Search results

This study aimed to characterize the concentrations of indoor pollutants (such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂), as well as particulate matter (PM) (PM₁, PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) in Akure, Nigeria, as well as the relationship between the parameters’ concentrations.

The evaluation, which lasted four months, used a low-cost air sensor that was positioned two meters above the ground. All sensor procedures were correctly carried out.

CO₂ (430.34 ppm), NO₂ (93.31 ppb), O₃ (19.94 ppb), SO₂ (40.87 ppb), PM₁ (29.31 µg/m3), PM_2.5 (43.56 µg/m³), PM₁₀ (50.70 µg/m³), temperature (32.4°C) and relative humidity (50.53%) were the average values obtained. The Pearson correlation depicted the relationships between the pollutants and weather factors. With the exception of April, which had significant SO₂ (18%) and low PM₁₀ (49%) contributions, NO₂ and PM₁₀ were the most common pollutants in all of the months. The mean air quality index (AQI) for NO₂ indicated that the AQI was “moderate” (51–100). In contrast to SO₂, whose AQI ranged from “moderate” to “very unhealthy,” O₃'s AQI ranged from “good” (50) to “unhealthy” (151–200). Since PM₁, PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ made up the majority of PC1’s contribution, both PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were deemed “hazardous.”

The practical implication of indoor air pollution is long-term health effects, including heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases such as emphysema. Indoor air pollution can also cause long-term damage to people’s nerves, brain, kidneys, liver and other organs.

Lack of literature in terms of indoor air quality (IAQ) in Akure, Ondo State. With this work, the information obtained will assist all stakeholders in policy formulation and implementation. Again, the low-cost sensor used is new to this part of the world.

Seasonal studies of water quality in partially protected shallow wells in Akure, Nigeria were carried out. The well waters were of high chemical quality, but higher values of parameters in the early rainy season than in the dry season indicate runoff water inflitration. Consequently, the waters show slight turbidity for one to two hours after rainfall due to settleable solids, a factor which renders the wells liable to chemical and bacterial contamination from surface sources. There is therefore a need for a design of drinking water wells in Akure to include making the wells deeper, at least 6 metres deep, and incorporating watertight lining of the upper part.

This first chapter of this book tends to bring into understanding the various definitions concepts, evolutions, characteristics and many more on smart cities. These are further explained across the other chapters of the book as to the roles and functionalities of smart cities in this modern world. This chapter starts with an introductory part that briefly describes what cities hold and the idea of inculcating smartness into it. Furthermore, various definitions were explicitly defined across other sections of the introduction. The objective of this book relates the reason and solution the book aims to offer into the construction industry as a system that is not only functional but also sustainable across various professionals of the construction industry. This chapter ends with concluding part that describes the totality of what have been discussed in the course of the chapter. The research book also contains reference for further reading.

The theories and models of smart city make up the systemic approach that governs its readiness. This contains the in depth analysis of the concepts of the smart city as it relates to the environment as wells as the energy present. Several theories are modelled into the smart city system to guide its implementation and consideration among the construction professionals in the constitution industry. Subsequently, frameworks are not neglected in terms of their relationship between the outcome of the theories and models propounded and conceptual integration in human, technology and institution. Inferences are made from these theories and models, and thus decision-making are dependent on the visibility envisaged.

When there is a cordial relationship among the members of the smart city team, there are bounds to be achievements and executions of projects within stipulated time of the budget allocated. The partnership in ideas and overall discipline will propel the activities involved in executing smart cities in the world. In identifying not just the definitions of smart city, the developmental aspect of the concept is considered across phases of construction as the industry strives towards elegance and advancement. However, exciting as it comes in benefits and enhancement in the quality of life, several problems have also been identified albeit opportunities are somewhat presented in the challenges when analysed thoroughly from the inception to completion. The interaction within team members across countries will pave way for collaborators into the system.

Smart cities over the years is fast growing on people. Citizens and stakeholders that were defiant to its adoption are beginning to see the reasons for it. Due to one reason or the other, many of the stakeholders and the citizens were reluctant in seeing the vision in the smart city system. Some of these factors are expressed in the drivers and challenges faced in enhancing from a city to smart city. Along with these, measures and benefits that relate with smart city has helped in social and general awareness of what it represents and what stands to be gained if fully adopted. And this has helped in overall information available on smart city. The concluding part of the chapter gives a summary of the importance in addressing these drivers.

People will continue to migrate from rural to urban areas. This always results in congestion in the civilised part where there is contention for the resources available. Policies have to be made and implemented in order to counter scarcity and redundancy as most urban cities tend to halt in growth when population is beyond controllable size. Smart cities come into the frame by alleviating the present condition of the places to that which is convenient for everybody. Quality of life, meanings of smart cities, quality of life of smart cities citizens are the priorities when implementing smart city concepts into sustainable development.

In discussing the developments attached to smart city in terms of how it affects life and the environment, several factors contribute one way or the other towards the development. Smart city development comes with its advantages that can be experienced within and outside the construction environment, the challenges faced in putting in place smart city are enormous in relation to the nature and type of smart city propounded. These challenges are discussed extensively in information technology (IT) infrastructure, security and privacy, big data management, cost, efficiency, availability and scalability, social adaption and application development. Solutions must be found to these challenges for the construction industry to be able to convince individuals concerned with giving directives and policies regarding city development.

The first chapter of this book has already introduced smart city concepts and definitions; the second part will further explain deeper how smart city comes into being and the frameworks that surround it. Firstly, history of city and smart city gives a detailed analogical insight on the transformation from city into smart one. The rate at which the transformation process is implemented depended mostly on how the citizens of the city understand the implementation of digitalisation concepts through the use of appropriate technologies into running and developing a city. Secondly, there are also further definitions on the subject especially as they related to the construction industry. Characteristics of smart cities are also discussed along with features that can really make a city smart. In conclusion, the chapter is well introduced and provisions were also made at the end in terms of bibliographies that will help in further understanding of the smart city concepts beings introduced.

In defining smart city and its effects on the citizens, the ideas and generalisation of the team members that makes up the smart city team must be thoroughly considered. It is one thing to have the concepts and processes on ground on smart city, it is another to have qualified team members that can deliver such city within a targeted standard. Stakeholders, construction professionals, citizens, concerned individuals among all make up the smart city team members. These members can also be spread across disciplines in order to facilitate effectiveness in every activity designed. Activities such as dissecting characteristics, control and management of smart city are controlled by these team members as they seek for maximisation of output from the resources available.