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1 – 10 of over 6000Umi Kalsum Zolkafli, Zahiriah Yahya, Norhanim Zakaria, Farid Wajdi Akashah and Azlan Shah Ali
– The purpose of this paper is to identify the most influential buildings elements in term of the cost for timber restoration works.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the most influential buildings elements in term of the cost for timber restoration works.
Design/methodology/approach
The research employed the case studies methods with questionnaires surveys. Two case studies were chosen and questionnaire surveys were distributed to contractors and consultation companies. The cost was identified based on the elemental cost analysis of historic timber buildings.
Findings
The restoration of historic timber buildings in Malaysia has grown rapidly, especially in the UNESCO world heritage sites, Melaka and Penang. Data obtained on the restorations of timber buildings show that the most influential elements were upper floors, roofs and walls. Termites’ invasions and the lack of building analysis were found to be the major issue in timber restoration works. In addition, the availability of timber material contributed significantly to the increase of cost for restoration works.
Originality/value
The cost for every element was identified and was used as a reference for new restorations projects of historical, timber buildings. This paper also highlighted the causes for the problems and the factors affecting the cost of timber restoration works. These data are useful information, especially for surveyors and contractors who are involved in the restoration of historic timber buildings. Maintaining or replacing these elements with other material can help to minimise the restoration cost of timber buildings in Malaysia.
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Rita Fabbri, Laura Gabrielli and Aurora Greta Ruggeri
The purpose of this paper is to examine the cross-sectoral collaboration between conservation and economic appraisal, and to process a financial analysis for private owners of a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the cross-sectoral collaboration between conservation and economic appraisal, and to process a financial analysis for private owners of a built heritage.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology applied addresses the financial analysis of restoration through a discounted cash flow analysis, together with a life cycle costing. Costs and revenues are both analysed in this paper. Some energy-saving measures are applied to cut running costs and decrease the energy required by the building, using as reference the “Guidelines for improving energy efficiency in cultural heritage” drafted by MiBACT, which considers the respect of restoration principles. In order to increase revenues, part of the building is rented. The attractiveness of the investment opportunity is valued through the calculation of the net present value of cash flows, the payback period and the internal rate of return.
Findings
The paper offers a simple strategy for the planning of cost-revenues, preventively allowing verification if the conservation is economically feasible and if the owners can afford the operation. The strategic planning will give the owners the chance of maintaining the property of their building and achieve a proper restoration on it.
Originality/value
The novelty of the paper is the study of cooperation between conservation and economic valuation, but also the focus on a specific portion of twentieth-century heritage, the war-wounded houses, which represent a widespread patrimony, on which it is not clear how to operate yet.
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Abstract
Purpose
Coastal zone ecological restoration project is of great significance to alleviate marine ecological degradation. Evaluating the effect of coastal ecological restoration projects and identifying the obstacle factors affecting their restoration level can provide an empirical basis for future Marine ecological restoration projects.
Design/methodology/approach
However, due to the initial stage of coastal zone ecological restoration projects, the actual monitoring data of coastal zone ecological restoration is relatively lacking. Based on the CRITIC-TOPSIS (combination of CRITIC method and TOPSIS method) method, combined with the subjective perception of the public and the actual data of the restoration project, this paper proposes an evaluation method of the coastal zone ecological restoration effect to obtain the specific implementation effect of the coastal zone ecological restoration project. The main obstacle factors affecting the evaluation of coastal ecological restoration effect are identified by using the obstacle degree model.
Findings
This paper conducted an empirical study on the restoration of sandy shoreline and coastal wetland in Qinhuangdao city. Based on the data of restoration projects and the subjective perception of ecological restoration by the public in Qinhuangdao city, the research results showed that the coastal zone ecological restoration effect of Qinhuangdao city was general. The quality of the restoration project and the public perception have an important influence on the evaluation of the restoration effect. Improving the quality of the restoration project, strengthening the public's participation in ecological restoration and allowing the public to better participate in the ecological restoration of the coastal zone can improve the effect of ecological restoration of the coastal zone in an all-round way.
Originality/value
The research results of this paper have a guiding role in the ecological restoration of coastal cities in the future, and also have a demonstration and reference role for the assessment of the effect of ecological restoration of coastal zones.
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Ning Wang and Deqing Tan
This study examines how local governments and enterprises can implement ecological restoration of abandoned mines based on ecology-oriented development (EOD), which will be more…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines how local governments and enterprises can implement ecological restoration of abandoned mines based on ecology-oriented development (EOD), which will be more beneficial to local environmental protection and economic development under the central government’s policy of outcome incentives or process subsidies.
Design/methodology/approach
We construct a dynamic differential game model to simulate the interactions between local governments and enterprises during the ecological restoration of abandoned mines from an EOD perspective.
Findings
The findings suggest that under the central government’s outcome incentive policy, cooperation between local governments and enterprises is an optimal strategy. Under the process subsidy policy, while neither cooperative nor non-cooperative models significantly affect the investment levels of local governments and enterprises, a cooperative approach ensures optimal investments from both without solely relying on the process subsidy. Additionally, incorporating altruistic preferences can lead to Pareto improvements in economic and environmental results under central government outcome incentives.
Practical implications
This research offers a policy foundation for governments to encourage the EOD model in the ecological restoration of abandoned mines. It provides theoretical support for achieving environmental sustainability and high-quality economic development, and is particularly significant for resource-depleted cities seeking to transform their development strategies.
Originality/value
Through a dynamic differential game model involving government agencies and enterprises to simulate decision-making in the ecological restoration of abandoned mines, incorporating altruistic preferences into this restoration process, and identifying optimal strategies and policies for ecological restoration.
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Bo‐Shi Huang and Huan‐Neng Chiu
Develops a framework which provides a step towards better planningof production, scheming inspection and preventive maintenance. Studiesthe effects of an imperfect production…
Abstract
Develops a framework which provides a step towards better planning of production, scheming inspection and preventive maintenance. Studies the effects of an imperfect production process on the optimal production cycle time. The system is assumed to deteriorate during the production process and produce some proportion of defective items. Extends to the cases where the proportion of defective items and the cost of process restoration are not constant. Provides a comparative study of two monitoring policies where the preventive maintenance setting is used and not used in the deteriorating production process. These models are directly relevant to the management of the quality and reliability of the production process. When scheming inspection is adopted, it is shown that the optimal inspection intervals are equally spaced in the imperfect production process under the different policies, respectively. Provides a numerical example to illustrate the derivation of the optimal production cycle time in the models.
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Sets out to develop an integrated model that considers simultaneously inventory production decisions, PM schedule, and warranty policy for a deteriorating system that experiences…
Abstract
Purpose
Sets out to develop an integrated model that considers simultaneously inventory production decisions, PM schedule, and warranty policy for a deteriorating system that experiences shifts to an out of control state. The time to shift follows a general probability distribution with increasing hazard rate, so that time‐based PM is effective in improving the system reliability.
Design/methodology/approach
A profit function is used to model the production system. Optimization techniques are used to generate optimal solutions for the problem. Although global optimality cannot be guaranteed, empirical results show that global optimal solutions are obtained.
Findings
The integrated model provides decisions on inventory levels, production run length, and PM schedule simultaneously. It is illustrated through numerical examples that investment in PM can lead to savings in warranty claims for repairable products. As a result, the overall profit per unit, in certain cases, is higher with PM than without PM.
Research limitations/implications
The production system is taken, numerical examples are presented and a sensitivity analysis is conducted to gain more insight into the developed model. In particular, the numerical analysis shows that a better PM program reduces warranty claims.
Practical implications
In addition to the joint optimization of production/inventory decisions and PM schedule, such models can be very useful in making resource allocation decisions between warranty and PM programs. It is clear from the numerical analysis that a better PM program reduces warranty claims.
Originality/value
The paper provides a joint optimization of production inventory decisions and the PM schedule for a system subject to a time to shift that follows a general probability distribution. Previous research considered only an exponential distribution and did not consider PM.
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Giovanna Concu, Barbara De Nicolo and Luisa Pani
This paper aims to report a case study regarding the combined use of several non‐destructive techniques (NDTs) as a tool in the management of diagnosis and refurbishment of a…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to report a case study regarding the combined use of several non‐destructive techniques (NDTs) as a tool in the management of diagnosis and refurbishment of a damaged reinforced concrete building.
Design/methodology/approach
Four types of NDTs have been selected and carried out on the pillars of the building: visual inspection, electromagnetic rebar location, sonic test and rebound hammer test. The campaign has been planned and run in order to get the highest amount of reliable data about materials degradation and structural safety with limited costs and limited interference with the functionality of the building.
Findings
The diagnostic campaign highlighted the usefulness of the selected techniques in the diagnosis of the type and the amount of degradation, thus permitting a plan of refurbishments to be defined, and to get a realistic estimation of restoration costs.
Practical implications
NDTs' ability to specifically identify a type of damage may be viewed as a reliable tool in assessing and managing the structural life‐cycle cost.
Originality/value
The presented case study highlighted that NDTs are very likely to locate and quantify the damage of materials and buildings, so that they can be considered as one of the most important parts of health monitoring of civil structures and infrastructures.
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Kean Siang Ch’ng, Suet Leng Khoo and Yoke Mui Lim
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the cost effectiveness of the existing conservation grant disbursement mechanism in George Town, Penang. It reports the effect of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the cost effectiveness of the existing conservation grant disbursement mechanism in George Town, Penang. It reports the effect of disclosure of conservation preferences by the conservation agency on the conservation cost.
Design/methodology/approach
A test bed laboratory experiment is reported on, in which house owners competed in a sealed bid auction to obtain conservation subsidies/grants. In one treatment, owners knew the preference of, or priority given by, the regulator to certain types of conservation efforts, whereas in the second treatment, the regulator concealed this priority.
Findings
The results showed that owners tailored their applications to the given priority rather than to the true conservation costs in the preference‐known treatment group. Although the selected conservation works did not differ significantly between the two treatments, owners misrepresented their true conservation costs.
Research limitations/implications
Given the lack of consensus of the tool to measure ex post conservation value, the study relies on conservation efforts/works to disburse subsidy/grant. Allocative efficiency can be enhanced if this information is available.
Practical implications
The presented results suggested that concealing priority information could be used to improve the cost‐efficiency of existing disbursement policy.
Originality/value
Drawing from the problems of asymmetry information between house owners and conservation agency, the study provided evidence in support of the idea that disbursement of conservation fund was based on the conservation efforts/inputs. In terms of costs, not disclosing the preferences information could encourage competition and reduced conservation costs.
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The purpose of this paper is to examine whether International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) can be used for monitoring environmental degradation. A comprehensive review of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine whether International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) can be used for monitoring environmental degradation. A comprehensive review of academic and professional literature indicates that the IFRS regime provides useful conceptual and practical frameworks for monitoring firms that are operating in environmentally sensitive industries.
Design/methodology/approach
Using qualitative and case study research methods, the financial statements of three environmentally sensitive companies were studied.
Findings
The sustainability reports produced by the companies contained both information and propaganda. The credibility of published sustainability reports is unclear. The size and adequacy of the contributions of the companies towards sharing the costs of decommissioning, rehabilitation and restoration of the environment are not disclosed. A new statement is proposed.
Practical implications
Policy implications at national and international level are many.
Social implications
The paper shows that environment has both financial and non‐financial implications. The effects of environmental degradations on the habitat and society are serious.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to new knowledge in several ways. There are at least three major conclusions from this paper, and the ideas are original.
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