Remote Site Supervision of a School Project in Rural Uganda During Covid-19 Restrictions

Engineers for Overseas Development is a UK-based charity specialising in development projects across rural Africa. Each project provides opportunities to upskill both local construction workers and UK engineer volunteers, who take responsibility for design and site supervision. In October 2021, Cardiff branch delivered the first phase of a much-needed English teaching nursery and primary school in Uganda. In a first for the charity, construction was supervised entirely remotely due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. This paper outlines how this was achieved, highlighting the challenges and solutions developed.

Can the Development of Religious and Cultural Tourism Build a Sustainable and Friendly Life and Leisure Environment for the Elderly and Promote Physical and Mental Health?

From the perspective of satisfaction, physical and mental health, and re-travel, this study explored whether the development of religious and cultural tourism could construct a sustainable and friendly life and leisure environment for the elderly to promote physical and mental health. This research adopted a mixed method, collected 700 questionnaires, used SPSS 22.0 statistical software, and analyzed basic statistics, t-test, and PPMCC test. Then, the researchers conducted semi-structured interviews, collected the opinions of six interviewees, and finally analyzed with multiple checks Law discussion. The results found that people of different genders and stakeholders had different opinions about DIY activities on leisure satisfaction, featured itineraries, relaxation areas, signs and instructions, community association and service center services, historical landmarks, and public transportation. They found people’s life satisfaction in physical and mental health was increased, their headaches or pressures on the top of their heads were relieved, backache problems were reduced, and they were no longer anxious and lost tempers. They had a greater willingness to revisit some places and share experiences. This study found significant differences among these topics (p < 0.01). Women, residents, and tourists had different opinions. In addition, although the natural environment landscape and feelings have the greatest influence, the better the physical and mental health was improved, the better the willingness to travel. However, the more perfect the local construction and development, the less favorable to attract people to engage in leisure activities or tourism consumption.

Rethinking the Proportional Design Principles of Timber-Framed Buddhist Buildings in the Goryeo Era

This study examines how the wooden architecture of the Goryeo Dynasty in Korea evolved in an original way while incorporating Chinese architectural principles. For the Goryeo Era’s timber-framed buildings, eave purlin height was determined according to √2H times the eave column height (H), while the eave column height influenced the proportional location of each purlin, determined by the √2H times decrease rate in the cross-section. Thus, eave column height was proportionately connected to a geometric sequence with a common ratio of √2H. This technical approach, achieved using an L-square ruler and a drawing compass, contributed to determining eave purlin and ridge post placement, bracket system height, and outermost bay width. This study notes that the practical works were consistently preserved in East Asian Buddhist architecture, in that a universal rule of proportion was applied to buildings constructed during the Tang–Song and the Goryeo Dynasties, surmounting differences in local construction methods. These design principles were a vestige of socio-cultural exchange on the East Asian continent and a minimal step toward the establishment of structurally safe framed buildings.

Circular Economy: Challenges and Opportunities in the Construction Sector of Kazakhstan

The circular economy in the construction sector in emerging economies is one of the most promising concepts that aims to keep the value of the construction materials and structures as long as possible. The construction industry is rapidly developing in Kazakhstan with a yearly increase in projects. This research paper investigates the construction sector in Kazakhstan in terms of the potential application of circular economy principles by local stakeholders—clients, contractors, designers, and manufacturers. As limited research has been conducted on the circularity within the construction environment, including construction parties, this paper aims to fill this research gap. It seeks to identify the construction trends and perform a barrier and opportunity analysis to develop circular economy principles in the construction sector. As a research method, PEST is used for the study of local construction trends. At the same time, stakeholders are interviewed using semi-structured surveys organized according to the ReSOLVE framework (regenerate, share, optimize, loop, virtualize, and exchange) to identify the barriers and opportunities for circular economy in the construction sector. As an outcome of this study, the most common barriers and opportunities were associated with the economic benefit factor, as this was the main motivation for the stakeholders to save construction materials for reuse or to refuse more eco-friendly technologies. Additionally, policy recommendations for companies involved in the construction ecosystem were provided according to the assessment of found barriers and opportunities in the context of the ReSOLVE framework. This analysis has shown that for most stakeholders of the Kazakhstani construction sector, virtualization is of the highest priority; therefore, opportunities for its development are recommended. Future research could focus on the development of economically feasible solutions for the circular economy in construction with the inclusion of virtualization technologies.

Impact of impurities of local construction materials on the bearing capacity of the concrete used in structures in Burundi

Introduction. The article is about an assessment of the impact of impurities contained in the local construction materials on the mechanical characteristics of the concrete used in reinforced concrete structures in Burundi. Materials and methods. The methodology of the study consisted in varying the quantity of impurities for the manufactu­ring of the concrete experimental cubic samples. The grain sizes of the studied ordinary concrete were in the favourable zones according to the recommended granulometry for standard concretes. Simulation of impurities was made by adding in the mixing water solid particles taken from a local rock called “red earth”. The particles were composed by (24 %) of clays, (38 %) of silts and (38 %) of sands. As for the used cement in this study, it was the type CEM I (32.5). The quantities of impurities were expressed in grams per litre of mixing water (g/l) and were varying from (0 g/l) to (100 g/l) with a step of (20 g/l). The prepared experimental concrete samples were stored in the laboratory of materials at the University of Burundi and were subjected to compression testing under hydraulic press after 28 days. Results. The impact of impurities consisting of (24 %) of clays, (38 %) of silts and (38 %) of sands is identified. Each increase of (20 g) of impurities in a litre of mixing water induces an average decrease of (4 %) on the compressive strength and the Young’s modulus for an ordinary concrete. Conclusions. The impact of impurities contained in the local construction materials used in the manufacturing of the concrete for reinforced concrete structures in Burundi is studied. Each increase of (20 g) of impurities in a litre of mixing water induces an average decrease of (4 %) on the compressive strength and the Young’s modulus of an ordinary concrete. For Burundi, a curve for the approximation of the bearing capacity of the concrete used in reinforced concrete structures according to the quantity of impurities contained in the local construction materials was established. Hence, it is advisable to start by the specification of the quantity of impurities contained in the construction materials before making the concrete for reinforced concrete structures in order to predict the mechanical performances of the concrete used in reinforced concrete structures.

‘Noordwijk aan Zee is no more’

From around 1866, Noordwijk aan Zee morphed from a small fishing village into a fashionable seaside resort. Although this transformation was set in train by a local hotelier, it was not fully realized until 1887, thanks to the initiatives of a developer from outside the village. The evolution from fishing village to seaside resort followed the model formulated in 1980 by the geographer R.W. Butler. This model distinguished seven stages: exploration, involvement, development, consolidation, stagnation, decline and rejuvenation. In the period 1887-1920, Noordwijk aan Zee underwent the stages of involvement and development. Some residents spotted an opportunity to make some money by providing services. The ambience of the village, originally determined by traditional fishermen’s cottages and sheds, changed dramatically. Development extended beyond the existing street plan and the sandy paths lining the sea wall were transformed into boulevards. Among the dunes to the south of the village core, an enclave of villas arose; to the north of the village core, labourers’ cottages. The role played by local architect-builders in the urban and architectural development of the Noordwijk aan Zee resort has received scant attention to date. In most architectural histories of Noordwijk, and of seaside resorts in general, the focus is on established architects. But given that their contribution was usually confined to a single work, their role in the spatial development of fashionable Noordwijk was negligible. It was primarily local builders who shaped the new streetscape. Working to order or on their own account, they were the most prolific builders. They drew their inspiration from the formal idiom of established architects and from the available pattern books. Various local builders ventured into tourism, as managers of summer villas, guesthouses or hotels. In that enterprise, too, they set their stamp on the appearance of the village. The construction boom that characterized the years 1887-1920 also drew builders from outside Noordwijk to settle in the village. Up to that point the local construction world had been dominated by builders’ families that had lived in the village for generations. The old families tended to confine their activities to the historical core, while most of the newcomers built outside the core. The study of local architect-builders in Noordwijk aan Zee sits within the context of Baukultur as formulated in the 2018 Davos Declaration. Local government has shown little interest in the Baukultur of Noordwijk in the period up to 1945. Although the seaside resort escaped major damage during the Second World War, since 1960 Noordwijk aan Zee has undergone large-scale demolition and redevelopment. The current situation is one of attrition; every year, one or two buildings from the town’s heyday as a popular seaside resort disappear forever.

A Sustainable Approach for the Refurbishment Process of Vernacular Heritage: The Sesga House Case Study (Valencia, Spain)

The refurbishment of traditional vernacular architecture is currently of interest for the conservation of heritage, historic landscape and cultural landscape, as well as for its potential benefits in the field of environmental sustainability. The carefully selected materials and techniques used in the refurbishment of a traditional dwelling in Sesga (Valencia, Spain) maintain the local construction techniques while causing the least possible environmental impact, saving on transport and transformation and construction energy. This article uses LCA to showcase this contribution, examining three scenarios: the first option is the refurbishment of the case study using natural traditional materials and techniques; the second presents a hypothetical refurbishment using widely used industrial materials; and a third option looks at the demolition of the existing building and the addition of a new construction with widely used industrial materials. This comparison has shown where and why the first option is, broadly speaking, the most sustainable option in environmental, sociocultural and socioeconomic terms.

Classification of Mason’s Skills by Analysis of Selected Churches of the Broumov Group

The churches of the Broumov region are renowned for their unique baroque architecture, their distinct shapes, and sizes. They are an integral part of the Czech cultural heritage. If you analyze the churches, it becomes evident that both the local geological conditions and the municipal economic situation have played an important role in their current condition. Moreover, the local construction industry has been significantly affected by historical events. In this article we would like to present the effects of those factors on the current state of selected churches, namely on the bearing capacity of their walls. Besides being very interesting, it also plays a key role in the maintenance and the potential reconstruction of the churches.

Influence of COVID-19 pandemic on local construction firms’ viability

Purpose This paper aims to assess COVID-19 (C-19) pandemic influence in the 37 factors identified from extant literature as factors influencing the viability of local construction firms (LCFs). Design/methodology/approach A sample size of 65 staff of 31 LCFs that were awarded construction projects contracts in institutions in Nigeria was purposefully selected and accessed based on relevant predetermined criteria. Respondents’ views on factors determining the viability of LCFs were obtained. Factors known to be influenced by C-19 are 25 of the 37 factors rated on a five-point Likert scale of importance by the respondents. Mean scores were used to rank the factors and principal component analysis was used to obtain key component factors (CFs) influenced by the C-19 pandemic. Findings Six of the first ten “extremely important” and “very important” factors are known to be influenced by C-19 pandemic. A total of 8 CFs having 20 variables with factor loadings of more than 0.5 each were known to be influenced by C-19. The C-19 pandemic influenced LCFs’ cash flow and management of construction labour, plant and equipment amidst variables that had above 0.8 factor loading. Research limitations/implications A limitation of this study is the inability to conduct close contact interview during this period to obtain personal views on the influence of C-19 on LCFs. However, this does not reduce the quality of findings of this study, as there are valid literature basis hinging this study findings. Practical implications The paper recommends that all stakeholders pay prompt attention to the factors adversely affected by the C-19 pandemic to improve or at the least sustain the viability of LCFs. Originality/value This paper fulfils a present pertinent need of assessing the influence of the C-19 pandemic on various factors influencing the viability of construction firms.