The construction industry (CI) has a significant impact on the environment and on climate change due to the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. Globally accepted Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), specifically SDG 7 (Access to Affordable, Reliable, Sustainable and Modern Energy for All), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) stress the responsible utilization of energy in various industries, including construction. The CI uses almost half of the world’s produced energy. Therefore, this research presents insights into the efficient use of energy in the building sector and shows how energy efficiency can be achieved by altering different parameters and components like orientation, materials, glazing, and HVAC systems through a case study of a hospital building in Green Building Studio (GBS). This paper also aims to use the Building Information Modelling (BIM) approach to make environmentally sustainable decisions to reduce energy waste in projects. Initially, beneficial factors of BIM on green buildings were identified in the literature and later ranked, based on expert opinions collected using a set of questionnaires. Average Index was used for data analysis. The identified benefits were validated by conducting energy analyses on a hospital model through 3D BIM. It was concluded that a substantial share of energy cost, carbon dioxide (CO2), and electricity can be saved using this approach. It was determined that a quick and sustainable design process, improved energy efficiency, enhanced building performance, and provision of better design alternatives are the key benefits of the adoption of BIM by such projects. A Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.822 was obtained, which further validates the results. The proposed approach may lead future structures to be sustainable and enriches the culture of energy-efficient green buildings.
Construction projects are considered crucial in every developed and developing country from the perspective of economic and social development. Thus, it is mandatory to achieve successful completion of the project. Efficient production is one of the significant criteria in ensuring the success of projects. An efficient production, labour productivity is considered an important aspect. Labour productivity is affected by several factors which are essential to study for productivity improvements. Since in Pakistan, labour productivity is one of the least studied areas within the construction industry. Hence, this paper focused on determining the common factors which have influenced the labour productivity. A survey among the construction practitioners included 33 identified factors from literature. A total of 150 questionnaire forms were distributed, and only 54 completed data forms were received back. These forms were used to analyse statistically using frequency analysis with SPSS software and weighted average (WA) calculation with Microsoft Excel application. The results indicated 1 factor as very often occurring, and other 32 factors were reported as often occurring during construction works while WA value for significance revealed that there are seven factors which have extremely significant while other 26 factors lie in the category of very significant. Those seven dominating factors reported as extremely significant are the misuse of schedule, the increase of labourer age, weather changes, tool and equipment shortages, violation of safety precautions, working seven days per week without taking a holiday and lack of financial motivation system.
Time overrun is a major issue in construction projects. Its causes vary, depending upon the nature and size of the project. Developing countries are more susceptible to this problem due to limited resources and lack of managerial skills. This paper focuses on the identification and classification of time overrun factors in public sector projects in Pakistan. Data was collected by the use of a questionnaire given to different professionals in the construction field. Average index (AI) was used to determine each factor’s relative importance. Results indicate that financial difficulties faced by constructor, inadequate planning and scheduling, financial difficulties faced by client, delays in payment by the client, delays in decision making by the client, design mistakes, frequent design changes, material shortage, incompetent sub-constructor assigned by the constructor, poor site management and supervision and inadequate constructor’s experience are the most significant factors of time overrun in public sector construction projects in Pakistan. This study aims to be useful in addressing the issue of time overrun in the construction industry.
Business collaborations formed by construction contractors to enhance their abilities and effectiveness in large construction projects are known as construction joint ventures (CJVs). It is widely used as a way of merging assets, capitals, funds, resources and expertise of different organizations. It helps business to grow faster, increase efficiency and generate greater profits without borrowing money. Though it is useful and beneficent for the vendors, it may contain several types of risk. It is both beneficial and stimulating due to differing technical skills, economic and political atmospheres, and cultural and legal backgrounds. Recent development and modernization in Pakistan have led it towards a new construction phase, which involves national and multinational joint venture projects. Global and local CJVs have become gradually prevalent to produce mega construction projects. Current research aims to investigate and to identify the communal, ecological, political, legal, economic and other external risks associated with CJV projects in Pakistan. The study was carried out by literature review and a few national and international guidelines. Interviews were conducted with relevant professionals, experts, and owners of the organizations working on CJV projects. Data was collected in the form of a questionnaire from relevant professionals. The descriptive analysis was performed through SPSS using average index (A.I) technique. This study is helpful for the Government of Pakistan, public and private construction firms working under JV to reduce the emerging risks of construction projects.
Outdated tendering system is a significant obstacle in the momentum of public sector development in Pakistan. This study aims to examine various undiscovered part of public tendering through a detailed survey from key professionals, experts, and decision-makers of public projects. Furthermore, research covers the present status of public tendering in Pakistan and provides recommendations as per experts’ opinion. This paper exhaustively highlights how the classical customs of the public tendering in Pakistan could track the old-fashioned sector to an upright path. Intensive interviews and questionnaire surveys were carried out throughout the country for data compilation. The one-way ANOVA test was performed to verify the perception of various participants and to reject the null hypothesis. The study revealed various interesting facts of present-day situations of public tendering. Various pitfalls in public tendering were underlined in the speculation of experts. The study concluded that public tendering in Pakistan is crowded with severe threats that may be alarming for the future of the industry. Un-discovering of alarming facts about public tendering in Pakistan opens the directions for several researchers in terms of exploring project case studies further. The research is an eye-opener for policymakers, experts, decision-makers and governmental bodies to regulate the public tendering system accordingly.
Flour milling is considered the oldest trade industry, initiated at least 6000 years ago. Like every other industry, numerous problems arise during functioning and maintenance operations. The production process involves the breakdown of grains to separate their outer covering and inner endosperm grinding to fine flour particles. Workers serving in the industry have been in an environment exposed to flour dust. After conducting several interviews and a questionnaire survey to the workers and sales managers of flour mills within Hyderabad in Pakistan, the workforce was found to be suffering from sensitization, occupational asthma, allergic rhinitis, obstructive lung diseases and eye infection. The core reason was the inhaled and swallowed flour dust. The majority of the respondents highlighted improper flour milling process including intake and final product collection systems as the main causes of these health problems. The other part of the research work revealed that the majority of safety issues emerged due to the unavailability, the failure to use and the unawareness of personal protective equipment. Regarding the suggestions received during the survey from respective stakeholders, the health and safety issues can be controlled by improving feeding and collection systems and by wearing personal protective equipment.
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