Journal of Architecture, Planning and Construction Management
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THE CHANGING ROLE OF THE STATE AND MARKET IN LOW COST HOUSING PROVISION IN MALAYSIA
Get PDFSince 1990s the global trend in housing provision shows a shift towards greater market role including for low income housing. Increasingly the state relied on market to provide low income housing and confined its role as enabler and facilitator to support the market. Housing provision refers to process of housing production and consumption or allocation by the consumers. Thus, the analysis in this paper focused on the role of the state and market in low cost housing production and allocation process. The findings showed the state gradually began to retreat from direct low cost housing provision and relied on market since 1990s. Despite economic crisis in 1997-1998 the market still played significance role in low cost housing production. Instead the state focused on solving housing problem among the squatters and revived the economy through public housing programmes. However in terms of low cost housing allocation, the state still retained control since 1950s. This explained the unique features of low cost housing provision system in Malaysia
The Effective Use of Geographic Information System (GIS) in the Planning Departments, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (KLCH)
Get PDFThe paper presents the important factors associated with the effective use of GIS at the Department of Urban Planning (DUP) and the Master Plan Department (MPD) of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (KLCH) Malaysia. The development of GIS has progressed dramatically in recent years and its use has proliferated in government planning departments in Malaysia. The majority of the information utilised for planning activities such as development control has a geographical component. The aim of the paper is therefore to identify and investigate the level of GIS usage at local planning departments in Malaysia and how it could be used effectively for planning activities. This paper employed a combination of a case study, a semi-structured interview, and a survey questionnaire and observations of the activities of the department. The findings demonstrate that the skill, knowledge and training influence the planning staff to use GIS effectively. At the same time, GIS has various impacts, such as benefits and problems, on the planning departments and the staff involved. It is proved that the manner in which these factors interact with the GIS determines the processes which affect the effective utilisation process of automated systems
Contextual Integration in waterfront development
Get PDFThe relationship between waterfronts and water in the establishment of many cities is a known fact. Issues as to why many waterfront developments do not respond to their water are often raised. This thesis examines the response of waterfront development towards its water, in particular the urban rivers. This is measured through the level of contextual integration in the city centre of Kuala Lumpur to identify the reasons why this situation exists. The research employed the qualitative method using a case study approach. It involved several techniques, which include morphological study, field observations (visual survey, direct observation, activity mapping), focus groups and in-depth interviews. The theoretical framework was based on the Integrative Theory of Urban Design, which has five main principles comprising ‘good form’, ‘legibility’, ‘vitality’, ‘comfort’ and ‘meaning’ from which thirteen attributes were extracted. The research found a mix of levels in the contextual integration of the KL waterfront for all attributes evaluated. Five attributes that affect the level of contextual integration the most are the ‘direct access’, ‘physical character of urban river’, ‘seating’, ‘development that addresses urban river’ and ‘shade’. This study inferred that the other related attributes borrowed from other public spaces are vital to achieve the response of waterfronts development towards the urban river. However, the evaluation criteria have to be suited to the local context. Twenty-one factors were identified that affect the level of contextual integration. Three recurring factors in seven out of the thirteen attributes evaluated are ‘the existence of highway’, ‘fenced private property till the edge of the river’ and ‘building built abutting the river edge’. It also gathered that the contextual integration between the waterfront and the urban river can only be achieved with the interrelation of the physical and functional dimensions. Eight key reasons were established as to why the waterfront is not contextually integrated with the urban river, which are i) lack of planning – policies, laws, guidelines, master plan, ii) limitation of funds, iii) condition of the river, vi) introduction of other transportation systems, v) lack of coordinated management, vi) political will, vii) lack of awareness and viii) market demand. These findings helped to explain the gap in many queries and assumptions concerning this issue from the perspective of a city centre in an emerging Asian country.
University of Nottingham, United Kingdo
Book Review: Panduan Pelaksanaan Pengurusan Nilai Dalam Projek Kerajaan or Guidance on the Implementation of Value Management for Public Projects
No full textThe Government of Malaysia, on the 29th of December 2009, issued a circular requiring its agencies to implement Value Management or Pengurusan Nilai in the procurement of public projects and facilities. The directive covers all programmes and projects valued at RM50.0 million and above, both physical and non-physical.The sole purpose of the book or perhaps it should be referred to as guidebook is therefore to provide guidance on how Value Management (VM) should be implemented when procuring public projects and facilities. It is the works of 31 experts, drawn from various government departments, private firms and organizations and institutions of higher learning. The Value Management Section of the Prime Minister’s Department acts as Secretariat. In the book, the concept of VM is defined as an approach – multi-disciplinary, systematic and innovative in nature – that is to be applied when examining the functional needs of a programme, design, product, services, project, facility and system in order to achieve better and higher value and at optimum cost but without affecting the performance of the said programme or project
EXPLORING METHODOLOGY TO EVALUATE A HERITAGE DISTRICT FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL PERSPECTIVES IN RELATION TO PALACES, RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS AND MAUSOLEUMS IN KUALA KANGSAR DISTRICT, PERAK, MALAYSIA
Get PDFPreservation and conservation of heritage sites is an essential effort to achieve sustainable development in Malaysia. However, due to rapid development, many heritage sites and buildings are at risk around the world including Malaysia where many developments encroach into heritage sites and diminish the traces of our culture and history that are embedded in these sites. Eventually, these traces that are important for the identity and sense of place of a particular area and crucial in the educational and cultural development of a nation may be lost. The aim of this research is therefore to explore and examine the methodology to evaluate Kuala Kangsar as a Heritage District from the selected architectural attributes. Kuala Kangsar is chosen as a case study to test the methodology. Employing qualitative method, this research documented and examined the palaces, religious buildings and mausoleums in Kuala Kangsar district on its heritage values through field observation, contents analysis and interviews. All the identified attributes are marked within the related grids in the GIS map of Kuala Kangsar district that has been divided into 2,711 grids according to 1 km x 1 km grid. The findings from this research concluded that Kuala Kangsar cannot be declared as a Heritage District from the architectural perspectives in relation to palaces, religious buildings and mausoleums
LEVEL OF RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICE IN MALAYSIA CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY FROM A KNOWLEDGE-BASED PERSPECTIVE
Get PDFThe construction industry is a competitive high-risk industry with unprecedented uncertainties in technology, budget, and development processes. The need then evolved to develop a framework for project performance in Malaysia construction company. This study investigated the associated problem in the management of risks in Malaysian construction projects using the knowledge-based approach. This perspective proposed a methodology based on a one-fold arrangement involving the application of risk management modelling function, evaluation of the comparative effectiveness and desired quality with the availability of a best practices model. The preliminary conclusion from these findings revealed that risk management in Malaysian construction projects is ineffective and still at a developmental stage. The applications of a knowledge-based framework, therefore, allow clients, contractors and consultants to develop a project’s risk management function based on best practices. The implementation of knowledge management will, therefore, avoid the organization the cost of repeating the same mistakes. This will invariably lead to improvement in the performance of construction work in Malaysia when incorporated as part of the organizational strategic plan
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONALS IN NIGERIAN CONSTRUCTION FIRMS: BARRIERS, BENEFITS AND CAPABILITIES
Get PDFKnowledge management (KM) is central to the performance of construction firms. KM has been found to be beneficial in companies in terms of quality, time, speed and reliability. The creation and diffusion of knowledge to the professionals in construction firm have become increasingly important factors in competitiveness, as most construction firm professionals pay insufficient attention to KM awareness and capabilities. This study aimed to assess the KM capabilities among professionals in Nigerian construction firms. The study adopted a quantitative research approach by eliciting primary data through structured questionnaire. One hundred and twenty (120) questionnaires were administered and 92 were retrieved and considered for further analysis. The data obtained were analysed using mean item score (MIS) and charts. The study revealed the three major barriers to KM implementation to be; cultural barriers (MIS = 4.90; SD = 0.32), lack of time (MIS = 4.60; SD = 0.52) and trying to solve large problems (MIS = 4.50; SD = 0.71). This study also discovered the main benefit of KM implementation to be enabling better and faster decision making (MIS = 4.71; SD = 0.47). Lastly, it was revealed that most construction professionals do not embrace creativity in KM. This study however recommends that: stakeholders of the construction industry should be encouraged to embrace cultural diversity; construction firms should pay keen attention to time management and development of appropriate methodology that will foster knowledge management implementation; professional bodies should collaborate with government parastatals and construction firms to train professionals on knowledge management; government should introduce policies and framework that will support knowledge management implementation; and construction professionals should embrace the concept of creativity in knowledge management.Keywords: Construction firms, construction professionals, knowledge management capabilities, knowledge management