Acta Structilia

A conceptual framework for quality improvement by construction managers in South Africa

Siyabonga Zondo — 2024-02-27

Construction managers are important in delivering quality projects in the construction industry. Their perspective on quality improvement is thus important, but there is no framework to expedite it in South African construction. Employing a quantitative survey approach, the research uses a stratified sampling method, distributing 272 questionnaires among construction managers across South Africa. The survey explored construction managers’ comprehension of quality and engagement with quality management. The objective of this study is to identify the factors that have an influence on project quality, offering insight into the perception of construction managers towards these factors, in order to develop a quality improvement framework for construction managers in South Africa. The analysis, facilitated by SPSS v27, incorporates descriptive and reliability statistics, as well as KMO and Bartlett’s test. The results show that construction managers’ emphasis on quality is pivotal to project success. The research found that construction managers exercise meticulous control over quality by overseeing deliverables for accuracy and flawlessness. This vigilance is achieved through constructability reviews, meticulous planning, seamless organisation, and coordinated teamwork. These results are used to propose a quality improvement framework comprising five categories, namely the construction manager’s understanding of quality; the construction manager’s perspective on quality; the implementation of a QMS; internal and external factors that affect quality, and the benefits of having a skilled construction manager on board. The integration of these five factors within a comprehensive framework empowers construction managers to effectively manage and improve the quality of construction projects. This approach ensures that projects are executed with precision, adhere to industry standards, and meet or exceed client expectations, thereby enhancing the overall success and reputation of the construction management firm.

Use of photo-elicitation interviews to explore urban landscape identity in the context of urban renewal changes, a case of Kisumu City, Kenya

Edwin K'oyoo — 2024-02-27

Photo-elicitation interviews (PEIs) have been used in landscape studies with the aim of eliciting participant opinions through memories and feelings associated with images. PEI was used in this study to identify and discuss the main aspects that constitute the formation of the urban landscape identity of Kisumu City, Kenya. A total of 12 participants were purposively selected based on professions, sex and age, availability, and willingness to participate. The aim of this study was to elicit resident opinions about ongoing and completed urban renewal projects within Kisumu City, Kenya. First, the participants were asked which photos represented the city identity and contributed to its image. The responses were categorised under physical, sociocultural, and economic aspects. They were also expected to comment on the outcome of the ongoing and completed upgrading within the central business district of the city. The researcher took 28 photos of the various features within Kisumu City for discussion. PEI was used as a method to collect data in addition to other methods such as surveys whose findings have been presented in other papers. The findings revealed that Lake Victoria and its scenery were important both as a natural feature of the physical environment and for sociocultural contribution to the image of Kisumu City. Other features identified for both of these aspects were parks and public buildings within the city. The meaning aspect was also associated with these features with varying strengths. The vast majority of the participants were satisfied with the new look of Kisumu City, especially the revamped streets after the renewal projects.

The impact of foreign exchange rate on building materials and residential building construction cost in Nigeria (1999-2021)

Oluwasinaayomi Kasim — 2024-02-27

Nigeria has a housing deficit of over 17.5 million. Over the years, the government has articulated several policies to encourage investment and development of the housing sector. However, the housing construction sector imports most of the building materials which is affected by the various government directives on foreign exchange policies, with significant impact on the cost of housing production. This study examined the impact of foreign exchange rates on the costs of residential building materials in Ibadan, with a view to proposing policy directives on the local production of building materials in Nigeria. A survey research design was adopted and the retrospective longitudinal approach was employed to obtain data for the study. It was revealed that two types of rates (the fixed exchange rate and the floating exchange rate) dominated the trend of foreign exchange in Nigeria. The prices of building materials indicate an upward price movement and correlations exist between changes in exchange rates and changes in the price of building materials. A unit increase in the foreign exchange rate affects the price of building materials as seen in this study, where the foreign exchange rate positively increased by 1 value, the interbank and the parallel market exchange rates rose by exchange rate values of 0,807 and 0,705, respectively. To reverse the current trend of dependence of prospective house owners on foreign materials for housing production, the use of quality-assured local building materials in housing development should be encouraged.

Monitoring the condition of public sector fixed infrastructure in South Africa

Kevin Wall — 2024-02-27

Infrastructure is designed and built to deliver a service, but how well the infrastructure is operated and maintained is a major determinant of how effectively it is able to deliver that service. Despite this, much of the South African infrastructure owned by the public sector is not kept in a good condition. The article describes 25 years of high-level effort – including the conducting of research, the compilation of guidelines, and the passing of legislation – to improve the condition of public sector infrastructure. Inter alia, it introduces and describes the ‘infrastructure report card’ concept and how that has been applied in South Africa. It also highlights current texts on infrastructure asset management and suggests some examples of infrastructure asset management planning.

Contract administrators’ perspective on claim events under the JBCC principal building agreement in South Africa

Henry Deacon — 2024-02-27

The JBCC Principal Building Agreement is widely used as the primary building agreement in South Africa, and claims are frequently encountered in construction projects where this contract is implemented. This study, therefore, set out to determine the perspective of principal agents, who are professional consultants acting as contract administrators within the South African construction industry, regarding the magnitude of claim incidents under the JBCC Principal Building Agreement. The research adopted a quantitative approach, involving the completion of a virtual structured questionnaire by 164 respondents who were practising principal agents in South Africa. The collected data was thereafter analysed by means of descriptive statistics. The following claim events were identified as noteworthy in terms of regularity and severity: adverse weather, the execution of additional work, rectification of physical losses and damages to the works where contractors are not at risk, causes beyond the reasonable control of contractors, and the inability to obtain materials and goods in time. By identifying the knowledge void regarding the frequency and impact of claims in South Africa under the JBCC Principal Building Agreement, this study provides contracting parties with updated insights that can assist them in averting and effectively managing such claims, thereby minimising damages to all parties involved. Furthermore, while the study was confined to South Africa, the findings may still hold relevance for users of the contract in other countries.

Artificial intelligence technology applications in building construction productivity: A systematic literature review

Oluseyi Adebowale — 2024-02-27

Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds the potential to revolutionise the construction industry, by enhancing productivity and addressing the challenges posed by a skills shortage. Historically resistant to technological innovation, the construction sector lags behind other industries that have embraced innovative technologies to boost productivity. This study investigates AI technologies that can be used to improve construction productivity, as well as the barriers impeding the widespread adoption of AI in the construction sector. The research adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. A systematic review of scholarly journal articles and conference papers sourced from the Scopus database was conducted, employing relevant screening criteria to select the most pertinent sources aligned with the research objectives. Although AI applications in building construction are still emerging, AI technologies have been successfully deployed in various aspects of building construction. These include floor slab construction, steelwork, safety and risk management, materials management, and labour handling in multi-story buildings. The adoption of AI in the construction sector faces several challenges, including technical complexities, managerial and organisational barriers, economic justifications, and a shortage of AI-proficient talent. Drawing insights from this study, construction stakeholders can make informed decisions regarding AI investments and their specific areas of application within building construction.