58 research outputs found
New body set to approve construction degree apprenticeships in the UK
No full text The UK’s new independent Institute for Apprenticeships was launched in April 2017 to ensure the quality of apprenticeships – including a number of proposed degree apprenticeships for construction professionals. David Oloke of the University of Wolverhampton provides an update. </jats:p
Developing Practitioner Skills in Construction Health and Safety Management: An Integrated Teaching and Learning Approach
No full textThe Construction (Design and Management) – (CDM) Regulations of 1994 and their subsequent revisions have played an important role in improving construction health and safety management. However, the awareness of corresponding responsibilities and the intuitive management of relevant knowledge continue to pose the greatest challenges to the duty holders in terms of implementing the Regulations. Within the context of established learning styles and teaching techniques, an integrated problem-based and collaborative learning approach is being adopted in the delivery of a series of special construction health and safety short courses for construction professionals. The programmes are attended by an average of ten participants with varied construction related backgrounds on each of the iterations. Starting from the theoretical framework of the Regulation requirements, the approach evolves into contextualised problem solving in respect of each of the stages of the construction process. Well defined pre-selected problem solving tasks and background related problem solving tasks are collectively applied to facilitate efficient and effective knowledge transfer and acquisition. A collaborative learning approach was finally applied to elicit peer knowledge thereby enriching participants’ individual knowledge base of the generic issues. Participant feedback suggests that the programmes have been successful in achieving their main aim of enabling awareness and improving the health and safety knowledge and management skills of the practitioners. Further work is envisaged in extensively reviewing other learning approaches and developing the more reasonable integrated approach to reflect changes in relevant legislation and the diversified experience of the practitioners who attend the programme
PAPER 21 A safety leading indicator approach to behavioral based safety in Nigeria
No full textPAPER 21 A safety leading indicator approach to behavioral based safety in Nigeria
"Isimemen Ejohwomu, David Oloke, Lovelin Obi, Olugbenga Oladinrin
An exploratory study of GIS based analysis of Health and Safety related information
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the University of
Wolverhampton for the degree of Doctor of PhilosophyStatistics from the Health and Safety Executive show that the UK construction industry has approximately 80 fatalities per year, making the construction industry one of the most dangerous industries when compared to other industries. The reduction of construction accidents in the construction industry has led to the need for thoroughly analysed construction environment information which can be effectively utilised in formulating construction health and safety planning strategies, thus enabling the construction industry meet accident reduction targets. However, existing approaches to information analysis mainly focus on factors within construction health and safety information during analysis and do not shed light on the influencing socio-economic and spatially influenced issues within which the industry’s accident contributory factors are rooted. It is also clear that limitations of information usage in the construction industry are due to the fragmented nature in which health and safety information is availed to practitioners for ultimate utilisation in the construction process. There is, therefore, a need for more appropriate decision-support mechanisms that can take account of spatial contributory factors to accident occurrence. There is also a need for mechanisms that enhance the management, analysis and utilisation construction environment information from varied sources for integration in the construction process. The failure to utilise information from varied sources in the construction industry, means that adequately analysed information is lacking for integration in construction health and safety planning strategy formulation process. This study was initiated as a response to this challenge. This prompted further research into the utilisation of health and safety information and its integration in the construction process. A survey involving 215 construction stakeholders was conducted to establish the limitation and requirements of health and safety in the construction industry. Results derived through qualitative analysis further emphasised the need for enhanced health and safety information analysis and integration for use in decision making. The research explored how the spatial element present in all in construction environment information could be utilised to account for accident contributory factors. This led to the exploration Geographical Information System (GIS), a mechanism that takes into account spatial aspects of bodies of information of the phenomenon being explored, for its potential capabilities in management and analysis of construction environment information. The implementation of the GIS-based system known as Geographical Information System for Accident Prevention (GISAP) is then presented. The evaluation of the system by prospective end-users reveals the limitations and benefits of the system implementation and recommendations made for further research. In conclusion, it was clear from this study that this approach has the potential to provide a quick referencing GIS success that can link, organise, analyse and display accident data and other construction and non construction environment data. This can assist stakeholders in decision making during formulation of construction health and safety strategies. The approach can improve understanding of analyses and can enhance the handling of queries related to accident data and other data. This innovative approach can also offer an extra dimension of safety information management, identify trends and areas for effective accident preventive action and ultimately enable development and directions of future work and to engender wider debate
Exploring the relevance of intellectual capital recognition in the financial statements of listed insurance companies in Nigeria
No full textThe purpose of this research is to explore the relevance of Intellectual Capital recognition in the financial statements of listed insurance companies in Nigeria with a focus on the cities of Abuja and Lagos. The scope of this research was limited to the review and analysis of the relevance of intellectual capital recognition in the financial statements of listed insurance companies for the period 1st January 2015 to 31 December 2020 in developing countries, using Nigeria as a case study. This study employed a mixed method (quantitative and qualitative) research design; adopting the purposive or judgement sampling method. This research utilised a combination of tools: SPSS, Multiple Regression analysis, NVivo, and Word Cloud. The field survey questionnaire, interview and content analysis were utilised with 176 questionnaires distributed. Interview data were collected from 20 out of 30 Listed Insurance companies. The response rates from the field survey and interview were 141 respondents representing 80.1%, and 20 representing 66.7% respectively. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of financial statements and annual reports of listed insurance companies were conducted. In total, 116 annual reports were analysed using NVivo. The research showed that the worth of listed insurance companies in Lagos is higher than those of Insurance companies based in Abuja. This research is one of the few to introduce the “Business recipe or strategic capital”; as the fourth capital as one of the categories of intellectual capital in listed insurance companies in Abuja and Lagos. The research established that intellectual capital components do have individual and joint effects on the performances and valuations of listed insurance companies in Abuja and Lagos. This research produced the first intellectual capital research on listed insurance companies under three recapitalisation regimes since the recapitalisation event of 2007 and during an unstable economic condition which included the covid-19 period. This research covers six years of listed insurance companies including the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, the years of varied recapitalisation introduced by the National Insurance Commission of Nigeria (NAICOM). This is the first research to apply mixed methods and data triangulation in intellectual capital research relating to the insurance industry in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria. The results and findings have varied inferences for policy, practice and research. A local Intellectual Capital report should be encouraged as part of a mandatory management report in Nigeria as already being practised in some developed countries. The effect of covid-19 restrictions and guidelines impacted the research and resulted in changes in the strategy of the research. Travel restrictions due to covid-19 posed a major challenge for the researcher. For the full benefit of their Intellectual Capital to be derived by companies, measurement and recording of Intellectual Capital should be included in the business accounting system. Future research should include the insurance brokers, and unlisted insurance companies together with the listed insurance companie
A framework for developing 4D LOD on construction projects
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.The increasing application of BIM processes and technologies has facilitated an increase in the use of 4D (3D+Time) simulations of construction projects. Numerous studies have acknowledged the benefit of 4D models in project planning and construction phases, enhancing communication between construction teams and avoiding unforeseen conflicts during the build process. The development of BIM has prompted a deeper understanding of the issue surrounding Level of Development (LODt), Level of Information (LOI) and Level of Detail (LOD) relating to the graphical detail and non-graphical information of the static geometric design model. However, up to now there is limited research methodically investigating the issue of LOD within 4D BIM applications.
This research aims to develop a framework for specifying the LOD of 4D BIM to enhance communication and planning at various stages of the construction process. A 4D simulation needs more dynamic elements to alter the current 4D static image in order to provide more realistic simulation and more accurate results.
A mixed research methods approach was developed to address the needs for successful framework development. A combination quantitative and qualitative survey was undertaken to gather data from professionals engaged in the development of 4D BIM simulations on construction projects. A framework was developed to provide professionals with an approach to develop LOD for 4D simulations (LOD4d) and following this the framework was validated through qualitative interview with experts in the field. The uniqueness of the work required the invention of new terminology. The developed framework incorporates terms for Level of Graphical Detail (LODg) the graphical information of the model. Level of Detail of object geometry “granulated” (LODgran) into segments showing how the object was constructed over the time. The framework comprises a time period required between state changes in the model during the simulation which is Temporal Level of Detail (LODti).
The outcome of the work is the generation of a framework which supports the development of 4D simulations at a range of LOD. This can then be utilised as part of the BIM process to support the generation of 4D simulations at levels of detail suitable to the operations being undertaken. This could then lead to the development of an additional protocol within the BIM suite. Beside the construction industry specialists have provided suggestions to further support approach of communication during the construction process.The University of Wolverhampto
A knowledge based system for construction health and safety competence assessment
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the degree of Doctor of PhilosophyOrganisational and individual Health and Safety (H&S) competence is an essential element to the successful completion of a construction project in a safe way and without hazards to the health of all workforce. Under the Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations 2007, the client should take reasonable steps to ensure that the appointed duty-holders and engaged people are H&S competent to design, build or co-ordinate the project. Although the CDM Regulations 2007 and its Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) have established ‘Core Criteria’ to guide the client to assess duty-holders’ H&S competence in the outset of a project, it is still difficult for most inexperienced clients to discharge the duty of making the key decisions in H&S competence assessment. In order to help the client implement H&S competence assessment, it is important to develop a tool that can effectively and efficiently support the client to make reasonable decisions in the selection of H&S competent duty-holders. According to the findings of the case study of existing formal H&S competence assessment schemes undertaken as part of this work, H&S competence assessment was characterised as a subjective, qualitative and non-linear regulation-compliance checking process. In addition, the case study helped identify the latent shortcomings in the ‘Core Critiera’ and the operational drawbacks in current practice of implementing H&S competence assessment. Based on a review of Information Technology (I.T.) and Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) applications in construction, Knowledge-Based System (KBS) is identified as being a suitable tool to support decision-making in H&S competence assessment, mainly due to its appropriateness to solve regulation-compliance checking problems and support subjective and qualitative decision-making process. Following a decision-making framework for H&S competence assessment, a KBS decision-support model was developed, applying three mechanisms to support the reasonable decision-making for H&S competence assessment. In order to develop an appropriate and practical KBS for H&S competence assessment, a textual knowledge base was developed, specifying the minimum satisfaction standards and a rating indicator system for ‘Core Criteria’. As a result, an online KBS was developed using Java Server Pages (JSP) technology and MySQL. The online KBS applied the textual knowledge base to support the screen, rating, ranking and reporting decision-supporting mechanisms. Simultaneously, the case inquiry and expert inquiry facilities were also included in the KBS for effective decision-making. Finally, construction experts and practitioners in H&S management evaluated the validity and usability of the KBS through a questionnaire survey. The prototype KBS was borne out to be an effective and efficient decision-support tool for H&S competence assessment and have the potential to be applied in practice
Development of a web-based off-highway plant information system
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the degree of Doctor of PhilosophyThe advantages of plant utilisation in off-highway activities such as construction, mining, forestry, etc can never be over-emphasised. As a result of the enormous demand placed on this valuable resource, documentation has become paramount in their effective utilisation. Such documentation relate to inventories, maintenance records, costs, utilisation and breakdown records, etc. Several efforts have been made in order to institute an efficient plant history information regime. These ranged from traditional paper- based to the ("relatively newer") IT-based methods. However, a literature review and pilot study reveal that these are yet to cope with the dynamism with which historical data are generated. Also, when compared with other similar "advanced industries" such as aviation shipping, railways and roads; off-highway plant lags behind in the application of webbased `intelligent' information systems. This research sought to improve off-highway plant information management through the development and application of INTELLIPLANT, a web-based information system. The system evolved as an integration of a web-based Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) and a Model Base Management System (MBMS). The RDBMS was designed from the forms collected during a pilot/ field investigation, while the MBMS emerged from the assemblage of time series models developed from a rigorous analytical procedure. INTELLIPLANT has the capacity to generate over 20 real-time history reports on-line through its RDBMS structure. In addition, the MBMS models predict plant breakdown time (BDPERC) as a percentage of plant availability time for wheel loaders, backhoe-loaders, hydraulic excavators and off-highway haulers. The models depend on the lagged BDPERC, percentage utilisation (UTILPERC), standby percentage (SBPERC) and fault occurrence percentage (FLTPERC). Model validation results indicated acceptable MAD and RMSE performance statistics for each model. Also, results from the practitioner-led performance evaluation of the system indicated that the development of INTELLIPLANT is a significant contribution to off-highway plant history information management
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