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The green building (GB) market is maturing after years of practice; therefore, incentives for promoting GB should be adapted to reflect the market transformation. Adapting incentives can positively influence stakeholders' motives, which in turn change stakeholders' behavioural intention towards GBs. Hence, this study aims to examine the parameters influencing the decision to adopt GB and to ascertain how incentive mechanisms promote the uptake of GB in South Africa.

Using a scoping literature review and a sequential mixed research method, primary data were acquired from GB experts in four South African provinces. In analysing the quantitative data, the factors were ranked hierarchically using the mean ranking technique and factor analysis was computed to identify the underlying GB incentives. The qualitative data were analysed using content analysis.

The results indicate that incentive payment from a utility energy efficiency programme, rebates and discounts relating to environmentally friendly materials and products and providing grants to homeowners and developers to go towards certification were the most essential monetary incentives for promoting GB. In the category of non-monetary incentives, recognition of consultant team members and developers and free marketing/good publicity were the most important incentives. The incentive mechanisms were subsequently categorised as “Economic incentives” and “Reward scheme and technical support”.

This study was confined to four metropolitan areas in South Africa. Nevertheless, the outcomes have practical implications for GB projects in general and may serve as a good reference for other provinces in South Africa.

The findings of the study are a valuable resource for stakeholders such as the government, municipal assemblies, professional bodies and the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) in developing effective incentive mechanisms to promote GB adoption. This study adds to the body of knowledge relevant to GB incentivisation in South Africa.

The manufacturing industry is a well-known source of interventions adapted to solve problems in the construction industry. The use of Training-Within-Industry (TWI) is one such intervention adopted in the construction industry to solve the construction problem relating to occupational health and safety (OHS). The objectives of TWI are to help the industry to transfer knowledge and skills from management to the employees. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to investigate whether TWI can reduce OHS problems by promoting “learning by doing” on construction sites.

A case-based-research method was used to investigate the reported OHS problems in the construction industry in South Africa. The data were quantitative and qualitative in nature; the questionnaire survey, semi-structured interview and focus group interview techniques were used to collect data in the study.

The findings provide a better understanding of the human contributions influencing the behaviour of people causing accidents on construction sites. The data show that construction project leaders struggle to promote “learning by doing” because of inappropriate behaviour, lack of communication and inadequate training provided to new workers on construction sites. Also, there is significant scope for TWI deployment in construction because of the inability of supervisors or management to promote “learning by doing” on construction sites.

Based on the research findings, it is discovered that OHS is a serious concern in the construction industry. Therefore, the adoption of learning by doing on a construction site would help to improve OHS outcome.

The study highlights the need to introduce TWI on construction sites to reduce human failure causing accidents. TWI could lead to improving the knowledge- and skills-transfer programmes for construction workers in favour of better safety performance.

Historically, a range of health and safety (H&S) challenges continue to be experienced. A two-day construction Industry 4.0 oriented H&S summit presented an opportunity to survey the delegates. The purpose of the study was to determine their perceptions, whether the presentations had an impact on their understanding and appreciation of the H&S challenges and the potential of Industry 4.0 technologies to improve H&S.

This paper reports on the findings emanating from a quantitative study that entailed the completion of a self-administered questionnaire survey conducted among delegates at the inception and closure of a two-day construction H&S summit.

The findings indicate that a range of H&S challenges are experienced in construction, Industry 4.0 technologies can contribute to addressing the H&S challenges and the presentations had an impact on their understanding and appreciation of the H&S challenges.

The findings are primarily based upon perceptions in terms of the potential of Industry 4.0 technologies to contribute to addressing the H&S challenges.

This study reports on findings from one of a limited number of Industry 4.0 studies conducted in construction in South Africa. The findings indicate the level of awareness with respect to Industry 4.0 and the likelihood of the implementation of such technologies, as initially practitioners are likely to act based upon perceptions.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the predictable effect of economic and non-economic factors regarded as the most important to stimulate stakeholders’ behavioural intentions to adopt green building.

The primary data was collected from 106 green building accredited professionals in both the public and private sectors registered with the Green Building Council of South Africa. The data analysis techniques adopted include descriptive and inferential statistics, namely, factor analysis and logistic regression model (LRM).

The LRM results revealed five predictors and two control variables made a unique statistically significant contribution to the model. The strongest predictor to enhance the intention to adopt green building was a financial benefit (FB), recording an odds ratio of 9.1, which indicates that the likelihood to adopt is approximately 9.1 times more if FBs is evident.

It is anticipated that the most significant facilitators/enablers identified by built environment stakeholders will create an enabling environment to enhance the adoption of green building.

This research has contributed to the existing knowledge by developing a decision support model. The decision support model provides predictive indicators for clients, consultants and contractors to harness their resources and identify significant parameters to improve their decision-making in adopting green building.

The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) (2001) urges African leaders to take responsibility for revitalizing and extending the provision of education, technical training and health services with high priority given to tackling HIV/AIDS, TB and other communicable diseases. The International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) both agree that occupational health and safety in Africa needs strengthening. In support of this realization are the need to maintain and promote workers' health and working capacity. The fight against HIV/AIDS in the workplace is a continental priority. In the absence of any other definitive or similar study, this study aims to establish a valid baseline assessment of the levels of knowledge, types of attitudes, perceptions and beliefs of older construction workers in South Africa regarding HIV infection and AIDS. This paper reports only on findings concerning the level of knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS among older construction workers as determined during the first phase of an exploratory study commenced in August 2002. Older construction workers generally had acceptable levels of correct knowledge, perceptions and attitudes on most issues relative to the disease. However, their employers had not played a major contributory role. The study highlighted several areas where older workers either had incorrect and deficient knowledge and attitudes or demonstrated high levels of uncertainty.

The purpose of this paper is to present findings of research on the level of health and safety (H&S) awareness and implementation in Botswana's construction industry.

A questionnaire survey was conducted on construction projects to establish the level of awareness and implementation of construction H&S. Physical observations were also conducted on construction sites in order to relate questionnaire responses to what actually obtained on construction sites. The study was limited to Gaborone and the immediate surrounding areas.

Findings from the research reveal that the level of H&S awareness is low, H&S legislation is not complied with, the management of contractors is not committed to H&S implementation, there is a lack of H&S management systems, procedures, and protocol, and clients and designers do not participate in the implementation of H&S.

The importance of construction H&S has been recognised by various researchers. This paper provides an insight on the level of awareness and implementation of H&S in Botswana's construction industry and should be viewed in the context of an effort to improve H&S.

Construction is a complex process which requires the co‐ordination of and co‐operation between stakeholders. Most construction projects require the skills and services of various built environment disciplines and the effective integration of these skills determines the success of the project. However, built environment students continue to receive discipline‐based education. Construction shapes the built environment; therefore knowledge and understanding, to varying degrees of depth and complexity, of an array of subject areas are one required to suitably equip entrants into the built environment arena. Furthermore, the outdated education system is challenged by academics, built environment practitioners, and media reports. The purpose of this study is to question the suitability of built environment tertiary education in terms of current trends, technologies and practices.

A questionnaire developed from literature related to the diverse content, appropriateness, empowering effect, and delivery methods of built environment education, was used to survey built environment academics and postgraduate students. The questionnaire also aimed at determining the interconnectedness and cohesion between the five disciplines of architecture, quantity surveying, civil engineering, project management, and construction management.

There is a perceived need for both university of technology and university programmes, built environment tertiary education is relatively diverse in terms of content, there is a perceived need for a common first year and common subjects at other levels, and there is a trend towards perpetuation of traditional technologies, practices and systems within built environment education.

Certain subject areas should form an integral part of all built environment tertiary education programmes, in particular construction science and technology, management theory, information technology, and project management. This conclusion and the percentage responses relative to other subjects highlight the inadequacy of architecture and, to a lesser extent, civil engineering tertiary education.

The purpose of this paper is to consider the impact on architects of recently introduced Construction Regulations in South Africa.

Given the passing of the first anniversary of the promulgation of the Construction Regulations, a survey was conducted to determine the perceptions of member practices of the South African Institute of Architects.

Findings include: the traditional project parameters in the form of cost, quality, and time are still perceived to be substantially more important than health and safety (H&S); the manifestations of the impact of the Construction Regulations are wide spread – increased H&S awareness predominates among the manifestations, followed by increased consideration for H&S by most stakeholders, and H&S predominates in terms of the extent to which the Construction Regulations will impact on various project parameters.

The paper offers a valid argument for the inclusion of construction H&S to feature more prominently in architectural education and training programmes.

Construction planning will play an increasingly more critical role within the realm of the built environment due to the unprecedented growth in the industry and a general skills shortage. Existing practices are failing to deliver the desired results for construction companies and clients alike. The increasing availability of 3D models has facilitated their use in a process known as 4D planning, allowing the visual planning of activities including the communication of logistical and other interfaces. The purpose of the research was to better understand the implementation of such a process, and determine the benefits thereof.

A survey of the literature was followed by an observation/participation case study. A further survey of construction personnel was conducted to provide data to inform opinion's generated during the case study.

The results of the research suggest that 4D planning provides the tools for visualising the process implications in creating 3D reality whilst facilitating the improved coordination, communication and delivery of a project to programme.

The findings of the study emanate from a single project environment, namely a case study, and therefore further research should be undertaken to substantiate and validate the findings.

The findings have major implications in that the benefits of the use of 4D planning have been documented. Consequently, clients need to mandate the use of 3D in the design phase, to enable design phase information to be used downstream for planning, off‐site pre‐fabrication and facilities management. Contractors need to use 4D models to evaluate their critical activities, maximise the use of labour and materials, and communicate the site‐based planning process.

Non-value adding activities (NVAAs) are considered to be problematic in the management of projects. Reported research findings suggest that these NVAAs consume resources without necessarily adding value to completed tasks. The main aim of the research is to provide insights and plausible explanations concerning how NVAAs can propagate poor performance in South Africa.

The paper reports on a quantitative survey conducted among public sector clients, consulting engineers, and civil engineering contractors in South Africa. Using a framework that was developed from the literature reviewed, the study proposed three conceptual qualitative models that were based on system dynamics.

The study suggests that NVAAs that are prevalent in South African construction can impact project performance negatively in the form of cost and time overruns. It can also be argued that although there is commonality between NVAAs that are identified in South Africa and other countries, their frequency and effects on project performance differ.

The findings provide further insights about NVAAs that are related to the South African infrastructure sector only.

The study, which is the first of such in South Africa, could lead to increased awareness among South African project stakeholders that are concerned about performance improvement from the lean construction perspective.