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1 – 10 of 96Francisco Duarte, Adelino Ferreira and Paulo Fael
This paper aims to deal with the development of a software tool to simulate and study vehicle – road interaction (VRI) to quantify the forces induced and energy released from…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to deal with the development of a software tool to simulate and study vehicle – road interaction (VRI) to quantify the forces induced and energy released from vehicles to the road pavement, in different vehicle motion scenarios, and the energy absorbed by the road surface, speed reducers or a specific energy harvester surface or device. The software tool also enables users to quantify the energetic efficiency of the process.
Design/methodology/approach
Existing software tools were analysed and its limitations were identified in terms of performing energetic analysis on the interaction between the vehicle and the road pavement elements, such as speed reducers or energy harvest devices. The software tool presented in this paper intends to overcome those limitations and precisely quantify the energy transfer.
Findings
Different vehicle models and VRI models were evaluated, allowing to conclude about each model precision: bicycle car model has a 60 per cent higher precision when compared with quarter-car model, and contact patch analysis model has a 67 per cent higher precision than single force analysis model. Also, a technical study was performed for different equipment surface shapes and displacements, concluding that these variables have a great influence on the energy released by the vehicle and on the energy harvested by the equipment surface.
Originality/value
The developed software tool allows to study VRI with a higher precision than existing tools, especially when energetic analyses are performed and when speed reduction or energy harvesting devices are applied on the pavement.
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Bismark Osei, Agbemavor Korsi Fiagbe and Evans Kulu
This study aims to examine the appropriate measures needed toward achieving sustainability of renewable energy production among developing and middle-income countries.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the appropriate measures needed toward achieving sustainability of renewable energy production among developing and middle-income countries.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses semi-annual panel data covering the period 2000–2020 among 152 developing and middle-income countries and Cox proportional hazard model for the analysis.
Findings
Estimates indicate that effective operations of environmental institutions, investment in research and development, subsidizing the production of renewable energy, government investment in producing renewable energy and investment in renewable energy production made by the private sector will contribute immensely toward achieving sustainability of renewable energy production.
Practical implications
This study recommends that governments should rationalize their expenditures to mobilize enough resources for investment in renewable energy production. Again, operations of environmental institutions should be enhanced through giving their managers’ performance contracts and licensing its employees. Enabling environment should be created for private sector to increase their investment in renewable energy production.
Originality/value
Empirical studies have been carried out exploring measures to deal with climate change. Nonetheless, the appropriate measures needed toward achieving sustainability of renewable energy production among developing and middle-income countries have not been explored in existing empirical studies. Hence, this study fills the gap in existing empirical studies.
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– This paper aims to provide details of recent energy harvesting developments.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide details of recent energy harvesting developments.
Design/methodology/approach
Following an introduction, this paper first considers mechanical and biomechanical energy harvesting developments. It then discusses hybrid harvesting technologies and self-powered sensors and concludes with a brief discussion.
Findings
Energy harvesting is the topic of a major research effort and growing commercial activities. Several advanced technologies are being used to develop sophisticated devices to harvest individual or combined energy sources. These developments are expected to play a central role in many emerging sensor markets.
Originality/value
This paper provides technical details of a selection of recently reported energy harvesting developments.
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Edwin K. Kanda, Elizabeth Lusweti, Francis N. Ngugi, John M. Irungu, Bernard O. Omondi and Samuel G. Waweru
Green building (GB) is an important aspect of sustainable development that advocates for practices that enhance the health and well-being of the occupants and communities with…
Abstract
Green building (GB) is an important aspect of sustainable development that advocates for practices that enhance the health and well-being of the occupants and communities with minimal impact on the environment. The adoption of the GB concept is low in most developing countries. This study aimed at assessing the extent of the adoption of GB concepts in Kakamega municipality as a case study. The study sampled 64 respondents which consisted of 15 professionals in the building industry and 49 commercial and residential buildings within the municipality. The results indicated that at least 80% of the professionals were aware of GB concepts of water efficiency, energy efficiency, sustainable materials, sustainable site practices, and indoor environmental quality (IEQ). Water efficiency practices that were widely adopted in commercial and residential buildings were rainwater harvesting and the use of efficient plumbing fixtures. The energy-saving measures adopted were switching off appliances when not in use, use of energy-saving bulbs, and solar energy. The majority of the respondents felt that the indoor air quality was fair. Resource reuse was not widely adopted which could be attributed to a lack of policy or legislation. Low impact development (LID) design of vegetated storm conveyance and rain gardens (bioretention and porous/permeable pavements) was adopted in 42.9% of the buildings. Research into the use of sustainable materials is recommended for wider application as a GB concept. The study recommends the promotion of GB through incentives to enable wider adoption among the owners and developers. Furthermore, GB legislation and certification programs need to be adopted in Kenya. This study was largely based on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria and thus further studies are required on other assessment tools and methods.
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Sharaf AlKheder, Dalal AlKandari and Sarah AlYatama
Airport construction is extremely different than the construction of any other transport infrastructure. It is a vital area affecting both the environment and the economy…
Abstract
Purpose
Airport construction is extremely different than the construction of any other transport infrastructure. It is a vital area affecting both the environment and the economy. Therefore, sustainable selection of building materials represents a very important step. The main objective of this paper was to develop a set of sustainable assessment criteria (SAC) to assist design team members in the selection between two different material alternatives when constructing a new runway in Kuwait international airport. The proposed materials were asphalt or concrete.
Design/methodology/approach
A set of 24 sub-criteria were developed, those were emerged from three main criteria: technical, environmental and socio-economic. Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) was employed to assign weights and to measure the relative importance of these criteria for the material alternatives selection. The prioritizing process for criteria was based on a survey of 100 responses.
Findings
It had been concluded from the use of FAHP that asphalt material was a better alternative in maintainability, ease of construction, health and safety, initial cost and energy saving. Concrete was better in fire resistance, durability, decay resistance, energy saving and thermal insulation, maintenance cost, aesthetics, minimizing pollution, impact on air quality, low toxicity, environmentally disposal sound system, amount of likely wastage and raw material extraction method.
Originality/value
Develop a set of SAC to assist design team members in deciding between two material alternatives to construct a runway.
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With the accelerating process of urbanization, the greening areas in high density cities are becoming less and less, and the aerial greening provides a possible way for the update…
Abstract
With the accelerating process of urbanization, the greening areas in high density cities are becoming less and less, and the aerial greening provides a possible way for the update of the urban building headspace greening. Based on this, the application of aerial greening in the urban headspace was studied. Starting from the plant, water, landscape sketch, pavement and other construction elements, the ecological art planning and design of the urban building headspace was studied. Then, the transformation of an old factory was studied, and the rain-flood gardens and infiltration floors linked to biological corridors were introduced in the high flood risk areas. In the building headspace, a rainwater harvesting system and an air garden were designed, and the ecological planning of aerial walkway was carried out to the front abandoned viaduct. The practice proves that the introduction of ecological science and technology and art culture in the urban headspace plays an important role in purifying urban air and increasing urban greening.
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Lee Felix Anzagira, Daniel Duah, Edward Badu, Eric Kwame Simpeh, Samuel Amos-Abanyie and Alexander Marful
Green building (GB) is globally acclaimed as the most formidable solution to the adverse effects that buildings and construction activities have on the climate and environment…
Abstract
Purpose
Green building (GB) is globally acclaimed as the most formidable solution to the adverse effects that buildings and construction activities have on the climate and environment. Nonetheless, current evidence suggests that the adoption of GB in developing countries of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is at a snail’s pace and characterized by the absence of GB codes and frameworks. This paper aims to determine the current level of adoption and implementation of GB concepts and technologies in the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI).
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory method of investigation involving a quantitative approach was used to achieve the objectives of this study. A literature review was conducted, and a questionnaire survey was conducted among 292 stakeholders in the GCI. The survey data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics as well as other quantitative analysis techniques.
Findings
The analysis revealed that the five most applied green building technologies (GBTs) are technologies for optimizing site planning, building orientation and configuration, use of natural ventilation, integrative use of natural lighting with electric lighting systems, application of energy-efficient lighting systems and use of permeable paving: low-traffic areas. Notably, the majority of the GBTs belong to the energy-efficiency technologies category.
Research limitations/implications
The findings indicate that GBTs are gaining momentum in Ghana and that there is a need for ongoing research to develop new and more environmentally friendly building technologies to aid in the preservation of our society and natural resources to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) 12 and 13.
Originality/value
In effect, this study will enhance the awareness of GB development and contribute to the GB body of knowledge, particularly in the context of developing countries. It would also be useful to the GCI’s contribution to achieving the UN SDGs.
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De-Graft Owusu-Manu, Prosper Babon-Ayeng, Ernest Kissi, David J. Edwards, Derek Okyere-Antwi and Hatem Elgohary
Construction firms worldwide are increasingly taking pragmatic steps towards addressing environmental problems arising from their activities. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of…
Abstract
Purpose
Construction firms worldwide are increasingly taking pragmatic steps towards addressing environmental problems arising from their activities. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of studies focused on the nexus between green construction and environmental performance. Hence, this study aims to examine the linkages between green construction practice and environmental performance.
Design/methodology/approach
An extensive literature review was conducted to identify the relevant dimensions of green construction practice and indicators for measuring environmental performance. Variables collated were then subjected to pre-assessment and pre-testing processes. The pre-assessment was used as a preliminary content validation where experts assessed the various dimensions of green construction practice and indicators for measuring environmental performance proposed and determine if indeed the variables represent what the study set out to measure. Data were collected from construction professionals within the Ghana's Kumasi Metropolis. The sample size for the study was 100 experts in sustainable construction methods in the construction industry. A total of 63 responses were received out of the 100 target respondents, accounting for a 63% response rate. Data generated was analysed using mean score analysis and one-sample t-test to determine the level of significance of the various green construction practices and indicators for measuring environmental performance. A Pearson correlation analysis was undertaken to ascertain the relationships that exist among the various dimensions of green construction practice and indicators for measuring environmental performance. Finally, multiple linear regression analysis was utilised to ascertain the effect of the adoption of green construction practice on environmental performance.
Findings
The results indicate that all the green construction practices and the indicators of environmental performance identified from the literature were significant at p = 0.05. The study's findings revealed that energy management is the most significant construct of green construction practice followed by storm-water management. Furthermore, the analysis showed that the preservation of water is the most significant environmental performance indicator followed by sanitation. The regression model developed also explained that 75% of the variations in environmental performance are explained by green construction practice.
Research limitations/implications
Notwithstanding the study's achievements, one major limitation the research faced was the relatively small sample size.
Practical implications
This study provides sufficient data for construction professionals to identify the various green construction practices that could enhance environmental performance. The study's results showed that environmental performance could be improved by adopting the key green construction practices identified in this study. Pragmatic directions are also provided to stakeholders in the construction industry to take a critical look at the environmental performance indicators that were significant.
Originality/value
This pioneering research attempts to investigate the linkages between green construction practice and environmental performance in Ghana. Key results provide a critical evidential influence of green construction on environmental performance and make a crucial contribution to the current body of knowledge.
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Ernest Kissi, Prosper Babon-Ayeng, Clinton Aigbavboa, Daniel Duah, Eugene Danquah-Smith and Reuben Agyei Tannor
The adoption of green construction concepts in road infrastructure projects is an opportunity to minimise the carbon footprint while boosting the built environment's capacity to…
Abstract
Purpose
The adoption of green construction concepts in road infrastructure projects is an opportunity to minimise the carbon footprint while boosting the built environment's capacity to promote sustainability. Consequently, this study examines the components of green road construction practices in developing countries such as Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a quantitative research method, four hypothesised constructs identified from the review of relevant literature were tested. The views of 144 quantity surveyors, civil engineers and project managers within Ghana's three road agencies were elicited using a structured close-ended questionnaire. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) based on the structural equation model (SEM) was adopted in analysing the data obtained.
Findings
The study's results reveal that the identified components: sustainable design, materials and resources, stormwater management and energy efficiency, significantly influence green road construction.
Practical implications
It reveals the critical elements of sustainable road design and construction, aiding organisations, construction companies and legislators in making informed choices on road design and construction.
Originality/value
Results from this study provide empirical evidence lacking in the literature about the main components of green road construction.
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