Acta Structilia

Integrating corporate social responsibility as an infrastructural projects financing option in Lagos State, Nigeria

2024-06-21T07:10:12+00:00

This article examines the infrastructural projects that were delivered through corporate social responsibility (CSR) by private organisations in Lagos State, Nigeria, with a view to providing information on the projects’ distribution that could help the development of a CSR policy guide for private organisations’ participation in infrastructure development. A mixed method approach with structured questionnaire and semi-structured interviews was adopted to obtain data. The questionnaire was administered to 27 representatives of private organisations identified through the Respondents-Driven Sampling (RDS) technique. Nine of these representatives were selected using convenience/accidental sampling technique for the interviews. The data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The results show that private organisations’ participation in the delivery of infrastructural projects as CSR improved in the study area from 2010. It was noted that 85.7% of the total identified deliverable projects delivered by the private organisations were executed between 2010 and 2019. These projects include, among others, blocks of classroom; provision of pipe-borne water;

Living walls: Upscaling their performance as green infrastructure

2024-06-21T07:40:21+00:00

Living wall systems (LWSs) can provide biophilic value and ecosystem services as part of the quest for sustainable development. Despite their benefits and potential to mitigate global challenges such as cooling, air purification, sound absorption, and human well-being, their economic feasibility, resilience, maintenance, and sustainability impact on their application and use. This article gives an overview of a pragmatic study which synthesised the factors hampering LWSs’ performance as green infrastructure (GI) and analysed the performance of outdoor modular LWSs as GI. The study aims to establish criteria for selecting the most suitable LWSs as green infrastructure. Data capturing involved a mixed-method methodology. Local experts provided insight into local LWS typologies through questionnaires, which were analysed qualitatively. The six-month experimental study involved two selected LWSs of 4m2 each in extent on the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa campus in Pretoria, in South Africa’s Gauteng province. Variables included minimum and maximum daily temperatures, relative humidity, precipitation, soil temperature, water content and electrical conductivity, leaf biomass yield, and plant stress. The researcher monitored fresh and dry biomass yields with a calibrated laboratory balance as the primary performance indicator. Plant stress, the secondary performance indicator, was measured by chlorophyll fluorescence analysis. Experimental data were statistically analysed. The findings lay the groundwork for improving LWSs as GI, which can contribute to more sustainable cities. This is achieved by defining LWSs’ technical characteristics to enhance their performance as GI. The results favour locally produced, low- technology, outdoor modular LWSs with limited, robust, lightweight, recycled components entailing uncomplicated assembly. Systems must involve low-technology irrigation. The LWS position should consider the plant crops’ light requirements and pollution. Pots should receive limited sun exposure and have a soil volume of 3 litres and a minimum depth of 200mm.

As deel van die strewe na volhoubare ontwikkeling, kan lewende muurstelsels biofiliese waarde en ekosisteemdienste verskaf. Ten spyte van hul voordele en potensiaal om globale uitdagings krisisse aan te spreek, beperk hul ekonomiese haalbaarheid, veerkragtigheid, instandhouding en volhoubaarheid hul toepassing en gebruik. Hierdie artikel gee ’n oorsig van ’n pragmatiese studie wat die faktore wat lewende mure se prestasie as groen infrastruktuur (GI) belemmer, evalueer het, en die werkverrigting van buitemuurse modulêre lewende mure as GI ontleed het. Die doel is om ’n stel kriteria te ontwikkel om die mees geskikte LWS vir groen infrastruktuur te bepaal. Datavaslegging het ’n gemengde metode-metodologie behels. Plaaslike kundiges het deur middel van vraelyste insig gegee in plaaslike lewende mure-tipologieë. Die ses maande-lange eksperimentele studie het twee geselekteerde LWSs van 4m2 elk in omvang op die Universiteit van Pretoria se Future Africa-kampus in Pretoria, in Suid-Afrika se Gautengprovinsie, behels. Veranderlikes het minimum en maksimum daaglikse temperature, relatiewe humiditeit, neerslag, grondtemperatuur, waterinhoud en elektriese geleidingsvermoë, blaarbiomassa-opbrengs en plantstres ingesluit. Die navorser het vars en droë biomassa-opbrengste gemonitor met ’n gekalibreerde laboratorium skaal as die primêre prestasie-aanwyser. Plantstres, die sekondêre prestasie-aanwyser, is deur chlorofilfluoressensie- analise gemeet. Data is statisties ontleed. Die bevindinge lê die grondslag vir die verbetering van lewende mure as GI wat kan bydra tot meer volhoubare stede. Dit word bereik deur tegniese kenmerke vir lewende mure te definieer om hul werkverrigting as GI te verbeter. Die resultate bevoordeel plaaslik vervaardigde, lae-tegnologie, buitemuurse modulêre lewende mure met beperkte, robuuste, liggewig, herwonne komponente wat ongekompliseerde samestelling behels. Stelsels moet laetegnologie besproeiing behels. Die lewende muur- posisie moet die plantgewasse se ligvereistes en besoedeling in ag neem. Potte moet beperkte sonblootstelling kry, en ’n grondvolume van 3 liters en ’n minimum diepte van 200mm hê.

Urban memory and identity weighed against economic investment in urban renewal projects: a case of Kisumu City, Kenya

2024-06-21T08:05:55+00:00

In urban contexts, memory and place are inseparable and important for identity formation. The individual and collective memories of city residents link their identity with place identity. Special features in the landscape and urban fabric help residents differentiate between, and connect with the city’s identity. The use of collective memory to identify and retain urban identity during urban renewal projects, however, receives less attention than functional and economic investment considerations. This article investigates the importance of urban landscape identity during urban renewal. It postulates that a city’s individual and collective memory is important in maintaining its uniqueness in terms of urban landscape identity, but requires economic investment to maintain basic physical comfort and access. A qualitative research approach with photo-elicitation interviews (PEI) was used to investigate the features that activated the memory of the participants and that were important in contributing to the image of Kisumu City, Kenya. There were ongoing and completed urban renewal projects within Kisumu City at the time of the study, which made it a good case study for postcolonial Africa. Twelve residents (as PEI participants), four officials from the County Government, and four professionals were interviewed as key informants. A field investigation was carried out through mapping and photography in addition to an archival review. The study reveals that the old railway station, the port, and the market featured strongly in collective memory as part of historical trade development. Despite the important role of civic and administrative buildings from the colonial era in the formation of memory, place, and identity, there was also a positive response from residents to the ‘new look’ of the city. The physical upgrade, decongestion and cleaning of the city, its streets and parks as public spaces resulted in greater safety and public use, which was well appreciated from an investment point of view. The study emphasizes the importance of identifying, considering, and retaining the elements that support memory and identity during urban renewal projects as equal in importance to economic development and functionality when considering long-term sustainability.

In stedelike kontekste is geheue en plek onafskeidbaar en is dit belangrik vir identiteitsvorming. Individuele en kollektiewe herinneringe van die stad se inwoners koppel hul identiteit met plekidentiteit. Spesiale kenmerke in die landskap en stedelike struktuur help inwoners om te onderskei tussen en met die stad se identiteit te skakel. Die gebruik van kollektiewe geheue om stedelike identiteit te identifiseer en te behou tydens stedelike hernuwingsprojekte kry egter minder aandag as funksionele en ekonomiese beleggingsoorwegings. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die belangrikheid van stedelike landskapidentiteit tydens stedelike vernuwing. Dit postuleer dat ’n stad se individuele en kollektiewe geheue belangrik is om sy uniekheid in terme van stedelike landskapidentiteit te handhaaf, maar dit vereis ekonomiese belegging om basiese fisiese gemak en toegang te handhaaf. ’n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering met foto-ontlok onderhoude (PEI) is gebruik om die kenmerke te ondersoek wat die geheue van die deelnemers geaktiveer het en belangrik was om by te dra tot die beeld van Kisumu City, Kenia. Daar was deurlopende en voltooide stedelike hernuwingsprojekte binne Kisumu City ten tyde van die studie, wat dit ’n goeie gevallestudie vir post-koloniale Afrika gemaak het. Twaalf inwoners (as PEI-deelnemers), vier amptenare van die County Government en vier professionele persone is as sleutelinformante ondervra. ’n Veldondersoek is uitgevoer deur middel van kartering en fotografie bykomend tot ’n argiefbron-oorsig. Die studie het aan die lig gebring dat die ou spoorwegstasie, die hawe, en mark sterk in die kollektiewe geheue verskyn het as deel van historiese handelsontwikkeling. Ten spyte van die belangrike rol van burgerlike en administratiewe geboue uit die koloniale era in die vorming van geheue, plek, en identiteit, was daar ook ’n positiewe reaksie van inwoners op die ‘nuwe voorkoms’ van die stad. Die fisiese opgradering, ontstuwing en skoonmaak van die stad, sy strate en parke as openbare ruimtes, het gelei tot groter veiligheid en openbare gebruik, wat vanuit ’n beleggingsoogpunt goed waardeer is. Die studie beklemtoon die belangrikheid daarvan om die elemente wat geheue en identiteit ondersteun tydens stedelike hernuwingsprojekte te identifiseer, in ag te neem, en te behou as ewe belangrik aan ekonomiese ontwikkeling en funksionaliteit wanneer langtermyn volhoubaarheid oorweeg word.

Critical success factors framework for enhancing the sustainability of small and medium-sized contractors in Namibia

2024-06-21T08:22:17+00:00

The sustainability of small and medium-sized contractors (SMCs) is vital, considering the critical role they play in socio-economic development globally. SMCs in Namibia have been consistently grappling with high failure rates over the years, largely due to a dearth of robust policy frameworks to guide SMC development and sustainability in the country. This study investigates the critical success factors (CSFs) for SMCs’ sustainability in Namibia. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected from 60 purposively selected construction industry participants, comprising owner-managers of contracting firms, policymakers, and construction professional consultants. Interviews were conducted with the participants, using a semi-structured interview tool. Data were then analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings revealed six CSFs, including public and private institutions’ collaborative support, skills training, an enabling construction business environment, access to adequate and affordable finance, consistent work opportunities, and firm owner’s entrepreneurial skills. The identified CSFs culminated in the development of a framework for guiding the development of SMCs in Namibia. By incorporating the six CSFs in the framework, SMCs could be effectively developed and sustained. The framework may assist policymakers in making fundamental policy reforms and developing appropriate and context-specific interventions to sustain SMCs in Namibia and similar contexts.

Die volhoubaarheid van klein- en mediumgrootte kontrakteurs (SMC’s) is noodsaaklik met inagneming van die kritieke rol wat hulle in sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling wêreldwyd speel. SMC’s in Namibië worstel deur die jare deurlopend omdat hulle misluk, hoofsaaklik as gevolg van ’n gebrek aan robuuste beleidsraamwerke om SMC-ontwikkeling en volhoubaarheid in die land te rig. Hierdie studie ondersoek die kritieke suksesfaktore (GSF’s) vir SMC’s se volhoubaarheid in Namibië. Deur ’n kwalitatiewe benadering te gebruik, is data ingesamel van 60 doelbewus geselekteerde konstruksiebedryfdeelnemers, bestaande uit eienaar-bestuurders van kontrakterende firmas, beleidmakers en konstruksie professionele konsultante. Onderhoude is met die deelnemers gevoer deur gebruik te maak van ’n semi-gestruktureerde onderhoudsinstrument. Data is ontleed met behulp van refleksiewe tematiese analise. Die bevindinge het ses GSF’s aan die lig gebring wat insluit die openbare en private instellings se samewerkende ondersteuning, vaardigheidsopleiding, ’n bemagtigende konstruksie-besigheidsomgewing, toegang tot voldoende en bekostigbare finansiering, konsekwente werksgeleenthede en firma eienaar se entrepreneuriese vaardighede. Die geïdentifiseerde CSF’s is gebruik vir die ontwikkeling van ’n raamwerk vir die rigtinggewing van die ontwikkeling van SMC’s in Namibië. Deur die ses CSF-faktore in die raamwerk in te sluit, kan SMC’s effektief ontwikkel en volgehou word. Die raamwerk kan beleidmakers help om fundamentele beleidshervormings te maak en toepaslike en konteksspesifieke intervensies te ontwikkel om SMC’s in Namibië en soortgelyke kontekste in stand te hou.

Challenges in implementing corporate social responsibility: A study of SMEs in South Africa's Construction Industry

2024-06-21T08:35:04+00:00

To date, there is a paucity of research on the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR), particularly the practice of CSR within the global and local construction industry. This extends to studies identifying CSR implementation challenges affecting construction organisations. This article investigates the CSR implementation challenges affecting SME owner-managers in the South African construction industry and analyses whether small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are affected similarly or differently. This article serves as a guideline for further research regarding mitigating measures towards the CSR implementation challenges experienced by SME owner-managers in the South African construction industry. Existing literature is reviewed to provide an overview of the current CSR implementation challenges from both the global construction industry and generic business sectors guided by the St. Gallen Management Model. The study conducts a mixed method research approach, using an online questionnaire survey and structured face- to-face interviews, with the data analysed using both descriptive (mean, standard deviation, rank, and themes) and inferential (Analysis of Variance ANOVA) statistics. Findings reveal that SMEs in the South African construction industry are affected by CSR implementation challenges related to a lack of integration in the SME culture and business objectives; limited financial resources to undertake CSR initiatives; lack of CSR skills and knowledge, and unstable economic conditions. In addition, although SMEs are categorised differently in terms of their Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) grade and their upper limit of tender value range, the two groups of contractors’ experience similar CSR implementation challenges across four management levels as guided by the St. Gallen Management Model. This finding will guide future research regarding mitigating factors to address CSR implementation challenges experienced by SME owner-managers in the South African construction industry.

Tot op hede is baie min navorsing gedoen oor die konsep van korporatiewe sosiale verantwoordelikheid (KSV), veral die praktyk van KSV binne die globale en plaaslike konstruksiebedryf. Dit strek tot studies wat KSV-implementeringsuitdagings identifiseer wat konstruksie- organisasies raak. Hierdie werk poog om die KSVimplementeringsuitdagings wat klein en medium ondernemings (KMO)-eienaars/ bestuurders in die Suid-Afrikaanse konstruksie bedryf raak, te ondersoek, en om te analiseer of KMO’s soortgelyk of anders geraak word, wat as ’n riglyn dien vir verdere navorsing rakende versagtende maatreëls teenoor die KSV-implementeringsuitdagings wat deur KMO-eienaars/bestuurders ervaar word. Bestaande literatuur is gebruik om ’n oorsig te verskaf van die huidige KSV- implementeringsuitdagings van beide die globale konstruksiebedryf sowel as generiese sakesektore gelei deur die St. Gallen Bestuursmodel. ’n Gemengde navorsingsbenadering is gevolg deur gebruik te maak van ’n aanlyn vraelysopname en gestruktureerde persoonlike onderhoude, met die data wat ontleed is deur beide beskrywende (gemiddelde, standaardafwyking, rangorde en temas) en inferensiële (Analise van Variansie ANOVA) statistieke te gebruik. Die bevindinge toon dat KMO’s in die Suid-Afrikaanse konstruksiebedryf geraak word deur KSV-implementeringsuitdagings wat verband hou met ’n gebrek aan integrasie in die KMO-kultuur en besigheidsdoelwitte; beperkte finansiële hulpbronne om KSV-inisiatiewe te onderneem; gebrek aan KMO-vaardighede en -kennis, en onstabiele ekonomiese toestande. Alhoewel KMO’s verskillend gekategoriseer word in terme van hul Konstruksie-industrie Ontwikkelingsraad gradering en hul boonste limiet van tenderwaarde-reeks, ervaar die twee groepe kontrakteurs soortgelyke KSV- implementeringsuitdagings oor vier bestuursvlakke, soos gelei deur die St. Gallen-bestuursmodel.

Report cards, and other tracking of South Africa’s public sector fixed infrastructure condition

2024-06-21T08:47:44+00:00

This article is the second of a planned series being published in this Journal describing investigations of the condition of South Africa’s infrastructure, reasons for/contributory factors to this condition, and the consequences of this condition for service delivery and quality of life. The purpose of the article is not to critique any of the infrastructure condition measurements, but to convey to the reader a general impression of the direction in which the condition of public sector infrastructure in South Africa is heading, and to make inferences from that. The article introduces surveys which have been undertaken by credible institutions, including a number of national, provincial, and local government departments, state-owned companies, as well as the Auditor General to track South Africa’s public sector fixed infrastructure condition. Over the years, a number of these surveys, some of them tracking the condition of this infrastructure and others tracking various performance criteria which allow inferences of the infrastructure condition to be made, have shown that the infrastructure is, on average, not in a good state – thus hampering service delivery and, as a consequence, harming the economy and the quality of life of the population. However, the South African Institution of Civil Engineering, with its four “infrastructure report cards”, approximately five years apart, has provided the clearest picture of trends in infrastructure condition nationwide.

Hierdie artikel is die tweede van ’n beplande reeks wat in hierdie tydskrif gepubliseer word en beskryf ondersoeke na die toestand van Suid-Afrika se infrastruktuur, redes vir/bydraende faktore tot hierdie toestand, en die gevolge van hierdie toestand vir dienslewering en lewenskwaliteit. Die doel van die artikel is nie om kritiek te lewer op enige van die infrastruktuurtoestandmetings nie, maar om aan die leser ’n algemene indruk oor te dra van die rigting waarin die toestand van openbare sektor-infrastruktuur in Suid-Afrika inslaan, en daaruit afleidings te maak. Die artikel stel opnames bekend wat deur geloofwaardige instellings onderneem is, insluitend ’n aantal nasionale, provinsiale en plaaslike regeringsdepartemente, maatskappye in staatsbesit, en ook die Ouditeur-generaal om Suid-Afrika se vaste infrastruktuurtoestand in die openbare sektor na te spoor. Oor die jare, het ’n aantal van hierdie opnames, sommige van hulle wat die toestand van hierdie infrastruktuur naspeur en ander wat verskeie prestasiekriteria naspoor wat dit moontlik maak om afleidings van die infrastruktuurtoestand te maak, getoon dat die infrastruktuur gemiddeld nie in ’n goeie toestand is nie – dus dienslewering belemmer en, as gevolg daarvan, die ekonomie en die lewensgehalte van die bevolking benadeel. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Instelling vir Siviele Ingenieurswese, met sy vier “infrastruktuurverslagkaarte”, ongeveer vyf jaar uitmekaar, het egter die duidelikste beeld van tendense in infrastruktuurtoestand landwyd verskaf.

Interfacial tensile bond strength between precast rib and cast-in situ concrete for beam and block slab systems

2024-06-21T09:11:01+00:00

The beam and block slab system, also referred to as rib and block slab, is widely used in South Africa as a preferred suspended flooring system owing to its structural efficacy and economic viability. According to SANS 1879 (2021) guidelines for precast concrete suspended slabs, the removal of temporary propping for beams and block slabs is recommended once the cast-in-situ concrete’s compressive strength surpasses 17 MPa. Notwithstanding, the limited availability of literature on the matter means that certain manufacturers and structural engineers have raised apprehensions regarding the structural soundness of the interfacial tensile bond strength that exists between precast rib and cast-in-situ concrete, particularly when the compressive strength of concrete is 17 MPa. In order to measure the structural soundness of interfacial tensile bond strength, pull-out tests were conducted on precast roughened concrete ribs and cast-in- situ concrete. The study determined that, when the surface roughness is 3 mm, the delamination experiments exhibit a tensile stress of 0.15 MPa, which equates to a compressive strength of 17 MPa for cast-in-situ concrete. Furthermore, the study revealed that the tensile strength attains a value of 0.21 MPa upon attainment of a compressive strength of 25 MPa for concrete, given a surface roughness of 3 mm. The study revealed the interfacial tensile bond stress between precast rib and cast-in-situ concrete, which manufacturers and structural engineers can use in conjunction with Annex B (B1) of SANS 1879 (2021). This allows temporary props to be removed once the concrete reaches 17 MPa. The test results show sufficient interfacial tensile bond strength between precast ribs and cast in-situ concrete if the interfacial surface is adequately prepared and the rib supports its own weight.

Die balk- en blokbladstelsels, ook bekend as rib- en blokblad, word wyd in SuidAfrika gebruik as ’n voorkeur-hangvloerstelsel vanweë hul strukturele doeltreffendheid en ekonomiese lewensvatbaarheid. Volgens SANS 1879 (2021)-riglyne vir voorafvervaardigde beton- hangblaaie, word die verwydering van tydelike stutte vir balke en blokblaaie aanbeveel sodra die in-situ beton se druksterkte 17 MPa oorskry. Sekere vervaardigers en strukturele ingenieurs het bekommernisse met betrekking tot die strukturele egtheid van die grensvlak trekbindingsterkte wat bestaan tussen voorafvervaardigde rib en in-situ beton, veral wanneer die druksterkte van beton 17 MPa is. Ten einde die strukturele egtheid van grensvlak trekbindingsterkte te meet, is uittrektoetse uitgevoer op voorafvervaardigde, geruwde betonribbe en in-situbeton. Die studie het vasgestel dat, wanneer die oppervlakruwheid 3 mm is, die delamineringseksperimente ’n trekspanning van 0.15 MPa toon, wat gelykstaande is aan ’n druksterkte van 17 MPa vir in-situ beton. Verder het die studie aan die lig gebring at die treksterkte ’n waarde van 0.21 MPa bereik by die bereiking van ’n druksterkte van 25 MPa vir beton, gegewe ’n oppervlakruwheid van 3 mm. Die studie het die grensvlak trekbindingspanning tussen voorafvervaardigde rib en in-situ beton geopenbaar, wat vervaardigers en strukturele ingenieurs kan gebruik in samewerking met Bylae B (B1) van SANS 1879 (2021). Dit laat toe dat tydelike stutte verwyder word sodra die beton 17 MPa bereik. Die toetsresultate toon voldoende grensvlak trekbindingsterkte tussen voorafvervaardigde ribbes en gegote in-situ beton indien die grensvlak-oppervlak voldoende voorberei is en die rib sy eie gewig dra.