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Operation and maintenance (O&M) processes projects such as identification, assessment, planning and execution, embody a variety of standards such as technical (method of statement), environmental, economic (campus development) and social (health and wellbeing). Because these standards have proven to be challenging to integrate, local governments are increasingly experimenting with social innovation (SI) as a bottom-up form of standard integration. This study aims to apply the concept of SI to the O&M processes of facilities management at polytechnics in Malaysia to identify problems with conventional working practices in this area and to recommend potential solutions.

The paper reviews evidence that conventional working methods generate significant problems related to paper-based forms, improper database management and flawed decision-making processes. Because of the lack knowledge about different ways of how standard integration is achieved, the comparison of three polytechnic institutions which are Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SPCEET) in USA as well as Seberang Perai Polytechnic, Pulau Pinang (PSP) in Malaysia shares the ambition to realise standard integration of O&M through SI.

The findings reveal that SI leads to four ways of standard integration: computerised maintenance management system, online customer complaint, electronic form and relational database. Application of the concept of SI reveals the need for more sophisticated management solutions in the O&M processes of facilities management.

These standard integration arrangements unfortunately seem to mainly contribute to greater alignment between standard rather than true standard integration. The concept of SI will guide future improvements and developments in maintenance management systems to fulfil requirements in this area.

This work aims to develop a web platform for inspecting roof structures for technical assistance supported by drones and artificial intelligence. The tools used were HTML, CSS and JavaScript languages; Firebase software for infrastructure; and Custom Vision for image processing.

This study adopted the design science research approach, and the main stages for the development of the web platform include (1) creation and validation of the roof inspection checklist, (2) validation of the use of Custom Vision as an image recognition tool, and (3) development of the web platform.

The results of automatic recognition showed a percentage of 77.08% accuracy in identifying pathologies in roof images obtained by drones for technical assistance.

This study contributed to developing a drone-integrated roof platform for visual data collection and artificial intelligence for automatic recognition of pathologies, enabling greater efficiency and agility in the collection, processing and analysis of results to guarantee the durability of the building.

This study aims to establish the relationship between indoor environmental quality and residential mobility in student housing in Ghana.

Using multiple regression and exploratory factor analysis through post occupancy evaluation, 26 indoor environmental quality (IEQ) indicators were explored among 1,912 students living in Purpose-Built off-campus university housing in Northern Ghana.

The study established a negative relationship between indoor environmental quality and residential mobility among student housing in Northern Ghana. Residential mobility is primarily attributed to the dissatisfaction with thermal and indoor air quality.

The negative relationship affects vacancy and rental cashflows for property investors. Also, understanding local environmental conditions can influence future student housing design and enhance thermal and indoor air quality.

The authors contribute to studies on indoor environmental quality in student housing. In addition, establishing the relationship between indoor environmental quality and residential mobility in tropical African regions is novel.

This paper aims to identify the different system approach using Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology that is equipped with decision making processes. Maintenance planning and management are integral components of the construction sector, serving the broader purpose of post-construction activities and processes. However, as Precast Concrete (PC) construction projects increase in scale and complexity, the interconnections among these activities and processes become apparent, leading to planning and performance management challenges. These challenges specifically affect the monitoring of façade components for corrective and preventive maintenance actions.

The concept of maintenance planning for façades, along with the main features of information and communication technology tools and techniques using building information modeling technology, is grounded in the analysis of numerous literature reviews in PC building scenarios.

This research focuses on an integrated system designed to analyze information and support decision-making in maintenance planning for PC buildings. It is based on robust data collection regarding concrete façades' failures and causes. The system aims to provide appropriate planning decisions and minimize the risk of façade failures throughout the building's lifetime.

The study concludes that implementing a research framework to develop such a system can significantly enhance the effectiveness of maintenance planning for façade design, construction and maintenance operations.

Design for maintainability (DfM) is a construction technique that links maintenance objectives with the design process. Adopting DfM within the construction industry is a solution that can make the maintenance of buildings cost-efficient and simpler. This study investigates the level of implementation of DfM among design professionals in the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI).

The data from design professionals comprising architects and civil/structural engineers were collected via a questionnaire survey. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests.

The findings revealed a high level of engagement of design professionals in DfM practices in the Ghanaian construction sector. This high level of engagement is credited to the high level of awareness of the concept of DfM among design professionals, the level of education of design professionals, experience in professional roles and familiarity with the principles of DfM.

This study offers information and fresh perspectives on how cutting-edge DfM principles are practiced in the GCI. The study raises awareness and the level of DfM implementation among design professionals in the GCI. It offers information on how the application of DfM principles enhances cost-effective maintenance that allows facilities to stand the test of time and prove more relevant for users. The understanding and application of DfM in different countries are important if such concepts are to take deep root in the global built environment sector.

This study investigated what are the effective leadership styles and practices that boost employees’ work outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of facilities management professionals (FMPs).

Three predominant leadership styles (transformational, transactional contingent reward and disaster management) were operationalized into 38 leadership practices (X variables) and 8 work outcomes (Y variables). The explanatory sequential research design was adopted. Online questionnaire survey was first conducted on FMPs who managed facilities during the critical periods of COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore. In-depth interviews were then carried out with subject matter experts to elaborate on the quantitative findings.

During the pandemic, FMPs were significantly stressed at work, but also experienced significant job satisfaction and satisfaction with their leaders/supervisors. Statistical results revealed a range of leadership practices that are significantly correlated with FMPs’ work outcomes. One leadership practice is critical as it affects 4 of the 8 FMPs’ work outcomes - frequently acknowledging employees’ good performance during the pandemic.

The study explored 3 leadership styles. There are other styles like laissez faire and servant leadership that might also affect work outcomes.

Based on the findings, suggestions were provided to organizations that employ FMPs on how to improve their work outcomes during a crisis such as a pandemic.

The novelty is the discovery that in the context of a global disaster such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the most relevant leadership styles to boost employees’ work outcomes are transactional contingent reward and disaster management leadership. The study adds to knowledge by showing that not one leadership style is superior – all 3 styles are complementary, but distinct, forms of leadership that need to work in tandem to boost FMPs’ work outcomes during a crisis such as a pandemic.

The compliance checking of Building Information Modeling (BIM) models is crucial throughout the lifecycle of construction. The increasing amount and complexity of information carried by BIM models have made compliance checking more challenging, and manual methods are prone to errors. Therefore, this study aims to propose an integrative conceptual framework for automated compliance checking of BIM models, allowing for the identification of errors within BIM models.

This study first analyzed the typical building standards in the field of architecture and fire protection, and then the ontology of these elements is developed. Based on this, a building standard corpus is built, and deep learning models are trained to automatically label the building standard texts. The Neo4j is utilized for knowledge graph construction and storage, and a data extraction method based on the Dynamo is designed to obtain checking data files. After that, a matching algorithm is devised to express the logical rules of knowledge graph triples, resulting in automated compliance checking for BIM models.

Case validation results showed that this theoretical framework can achieve the automatic construction of domain knowledge graphs and automatic checking of BIM model compliance. Compared with traditional methods, this method has a higher degree of automation and portability.

This study introduces knowledge graphs and natural language processing technology into the field of BIM model checking and completes the automated process of constructing domain knowledge graphs and checking BIM model data. The validation of its functionality and usability through two case studies on a self-developed BIM checking platform.

Adaptive reuse processes aim to preserve heritage values while creating new values through the architectural interventions that have become necessary. This claim provokes a discussion about the meaning of values, how we can preserve them in practice and how we can translate them into architectural qualities that users experience. Riegl's understanding of the different perspectives of heritage values in the past and present opens up the possibility of identifying present values as a reflection of current social, material and political conditions in the architectural discourse.

This qualitative and practical study compares two Belgian projects to trace the use of values in adaptive reuse projects from an architectural design perspective. The Predikherenklooster, a 17th-century monastery in Mechelen that now houses the public library, and the C-Mine cultural centre in Genk, a former 20th-century coal mine, are compared. The starting point is Flemish legislation, which defines significance through values, distinguishing between 13 heritage values.

The study demonstrates the opportunities that axiological questions offer during the design process of an adaptive reuse project. They provide an overarching framework for tangible and intangible aspects that need to be discussed, particularly in terms of the link between what exists, the design strategy and their effect.

Adaptive reuse can draw on approaches from both heritage conservation and contemporary architecture and explore values as a tool for “re-designing” built heritage.

The application of good buildability practices is vital for improving the performance of projects and businesses in the construction sector. Despite the plethora of research into buildability in construction in the previous years, there is little information concerning how buildability practice can be successfully implemented. This paper aims to develop a conceptual framework that explains how buildability practice can be implemented successfully in the construction industry.

The paper uses an integrative literature review method to synthesise literature from different domains to describe various themes by which buildability assessment can be successfully implemented in the construction industry.

The findings of the review of literature conceptualised a buildability implementation framework at four principal themes: buildability attributes for improving the practice of construction management, factors supporting the implementation of buildability assessment, measures for improving the buildability of building designs and factors impeding the implementation of buildability assessment.

The outcome of this study contributes to knowledge in three different ways. First, the framework emerging from this study provides guidance to stakeholders on strategies for the successful implementation of buildability. Second, the information gathered in this study is useful for the development of buildability assessment tool. Finally, the framework has a potential of improving the practice of embedding buildability into designs. The detailed descriptions of the relevant variables at each principal theme advance the understanding of buildability in the construction industry and are fundamental to developing buildability assessment tools for the industry.

Pre-letting and pre-sale financing arrangements have been widely adopted to increase housing delivery in the developed economy. Despite the increasing level of adoption in some developed countries, some are reverting to spot property buying because of factors militating the adoption of pre-letting and pre-sale financing. However, little has been done on the factors influencing the adoption of these trust-based financing arrangements in the developing economy where there are challenges of trust and market transparency.

Using a closed-ended questionnaire, 87 property development companies (PDCs), which constituted 63.5% of the 137 PDCs in Lagos metropolis, were sampled. Variables that influence adoption of pre-letting and pre-sale financing arrangements were presented to respondents for rating on a five-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (not influential) to 5 (very highly influential). With the aid of SPSS software, acquired data were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA), mean rating and standard deviation.

The PCA finding revealed that factors influencing the adoption of pre-letting and pre-sale financing had 69.641% total variance. Top-rated components were fear of financial risk and firm’s reputation and poor government involvement and contractors' credibility, with 15.114% and 11.895% variances, respectively. The study findings suggested that the buyers' apprehension regarding the transfer of financial risk and the reputation of the firms significantly influence their decision to embrace both arrangements. As a result, the buyers' willingness to engage the financing arrangements is reduced, which consequently imparts adoption negatively. Furthermore, there is worrisome lack of government involvement, a crucial aspect for the success of such arrangements.

Pre-letting and pre-sale financing arrangements are found to be highly suitable for environments where there is trust. The findings enlighten the development firms on the need to uphold their reputation, as buyers attach great significance to the credibility and integrity of the companies they engage in business.

This paper is one of the few attempts that have sought to explore the factors influencing pre-letting and pre-sale financing arrangements in an emerging market like Nigeria.