Udayangani Kulatunga

Attitudes and perceptions of construction workforce on construction waste in Sri Lanka

Purpose – The construction industry consumes large amounts of natural resources, which are not properly utilised owing to the generation of waste. Construction waste has challenged the performance of the industry and its sustainable goals. The majority of the causes underlying material waste are directly or indirectly affected by the behaviour of the construction workforce. Waste occurs on site for a number of reasons, most of which can be prevented, particularly by changing the attitudes of the construction workforce. Therefore, the attitudes and perceptions of the construction workforce can influence the generation and implementation of waste management strategies. The research reported in this paper is based on a study aimed at evaluating the attitudes and perceptions of the construction workforce involved during the pre‐ and post‐contract stages towards minimising waste.Design/methodology/approach – A structured questionnaire survey was carried out to understand and evaluate the attitudes and percepti...

Performance measurement in the construction research and development

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of performance measurement (PM) within construction research and development (RD defining clear aims and objectives; evaluation of the successfulness of activates/confirmation of milestones; providing information for the research funders regarding the utilisation of resources; improving the communication and coordination of the parties involved; and providing feedback for future improvements of the research work. Originality/value - The paper reveals the impact and influence of PM towards the construction R&D activities.

Client's championing characteristics that promote construction innovation

Purpose – Clients or users of products, processes or services are currently being identified as potential sources of innovation in construction. There are concerns about the degree of innovation within the construction industry, despite having potential to be innovative. The role that can be played by the construction client to promote innovation in the industry is well documented. However, lack of knowledge on the desirable characteristics of the construction client was identified as one of the barriers for the construction client to be an effective innovation promoter. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the characteristics of the construction client that promote innovation.Design/methodology/approach – Multiple holistic case studies were used as the research strategy and semi‐structured interviews were used as the principal data collection technique. Code‐based content analysis and cognitive mapping were used to analyse the interviews. Data analysis was supported by two computer‐aided...

Critical success factors of construction research and development

Research and development (R&D) activities are important to the construction industry to successfully address the challenges placed upon it and to be competitive. Identifying the factors that influence the success of construction R&D activities is important as such identification would help the research team to concentrate on the most significant and influential factors and the proper management of them to enhance the performance of construction R&D activities. The critical success factors (CSFs) of construction research and development during its different phases namely initiation, conceptualization, development and launch and at the project management stage were evaluated. A questionnaire survey and a series of semi‐structured interviews were used to collect the data from academic members and industrial partners who have been involved in construction R&D activities. It revealed that from the initiation to the launch of the R&D project, emphasis was placed on the stakeholders’ satisfaction. In contrast, less attention was given to satisfying the researchers’ requirements during the R&D project. The principal investigator’s role in leading the project and providing sufficient commitment; effective monitoring and controlling of activities, having a proper dissemination plan and effective dissemination of work were also elaborated.

Structured approach to measure performance in construction research and development: Performance measurement system development

Purpose - The aim of this study is to explore performance measurement applications within construction research and development (R&D) to develop a structured approach to measure the performance of a collaborative construction R&D project during its lifecycle from initiation, conceptualisation, development, and launch stages, and during project management. Design/methodology/approach - During the exploratory phase of the study, semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire survey were carried out to develop the performance measurement system (PMS). During the explanatory phase, the developed PMS was refined with a series of semi-structured interviews. The data were gathered from principal investigators, researchers and industrial partners involved in collaborative construction R&D work. Findings - The main finding is the developed PMS to measure the performance of construction R&D that consists of critical success factors, performance indicators and performance measures during the lifecycle of a R&D project. Practical implications - The PMS developed through the study provides critical success factors, performance indicators and measures that need to be considered during construction R&D projects to measure the performance. Thus, through the implementation of the PMS, this study contributes to practice by assisting the performance improvement within construction R&D projects. Originality/value - The developed PMS to measure the performance of construction R&D projects will provide value for those who are engaged in R&D work (principal investigators, researchers and industrial partners) to ensure the success of their projects.

Malaysian experience with public-private partnership (PPP): Managing unsolicited proposal

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Use of Clickers to Improve Student Engagement in Learning: Observations from the Built Environment Discipline

Student engagement and active learning have been identified as key areas for learning enhancement as students tend to understand and retain teaching material better and enjoy lectures when they are actively engaged. This would improve retention and progression of students and could lead to improved levels of academic success. Designing learning activities to improve student engagement has been considered by many universities. This article evaluates the use of ‘Clickers’ (a remote voting system) as a mechanism to improve student engagement within the Built Environment discipline. Focus group discussions and questionnaire surveys with students, interviews with staff members and personal observations were used to collect data. A positive correlation between student engagement and Clicker sessions was evident. Anonymously responding to questions, collaborative learning, and self-evaluation of performance have been able to improve student engagement for Clicker sessions. Effective feedback discussions based on the Clicker questions, knowledge sharing with peers, and reflecting more on the subject content have influenced deep learning among students, and hence, improved learning. The originality of this research stems from the fact that Clickers could be more useful for the Built Environment discipline, as its outward looking teaching and learning approach appropriately matches with that of Clickers technology.

Flood Mitigation Measures in the United Kingdom

Abstract In recent times, the United Kingdom had witnessed flood disasters, from the overflowing of the banks of the River Thames to the submerging of residential and commercial neighbourhoods in Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Lancashire, Worcestershire, and at various other locations, too numerous to mention. The magnitude of the flood completely overwhelmed existing flood defences and made a mockery of well-known and packaged agendas meant to “prevent, protect and prepare” against such adverse occurrences. The European Unions (EU) Flood Directive 2007 is robust in its aim and mandate to member states, for which the UK is a member, in specifying that “adequate and coordinated measures” be taken to reduce flood risk. The UK Environment Agency, solely responsible for action against these natural disasters had been caught napping and widely blamed for failings in pre-empting these sad incidents. Thousands of properties were devastated and vital infrastructures, such as roads, bridges and rail tracks were damaged, as a result. Thousands of people were made homeless and some had to seek temporary shelter and refuge. The consequences on businesses were untold and large compensation were to be paid out by insurance companies. This paper is set to look into various mitigating measures meant to overcome the lapses and inadequacies of the present system and to encourage a better informed approach in dealing with future occurrences. The paper will draw from existing documentation and legislation put in place to enhance corporate response, to avert repeating the cycle of flood disaster in the UK.

Evaluation of the System of Disaster Management Resulting from War Operations and Terrorism in Iraq

Nowadays the science of disaster and crisis management is considered as one of the important sciences all over the world. Therefore, disaster management is considered an important and common subject that requires great efforts. So continuous research is one of the important ways to establish the best methods to evaluate and develop the management of disasters and crises. Such methods are appropriate to deal with the suffering that many countries experience from natural and environmental disasters from time to time. This research aims to show the significance of disaster and crisis management in general. It also explores the current situation related to disaster response management in Iraq. This exploration focuses on the achievement of the basic functions of the management operation (planning, organizing, directing, controlling). In addition, it identifies the weaknesses and the strengths of the current administrative system in all its elements and analyses all the problems and the defects in every element, in order to treat and solve these problems and defects by making recommendations to improve the immediate response system to serve Iraqi disaster management in the future. In order to satisfy this aim, data collection included information obtained from literatures relating to disaster and crisis management. In addition, other information was obtained from a field survey of the directories of the civil defence in Iraq. Furthermore, collective and personal interviews with specialists related to disasters and crisis resulting from the war operations and terrorism were conducted. Analysis of the data results revealed many weak points in the current system and this was confirmed by the field survey. It showed us more clearly the areas where the weak points appear in the management function, especially in the planning and organization functions. One of the most important weak points is the absence of heavy equipment, as well as the shortage of specialist engineering staff and a dependence on assistance from other service departments. This is because of the local roles and the departmental management in the government. Finally, the study reached a set of conclusions and recommendations, including providing the directories of the civil defence with the heavy rescue equipment and providing specialist trained engineering staff to deal with the disasters and crises. Moreover, it sets in place an incentive scheme for the related members of the directories of the civil defence. Such schemes encourage them to continue working to face the unnatural circumstances that Iraq is experiencing and to create an environment similar to that of developed countries in the world. This contributes to overcoming the disasters of all shapes and reduces the damage to lives and property.

SAFETY AND SECURITY OF HOSPITALS DURING NATURAL DISASTERS: CHALLENGES OF DISASTER MANAGERS

The purpose of this research is to explore some challenges that hospital disaster managers face in dealing with natural disaster events. In such events, it is crucial that hospitals remain safe and functional during and after the disaster; thus, hospitals at all levels need to plan for natural disasters and be aware of the requirement to remain in an operational condition both during and after any event. Evidence from around the world suggests that the malfunctioning of hospitals during a disaster have extensive impacts on both inbound and outbound patients; as such, disaster preparedness is a significant concern for hospital disaster managers. Hospital disaster management is important because of the critical services that healthcare facilities provide for injured people and existing patients. Therefore, developing a good management system for natural disaster events can help to ensure better efficiency and economy in the use of facilities and human resources within hospitals. Although appropriate disaster management can mitigate the impact of natural disasters in hospitals, there are some barriers that can prevent the effective management of these facilities in such events. For this study, secondary information was retrieved from the Internet and via academic database on sudden-onset natural disasters, and it was found that the: awareness, knowledge, disaster preparedness of hospital staff; allocation of building codes, and the relocation of buildings to higher levels, need be improved. Also, equipping health care facilities at the time of natural disaster events is important. To manage the challenges facing hospital disaster managers, a national strategy for the disaster management planning for hospitals is required.