Conference Proceedings

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    Bibliometric study on particle emissions of natural and alternative building materials
    (Springer Link, 2020) Ansah, N. B.; Adinyira, E.; Agyekum, K.; Aidoo, I.
    Numerous care and procedures have been declared to address the problem of global warming and building construction emissions, all to minimise the health negativities that arise due to high pollution levels. Construction markets are now more awake to sustainability accomplishments; thus, it is vital to educate construction stakeholders on preferred natural or alternative materials for construction purposes based on their significance to sustainable development. This paper is aimed at conducting a structured literature review on the subject of particle emissions of natural and alternative building materials and to provide an overview of the associated health challenge. Documentary data on particulate matter emissions of these materials were collected through desk research. The study showed that the problem of selecting good quality material with emission-free health challenges stems from the fact that the built environment professional has little clue of knowing about the toxicity of building materials. Throughout the review, literature has been quiet on the emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 released from the use of both natural and alternative materials, thus calling for concern and a more significant research direction towards the study of this phenomenon to yield the required results.
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    Establishing the cost contribution of significant cash flow factors impacting on building projects profitability
    (Scientific and Academic Publishing, 2019) Adjei, E. A. G.; Fugar, F. D. K.; Adinyira, E.
    This paper identifies and explore significant quantifiable cash flow factors influencing building projects profitability in Ghana. A thorough literature was undertaken to unravel the quantifiable cash flow factors which facilitated design of questionnaire. A survey with prime focus on large firms registered with the Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, Ghana was undertaken. A total of 50 questionnaires were received from 63 administered representing 79.36% response rate with a Cronbach Alpha value of 0.895 and Kappa value of 0.743 respectively were attained. One-sample t-test was performed on the rated responses to establish 12 significant factors. Principal component analysis was subsequently employed to reduce factors to the most significant components. Prominent variables selected from rotated and component score matrixes were: wages of labour and staff; progress payment duration; bank interest rate; and replacement of defective works as significant variables. This study was limited to quantifiable cash flow factors and large construction firms hence, recommended further study with focus on qualitative factors, procurement types, broader scope of construction firms and other developing countries. The outcome of this is to aid construction managers effectively manage the significant cash flow factors to maximize profit.
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    A review on appropriate tool to predict profitability of building projects using established significant cash flow factors
    (University of Salford, 2019) Adjei, E. A. G.; Fugar, F. D. K.; Adinyira, E.
    The vast sums of money involved in megaprojects, and the perceived lack of public benefit, create controversy. Flyvberg’ s iron law asserts that megaprojects are over budget, over time, under benefits, over and over again (Flyvberg, 2018). More recent research suggests that this focus on cost overruns is based on highly misleading data (Love & Ahiaga-Dagbui, 2017). This research seeks to examine live megaprojects and examine Flyvberg’s theories in practice, through an investigation of current megaprojects in the Middle East. The research provides three case studies for two recently completed and one on-going megaproject, to examine these claims further. The research questions whether the right comparisons are made between the initial offerings and final product, through consultation with professionals. Based on the findings, it is suggested that an increase of over 100% of the Contract price, may not constitute an over-budget megaproject. Professional Cost Consultants in the built environment can provide greater insight into the complexity that adds cost in the transitions from initial to final costs for megaprojects, although the validity of this insight may be reduced by a lack of distance from or overview of the megaproject. This paper investigates some of the familiar sources of megaproject cost overrun and considers the findings of Cost Consultants engaged in monitoring megaprojects in the state of Qatar. Time and Cost considerations are just two of the characteristics evident in megaprojects. This research suggests that reporting of time and cost overruns is frequently based on limited, misunderstood or misreported data, and that in order to provide higher fidelity, such ‘headline claims’ need to be careful considered in the context of the original project scope. This paper recognises that cost is just one element of a megaproject, and that megaprojects warrant more holistic considerations including acknowledgement of other significant characteristics such as their embodiment of large components of risk, political influences, organisational pressures and management complexitie
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    Understanding the concept of resilience in construction safety management systems.
    (Springer Link, 2020) Aidoo, I.; Fugar, F.; Adinyira, E.; Ansah, N. B.
    Traditional safety management does not always improve the results of safety because of its focus on technical requirements and attainment of short-term results. It is more reactive than proactive and often not integrated with the rest of the functions of an organisation. The concept of resilience divulges a new way of dealing with safety in complex sociotechnical systems. A systematic review of related literature on resilience in safety management systems published from 2009 to 2019 was conducted using top tier academic journals and databases including Scopus, Google Scholar, and Semantic Scholar. It has emerged from the review that there are four capabilities that underpin the concept of resilience in safety management systems, i.e. ability to respond, ability to monitor, ability to learn, and ability to anticipate. The study contributes to the literature and practice of resilient safety management by offering safety officers and researchers with insights into the concept.