Mean Score Ranking Research Articles

Towards inclusive urban real estate: Innovative strategies for shaping urban real estate developments in South Africa

South Africa, like many emerging economies, grapples with the challenges of rapid urbanisation, unequal access to resources, and historical spatial inequalities. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach that reimagines urban real estate development as a catalyst for positive social change. This paper explores the imperative of inclusive urban real estate development in South Africa and presents innovative strategies to promote equity, accessibility, and sustainability in urban environments. Following a quantitative inquiry technique, primary data was gathered from 109 built environment professionals with experience in sustainable urban development. To support this, descriptive and inferential statistics, particularly exploratory factor analysis (EFA), were used. According to the descriptive analysis using the mean score (MS) ranking technique, the development of affordable housing was one of the higher up-front innovative strategies for reshaping real estate development. Ensuring objectivity in city planning, re-engineering the city streets and buildings to create a safer environment were among the highly ranked strategies. The EFA further demonstrated that “urban redevelopment”, “government regulations”, “spatial planning”, “urban policy” and “diversification” were the underlying groups of new approaches for inclusive development. Implementing these innovative strategies, South Africa can move towards a more inclusive and equitable urban landscape, where urban real estate development becomes a force for positive social change, fostering sustainable economic growth and improving the quality of life for all citizens. This research contributes to the ongoing dialogue on urban development in South Africa and offers actionable insights for policymakers, developers, and community stakeholders invested in shaping more inclusive cities.

Strategies to enhance energy sustainability in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 (affordable and clean energy): case of Ghana

Purpose Human activities in recent years with the excessive emission of greenhouse gases have had a negative impact on increasing global temperatures. In this regard, one of the best ways to control it is to move toward sustainability with more use of renewable energy. Therefore, this study aims to assess the indicators of sustainable energy, explore benefits of sustainable energy and evaluate strategies to enhance energy sustainability in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7. Design/methodology/approach Quantitative research strategy was adopted. Questionnaires were developed and administered through convenience and snowball sampling techniques to professionals in the energy sector. Data collected was validated by using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and discriminant validity, whereas objectives were analyzed by using the relative importance index, mean score ranking and Kruskal–Wallis test. Findings From the findings, the significant indicators of sustainable energy were as follows: reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from energy production, use of renewable energies and policies on proper utilization of energy resources. Furthermore, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, less harm caused to the environment and an increase in the economic and social development process were the major benefits of sustainable energy. Finally, the findings of the study revealed that a strong and accounted policy program, adopting sustainable energy indicators and strategic communication are the significant strategies needed to be put in place to enhance energy sustainability. Practical implications The study serves as a reminder to policymakers of the crucial role they have to play in enhancing energy sustainability by putting in place suitable policy programs and methods. Originality/value The originality of this study is that it is arguably a pioneering study in Ghana and contributes to the body of knowledge on energy sustainability.

Construction 4.0 technology and lean construction ambidexterity capability in China’s construction industry: a sociotechnical systems perspective

Purpose This study aims to explore the level of adoption of Construction 4.0 (C4.0) technologies and of Lean Construction (LC) ambidexterity capability in China’s construction industry. By incorporating C4.0 and LC ambidexterity into a sociotechnical systems (STS) framework, this research provides practical insights for construction practitioners and companies seeking C4.0 and LC. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts the questionnaire survey method. Data was obtained from Chinese construction professionals working on projects using C4.0 technologies. The data were analysed using mean score ranking and three nonparametric techniques, including the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Spearman rank correlation. Findings According to the ranking analysis, building information modelling and offsite construction have the highest adoption level, while additive manufacturing and blockchain rank lowest. Digital technology is more widely used in China’s construction industry than in physical technology. Many C4.0 technologies are significantly correlated with LC ambidexterity. Based on the STS perspective, we propose a holistic approach that incorporates C4.0 technologies and LC ambidexterity. Originality/value Conceptually, the study incorporates C4.0 and LC ambidexterity into the STS framework. Empirically, this study fills the gap in the current literature by exploring the level of C4.0 technology adoption in the Chinese construction industry, as well as the level of LC ambidexterity capabilities. Construction companies can use this framework to make strategic decisions regarding investments in LC practices and the adoption of C4.0 technologies, such as investing in staff skill training and new technology deployment to adapt to the ever-changing environment.

Barriers and prospects for the adoption of blockchain technology in property valuation

PurposeBlockchain is an emerging digital technology proposed and trialled among different built environment professions. The technology has been proposed to introduce transparency, security and trust in property transactions. Despite this proposition, few studies have analysed the barriers and prospects in property valuation, especially in markets plagued by low transparency and a lack of stakeholder trust. Using Nigeria as a case study, this study assesses the barriers and prospects for adopting blockchain technology in property valuation.Design/methodology/approachData was collected from 180 valuers practising in Nigeria through an online survey, and the data was analysed using mean score ranking and the chi-square (χ2) test of independence.FindingsFirstly, there was a low awareness of the application of blockchain technology and an association between the number of valuation jobs executed annually and awareness of the application of blockchain technology. The most important barriers revolved around the knowledge, technical know-how of blockchain and the cost of implementing such technology. The prospects for blockchain are very high as all identified prospects were considered important, with transparency being the most crucial factor for its adoption, followed by the monitoring activities in real time and the permanence in storing records.Research limitations/implicationsThis study's implications lie in the potential benefit of transparency identified for blockchain, which could act as a tool to introduce transparency into valuation industries that battle key issues surrounding transparency and trust. Furthermore, this study can be utilised by policymakers and property industry players in mapping strategies to adopt the beneficial use of blockchain as one among the suite of proptech tools disrupting the property valuation scene, in their practice. This also presents an opportunity to draw upon insights from this study to better prepare for using blockchain in property valuation.Originality/valueThis study appears to be the first to empirically assess barriers and prospects for blockchain in property valuation practice. It contributes to the literature by identifying key factors that will deter and/or promote the application of blockchain, an emerging and disruptive digital technology.

Benefits and Challenges of Digital Audit Implementation in the Malaysian Public Sector: Evidence from the Accountant General's Department of Malaysia

Purpose: The current study aims to investigate the important benefits or advantages of digital audit implementation perceived by the internal auditors of the Accountant General’s Department of Malaysia (AGD), and examine the significant challenges faced by the AGD auditors in implementing digital audit. Design/ Methodology/ Approach: A focus group discussion was conducted with AGD officers involved in digital audit implementation and a questionnaire survey was distributed to the AGD auditors to achieve the research objectives. All 124 auditors responded and returned the completed questionnaire. Thematic analysis was performed on the transcription of the focus group discussion while descriptive statistics of mean scores, standard deviations, and mean score ranking were utilised to analyse the questionnaire data. Findings: The top five ranked benefits of digital audit implementation perceived by the respondents were improving the quality of audit report, increasing the efficiency of audit, assisting auditors in identifying material misstatements, improving the quality of the audit processes and enhancing audit effectiveness. The top three challenges were requiring additional education and training to acquire the necessary digital skills, high implementation costs and the risk of data security (leakage) and confidentiality. Originality/ Value: The present study contributes to the existing limited empirical evidence on the fundamental advantages and challenges of digital audit implementation despite various conceptual discussions on the two implementation aspects.

Awareness and Challenges Faced by Farmers in Marketing Agricultural Produce through the e-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM)

Present study is based on awareness and constraints perceived by the farmers about application process of e-NAM (Electronic National Agriculture Market) in Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan. Total of 10 villages were selected for the selection of respondents from both mandis. A number of ten farmers were selected from each village and therefore, total of 100 farmers were selected from both mandis. To find out the most significant awareness and constraints which influence in adoption of e-NAM. The frequency, mean percent score, weighted mean score and Garret ranking were used to identify awareness and constraints. The majority of respondents exhibited a medium level of awareness about the e-NAM scheme. The result revealed that management of perishable produce especially storage in mandi is the foremost constraint in adoption of e-NAM from farmer side. The farmers known very well about e-NAM scheme but they know very little about the marketing system and other features of e-NAM.

Exploring the multidimensional challenges in integrating Design for Safety (DfS) in the Ghanaian construction industry

Purpose The uptake of Design for Safety (DfS) practices in developing countries like Ghana has been limited. This study aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the barriers across regulatory, organizational, cultural and educational dimensions that restrict DfS assimilation in the Ghanaian construction sector. Identifying the key impediments can inform policy initiatives and industry efforts to facilitate safer construction. Design/methodology/approach A postpositive philosophy underpinned the quantitative research. Multi-stage research was used. A comprehensive questionnaire survey was designed and given to six industry experts to assess clarity, relevance and effectiveness after a thorough literature review. In all, 164 professionals were reached to take part in the study using purposive sampling and consequently snowballing. “Variables” were ranked using mean score ranking and normalization techniques; exploratory factor analysis was then used to group variables into clusters. Findings Emergent findings revealed four distinct clusters of challenges; Design Process and Communication Challenges; Regulatory and Expertise Limitations; Planning and Education Constraints; and Attitudinal and Perception Barriers. These findings help identify targeted solutions to overcome barriers including developing robust regulatory frameworks, promoting collaboration among stakeholders and cultivating a positive safety culture. Originality/value This study provides new insights into the integration of DfS in the context of the developing construction industry in Ghana. This study expands the knowledge base to drive further research in enhancing construction safety in developing countries. Practical recommendations for overcoming these challenges are proposed.

Impact of green construction procurement practices on the success of circular economy in Ghana

PurposeThis paper investigates the impact of green construction procurement practices (GCPPs) on circular economy (CE) success by identifying environmentally sustainable procurement practices that can promote a CE in the construction industry. The goal was to promote circularity in construction through GCPPs.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research approach was adopted and purposively selected 100 respondents for a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Data from the questionnaire survey were analysed using mean score ranking, One-sample t-test and regression analysis.FindingsThe study found that using on-site systematic waste management, project stakeholder commitment and support for green practices and environmental requirements in technical specifications, significantly impact CE success in construction, with a 12.8% variance in CE when green procurement is practised. This implies that GCPPs have positive repercussions on CE success, where the CE success is expected to change as GCPPs levels increase.Practical implicationsThe study provides insights into green procurement, promoting its use in infrastructure development and aiding clients, particularly in the government sector with insights into the challenges and practices involved in green procurement. Practitioners can also benefit from better implementing CE strategies to draft and manage contracts for infrastructure projects that prioritize circularity.Originality/valueThe limited impact of GCPPs on advancing CE principles in construction suggests policy and practice must strengthen procurement requirements to fully leverage spending and drive the sector’s transition towards a circular model. Also, novel insight is provided into the most effective types of GCPPs for promoting CE success, aiding policymakers in optimizing construction procurement strategies.

Strategies for the development of mental toughness of construction professionals: the case of Ghana

Purpose The construction sector is recognized for subjecting its workers to various psychological pressures and mental stressors. As a result, it is crucial to explore and discover effective strategies to support these workers in managing and enduring these demanding circumstances. Mental toughness is a concept that has been advocated to aid individuals in coping and adapting to pressures and challenges. Therefore, it is imperative to explore strategies critical to developing mental toughness among construction professionals. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify critical strategies for the development of mental toughness among construction professionals. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive literature review was conducted using Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect and PubMed databases to identify the strategies for the development of mental toughness. These identified strategies were used to develop a structured closed-ended questionnaire to aid in data collection. Of the 317 questionnaires distributed, 207 were collected and used for data analysis. The data were analysed using mean score ranking and one sample t-test. Findings The study highlighted 12 critical strategies for the development of mental toughness among construction professionals. These include recognizing and rewarding achievements, taking time for self-care, organizing mental training programs, using positive self-talk, embracing a growth mindset, providing social support/developing a strong support network, creating a challenging training environment, engaging in regular physical exercise, fostering a mastery motivational climate, setting clear but challenging goals, practicing mental imagery and practicing reflection on setbacks and failures. The analysis results indicated that all of the strategies, except one (which involves practicing reflection on setbacks and failures), displayed significance. By incorporating these strategies, construction firms and the industry as a whole can empower their workforce to cope and/or overcome the various demands and stressors that work and life places on them. Research limitations/implications The study highlights the significance of recognizing and rewarding achievements, fostering a growth mindset and implementing mental training programs to cultivate mental toughness among construction professionals. Moreover, promoting self-care practices and offering social support are essential strategies for enhancing mental resilience in the construction industry. By adopting these evidence-based approaches, construction organizations can create a mentally tough workforce capable of handling the challenges and demands of the industry effectively. Originality/value This study contributes significantly to the general body of knowledge in mental health management among employees in the construction industry. It does set the pace for the development of the general well-being of construction professionals in the achievement of mental toughness goals.

Evaluating the knowledge and use of property technology among property academics in Australian universities

PurposeWith the increased demand for the application of technology in property activities, there is a growing need for property professionals adept in using digital technology. Hence, it is important to assess the competence of academia in equipping property professionals with digital technology skills. This study, therefore, assesses property academics in Australian universities to identify their level of knowledge and use of digital technology applicable to the property industry.Design/methodology/approachOnline questionnaire surveys were administered to 22 out of 110 property academics contacted through the Australia Property Institute (API) database to achieve this aim. The collected data were analysed using mean score ranking and ANOVA.FindingsThe study found that apart from databases and analytics platforms such as Corelogic RP data, price finder and industry-based software such as the Microsoft Office suite and ARGUS software, the academics were not knowledgeable in most identified and sampled proptech tools. Similarly, most proptech tools were not used or taught to the students. It was also found that early career academics (below five years in academia) were the most knowledgeable group about the proptech tools.Research limitations/implicationsRelying on the API database to contact property academics potentially excludes the position of property academics who may not be affiliated or have contacts with API, hence, the findings of this study should be generalised with caution.Practical implicationsThe study bears huge implications for the property education sector and industry in Australia; a low knowledge and use of nascent tools such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, drones, fintech, which have received intense interest, reveals some level of skill gap of students who pass through that system and may need to be upskilled by employers to meet the current day demand.Originality/valueIn response to the clamour for technology-inclined property professionals, this paper presents itself as the first to assess the knowledge levels and application of digital technology by property academics.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) government suppliers involved in government green procurement (GGP)

PurposeThe objectives of this paper are twofold. First, it aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the activities and performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) government suppliers involved in government green procurement (GGP). Second, it examines the differences in the impact of COVID-19 between small and medium-sized groups.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a questionnaire survey that was distributed to SMEs listed in the MyHIJAU directory that supply green goods and services to the government. Of the total 394 sample respondents, 126 usable questionnaires were received, representing a usable response rate of 31.98%. Descriptive analysis of mean score, standard deviation and mean score ranking was used to analyse the overall results. A t-test analysis was carried out to examine the differences between the small and medium-sized groups of companies.FindingsThe study discovers that the SME government suppliers involved in GGP were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The top ranked impacts are that “the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened health and safety practices among the employees”, “the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced company’s turnover”, “the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the company to implement a cost reduction strategy”, “the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the company’s ability to deliver work, supplies or services to the government” and “the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the company to incur higher production costs for green products or services provided”. However, there is no significant difference between the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the small and medium-sized group of enterprises.Originality/valueThe present study is among the fewer studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular focus on SME government suppliers involved in GGP.

Barriers to the involvement in green public procurement among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) government suppliers

PurposeThe objectives of this study are twofold. Firstly, this study aims to examine the challenges of green public procurement (GPP) involvement among small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) government suppliers. Secondly, it investigates the differences in the perceived challenges between the small- and medium-sized groups of companies.Design/methodology/approachThe study draws on the quantitative method. The questionnaire was distributed to SMEs that supply green goods or services to the government and which are listed in the MyHijau directory. Using convenience sampling, a total of 394 questionnaires were distributed and 126 usable questionnaires were received, representing a response rate of 31.98%. A descriptive analysis of the mean score, standard deviation and mean score ranking was used to analyse the overall results. The t-test analysis was carried out to examine the differences between the small- and medium-sized groups of companies.FindingsAll five categories of the barriers, i.e. financial, legal, people, knowledge and organizational challenges, are perceived as the important challenges for SMEs’ involvement in GPP. Of the five categories, “having lack of knowledgeable staff on GPP” under the category of “people” challenge is ranked as the most major barrier. In relation to the differences between the two groups of enterprises (small- and medium-sized), medium enterprises are more affected by two items under the “organization” challenge, i.e. “The company has not targeted suppliers that promote environmentally-friendly products/services” and “The company has not established a clear objective on purchase of green products and services”, as compared to the small-sized enterprises through their GPP involvement.Social implicationsBy understanding the difficulties faced by SMEs in engaging with GPP, various practical measures can be formulated to support the SME businesses in mitigating the challenges faced for their involvement with GPP, which subsequently will lead to the country’s target to reach the sustainable development goals.Originality/valueThis study extends empirical evidence on barriers or challenges that may hinder the involvement in government green procurement, with a specific focus on SME government suppliers.

UNVEILING FARMERS’ PERSPECTIVES: A COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION OF PRADHAN MANTRI FASAL BIMA YOJANA (PMFBY) IN TIRUCHIRAPPALLI DISTRICT OF TAMIL NADU

Agriculture’s inherent uncertainties threaten farmers' income and food security. The government introduced Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in 2016 to mitigate risks, aligning with the “One Nation-One Plan” initiative for farmers’ protection. The current investigation aimed to gauge farmers’ perceptions of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Conducted in the year 2022-23, the study focused on deliberately chosen blocks namely Thuraiyur and Uppiliyapuram in Tiruchirappalli district of Tamil Nadu. Respondents, totaling 120, were chosen from three villages in each selected block using a proportionate random sampling method. A thoroughly designed interview schedule, formulated based on expert opinions and literature reviews, was employed for data collection. Subsequently, the acquired data underwent coding, quantification, classification, tabulation and analysis, employing frequency, percentage and mean score ranking techniques to derive meaningful insights. The study's results indicated that a significant proportion of farmers (70.83%) held medium level perception, while 20.00 per cent had low perception, and 9.17 per cent expressed high perception regarding the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The assessment revealed that statements such as the enhancement of individual farmers' knowledge and skills under PMFBY (Mean Score - 2.59) ranked highest, followed by its role in enhancing yields and crop protection (Mean Score - 2.58) and improving resource-poor farmers’ access to better crop production (Mean Score - 2.48), which were ranked second and third, respectively. Crop insurance shields farmers from uncertainties like natural disasters. It is deemed essential for all types of farmers due to its significance.

Performance indicators for public evaluation of environmental management plan implementation in highway construction projects

PurposeEvaluating the implementation of environmental management plans (EMPs) in highway construction projects is essential to avoid climate change. Public evaluations can help ensure that the EMP is implemented correctly and efficiently. To allow public evaluation of EMP implementations, this study aims to investigate performance indicators (PIs) for assessing EMP implementation in highway construction projects. To that end, the study objectives are to compare the critical PIs between environment auditors (EAs) and environment officers (EOs) and among the main project stakeholders (i.e. clients, contractors and consultants), create components for the critical PIs and assess the efficiency of the components.Design/methodology/approachThe paper identified 39 PIs from interviews with environmental professionals and a systematic literature review. Then a questionnaire survey was developed based on the PIs and sent to EAs and EOs. The data were analyzed via mean score ranking, normalization, agreement analysis, factor analysis and fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE).FindingsThe analyses revealed 21 critical PIs for assessing EMP implementation in highway construction projects. Also, the critical PIs can be grouped into four components: ecological, pollution, public safety and ecological. Finally, the overall importance of the critical PIs from the FSE is between important and very important.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first-of-its-kind study on the critical PIs for assessing EMP implementation in highway construction projects.

Determining the impact of economic indicators on water, energy and food nexus for sustainable resource security

Water, energy, and food are economic resources whose security and sustainability affect human livelihood. This paper is dedicated to exploring the influence of economic indicators on the security and sustainability of these resources within the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus. The research employed a quantitative approach, gathering data through a structured questionnaire from 282 WEF management professionals in South Africa. The collected data were subjected to statistical analyses, including mean score ranking, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM) using EQS and SPSS software. The results of this study highlight the significant impact of economic indicators on the sustainable security of WEF resources. The mean ranking revealed that there is a need to understand people’s economic power for resource sustainability. The CFA and SEM analyses identify four key economic indicators that influence resource security: WEF resource pricing mechanisms, employment rates in the WEF sectors, WEF resource importation, and WEF resource exportation. In conclusion, managing economic indicators within the WEF nexus calls for strategic investment based on comparative advantage. The study provides valuable policy recommendations to support this approach.Graphical

Organisational Interventions for Improving Mental Health of Project Management Practitioners during COVID-19 in Architecture, Engineering and Construction Sectors in Australia

The introduction of COVID-19-related psychosocial risks to the Australian architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) project organisation has triggered the development of innovative organisational interventions for mitigating the risks and promoting of positive mental health among project management (PM) practitioners. Therefore, the paper aims to explore the COVID-19-related organisational interventions for improving mental health in the AEC project organisation. Through a comprehensive literature review, 20 organisation interventions were retrieved, and an online expert forum was conducted with nine industry experts. The results of the expert opinion confirmed the 20 organisational interventions identified from the literature. Moreover, the organisational interventions were used to develop a questionnaire survey distributed among PM practitioners via convenient sampling. Mean score ranking analysis was used to analyses the survey responses from 58 participants. The research findings show that the identified organisational interventions are important, but are ranked differently by architecture, engineering and construction sectors based on their importance in promoting mental health.

Housing Satisfaction Among International Students in Hong Kong

Housing is one of the critical components that support human existence. However, unequal access to housing is one of the challenges faced by international students. In an expensive city, such as Hong Kong, this issue is exacerbated by high rental cost and a limited supply of on-campus hostel facilities. Therefore, this study examines housing satisfaction among international students who are studying at Hong Kong’s universities, located in one of the most expensive cities in the world. Using the snowball sampling technique, data was collected from seventy-four international students of six nationalities studying at four universities in Hong Kong. Frequency distribution, mean score (MS) ranking and Chi-Square were adopted for the data analysis. The results show that 64% of the research participants reside off-campus and while the rest reside on-campus. Furthermore, a majority of the respondents strongly agreed that the support from the universities for international students in terms of scholarships and financial support to access housing first-year students is very important. The international students opined that the universities could provide more financial assistance and accommodation support to meet rising housing costs. The Chi-square test results indicate a significant relationship between the type of accommodation and overall satisfaction with accommodation, and a significant relationship between the age of the respondents and their choice to retain their accommodation. This study has some far-reaching implications for Hong Kong universities as they need to revisit the issue of accommodation and support provided to international students. Furthermore, there needs to be a consideration in increasing the student housing stock to assist international students.

Resource sustainability in the water, energy and food nexus: role of technological innovation

Purpose This paper aims to examine the role of technological Innovation in ensuring resource sustainability in the water, energy and food (WEF) nexus, as there exists a shortage of statistical research on the extent of the influence of technological Innovation on the WEF nexus. Design/methodology/approach The study used a quantitative research method, using a well-structured questionnaire to collect data from management staff in the WEF departments in South Africa. The collected data were analyzed by using mean score ranking, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings The findings show that the technological process of technological innovation is significant for resource sustainability. The result also showed that technological innovations directly and statistically significantly affect WEF nexus. The EFA resulted in three components of WEF nexus product innovation, WEF nexus process innovation and WEF nexus novel innovations. Furthermore, the CFA and SEM analysis reveals that six technological innovation indicators influence the sustainability of the nexus: smart water metering technology, smart metering technology, food quality monitoring technology, agricultural technology solutions, new technological design and eco-friendly WEF products. Originality/value The sustainability of these three inevitable resources for man’s survival is dependent on technological innovations, and this study has shown the major categories of innovations needed, thus establishing a pathway for engineering design.

Public monitoring of environmental management plan implementation in road construction projects: key performance indicators

Purpose This study aims to examine the performance indicators (PIs) for assessing environmental management plan (EMP) implementation in road construction projects. The specific objectives are to compare the key PIs between environment auditors and environment officers and among project stakeholders, develop components to categorize interrelated key PIs and evaluate the effectiveness of interrelated key PIs and components. Design/methodology/approach Thirty-nine PIs were identified through a systematic literature review and in-depth interviews with environmental professionals. Subsequently, a questionnaire survey was designed based on this list of PIs and distributed to industry professionals. Sixty-one responses were collected in Malaysia and analyzed using the mean score ranking, normalization, agreement analysis, overlap analysis, factor analysis and fuzzy synthetic evaluation. Findings The analyses identified 18 key PIs: soil erosion, dust appearance, spill of chemical substance, construction waste, clogged drainage, overflowed silt trap, oil/fuel spills, changes in the colour of bodies of water, excessive cut and fill, vegetation depletion, changes in the colour of the runoff water, landslide occurrence, slope failures, irregular flood, public safety, deforestation, open burning and increased of schedule waste. Also, the key PIs can be grouped and ranked into the following four components: geological, pollution, environmental changes and ecological. Finally, the overall importance of the key PIs is between important and very important. Originality/value This study is a pioneer in quantitively examining the key PIs for EMP implementation in road construction projects. Researchers, industry practitioners and policymakers can use the findings to develop strategies and tools to allow public monitoring of EMP implementation.

Critical success factors for implementing 3D printing technology in construction projects: academics and construction practitioners’ perspectives

Purpose The application of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in construction projects is of increasing interest to researchers and construction practitioners. Although the application of 3D printing technology at various stages of the project lifecycle has been explored, few studies have identified the relative importance of critical success factors (CSFs) for implementing 3D printing technology in construction projects. To address this research gap, this study aims to explore the academics (i.e. researchers) and construction practitioners’ perspectives on CSFs for implementing 3D printing technology in construction projects. Design/methodology/approach To do this, a questionnaire was administered to participants (i.e. academics and construction practitioners) with knowledge and expertise in 3D printing technology in construction projects. The collected data were analysed using mean score ranking, normalization and rank agreement analysis to identify CSFs and determine the consistency of the ranking of CSFs between academics and construction practitioners. In addition, exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the relationships and underlying constructs of the measured CSFs. Findings Through a rank agreement analysis of the collected data, 11 CSFs for implementing 3D printing technology were retrieved (i.e. 17% agreement), indicating a diverse agreement in the ranking of the CSFs between academics and construction practitioners. In addition, the results show three key components of CSFs including “production demand enabling CSFs”, “optimize the construction process enabling CSFs” and “optimized design enabling CSFs”. Originality/value This study highlights the feasibility of implementing the identified CSFs for 3D printing technology in construction projects, which not only serves as a reference for other researchers but also increases construction practitioners’ awareness of the practical benefits of implementing 3D printing technology in construction projects. Specifically, it would optimize the construction lifecycle processes, enhance digital transformation and promote sustainable construction projects.