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Defining degradation in terms of physical deficiency-based condition descriptors, combined with Markov chain modelling, has been shown to provide improved predictions of degradation. However, unless these physical conditions are converted to lost value ratios (LVRs), maintenance managers would not be able to grasp the cost implications of degradation. Hence the purpose of this research is to convert the predicted deficiency-based condition ratings to lost value ratio bands.

Rectification costs were found using a Building Schedule of Rates to arrive at LVRs for each of the physical degradation conditions for the 12 building elements studied (ranging from concrete elements through finishes and ceilings to doors and windows). These LVRs were allocated into five bands with LVR interval limits of 0.00, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00, with the five intervening ranges corresponding to LVR Bands A to E. These computations were compared with those arrived at independently by industry professionals.

Elements such as doors, widows and ceilings reached the maximum LVR Band E at the worst physical Condition 5 defined. However, Condition 5 for other elements only corresponded to LVR Bands A to D. Some 83% of the LVR bands assigned to the physical conditions were in agreement with those arrived at by the professionals, or differed by only one band.

The conversion of deficiency-based conditions to LVR bands yielded a completely new maintenance-oriented perspective on degradation. The banding was done using a novel ranking and clustering process that identified regions of high variation in LVRs as thresholds of the bands.

In Ghana, the adoption and application of green building concepts and technologies have not been fully explored. The study aimed to look into the key barriers and how they affect this.

Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select a total of 292 construction industry stakeholders in Ghana who provided information via a questionnaire survey used for the data collection. Exploratory factor analysis and Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) were used for computing the data analyses.

According to the study findings, the top five most critical barriers to the uptake of green building concepts and technologies (GBCs and Ts) in Ghana are: lack of government incentives/supports for implementing green building technologies (GBTs), lack of knowledge and awareness of GBTs and their benefits, lack of GBTs databases and information, Lack of green building (GB) expertise/skilled labour and Higher costs of GBTs. Principal Component Factor Analysis was used to further analyse the data, which allowed for the reduction of the 27 (27) factors to just four (4) underlying critical barriers: (1) government and knowledge-associated barriers, (2) technical barriers, (3) cost and finance barriers and (4) stakeholders’ attitude barriers. PLS-SEM techniques were used to analyse this collection of barriers, and the results showed that stakeholders’ attitude-associated barriers and cost and finance-related barriers have a significant negative influence on the uptake of GBCs and Ts in Ghana. This study’s findings have provided empirical evidence of the critical barriers to the uptake of GBCs and Ts from all stakeholders. Stakeholders desirous of implementing GBCs and Ts would work against the negative influences on the uptake of GBCs and TS.

Although there has been an abundance of research to examine the critical barriers to GB, however, the uniqueness of this study is nested in modelling the influence of the barriers on the adoption of GBCs and Ts using the PLS-SEM path modelling.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the challenges and potential improvement mechanisms for the development of technology and innovation in the Ethiopian construction industry.

In this study both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were adopted. While a structured questionnaire was used for the quantitative data collection, semi-structured interview was used for qualitative data collection. In analyzing the quantitative data, mean score was used to rank the variables and factor analysis was conducted to identify the underlying dimensions of the research constructs. The qualitative data was analyzed thematically focusing on specific objectives of the study; the challenges and improvement mechanisms of technology and innovation development.

The findings indicate that the major challenges are nature of the industry and lack of awareness, weak capacity of companies and the regulatory instruments, inadequate tender duration and poor monitoring and controlling practice. The suggested improvement mechanisms are effective coordination of the process and awareness creation, promoting technology and innovation in the procurement process and technology and innovation consideration in construction project registration.

Effectiveness of construction industry improvement programmes is affected by inappropriateness of the adopted implementation mechanisms. Understanding the operating environment; the enablers and potential barriers, is important for the success of any envisioned improvement programme. The improvement framework proposed by this study indicates the potential intervention areas and improvement mechanisms to effectively induce and enhance technology and innovation development in the construction industry. Major pillars of the improvement framework are improving regulatory framework, raising awareness and stakeholder engagement and continual monitoring and controlling of the practice.