transmission index. The results were analyzed and compared based on two basic evaluation criteria: i) Reverberation Time (RT), ii) Speech Transmission Index (STI). From the results, it was found that modular arrangement has the best reverberation time among all the seating arrangements while horseshoe arrangement achieved the best speech intelligibility among all. It has also been found that reverberation time of a classroom can be decreased by decreasing the room volume and adding higher absorption material to the classroom
THE CONSTRUCTION OF NATIONAL IDENTITY IN INFLUENCING THE FACADE OF MALAYSIAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
Get PDFNational architectural identity is vital for a developing nation because it acts as a symbol of unity as well as instilling a sense of pride and affection for the country. However, the purpose of inculcating national identity in the country’s-built environment has not been well implemented by many involved parties and the crisis has surfaced in many public and government buildings typologies namely the higher learning institution in the Malaysian context. The purpose of this paper is to identify the national architecture identity issues and to highlight the factors that influence the development of prominent higher learning institutions found in the local context. Educational building typology was chosen as it has always reflected a society’s stage of development and influential to the country’s advancement. This paper employs a narrative-qualitative approach using the interpretive paradigm to study on three case studies related to administrative building facades of public higher educational institutions in Malaysia namely UKM, USIM, and IIUM. The analysis of these building facades is based on two main indicators namely the constant and dynamic local factors. Findings of the study in the form of established referential guideline design on national architectural identity for the higher educational institution will inform future designers, builders, education providers, and related authority on how to efficiently instils national identity approach. This is vital towards outlining the best possible interpretation of Malaysia’s architectural identity formation, so that the country can thrive in the face of turmoil in the future.
 
PEDAGOGICAL STRATEGIES OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE WITHIN HIGHER EDUCATION: PAPER REVIEW
Get PDFThe teaching/learning environment is constantly changing; however, traditional lecture-based pedagogy has remained fundamentally unchanged. This is particularly true with the teaching of History of Architecture where trends of contents and teaching have not changed. Passive learning of knowledge could lead learners to experience cultural alienation and be disassociated from contemporary issues. The research asserts that Islamic architecture is a discourse occupied with complexities and ruptures, and educational strategies can address these multiple realities of constructions. The research finds that the discourse of Islamic architecture is a complex subject with multiple narratives that are often swept under a metanarrative, positioned as the ‘other’ towards Western history. The paper intends to identify multiple histories and narratives within Islamic architecture, and the paper posits that developing the course syllabus can help facilitate critical learning. The research applies the qualitative methodology of a systematic literature review. A new approach to archival content can have encouraging effects on how the discourse is understood and made relevant to contemporary issues. Contents of diverse context and issues facilitate critical learning, enabling students to construct an encompassing understanding of Islamic architecture.
Keywords: lecture-based pedagogy, History of Architecture, Western histor
Regional Integration and Production Divisions in Malaysia
Get PDFGlobalization increases world-wide integration of markets for goods, services, labor, and capital. It seems to dominate discussions on the direction of social change and representations of the world. This study is no exception; it provides an overview on the economic aspects of globalization. It mainly focuses on economic integration, trade patterns of multinational firms and international labor movement. As part of the analysis, international labor movement is centered on the inflow of unskilled labor into host country and the effects they bring along to the welfare of local populations. Particular attention is also given to the construction sector. The main aim of this study is to discuss economic integration, production divisions and international labor movement as parts of globalization. The study also aims to evaluate and examine international labor movement and provide analysis using Computable General Equilibrium modeling approach on labor movement policy in Malaysia. The objectives of the study are: (i) to investigate the effect of foreign labors on the relative price, the wage rate, and the welfare of native inhabitants in the host country; (ii) to discuss the trade pattern of heterogeneous firms by examining the allocation production behavior of multinational firms using general equilibrium approach; (iii) to describe the Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modeling approach on international labor movement issues by adopting GTAP model and data base; and (iv) to conduct analysis on the effect of international labor movement policy, Malaysia as a case study.
The methodology adopted for the study is theoretical general equilibrium and global comparative statics which are commonly applied in policy analysis. Two-country, five-sectors and five-factors model is formulated to theoretically signify international labor movement scenario into Malaysia. Assumptions are made for simplification of analysis. Considering Malaysia’s high reliance on unskilled migrant labor, the model assumed that inflows of foreign labor only involve this type of labor and therefore international movement of skilled labor and issue of brain drain is ignored. The assumptions together with the equations represent basic framework for simulation process using specialized software (GEMPACK software). Data aggregation for analysis is generated from GTAP 7 Data Base. However, the model necessitates further data to complement GTAP 7 Data Base in order to simulate GMig2 model. In addition, downloadable data base for GMig2 model is not sufficient for Malaysia-ROW model. Additional ad hoc data was formulated before proceeding with simulation process.Results of the simulation are discussed in two parts. Part 1 looks at the effects of increasing inflow of unskilled foreign labor into Malaysia from year 2005 till 2010. The result indicates that with the rising numbers of such labor, Malaysian economy gains in term of increasing returns to capital and tax incomes. Although unskilled local labor is experiencing decreasing real wage, total welfare of Malaysian population eventually increases. This could be due to the fact that permanent residents would start trading with foreign labors and increase the aggregate welfare. On the other hand, Part 2 of the results which discussed the policy implementation of reducing the number of unskilled foreign labor to 1.5 million by 2010 showed reverse effects. This would cause GDP to fall and reduction in total income, thus decreasing total welfare of the country’s population. Construction sector being the sector that is labor-intensive, is inevitably affected by the inflow of foreign labors. The sector is highly dependent upon foreign labor due to its nature of work that in general tends to shun locals. Results show that the firm price of unskilled labor decreases with the increase supply of labor, hence creating more demand for the labor. With policy implementation however, the lower decreases in firm price eventually reduce construction output. Assuming that the number of unskilled foreign labor to be reduced to 1.5millon by 2010, Malaysian economies would loss from decrease returns to capital and decrease tax incomes while ROW economies loss from the decrease in remittances and wages.
Kyoto University, Japa
Notes for Contributors
Get PDFThe Journal of Architecture, Planning and Construction Management is original, peer-reviewed and international in coverage and outlook. It aims to report current research work and latest development in the specialized areas of architecture, landscape architecture, applied arts and design, urban and regional planning, quantity surveying, building technology and engineering, construction management and other scholarly works related to the built environment
The Nature and Effects of Subcontraction on the Performance of Building Projects in South-South Zone of Nigeria
Get PDFDue to the complex nature of construction projects, it is impracticable for an organisation to develop expertise in all trades and disciplines involved in the construction process. Thus the use of subcontracting is a necessity for the attainment of successful projects. The aim of the study is to investigate the level of use of subcontracting in building project delivery with the view of enhancing project performance in South-South zone of Nigeria. The objectives of the study include identifying the trades mostly executed by subcontractors, determining the effect of subcontractor’s performance on building projects executed and to determine the factors that affect the performance of subcontractors. Data for the study was collected through the use of 280 structured questionnaires, administered on a sample of project participants including, clients, contractors and consultants. Data collected were analysed using percentage, mean item score and Kruskal Wallis Rank test. The study identified that there is a very high level of use of subcontracting in the zone and roofing, plumbing and electrical installation are the work item mostly subcontracted. It was also identified that subcontracting has the most significant effect on quality than cost and time. Delay in progress payment, effectiveness of client’s representative team and misunderstanding of client’s requirement were identified as the factors that mostly affect the performance of subcontractors and projects. As a means of improving project performance, the study recommends that, quality requirement, clear definition of client requirements and scope of work should be well articulated and defined during the time of engagement. There should be adequate project team to monitor the subcontractors and there should be prompt valuation and payment of sub contractual jobs