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Achieving Sustainability in Commercial Buildings in Nigeria: The FM Approach
Olaniyi Olayinka,
Smith Andrew
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 1, February 2018
Pages:
1-4
Received:
23 November 2017
Accepted:
4 December 2017
Published:
17 January 2018
Abstract: People around the world are beginning to aspire to live and work in sustainable buildings (SBs), that is, buildings that are comfortable, healthy and have low impact on the environment. However, many buildings in Nigeria, particularly commercial buildings, are far from being comfortable and healthy. Many are in a state of deterioration due to poor design, unsustainable construction practices and mismanagement. Nigeria has a history of unsustainable building practices, mis-management of buildings and poor maintenance culture with no consideration for its impact on the environment. FM is viewed as a practice, process and profession that can promote sustainability in Nigerian buildings. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent of sustainable facilities management (FM) practice in the management of commercial buildings in Nigeria and identify barriers to it, in order to develop a solution model that will proffer ways of overcoming these barriers and ultimately determine sustainable methods by which facility managers in Nigeria can effectively manage commercial properties. The study reviews FM functions in relation to BREEAM-NC UK, LEED-NC US, ISO Sustainability in Building Construction and BS Building Regulation PD 6501: Part 3: 1985 in order to identify sustainable FM functions in buildings. There is a need to investigate sustainable FM practice in the management of commercial buildings in Nigeria as commercial buildings are the economic powerhouse of the nation, serving the whole of the country in respect of imports and locally manufactured goods; and contributing more than 70% of the national economic output. This study is a work in progress and it presents a theoretical review on the extent of sustainable FM in developed countries, especially the United Kingdom (UK), and comparing it with the development of sustainable FM in developing countries and Nigeria in particular. The findings so far, identify commitment of senior management personnel, as a major driver to the course of sustainable FM and the three main barriers to sustainable FM practice in corporate organisations, as lack of training and tools, lack of relevant laws and regulation, and lack of knowledge and awareness. Nevertheless, there remains the urgent need to investigate barriers of sustainable FM practice in the management of commercial buildings in Nigeria.
Abstract: People around the world are beginning to aspire to live and work in sustainable buildings (SBs), that is, buildings that are comfortable, healthy and have low impact on the environment. However, many buildings in Nigeria, particularly commercial buildings, are far from being comfortable and healthy. Many are in a state of deterioration due to poor ...
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Applicability of Surveying Professional Practice in Land Use Planning for Community Land Conflict Extrication in Mbeya Rural Area
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 1, February 2018
Pages:
5-9
Received:
22 December 2017
Accepted:
6 January 2018
Published:
19 January 2018
Abstract: Land conflict has been noted to be an intervening phenomenon for quite longer as it has caused many misunderstanding, competition and violence between different society group as well as adjacent land owners. Different factors has been noted in different literatures related to land conflict like scarcity of resource (water, land, pasture), policies, politics on land decision matters, land law, irregularities on land allocation procedures etc. This study explains the applicability of surveying professional practice in land use planning for community land conflict extrication in Mbeya rural area. Three districts were randomly selected as a pilot survey area for the study. Land officer, land surveyor and planners were considered as important participants in land related issues as well as participating in land conflict extrication. The study revealed that poor procedure on land planning and demarcation, poor technical survey skills, poor adherence to survey practice as well as poor participation of surveyors from inception and or during base map and or town planning drawing preparation mostly results to poor and or incorrect drawing which would always be used by the planner for land use planning. However the use of inaccurate surveying equipment like a hand held Global positioning system (GPS) which has the accuracy of up to ±3m was noted to facilitate encroachment and hence the land conflict between neibour if not well and early settled. Nevertheless the applicability of the surveying professional practice was considered to resolve the problems. A well trained and experienced surveyor should be engaged during preliminary spatial data capture for base map and or town planning drawing preparation, a work which to-date at large is being done by the planner who in reality lacks the surveying professional practice in either using surveying equipment or data analysis something in turn leads to prolonged land conflict.
Abstract: Land conflict has been noted to be an intervening phenomenon for quite longer as it has caused many misunderstanding, competition and violence between different society group as well as adjacent land owners. Different factors has been noted in different literatures related to land conflict like scarcity of resource (water, land, pasture), policies,...
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Variation of Ambient air Quality Scenario in Chittagong City: A Case Study of Air Pollution
M. Arif Hossen,
Asiful Hoque
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 1, February 2018
Pages:
10-16
Received:
30 December 2017
Accepted:
8 February 2018
Published:
8 March 2018
Abstract: Chittagong, the commercial capital of Bangladesh, is experiencing crucial health impacts resulting from deficient air quality. The ambient air quality data for particulate matter as well as criteria of gaseous pollutants were assembled during December 2013 to December 2015 from the Continuous Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAMS) located at Agrabad, Chittagong. Analysis showed that during April- October, 24 hour average concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 were within the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) level but it increased about three times during the whole non-monsoon period (November-March).The highest values found of PM2.5 were 321.1µg/m3 in January, 2013 and 220.34µg/m3 in December 2015. Whether, the highest alarming concentration of PM10 was reported as 474µg/m3 in January 2007.The other gaseous pollutants such as SO2, NO2, O2 and CO remain well within the permissible limit except dry non-monsoon period. The yearly average increase of Air Quality Index (AQI) value indicates the growth rate of air pollution in Chittagong city. The main responsible pollutant for air pollution is found PM2.5.
Abstract: Chittagong, the commercial capital of Bangladesh, is experiencing crucial health impacts resulting from deficient air quality. The ambient air quality data for particulate matter as well as criteria of gaseous pollutants were assembled during December 2013 to December 2015 from the Continuous Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAMS) located at Agrabad...
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Non-parametric Mann-Kendall Test Statistics for Rainfall Trend Analysis in Some Selected States within the Coastal Region of Nigeria
Ihimekpen Ngozi Isioma,
Ilaboya Idowu Rudolph,
Awah Lauretta Omena
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 1, February 2018
Pages:
17-28
Received:
16 January 2018
Accepted:
5 February 2018
Published:
15 March 2018
Abstract: A central factor in the modelling and analysis of the trend is the ability to establish whether a change or trend is present in the climatological record and to quantify this trend if it is present. The trend in a time series data can be expressed by a suitable linear (parametric) or nonlinear (non-parametric) model depending on the behaviour of the available data. The aim of this research is to detect and estimate the magnitude of trend associated with rainfall data from Warri and Benin City which are located within the coastal region of Nigeria using non-parametric Mann-Kendall test statistical approach. Monthly data for thirty six (36) years spanning from 1980 to 2016 was used as input parameters for the analysis. Infilling of the missing records was done with the aid of expectation maximization algorithm. Preprocessing of the rainfall data was done by conducting numerous time series validation test such as test of homogeneity, test of normality and outlier detection. Homogeneity test was aimed at testing the assumption of same population distribution; outlier detection was to detect the presence of bias in the data while test of normality was done to validate the claim that climatic data are not always normally distributed. In addition to testing the normality assumption of the data, normality test was also employed to select the most suitable trend detection and estimation technique. Results of the analysis revealed that the rainfall data from Warri and Benin City are statistically homogeneous. The records did not contain outliers and they are not normally distributed as expected for most climatic variables. The non-parametric trend detection and estimation analysis revealed that the rainfall data from Benin City shows statistical significant evidence of an increasing trend with a computed M-K trend value of +124. Although, the rainfall records from Warri do not have sufficient statistical evidence of a significant trend, the computed M-K trend value was -96 which is; evidence of a decreasing trend.
Abstract: A central factor in the modelling and analysis of the trend is the ability to establish whether a change or trend is present in the climatological record and to quantify this trend if it is present. The trend in a time series data can be expressed by a suitable linear (parametric) or nonlinear (non-parametric) model depending on the behaviour of th...
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Causes of Non-Prioritization of Infrastructure Projects in the Gaza Strip
Nabil El-Sawalhi,
Mohammed Salah Sarhan
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 1, February 2018
Pages:
29-38
Received:
25 February 2018
Accepted:
10 March 2018
Published:
8 April 2018
Abstract: Infrastructure projects are the backbone of the economy of the developed counties. Gaza Strip is suffering from non-prioritization of infrastructure project implementation. The objective of this paper was to identify the causes of non-prioritization infrastructure projects in the Gaza Strip. This paper considers the key causes of non-prioritizing infrastructure projects in Gaza Strip. Using an empirical questionnaire survey targeting groups consist of 5 ministries, 25 municipalities, 25 NGOs, international agencies and 59 consultancy firms working in Gaza Strip, respondents were invited to rate the level of importance of 52 causes have been finalized to be involved in this study from the literature. Results revealed that the most important causes are related to the project and its location, the surrounded political and economic environment, donors and project's owner. There is no consideration for local needs in the implementation of the infrastructure projects in the Gaza Strip and there are problems in the process of selecting infrastructure projects priorities by owners of these projects. Furthermore, several donors placing limitations on the type of infrastructure that it can support that related to their working area of aids and according to their political directions. Finally, the political and economic situation in Gaza Strip, and imposed borders blockade affects the decision-making process for the selection of the proposed projects. This paper will help the decision makers to consider the important aspects that should be considered when planning to infrastructure projects.
Abstract: Infrastructure projects are the backbone of the economy of the developed counties. Gaza Strip is suffering from non-prioritization of infrastructure project implementation. The objective of this paper was to identify the causes of non-prioritization infrastructure projects in the Gaza Strip. This paper considers the key causes of non-prioritizing i...
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