Globally, several studies have affirmed that the population of those who are displaced with respect to housing is on the rise. Developing nations in the continent of Africa to include Nigeria are reportedly not spared of this development. Similarly, the low-income earners have been reported as the worst hit of this global menace. Shanty dwellings, squatter settlements and informal settlements have similarly been reported to be homes to low-income earners who constitute over 90% of the population of Nigeria. This study therefore presented sustainable affordable housing strategies as an emerging concept through which low-income earners housing challenges in Nigeria can be eliminated. The study relied on a systematic review of literature to arrive at its findings. Findings from the study revealed that sustainable affordable housing strategies through which Nigerian low-income earners housing challenges can be addressed can best be explored from the social, economic, environmental, institutional and technological components of sustainable affordable housing. The study calls on the government, stakeholders, policy makers as well as private developers to adopt sustainable affordable housing strategies for low-income housing provision in Nigeria. The study’s outcome will contribute to existing body of knowledge in that it will provide useful information with respect to low-income housing provision and equally re-direct research interest on low-income housing in Nigeria and other developing nations.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is among the most common occupational disease in industries. This paper investigates NIHL in construction related industries in Malaysia with particular emphasis on its relation with risk factors. The objectives of this research were to (1) quantify the prevalence of NIHL in construction related industries, and (2) assess the relationship between hearing loss and risk factors and it’s characteristic. The study was conducted using 110 NIHL compensation record collected from Social Security Organisation (SOCSO), Malaysia. Risk factors namely area noise, age, temperature, smoking habit, hobby, diabetic and cardiovascular disease were identified and analysed. Results showed that there was no direct relationship between area noise with hearing impairment while there was only low relationship between age and hearing impairment. The range for area noise and age were between 70 to 140 dB(A) and 20 to 70 years, respectively. The other risk factors classified as categorical data and analysed using frequency method. Grade of impairment does not depend solely on area noise but also in combination with age and other risk factors. Characteristic of NIHL prevailed in construction related industries were presented using scatterplots and can serve as a references for future hazard control on site.

Green highway is a roadway planned and designed with desires to integrate transportation functionality and ecological. A green highway takes high consideration on the approach of environment to the transportation system development, the ecosystem, urban growth, public health and also to surrounding communities. Reference to standard system such Green Roads Rating System becomes more popular being used to measure the classification of a green highway. This journal paper aimed to discuss on how important is the energy efficiency criteria to be measured in the green highway development. Energy is considered highly related to highway development due to it is the most infrastructures involves in massive construction activities from its construction up to the operation and maintenance process. Relevant energy criteria in green highway development had been figured out and a checklist of the comparison among the current relevant reference in the green highway is highlighted in this paper. These identified criteria for energy efficiency are importance to be considered in Malaysian Highway Index. The criteria include the consideration on Energy Plan for Green performance strategies, energy plan for maintenance, grey and green compound and car park, rest and service area (RSA), toll plaza and interchange.

Noise exposure from worksite can cause a lasting effect of noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). The effect may vary according to industries with manufacturing and construction industries among heavily affected. However, the total number of compensation cases is still low compared to the affected population of construction industry workers. This might due to inefficient and slow compensation process. This paper aim to evaluate the current compensation process for NIHL, with in-depth discussion about the procedure adopted to find alternative ways to expedite and improve the compensation process involving noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) cases. Although the compensation methodologies is not relatively new, the current practice today still leaves  gaps in processing compensation cases efficiently and promptly. In this study, compensation process for NIHL cases were reviewed. Data were collected through articles, regulation and law acts. It was complemented with research visits to social security and insurance providers. The result demonstrates that while the current process adopted is workable, it still inefficient to cater the population of affected.

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