Journal Articles

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Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Exploratory factors influencing building development costs in New Zealand
    (MDPI AG, 29/06/2017) Zhao L; Mbachu JIC; Domingo N
    Identification of costs drivers and their influence levels on building development costs plays a key role in the development of construction models and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of any project. Forty-five indicators influencing building development costs in New Zealand were explored by literature review and pilot interviews. These indicators were grouped into seven categories. The determination and ranking of the significant cost drivers were carried out through questionnaire survey distributed to key professionals working in New Zealand construction industry. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used in analysing the empirical data. Findings showed that the property market, construction industry characteristics, statutory and regulatory, and socio-economic factors were major drivers of the building development cost trends in New Zealand. It was recommended that the ever-increasing building development costs and housing unaffordability in New Zealand could be significantly mitigated by addressing the identified factors.
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    Towards Effective Implementation of Carbon Reduction Strategies in Construction Procurement: A Case Study of New Zealand
    (MDPI AG, 30/09/2022) He P; Bui TTP; Shahzad W; Wilkinson S; Domingo N
    In light of climate change, the construction industry plays a crucial part in alleviating carbon emissions and other environmental impacts. The focus on improving the public procurement process poses an important opportunity for the successful implementation of carbon reduction strategies in construction projects. There is a growing body of literature mapping green and sustainable procurement practices in construction. However, previous studies have not treated the implementation of procurement in a particular area, such as carbon reduction, in much detail. This study aims to investigate the implementation of construction procurement incorporating carbon reduction strategies, with a specific focus on the public sector in New Zealand. The research was conducted through 13 semi-structured interviews with construction procurement experts in New Zealand. The results shed light on the current implementation of carbon reduction strategies in construction procurement and its challenges, such as a lack of knowledge and ambiguous procurement guidelines and documents. It also emphasises the importance of (1) well-developed carbon reduction evaluation criteria, (2) specifying a budget for carbon-related initiatives, and (3) the prerequisite of a high level of innovation in the procurement document. The study adds to the rapidly expanding field of carbon reduction construction procurement by providing a deeper insight into the way carbon reduction strategies are effectively implemented in the procurement process.
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    Procurement selection model: Development of a conceptual model based on transaction costs
    (Australasian Journal of Construction Economics and Building Conference Series,, 2014) Rajeh MA; Tookey J; Rotimi J; Wilkinson, S; Miller, G
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    Do Green Buildings Have Superior Performance over Non-Certified Buildings? Occupants’ Perceptions of Strengths and Weaknesses in Office Buildings
    (MDPI AG, 25/08/2022) Khoshbakht M; Rasheed E; Baird G
    The main objectives of green buildings are to improve their design and operation. Many studies have investigated whether green buildings lead to higher occupant satisfaction, yet with contradictory conclusions. The paper builds on the results of post-occupancy evaluation surveys of 68 buildings using the BUS Methodology. Satisfaction scores expressed by occupants with the qualities of their indoor environment were compared between the green and non-certified buildings. This research investigates whether green buildings have superior performance to non-certified buildings from the occupants’ perspectives. It was found that generally occupants were more satisfied in green buildings than in non-certified buildings. However, the differences were not significant for any of the environmental and operational parameters including thermal comfort, lighting, noise, and air quality. In the case of operational parameters such as design, needs, image of the building, and cleaning, the differences between the two building groups were notable. Air quality, design and work requirement had the strongest influence on perceived comfort in both green and non-certified buildings. Noise had the strongest influence on perceived productivity for both building groups. Although overall green buildings performed better than the non-certified buildings, the differences between the two were negligible particularly for environmental parameters. Most of the green buildings were not performing entirely as their designers may have intended and had weaknesses that needed to be addressed.
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    Causes of payment problems in the New Zealand construction industry
    (University of Technology Sydney (UTS) ePress, 2015) Ramachandra T; Rotimi JOB
    Payment delays and losses persist in the construction industry and continue to be a key concern to industry practitioners. Therefore an exploration of the key causes of payment delays and losses is undertaken in this study with the ultimate objective of seeking mitigating solutions. The study adopted a survey approach using an online questionnaire, administered to practitioners from the New Zealand construction industry, comprising consultants, head contractors and subcontractors. The data obtained was analysed using inferential statistical techniques, including comparing means and factor analysis. Factor analysis enabled clustering of the inter-related causes of payment delays and losses in order to find reduced number of causes. Accordingly, the study found that payment problems mainly relate to contractual issues, financial strength of industry players, disputes, short-comings of payment processes and ‘domino effects’. Among them, the financial strength of critical industry players was considered central to payment problems. The study concludes that any solution to these problems must address these primary causes, as a rational starting point. Thus procuring a feasible form of financial security at the outset of a project, and the pre-qualification of the financial status of critical project participants, were found to be significant in the mitigation of construction payment risks
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    Evaluating defect reporting in new residential buildings in New Zealand
    (MDPI AG, Basel, Switzerland, 2015) Rotimi FE; Tookey J; Rotimi JO
    The need for defect reporting is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore at handover of new residential buildings. A general review in defect studies has consistently shown that newly built properties can be found to have a significant number of defects. Very often the responsibility for rectifying these common defects is borne by the new homeowner even though house developers are liable. In the current study, survey data is obtained from 216 recent home purchasers/owners across New Zealand urban cities. The intent of the investigation is to show that opportunities exist for defect reporting that will act as a mechanism to measure performance and thus improve the quality of finished construction products in New Zealand. The study found that a significant number (81%) of the participants were involved in the construction of their homes and could influence quality performance if they were proactive enough. The results show that (64.7%) did not engage the service of independent building inspectors for defect reporting on their new homes. Seventy-four percent now agree that independent building inspection was important in hindsight. The study findings are in line with literature on defects and the poor use of defect reporting in new residential buildings. The current challenge for defect rectification by house developers after handover is real and this could increase the confidence that new home owners can have in their developers. Defect reporting could confer benefits to new residential building quality in New Zealand and should be embraced as part of a wider best practice.
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    Contemporary issues in building collapse and its implications for sustainable development
    (2012) Windapo AO; Rotimi JO
    This paper examines contemporary issues in building collapse and its implications for sustainable development in Nigeria. It explores whether the approach to construction by industry stakeholders is in line with the principles of sustainable development following the spate of building collapses in Nigeria. The rationale for the investigation stems from the view by scholars that construction industry stakeholders' do not seem to consider the future in their current activities. The study establishes that the approach to construction by industry stakeholders do not match sustainable principles, and contributes to general under perforxmance of buildings. The paper recommends an overhaul of planning and implementation policies for building development regulations (e.g., building codes). The Nigerian government, as a major construction stakeholder should initiate sustainable construction measures and enforce this as best practice for the construction industry.