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    Sacred spaces : a data-driven study of indoor environment quality, energy efficiency, and management practices in Sri Lankarama Temple, Otahuhu, New Zealand : a research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Construction (Research) in Construction Project Management, School of Built Environment, Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2025) Warnasuriya, R.D.S.K
    Temples, such as Sri Lankarama Temple, situated at Otahuhu, New Zealand, are important for their cultural, spiritual, architectural, and communal significance. They act as hubs for cultural preservation, education, meditation, and social interaction. Because poor air quality can cause discomfort, decreased cognitive function, respiratory problems, and long-term degradation of temple materials, it is imperative that temples maintain a clean, stable, and healthy indoor environment. A careful and context-sensitive approach is needed to strike a balance between IEQ and energy efficiency. While minimizing energy use is essential, through avoiding excessive use of fans, air conditioning, and artificial lighting, inadequate ventilation and humidity control can result in poor IEQ while will negatively impact the building and it occupants. The aim of the study is to analyse the relationship between indoor Environment quality (IEQ), energy consumption, and building management practices across different spaces, identifying key inefficiencies and proposing data-driven strategies to optimise both occupant health and energy efficiency. As religious buildings are often overlooked in environmental and energy studies, this research aims to fill a critical gap by providing a data-driven analysis of how indoor conditions, energy usage, and operational practices interact in such settings. The temple comprises a range of diverse spaces, including prayer rooms, meditation halls, a kitchen, a library, and communal areas, each with different occupancy patterns and functional demands. The study was guided by five key objectives: to assess the compliance of IEQ with recommended international thresholds for temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide, to Compare IEQ performance across different rooms within the temple, to analyse energy building consumption and the contribution of IEQ appliances, to investigating current practices influences the temple’s energy efficiency and IEQ, recommend strategies to enhance IEQ while maintaining efficiency through synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data. A mixed-methods approach was used to accomplish these goals. Using Internet of Things (IoT)-based sensors (EnviroQ), environmental data was gathered continuously for 30 days during Aril 2025, measuring CO₂, temperature, and relative humidity in six indoor spaces using 8 sensors. As a result, more than 15,000 data points were obtained and subjected to statistical and descriptive analysis. An overview of the appliances in each room and the temple's monthly electricity bills were used to estimate energy consumption. The building manager was also interviewed in a semi-structured manner to evaluate the temple's maintenance procedures, equipment usage, and air circulation. The findings demonstrated that the temple's overall IEQ performance, recorded 70.88% of temperature readings falling within the comfortable 20–24°C range, the temperature levels were relatively well-controlled. Additionally, areas such as the kitchen and meditation hall showed improved thermal consistency. On the other hand, humidity was a consistent problem in almost every area, with over 96% of recorded values surpassing the suggested upper limit of 60%. The open living room, kitchen, and prayer rooms were especially troublesome because of the high moisture content. With regards to CO₂ level, more than 90% of readings falling within acceptable range (below 1000 ppm). Prayer Room 2 showed alarming results, with over 54% of CO₂ readings above the above the acceptable threshold, suggesting insufficient ventilation during periods of high occupancy. It was specially the case during certain occasional and cultural activities. On the other hand, open living room and library maintained excellent air quality with regards to CO₂ level due to natural ventilation. High energy consumption did not always translate into better IEQ, according to energy analysis. Even though they consumed the most electricity, the kitchen, prayer rooms, and meditation halls continued to have high humidity and occasionally poor air quality. Conversely, low-energy areas like the library demonstrated strong IEQ results, indicating that well-planned, passively ventilated areas can sustain comfort levels without consuming a lot of energy. The majority of management practices were found to be reactive. The main source of ventilation was natural; mechanical systems were only employed for special occasions. Decisions were typically made based on observation rather than data, and there were no real-time monitoring systems in place. Building operators, who are mostly volunteers lacked environmental control and energy efficiency training, and there were no specific rules in place to control the use of, HVAC, lights, or other equipment in different rooms. The results led to specific room-specific recommendations, such as adding CO₂-triggered ventilation systems in high-occupancy rooms, installing dehumidifiers in high-humidity areas, upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, and putting smart controls and thermal curtains into place. To promote responsive, data-driven environmental management, it was also suggested that volunteers receive basic training and a real-time IEQ dashboard. The study makes significant contributions in spite of these limitations. It illustrates the importance of implementing energy audits, qualitative interviews, and quantitative sensor data to create a comprehensive picture of building performance. It also shows how modern environmental monitoring and energy optimisation techniques can greatly benefit sacred spaces, even though they are traditionally run. By implementing these suggestions, Sri Lankarama Temple could enhancing occupants/visitors comfort, safeguarding health, while cutting down on energy waste. By doing so, it can become a model for sustainable architecture of spiritual spaces, contributing to preservation of its cultural and spiritual mission. The impact and applicability of this approach will be expanded through future research that includes integrated energy and IEQ metering, long-term monitoring, and comparative studies across multiple heritage sites.
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    Developing a framework for prefabrication supply chain integration in New Zealand using blockchain technology : a thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Construction Project Management, School of Built Environment, College of Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024) Bakhtiarizadeh, Ehsan
    Prefabrication or off-site fabrication in New Zealand is snowballing in terms of its contribution to the delivery of construction projects. The increasing demand for new houses and the lack of affordable accommodations in New Zealand evolved the need for innovative and effective project delivery systems instead of conventional types. The prefabrication sub-sector is considered leverage for eliminating the shortcomings of traditional construction systems. However, this sub-sector of the construction industry struggles with challenges such as low coordination and integration across its supply chain partners. These challenges are attributed to the inefficient foundation of communication and information flow. This research addresses the problem of the relatively weak integration within New Zealand's prefabrication construction supply chain. The particular focus of the study is on information integration. The central point is that an effective and efficient exchange of information among supply chain stakeholders is imperative for enhancing supply chain integration in New Zealand's highly fragmented construction industry. Therefore, this study concludes that providing an effective information-integration-based platform for stakeholders involved in prefabrication projects will deliver integration improvement in the whole supply chain system. Blockchain technology, as a secure information integration instrument, capably improves the integration of information flow within the prefabrication sub-sector. Blockchain, a decentralised, safe, and unalterable information storage, offers numerous benefits to investors, clients, end-users, and other organisations or individuals. This technology, via its inherent features such as decentralisation, consensus mechanism, and immutability, supports organisations engaged in the supply chain with more transparent and trustful interactions and information flow. By adopting qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, this research provides insight into the applicability of blockchain technology within prefabrication construction supply chains. Minimum input requirements for blockchain according to types and patterns of information will be identified and categorised, and an applicable framework for using this new information integration technology will be proposed. Some key findings of this study are the identification and classification of (1) key stakeholders and recent project phases within the prefabrication supply chain, (2) flow of information across the stakeholders in different project phases, (3) important information attributes, (4) communication channels among stakeholders, and (4) impact of blockchain technology on facilitating information integration in the prefabrication construction industry of New Zealand. This research utilised pilot interviews, a questionnaire survey, a focus group study, and a validation survey to verify the objectives of the research and validate the proposed blockchain-based framework. The findings of this research could also be relevant to other industries facing similar challenges that rely heavily on information inputs. By identifying the importance of efficient information integration and the attributes crucial for successful project outcomes, stakeholders can prioritise investments in technologies like blockchain to streamline communication and data sharing across the supply chain. The identification of conventional communication modes like email, meetings, and internet-based applications in the prefabrication supply chain suggests a reliance on traditional methods for information exchange. However, the research underscores the importance of transparency, traceability, and reliability in communication, especially in the context of advanced information technology adoption. This implies a need for stakeholders to develop tailored communication strategies that leverage both conventional methods and emerging technologies to ensure effective collaboration throughout project phases. Finally, the development of a practical document management framework utilising blockchain technology presents opportunities for innovation and collaboration within the prefabrication industry. By demonstrating the applicability of blockchain in addressing document management challenges and validating the framework through expert feedback, the research paves the way for industry practitioners to adopt similar approaches in their projects. This suggests a broader trend towards embracing digital solutions and collaborative platforms to enhance information exchange, transparency, and project efficiency in the prefabrication sector.
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    Monitoring the effect of indoor environment quality on occupants’ comfort and satisfaction : the case of two renovated houses : a research thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Construction, Massey University, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2023) Wang, Kris
    The well-being and satisfaction of occupants in buildings are greatly affected by indoor environmental quality (IEQ). This research project is aimed at monitoring and comprehensively analysing the effect of IEQ on the occupants' perception, comfort, and satisfaction during their daily activities in their homes, with a specific focus on the winter season when indoor environments face unique challenges due to heating, ventilation, and insulation factors. The project has two main objectives: Firstly, it aims to analyse the subjective experiences and perceptions of individuals in their homes at different times of the day. It is achieved by collecting data on occupant activities, environmental conditions, and subjective feedback to understand how different IEQ factors affect occupant comfort and satisfaction. These factors include temperature, humidity, air quality, and illuminance. Secondly, the study intends to explore the importance of maintaining a 'good' IEQ in residential buildings for occupants' overall health and well-being. By examining the correlation between IEQ parameters and occupant well-being, the study provided insights into the optimal conditions required for occupants to feel comfortable and satisfied in their living spaces. This information can inform building design, renovation, and maintenance practices to create healthier and more conducive indoor environments. The research project employed quantitative and qualitative methods to achieve these objectives. Data was collected through surveys, interviews, and objective measurements of IEQ parameters using advanced sensors and monitoring systems. Statistical analysis techniques are applied to identify patterns, correlations, and potential influencing factors. The findings of this research project are expected to contribute significantly to the existing knowledge base on IEQ and its impact on occupant well-being and satisfaction. Building designers, managers, and policymakers can use the information and insights from this study to enhance IEQ standards and promote healthier living environments. Ultimately, the goal is to create indoor spaces that meet or exceed energy efficiency standards and prioritise the comfort, well-being, and satisfaction of those who occupy them. In summary, this research project aims to provide valuable insights and recommendations for creating healthier, more comfortable, and sustainable living spaces by monitoring and analysing the effect of IEQ on occupant well-being and satisfaction during the winter season. This research project will analyse and show the differences between two refurbished buildings. Each building has been renovated according to the New Zealand Standard (MBIE, 2022) regarding Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and energy use. Internal environmental monitoring takes the tangible evidence of how the external and internal environment with human behaviour acts on interior air quality, temperature, humidity, illuminance, and concentration of CO2, influencing occupants' perception, comfort, and well-being. Harvested data will be crucial to understanding the optimum performance in two rental setups with the occupants in a building at different times of the week (weekends) and the year (seasons).
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    Underperformance of information and communication technology in construction organizations : a correlational study between the performance and the strategic alignment : a thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Philosophy in Building and Construction, Field of Building and Construction, School of Built Environment, College of Science, Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2023) Eliwa, Hassan
    The construction industry is applying information and communication technology (ICT), but it is evident that it does not realise its full potential and is underperforming, although other sectors are using the benefits of ICT and are extremely successful. Based on that, it is required to study and investigate the underperforming of the construction ICT and identify the problems and challenges leading to underperformance and shortcomings of ICT utilisation in construction organisations. Organisation and ICT alignment remains a top priority for businesses to improve operational efficiencies. Various studies have concluded that applying the strategic alignment model (SAM) in construction organisations can achieve better performance outcomes from the project to the organisation level. A positive connection between the utilisation of ICT and project performance has been established and concluded. However, the effects of ICT infrastructure strategy alignment with the organisational ICT infrastructure on construction organisations' performance have not been investigated. This research evaluates and analyses the importance of the alignment between the ICT infrastructure and the organisational infrastructure to improve the underperforming construction ICT not just at the project level but also at the level of construction organisations. The main objective of this research is to investigate whether the effect of ICT utilisation on project performance may be restricted and affected by its alignment with the ICT infrastructure level in the organisation. This research aims to develop guidance that assists construction organisations in solving the construction industry underperforming, the alignment of ICT in the construction industry, and improve the probability of arriving at a specific alignment solution for the construction organisation by determining the strategic alignment impact between ICT and business on organisational performance of construction organisations. A method of evaluating ICT utilisation in the construction industry and strategic alignment is proposed. The effects of this strategic alignment on project performance are discussed, and recommendations for optimal strategic utilisation are provided. The study is significant as it will introduce to the construction organisations the role of the ICT function, the method of operation of the ICT function and the sourcing options of the ICT function as antecedent variables to the alignment of business and ICT within the organisation. The research follows a practical process to understanding the complexity, challenges and requirements for ICT implementation.
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    The impacts of occupant behaviours on energy consumption in New Zealand office buildings : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Construction at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2023) Weerasinghe, Achini
    The building and construction sector consumes 36% of the global energy and produces 39% of energy-related CO2 emissions. Building energy consumption is influenced by various factors, including climate, building-related characteristics, building services, and occupant behaviours. In return, occupant behaviours significantly impact building energy consumption, with the difference between simulated and actual energy use due to how occupants behave and interact within the building. Numerous direct and indirect factors may influence occupant energy behaviours, with physical environmental, contextual, and social-psychological factors being the most widely recognised categories. Research on occupant behaviour in buildings is expanding, but only about 7% of those studies explore the determinants of behavioural change. Also, behavioural models and tools are becoming more complex to represent the human component better. As such, there is a need for further research on energy conservation approaches and drivers of occupant behaviour change in commercial buildings, especially in the New Zealand context, and a need for models that consider both subjective and objective aspects and an ontology that explicitly addresses the subjective aspects. Thus, this research focuses on creating an ontology that specifies occupant behaviour-related data monitoring and collection to optimise the energy performance of New Zealand office buildings. This research followed a narrative and systematic literature review, a preliminary study, and two primary data collection rounds to fill the above research gap and achieve the research aim. The research used a mixed methods approach consisting of grounded theory, survey, and qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques, with critical realism philosophy and an abductive approach as the underlying theoretical framework. The narrative and systematic literature reviews focused on identifying the prevalent occupant energy behaviours and the significant drivers that influence these behaviours in the New Zealand and international contexts. The narrative review of academic articles defines occupant behaviours and highlights the importance of considering indoor environmental quality (IEQ) parameters and other factors influencing occupant behaviours. Also, it identifies the main factors influencing occupant behaviours. The narrative review further suggests that energy research practices based purely on objective factors of occupant behaviours may not highlight valuable insights from subjective aspects. Therefore, a systematic review of research articles on the social-psychological drivers of occupant behaviours is conducted to determine previous research patterns and trends and identify gaps for future investigation. The systematic review highlights the influence of social-psychological theories and constructs on occupant energy behaviours and discusses the application of theories in different occupant behaviours and future research trends and implications. In the following stages of the research, these identified prevalent occupant energy behaviours and the significant drivers that influence these behaviours are preliminarily and primarily investigated in the New Zealand context. Accordingly, the preliminary research investigates the attitudes and approaches of building managers towards occupant energy behaviours in New Zealand tertiary education office buildings and how organisational energy culture affects their strategies for addressing occupant preferences. The research used grounded theory analysis, with 25 participants from a university being interviewed through semi-structured interviews with facilities managers, sustainability managers, and building occupants. The study found that building managers often oversimplify the complex relationship between discomfort, energy consumption, and the influence of social-psychological factors on occupant behaviour. To improve the organisational energy culture, the study suggests increasing occupant knowledge and awareness of energy consumption, providing energy feedback, and giving occupants more responsibility to meet energy targets. The preliminary study also evaluates the relationship between occupant energy behaviours, IEQ satisfaction, user control, and social-psychological factors. The study collected data from 52 occupants in five office spaces at a university in Auckland, New Zealand, and analysed using descriptive and binary logistic regression analysis. The study found that thermal and air quality conditions are the primary sources of IEQ discomfort, and occupant satisfaction is linked to their comfort preferences. The preliminary study showcases how organisations rationalise occupant energy behaviours and comfort preferences in New Zealand office buildings while highlighting the importance of considering occupant comfort and behaviours when implementing energy-saving measures and preparing occupant-centred energy policies. Subsequently, the primary data of the research focuses on evaluating how occupants perceive decision-making regarding their energy behaviours in New Zealand office buildings to enable informed decisions for building managers. The primary research explores the influence of social-psychological factors on occupant energy behaviours in office environments. It utilises a combination of questionnaires distributed to 294 office occupants in New Zealand and PLS-SEM analysis to assess the impact of motivation, opportunity, and ability on these behaviours. The results indicate that improving energy-saving opportunities through subjective norms, organisational support, behavioural interventions, and individual control capability leads to increased perceived behavioural control and knowledge, motivating occupants to engage in energy-saving behaviours. As the subjective factors are clearly identified, the research next investigates the influence of subjective and objective factors on occupant behaviours in New Zealand office buildings. The study collected data on indoor environmental comfort, control availability, and social-psychological factors through online surveys of 99 occupants and analysed the data using machine learning techniques. The study found that the availability of user controls is the main predictor of most occupant behaviours, followed by social-psychological factors and indoor environmental parameters. Demographic factors such as gender, work duration, and workspace permanence are also important. These primary research findings then contributed to developing an ontology for effectively monitoring and collecting occupant energy behaviour-related data to optimise the energy performances of New Zealand office buildings. The proposed ontology effectively describes and captures the complex interplay of drivers affecting occupant energy behaviours in offices, including environmental factors, user control, social-psychological factors, and demographic information. The subject matter experts agreed that the ontology provides a comprehensive and structured representation of occupant energy behaviours and could be helpful in building performance simulation and energy management systems. They also emphasised the importance of considering occupant behaviour-related data in building energy management strategies and audits. Accordingly, this study provides a new approach to assessing the combined impact of comfort preferences, energy behaviour, and various environmental, building, and social-psychological factors for modelling occupant energy behaviours in office buildings. The study provides a practical and valuable contribution to building energy efficiency, supporting the integration of occupant energy behaviours into building performance simulation, energy management, and sustainability strategies.
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    The assessment of indoor environment quality in New Zealand early childhood education centres : a thesis presented in full fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Building Science at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Flood, Tiffany
    The review of literature highlighted a knowledge research gap in the understanding of New Zealand early childhood education indoor environment quality, particularly in Auckland. The objective of this thesis was to, therefore, begin to fill this gap. This was achieved by predominantly monitoring the indoor environment quality in four early learning education centres for one year. The results showed a lack of indoor environment quality standards in early childhood education. Mean carbon dioxide levels in 75% of the sleep rooms monitored exceeded ASHRAE and Ministry of Education school guidelines; the mechanical ventilation in one of the centres did not meet the New Zealand mechanical ventilation standard and the thermal comfort range was exceed 14% of the time during operating hours. The maximum relative humidity guideline set by ASHRAE and recommended in New Zealand schools, was exceeded 29% of the time during operating hours and 66% of the time outside operating hours, therefore possibly supporting mould and bacterial growth. Building audits identified poor cleaning routines in most rooms. Only 22% of the classrooms met the New Zealand building code G7 for Natural light and 55% had poor views to outside, as also required under G7. None of the classrooms achieved a daylight factor greater than 2% as set out in the Ministry of Education school guidelines and 33% of the classrooms interior lighting met New Zealand interior and workplace lighting standards. Those classrooms with mostly hard floors and ceilings have potential reverberation issues. This study highlighted that further research is needed to investigate the ventilation requirements in sleep rooms and the natural light, views to outside and interior lighting requirements within early childhood classrooms. The Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health should provide guidance and advice before a centre is built. The inclusion of an indoor environment quality assessment should be considered as part of a centre’s Education Review Office assessment and that the importance of indoor environment quality should be part of the curriculum when training early learning teachers. This study may be applicable to the New Zealand early childhood education industry and researchers of indoor environment quality.