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1 – 10 of 43Oluseyi Julius Adebowale and Justus Ngala Agumba
A significant amount of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons is emitted during the production of building materials. With the world population expected to increase by 21.3% from…
Abstract
Purpose
A significant amount of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons is emitted during the production of building materials. With the world population expected to increase by 21.3% from 2030 to 2050, the demand for construction materials is set to rise, necessitating a shift toward eco-friendly options to preserve the ecosystem. Bamboo emerges as a promising solution to meet sustainable construction goals. This study aims to investigate bamboo’s potential as a sustainable construction material, evaluating its impact on construction productivity and safety.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review was conducted, using relevant keywords to retrieve journal articles from the Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases. Articles were screened, and only those meeting the inclusion criteria were reviewed.
Findings
Bamboo offers numerous advantages as a construction material, including cost-effectiveness, abundance and strength, making it a viable alternative to traditional building materials with a reduced environmental impact. However, its widespread acceptance encounters significant challenges. The use of bamboo in construction can both positively and negatively affect productivity and safety in construction organizations.
Practical implications
This study proposes a framework for improvement that construction stakeholders can adopt to enhance bamboo’s utilization in construction while maintaining high productivity and safety standards.
Originality/value
While previous studies have advocated for increased bamboo utilization in construction, this study goes further to explore the implications for productivity and safety in construction.
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Malithie Vidanapathirana, Narein Perera, Rohinton Emmanuel and Shaleeni Coorey
Air pollution and air quality are key environmental factors that impact an investor’s willingness to pay (WTP) and are negatively correlated. Hedonic pricing quantifies the…
Abstract
Purpose
Air pollution and air quality are key environmental factors that impact an investor’s willingness to pay (WTP) and are negatively correlated. Hedonic pricing quantifies the relationship between air pollutants and property values but is a backward-looking tool. Similarly, limited research links investment potential to urban planning and air pollution. This research aims to predict variation in investor WTP due to air pollution concentrations within a high-dense high-rise building cluster.
Design/methodology/approach
Possible building configurations of Port City, Colombo, were modelled using Ansys Fluent. While maintaining the same Floor Area Ratio (FAR), building heights and volumes, the density of towers is changed by introducing wind corridors to enable pollutant dispersion. A trace pollutant is used as a comparative study to determine the effect of each building form on pollution concentration and potential WTP.
Findings
The introduction of wind corridors along the ambient wind direction increased building porosity, positively affecting WTP overall. Wind corridors perpendicular to the ambient wind reduced porosity, which reduced dispersion at upper levels, negatively affecting WTP.
Research limitations/implications
WTP is site-specific, and due to limited data for property values and volatility, the study was limited to a comparison study.
Practical implications
Varying building configurations affect pollutant dispersion at different heights. The findings of the study can refine investments based on air quality and natural ventilation requirements.
Originality/value
This paper fulfils a need to determine investment potential and air quality.
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Wei Liu, Zhongyi Feng, Yuehan Hu and Xiao Luo
Prefabricated building (PB) has high technical requirements and is susceptible to safety accidents, and its construction occupational health and safety (OHS) problems should not…
Abstract
Purpose
Prefabricated building (PB) has high technical requirements and is susceptible to safety accidents, and its construction occupational health and safety (OHS) problems should not be ignored. To promote the better development of PB, this study aims to measure their construction safety management level and propose corresponding countermeasures.
Design/methodology/approach
By systematically combing the relevant literature, this study extracts the influencing factors that appear frequently in several studies and categorizes them according to six dimensions: people, materials and components, technology, mechanical equipment, environment and system. Combining expert opinions, the measurement index system, including 6 primary indexes and 24 secondary indexes, is constructed. The structural entropy weight (SEW) method is applied to calculate the index weights. The cloud matter element (CME) model based on the weights is constructed to determine the level of construction occupational health and safety management (COHSM). A project case of a training building is used to verify it. The results obtained from the model are compared with those from other measurement models to verify the feasibility of the model in measuring the level of COHSM for PB.
Findings
The calculated weights show that technology is the most important for the COHSM of PB. The management level of the project in terms of people, materials and components, technology, machinery and equipment, environment and system is Level II good. The overall safety management level is also Level II, which is good. The model of this study is consistent with other model measurements. The methodology of this study yields reasonable and realistic results.
Originality/value
This study is the first to include occupational health dimensions in the research on the construction safety management of PB, which not only covers the key elements in traditional construction safety management but also considers the impact of the construction process, material use and technology of PB on safety management, making the measurement index system more scientific. Meanwhile, the introduction of the CME model based on the SEW method effectively solves the deficiencies of the traditional method in dealing with ambiguity and uncertainty and provides practitioners with more accurate and comprehensive measurement results. It helps practitioners formulate a more scientific management plan in combination with the actual situation and provides a guiding idea and practical path for the COHSM of similar projects.
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Wei Liu, Kaiying Guo and Bo Wendy Gao
The conventional customer lifecycle fails to acknowledge the “sleeping” stage between regular patronage and churn, particularly prevalent in the hospitality industry. This study…
Abstract
Purpose
The conventional customer lifecycle fails to acknowledge the “sleeping” stage between regular patronage and churn, particularly prevalent in the hospitality industry. This study constructs an awakening model to regain “sleeping” guests.
Design/methodology/approach
342 questionnaires from Macau using partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) were analyzed. The model was compared across different membership levels through multigroup analysis.
Findings
The results indicate that the point policy can awaken “sleeping” guests by influencing their perceived value, regret, and integrated satisfaction with a shorter “sleeping” period. Two path coefficients showed significant differences among basic and elite members.
Practical implications
Companies with loyalty programs should implement a transitional period before resetting points, leveraging altruistic point policies to awaken “sleeping” guests via direct communication. This strategy mitigates the negative impact of finite point expiration policies, enhancing customer re-engagement and point utilization.
Originality/value
Our study focuses on a crucial facet of hotel marketing—customer regain strategies. By identifying customer segments who have not revisited the hotel group for more than twelve months, we confirm the concept of “sleeping” guests. This term offers a nuanced perspective, distinguishing “sleeping” guests from generic lost customers. The “sleeping” guest segment provides valuable insights for enhancing targeted and effective marketing activities in the highly competitive hotel industry.
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Ruijuan Wu, Sha Xiong and Chenghu Zhang
The objective of this study is to examine how perceived augmentation of virtual makeup influences consumers’ perceived value (utilitarian and hedonic value).
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study is to examine how perceived augmentation of virtual makeup influences consumers’ perceived value (utilitarian and hedonic value).
Design/methodology/approach
This research conducts an empirical study, and investigates 474 respondents.
Findings
The results show that perceived augmentation positively influences utilitarian and hedonic value. The wow-effect mediates the impact of perceived augmentation on utilitarian value. Immersion mediates the impact of perceived augmentation on two types of perceived value. Perceived ease of use moderates the influence of perceived augmentation on utilitarian value. Recreational shopper does not moderate the effect of perceived augmentation on hedonic value.
Practical implications
The study provides practical implications for beauty e-retailers.
Originality/value
This study examines the effect of perceived augmentation, supplements the literature on virtual makeup and AR technology application and enriches the literature on consumer experience of using AR technology.
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Shang Zhang, Jie Duan and Riza Yosia Sunindijo
The COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding control measures have harmed the mental health of professionals working in the construction industry. Existing research has also…
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding control measures have harmed the mental health of professionals working in the construction industry. Existing research has also indicated that demographic characteristics are leading variables causing differences in individual’s perceptions on mental health and psychosocial hazardous factors. Combining these, this research aims to compare the differences and similarities of the perceived mental health outcomes and psychosocial hazards among construction professionals with different demographic characteristics during the pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a questionnaire survey, data were collected from 531 construction professionals working in Chinese construction companies, which were analyzed quantitatively using mean score comparative analysis, Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis H test, as well as Spearman’s correlation analysis.
Findings
The results indicate that construction professionals with different ages, years of working experience and positions are exposed to different psychosocial hazards, resulting in different mental health conditions during the pandemic. Age and years of working experience are also strong predictors of the level of depression and anxiety experienced by construction professionals; that is, mental ill health tends to decrease with the increase of age and experience. Male department/unit heads, working in a company office environment for a private company and aged 31–40 years old with 11–20 years of working experience, tend to have the best mental health condition. In contrast, psychosocial hazards are more likely to produce the most serious impact on male site-based construction professionals working for a state-owned company, either with less than one year of working experience or in a senior management position.
Originality/value
Despite the significant contribution of the construction industry to the global economy, the differences and similarities of the mental health outcomes and psychosocial hazards among construction professionals with different demographic characteristics during the pandemic remain unknown. This research, therefore, reveals the mental health outcomes and psychosocial hazard impacts among different types of construction professionals during the pandemic. Specifically, this research unveils the important personal characteristics which are closely associated with poor mental health and the stronger impacts of psychosocial hazards on the mental health of construction professionals during the pandemic. The results are valuable for governments and construction companies to formulate targeted mental health intervention strategies during future public health emergencies.
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Yihong Chen, Rob Law and Xinyuan Zhao
Digital well-being (DWB) has become a preoccupation of society, businesses and consumers because of the proliferation of technology and the pandemic. This study aims to understand…
Abstract
Purpose
Digital well-being (DWB) has become a preoccupation of society, businesses and consumers because of the proliferation of technology and the pandemic. This study aims to understand the four main problems of DWB in hospitality (DWBH): epistemology, scope, aggregation and specification by adopting integrative literature review.
Design/methodology/approach
The systematic analysis process develops a dynamic DWBH framework, which connects individuals and society, based on the doughnut model. A critical method is used to conceptualize the DWBH and digital behavior change interventions (DBCIs) by combining psychology and sociology.
Findings
This study provides a definition of DWBH. It identifies three antecedents (digital design, awareness and utilization advancement), three decision factors (individual psychology, category differences and external environment) and four outcomes. The doughnut model visualizes dynamic sustainability of subjective well-being, master, engagement, autonomy, relationship and mastery. DBCIs provide a comprehensive strategy: effective design is essential, personalized implementation is standard, and strategy and structure ensure success.
Research limitations/implications
This study theoretically addresses issues of epistemology, scope and aggregation, expanding the existing knowledge base of DWBH and fostering theoretical integration across different disciplines. Practically, it provides actionable guidelines for stakeholders in hospitality to enhance community DWB, thereby promoting both individual and societal well-being.
Originality/value
This study makes a pioneering effort by extending the knowledge of DWBH with epistemology, scope, aggregation and specification. Furthermore, this study helps clarify the academic research process of DWBH, formulating management and practical strategies and improving individuals’ well-being.
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Ni Xiong and Longzheng Du
This study examines whether Confucian culture can promote enterprise total factor productivity (TFP), and it also studies how transmission mechanism works on enterprise TFP.
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines whether Confucian culture can promote enterprise total factor productivity (TFP), and it also studies how transmission mechanism works on enterprise TFP.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the data of A-share listed companies on Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets from 2008 to 2019, this study measures the influence of Confucian culture on enterprise TFP by the number of Confucian academies and Confucian temples within three radius ranges of a company's registered address.
Findings
The empirical results show that Confucian culture has a positive effect on the enterprise TFP. The transmission mechanism test shows that Confucian culture can promote the TFP of Chinese enterprises through reducing agency cost, improving agency efficiency and enhancing innovation.
Practical implications
The findings in this study provide implications for policymakers, scholars and enterprises. The results show that Confucian culture can enhance the TFP of Chinese enterprises. Especially in emerging markets including China, the Confucian culture, as an informal institution, can effectively complement formal institutions, promoting enterprise TFP.
Originality/value
This study expands the literature on Confucian culture in two aspects: the influence of Confucian culture on TFP and its transmission mechanism. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to identify a link between Confucian culture and enterprise TFP.
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Qiaojuan Peng, Xiong Luo, Yuqi Yuan, Fengbo Gu, Hailun Shen and Ziyang Huang
With the development of Web information systems, steel e-commerce platforms have accumulated a large number of quality objection texts. These texts reflect consumer…
Abstract
Purpose
With the development of Web information systems, steel e-commerce platforms have accumulated a large number of quality objection texts. These texts reflect consumer dissatisfaction with the dimensions, appearance and performance of steel products, providing valuable insights for product improvement and consumer decision-making. Currently, mainstream solutions rely on pre-trained models, but their performance on domain-specific data sets and few-shot data sets is not satisfactory. This paper aims to address these challenges by proposing more effective methods for improving model performance on these specialized data sets.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a method on the basis of in-domain pre-training, bidirectional encoder representation from Transformers (BERT) and prompt learning. Specifically, a domain-specific unsupervised data set is introduced into the BERT model for in-domain pre-training, enabling the model to better understand specific language patterns in the steel e-commerce industry, enhancing the model’s generalization capability; the incorporation of prompt learning into the BERT model enhances attention to sentence context, improving classification performance on few-shot data sets.
Findings
Through experimental evaluation, this method demonstrates superior performance on the quality objection data set, achieving a Macro-F1 score of 93.32%. Additionally, ablation experiments further validate the significant advantages of in-domain pre-training and prompt learning in enhancing model performance.
Originality/value
This study clearly demonstrates the value of the new method in improving the classification of quality objection texts for steel products. The findings of this study offer practical insights for product improvement in the steel industry and provide new directions for future research on few-shot learning and domain-specific models, with potential applications in other fields.
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Hui Guo, Jinzhou Jiang, Suoting Hu, Chun Yang, Qiqi Xiang, Kou Luo, Xinxin Zhao, Bing Li, Ziquan Yan, Liubin Niu and Jianye Zhao
The bridge expansion joint (BEJ) is a key device for accommodating spatial displacement at the beam end, and for providing vertical support for running trains passing over the gap…
Abstract
Purpose
The bridge expansion joint (BEJ) is a key device for accommodating spatial displacement at the beam end, and for providing vertical support for running trains passing over the gap between the main bridge and the approach bridge. For long-span railway bridges, it must also be coordinated with rail expansion joint (REJ), which is necessary to accommodate the expansion and contraction of, and reducing longitudinal stress in, the rails. The main aim of this study is to present analysis of recent developments in the research and application of BEJs in high-speed railway (HSR) long-span bridges in China, and to propose a performance-based integral design method for BEJs used with REJs, from both theoretical and engineering perspectives.
Design/methodology/approach
The study first presents a summary on the application and maintenance of BEJs in HSR long-span bridges in China representing an overview of their state of development. Results of a survey of typical BEJ faults were analyzed, and field testing was conducted on a railway cable-stayed bridge in order to obtain information on the major mechanical characteristics of its BEJ under train load. Based on the above, a performance-based integral design method for BEJs with maximum expansion range 1600 mm (±800 mm), was proposed, covering all stages from overall conceptual design to consideration of detailed structural design issues. The performance of the novel BEJ design thus derived was then verified via theoretical analysis under different scenarios, full-scale model testing, and field testing and commissioning.
Findings
Two major types of BEJs, deck-type and through-type, are used in HSR long-span bridges in China. Typical BEJ faults were found to mainly include skewness of steel sleepers at the bridge gap, abnormally large longitudinal frictional resistance, and flexural deformation of the scissor mechanisms. These faults influence BEJ functioning, and thus adversely affect track quality and train running performance at the beam end. Due to their simple and integral structure, deck-type BEJs with expansion range 1200 mm (± 600 mm) or less have been favored as a solution offering improved operational conditions, and have emerged as a standard design. However, when the expansion range exceeds the above-mentioned value, special design work becomes necessary. Therefore, based on engineering practice, a performance-based integral design method for BEJs used with REJs was proposed, taking into account four major categories of performance requirements, i.e., mechanical characteristics, train running quality, durability and insulation performance. Overall BEJ design must mainly consider component strength and the overall stiffness of BEJ; the latter factor in particular has a decisive influence on train running performance at the beam end. Detailed BEJ structural design must stress minimization of the frictional resistance of its sliding surface. The static and dynamic performance of the newly-designed BEJ with expansion range 1600 mm have been confirmed to be satisfactory, via numerical simulation, full-scale model testing, and field testing and commissioning.
Originality/value
This research provides a broad overview of the status of BEJs with large expansion range in HSR long-span bridges in China, along with novel insights into their design.
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