Housing Construction Research Articles

The Involvement of Children in Housing Construction in Lagos State, Nigeria: Challenges and Implications

The study examines the involvement of children in housing construction in Lagos state Nigeria. A Case study research design was adopted, while both primary and secondary data were sourced. Using a multi stage sampling procedure, six out of fifteen settlements that makes up the Ibeju–Lekki LGA which is made up of fifteen settlements were purposively selected. This was consequent upon the high concentration of construction works that was going on in the area. A total of 278 housing construction sites were identified and 110 out of 220 construction sites were randomly selected, representing 50% of the sample frame. Subsequently, a structure questionnaire was administered to two respondents (children) randomly sampled in each of these construction sites, making a total of 220 constituting the sample size. Both descriptive and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) statistics were used in analyzing the data collected, while qualitative data were content analysed. The factors responsible for the involvement of children include; financial crisis (61.0%), skill acquisition (17.0%). The money realized form was used for; family’s feeding (49.0%), sibling’s school fees (3.6%). The role of the respondents includes fetching of water 32.0%, carrying concrete 26%, while the challenges were malaria (54.7%), construction accidents (5.9%). Despite the positive influence of the children in the construction activities, its challenges have been quite noteworthy. Therefore, efforts should be made to avoid their early exposure to construction work.

Historical Drivers and Reduction Paths of CO2 Emissions in Jiangsu’s Cement Industry

With global climate challenges intensifying, the cement industry, as a major CO2 emitter, has attracted significant attention regarding its emission reduction potential and strategies. Advanced economies like the European Union use carbon pricing to spur innovation, while emerging countries focus on incremental solutions, such as fuel substitution. Combining LMDI decomposition and the LEAP model, this study examines Jiangsu Province as a test bed for China’s decarbonization strategy, a highly efficient region with carbon intensity 8% lower than the national average. Historical analysis identifies carbon intensity, energy mix, energy intensity, output scale, and economic effects as key drivers of emission changes. Specifically, the reduction in cement production, real estate contraction, lower housing construction, and reduced production capacity are the main factors curbing emissions. Under an integrated technology strategy—including energy efficiency, fuel and clinker substitution, and CCS—CO2 emissions from Jiangsu’s cement sector are projected to decrease to 17.28 million tons and 10.9 million tons by 2060 under high- and low-demand scenarios, respectively. Clinker substitution is the most significant CO2 reduction technology, contributing about 60%, while energy efficiency gains contribute only 3.4%. Despite the full deployment of existing reduction methods, Jiangsu’s cement industry is expected to face an emissions gap of approximately 10 million tons to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, highlighting the need for innovative emission reduction technologies or carbon trading to meet carbon neutrality goals.

Revitalizing old low-rise residential environments by focusing on communities: case studies in Seoul, Korea

PurposeApartments have become a representative urban housing type for mass housing construction; therefore, interest in low-rise residential areas has decreased. Low-rise residential areas have proved to be a poor residential environment for all aspects of life because of the density of the old buildings. Using the Moa Towns project as a case study, this research explores the steps for revitalizing low-rise residential environments, emphasizing communities.Design/methodology/approachThe study first investigated the historical changes in urban housing types in Korea. Through a review of the related literature, a systematic analysis framework was developed. The residential environments of the case study and the questionnaire survey were analyzed through the framework, with a focus on the quality of housing.FindingsTo improve the quality of housing for residents, a housing plan is needed to ensure safety and comfort. To establish an accessible residential environment infrastructure, improve the quality of housing, and encourage social relationships between neighbors, community facilities within a 15-min walk should be installed. To increase interaction between neighbors, a circular pedestrian system can be created by establishing a community street.Originality/valueThis study is significant in that it focuses on people in revitalizing the community; identifies factors for physical improvement, exchange activities, and facility support; and presents a conceptual framework for building a residential environment in low-rise residential areas. The results are critical to the quality of housing and community facilities for low-rise residential development.

The Emergence of the Penitentiary System in Greenland (late 1950s − 1960s)

The article states that with the development of the state and society of Greenland, the acquisition of self-government in 1978 and the expansion of the rights of self-government in 2009, the evolution of criminal and penal law, aimed at regulating the relevant relations in Greenland, in this region since the late 1950s began to form a regional probation service and prison system. In this system, the chief of police was the inspector of the remand center. Tasks related to long-term prisons, juvenile prisons, labor homes and regime institutions were assigned to the inspectors of the individual institutions. The execution of the above measures of deprivation of liberty was carried out under the centralised supervision of the Ministry of Justice (Prison Department). The supervision of probationers and the fulfilment of other conditions of probation was almost without exception entrusted to the private institution Dansk Forsorgsselskab. In the 1960s, several detention centers were opened, including for young people, but the number of places in these centers was not sufficient to meet the challenges facing the prison service. In the 1960s, several detention centers were opened, but the number of places in them did not allow the prison service to meet the challenges. Private detention centers were also established, sites were planned for the opening of forced labor centers (Juliannehob, Godthob, Egedesminde and K’or Kut) and in 1967 a prison for dangerous criminals in Gotthob, and construction of youth boarding houses, including for girls and especially for the mentally ill, began. The penitentiary system established in Greenland in the 1960s was developed in accordance with local political, legal, cultural and social conditions, in close cooperation with Greenlandic society and its representatives (National Council), the judiciary, the public and the Danish Prison and Probation Service.

Multivariate analysis of materials used in rural housing in Mexico considering sustainability indicators: Towards suitable house construction

Multivariate analysis of materials used in rural housing in Mexico considering sustainability indicators: Towards suitable house construction

Beneficiaries' Role in Averting Quality Challenges in Government Social Housing Construction

Abstract Upon assuming office in 1994, the South African government began constructing social housing for the less privileged to improve their socioeconomic living standards. However, one of the primary factors behind the rising unhappiness with government-constructed social housing is the beneficiaries' lack of involvement. The study sought to identify beneficiaries' role in averting quality challenges in government social housing construction. A qualitative approach using random sampling was used to interview construction professionals with experience constructing government social housing. Online interviews were conducted with 29 participants, and the data were analyzed using a thematic content analysis method to generate themes and subthemes. The results indicate that to avert quality challenges in government-constructed social housing, the beneficiaries have a considerable role in the planning, construction, and postconstruction phases of the project implementation. Beneficiaries must be provided with the necessary documentation, prevent political interference, participate in the construction process, monitor progress, and train to maintain the houses after construction. The lack of participation of beneficiaries in government-constructed social housing leads to new housing construction with subpar quality standards, leading to the dissatisfaction of beneficiaries and the waste of public funds. There is a need to institute measures to enhance the beneficiaries' participation in the project implementation process to achieve the desired outcome. This study indicates how beneficiaries can partake in the development process of government-constructed social housing. The findings will enable beneficiaries to participate in ensuring satisfactory constructed social housing.

Unused housing in urban China and its carbon emission impact

The intensive utilization of residential space is crucial to the transition to a carbon-neutral residential sector, although it has received limited attention in the literature. We develop a methodology to estimate the volume of unused housing in urban China, defined as dwelling units built and sold for at least two years but never occupied. By early 2021, 17.4% of the housing stock built in China during the first two decades of this century remained unused. The construction and operation of unused housing produce 55.81 million tons of carbon dioxide annually at the national level, accounting for 6.9% of the Chinese residential sector’s carbon emissions or 26.5% of the carbon emission reductions achieved by China’s primary ongoing residential decarbonization efforts. Cutting down the volume of unused dwelling units can contribute significantly to China’s decarbonization in 2021–2030.

ANALYSIS OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL VISIBILITY OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF SIMPLE HOUSES IN EAST JAVA COMMUNITIES (CASE STUDY OF BANGKALAN REGENCY, MADURA)

This study explores the perspectives of developers and residents regarding the economic and social visibility of simple housing construction in Bangkalan Regency, East Java. The study seeks to assess the visibility of affordable housing prices and analyze the social conditions associated with simple housing. The results indicate that there is a gap between reality and community expectations of housing adjacent to industrial sites in increasing employment opportunities for the surrounding community. Public transportation, educational facilities, healthcare services, and proximity to employment centers must be incorporated into housing planning to create sustainable and livable communities that meet both the expectations and realities of low-income populations. In addition, the authors developed indicators for the visibility analysis of simple residential buildings in Bang Kalan regency. This research is expected to provide insights into housing affordability and its impact on the social dynamics of the region.

Data processing of whole process cost management in building engineering based on AI

Current housing construction projects are facing challenges such as cost overruns. Traditional cost forecasting methods can no longer meet the needs of the construction industry under digital transformation. This paper aims to explore a new cost forecasting method to improve forecasting accuracy and efficiency. This paper introduces the PSO-BP algorithm, which optimizes the weights and thresholds of BPNN to enhance the forecasting performance. The study selected 15 groups of housing construction project data with similar basic parameters as samples. After data cleaning, the BP neural network (BPNN) was used for cost prediction. To further improve the prediction effect, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is introduced to form the PSO-BP algorithm to optimize the weights and thresholds of BPNN. Research results show that the PSO-BP algorithm performs better than BPNN in cost prediction. Specifically, when predicting the cost of Project 1, the error of BPNN is 7.67 yuan/square meter, while the error of the PSO-BP algorithm is only 2.12 yuan/square meter. In addition, when predicting the risks of 8 projects, the maximum error of BPNN is 0.18 points, while the maximum error of the PSO-BP algorithm is only 0.04 points. The results show that the PSO-BP algorithm not only improves the accuracy of cost forecasting but also significantly improves the efficiency and accuracy of risk assessment, helping to formulate more scientific cost control plans.

ANALYSIS OF ORGANIZATIONAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS IN LOW-RISE RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERING RATIONAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Formulation of the Problem. The low-rise residential construction sector in Ukraine is experiencing rapid development, largely due to the growing demand for affordable housing to support displaced persons and families impacted by the ongoing conflict. This sector's expansion under current conditions emphasizes the necessity of reducing construction costs, particularly through efficient fuel and energy resource (FER) management during the building phase. Efficiently utilizing FER in construction is crucial for ensuring housing affordability while meeting the needs of reconstruction at scale. After the war, there will be an urgent and substantial need for large-scale housing reconstruction across hundreds of towns and villages, as well as in suburban and rural areas. This demand calls for rational organizational and technological solutions that emphasize minimal energy consumption and efficient use of construction resources. Consequently, strategies to optimize energy consumption in low-rise housing construction are vital for future growth in the sector. Purpose of the Article. The article aims to analyze current research and regulatory frameworks concerning FER usage in low-rise construction and to establish objectives for refining organizational and technological solutions that support efficient FER consumption. The study examines energy-efficient practices in various construction technologies, such as SIP panels, lightweight modular structures, and prefab systems, and evaluates these methods in terms of minimizing FER usage. Special focus is placed on practices that increase the share of factory-ready elements, which decreases on-site construction time and equipment demand, leading to overall reductions in FER consumption during building assembly. Conclusions. The integration of energy-saving technologies in residential construction is instrumental in reducing FER costs, especially during building operation. However, the initial construction phase remains material- and capital-intensive, requiring significant FER input for equipment operation, site preparation, and construction activities. Given the planned expansion of low-rise residential housing, minimizing FER use through optimal organizational and technological methods is critical. The research findings can contribute to reducing FER costs in low-rise construction, which in turn decreases total project costs, enhances housing accessibility, and supports the sustainable development of residential infrastructure. The adoption of such methods is key to advancing efficient, affordable, and scalable housing solutions for the Ukrainian construction sector.

Community preparedness for earthquake disasters: A preliminary assessment of awareness and disaster infrastructure response in Cianjur, West Java-Indonesia.

The danger of earthquakes poses a serious threat to people worldwide. One of the most significant challenges is preparing communities to cope effectively with this disaster. Therefore, understanding earthquake hazards is critically important for preparedness, mitigation, and an effective response to this threat. This report aims to observe and conduct a preliminary assessment of the degree to which community preparedness for earthquake disasters has been implemented. Empirical data were obtained from survey respondents and interviews. The respondents were members of a community affected by the Cianjur earthquake, which occurred on November 21, 2022. The data were analysed using the mean range approach, based on Likert scales. Additionally, the Spearman correlation method was employed to indicate the relationship between community awareness and infrastructure readiness. Based on empirical evidence and preliminary analysis, it is evident that the preparedness of the community to respond effectively to earthquake catastrophes is inadequate. An apparent lack of readiness is observed in the inadequate construction of housing that fails to meet disaster standards, and the absence of disaster response facilities is notable. Based on our initial assumption, it appears that knowledge related to disaster resilience in this area has not been adequately disseminated or socialized. However, this premise requires further investigation.

The scarring of the Great Recession on construction labor and housing supply

AbstractThis study examines the long‐term impact of the Great Recession on employment in residential construction, and consequently housing supply. Using regional variation in house price declines during 2006–2009, I find that more severely impacted areas experienced a persistent reduction in construction employment but higher wage growth postrecession, consistent with a downward shift in construction labor supply. This contraction has a causal negative effect on housing production output. A 10% decrease in house prices during the crisis induced a 17%–20% reduction in 2019 construction employment, which in turn led to a 3.0%–5.7% decline in housing construction.

Actors in real estate production and housing typology in greater Abidjan in Ivory coast

Urbanization in Africa generates a strong demand for housing from the population. Greater Abidjan is not exempt from this situation. This urban growth is creating a significant demand for housing in the city. In response to this situation, the State and private developers are making efforts to provide the population with housing. The objective of this article is to study land and housing production in Greater Abidjan. Through a methodology that combines qualitative and quantitative aspects, we have arrived at results indicating that land production in the study area is controlled by the State, which also participates in the construction of housing. In addition to the State, private companies are involved in housing production. The housing produced is essentially of three types: very economical, economical, and of good standing.

Thermal Load Analysis of the Threaded Spindle Bearing in Terms of the Housing Construction for the Case of "Axial Assembly" of the Axial Angular Contact Ball Bearing

Thermal Load Analysis of the Threaded Spindle Bearing in Terms of the Housing Construction for the Case of "Axial Assembly" of the Axial Angular Contact Ball Bearing

The design and construction of an efficient modular zero-energy solar house—a case study of solar decathlon China project “24+35 Housing Home”

This paper, taking Solar Decathlon China competition project “24 + 35 Housing Home” designed and constructed by Dalian University of Technology as an example, systematically summarizes the design concepts implemented throughout the entire process of the project’s design, production, transportation, and construction, focusing on human habitability, efficient prefabrication, sustainability in energy, and intelligent connectivity. The project is closely aligned with practical situations, with an emphasis on issues of human habitation health in the design of architectural spaces and the configuration of residential equipment. It explores an efficient modular system that merges long-distance transportation with rapid assembly, while also optimizing the design of sustainable energy systems in conjunction with climates and environments. Simultaneously, it integrates smart connectivity technologies, aiming to explore the possibilities of future human habitats. This paper intends to consolidate the strengths and advantages of the competition project and offers insights for expediting the construction of zero-energy solar houses.

Improvement of composite wooden elements based on combined mechanical joints for transport infrastructure

The paper presents: a method for numerical calculation of composite wood structures for bearing capacity and stiffness, taking into account the increased shear stiffness of the mechanical joints, refined numerical values of stress-strain state in the edge fibers of the branches of composite elements, scientifically based recommendations for improving the manufacturing technology of composite two- and multilayered wooden beams with a combined joints on claw washers and nails. The developed designs can be used in transport structures of small and medium span wooden bridges on logging roads and in wooden house construction.

Sustainable Design of a Tiny House: Using a Life Cycle Assessment Approach to Compare the Environmental Performance of Industrial and Earth-Based Building Systems

The increased concerns about climate change, diminishing natural resources, and environmental degradation call for deep research into new environmentally friendly building systems that use natural or recycled materials. The article presents an assessment of the environmental and climatic benefits associated with the construction of a tiny house made of quincha, a building system based on a wooden structure filled with locally sourced earth and straw. The tiny house is located in the Elqui Valley, in the Chilean region of Coquimbo, and it is designed to be compact, functional, comfortable, and efficient. The study uses a life cycle approach to assess the environmental impacts of building construction, maintenance, and end-of-life treatment, comparing the adopted quincha solution with four hypothetical scenarios using industrial, prefabricated, and/or synthetic construction materials currently adopted in the region. The thermal performance of all the analyzed solutions is also included in order to provide insights into the impact of the operational phase. This paper demonstrates that the quincha solution, in the face of lower thermal insulation compared to the other prefabricated solutions (the U-value of the quincha wall is 0.79 W/m2K while the U-value of the best prefabricated wall is 0.26 W/m2K), has higher thermal inertia (time lag (TL) and decrement factor (DF) are, respectively, 6.97 h and 0.60, while other systems have a TL below 4 h and DF higher than 0.81). For a quantitative environmental evaluation, the carbon footprint (global warming potential), water footprint, and embodied energy indicators are assessed through LCA, which takes into account the mass of the materials and their emission factors. The effectiveness of the quincha solution is also reflected in environmental terms; in fact, it is found to have the lowest carbon footprint (2635.47 kgCO2eq) and embodied energy (42.7 GJ) and the second-lowest water footprint (2303.7 m3). Moreover, carbon sequestration values, which are assessed by estimating the carbon contained in building systems using wood and straw, demonstrate that the quincha tiny house is the only solution that can theoretically reach carbon neutrality (with its carbon storage value at −5670.21 kgCO2eq).

Exploring reuse criteria for emergency temporary wooden housing- emphasis on local reuse and relocation

ABSTRACT During natural disasters, numerous temporary wooden houses are typically constructed, but regrettably, they are seldom repurposed and are instead disassembled once their two-year supply period expires. This study, therefore, delves into the criteria governing the construction and subsequent reuse of temporary wooden houses through discriminant analysis. The primary hindrance to their reutilization lies in the perception of local governments, which often regard these structures as strictly temporary dwellings, thus showing no intention of reusing them. However, the factors contributing to the reusability of temporary wooden houses extend beyond this singular perspective. A predictive equation is employed to determine a wooden temporary house’s potential for reuse by assessing the discriminant result derived from the discriminant equation. The pivotal factors found to influence reuse are the site area per unit and the construction method, which play a crucial role in both local and relocation reuse scenarios.

Life cycle embodied carbon evaluation of a two-bedroom house construction in Ghana: A comparison between stabilized laterite and sancrete building

Life cycle embodied carbon evaluation of a two-bedroom house construction in Ghana: A comparison between stabilized laterite and sancrete building

Space occupancy in the hallways of old collective housing: a case study of collective housing in Shanghai

ABSTRACT The construction of collective housing in the last century has alleviated housing problems in Shanghai. The current situation of these housing units cannot meet the existing living needs of residents, and occupancy exists in hallways, which will affect the traffic function, pose safety risks and cause certain neighborhood conflicts. This study takes old collective housing on Nanchang Road in Shanghai as the research object, and investigates and analyzes the hallways quantitatively from the three dimensions: area, scale and lighting and ventilation. The occupation patterns and behaviors of the hallway were organized, and the causes, extent, and impact of hallway occupation and renovation characteristics are discussed. A comparative analysis of hallway occupancy of collective housing in this area and other urban centers was conducted. The research shows that the current occupation phenomenon is a relatively stable state. It reflects the real needs of residents’ daily lives and alleviates the housing dilemma to a certain extent. In the renewal and daily management of old communities, tolerance and flexibility can be retained for hallway occupancy behavior, which will help to realize the sustainable use of old collective housing and contribute to the preservation of historical urban residencial morphological texture.