Continuous improvement in industrial processes has made efficient internal material transportation critical. This study presents a decision support system for tracking internal transportation vehicles and providing effective inner logistics management. The proposed model includes a barcoding based transportation vehicle tracking system, a forecasting model for daily transportation demands of different buildings and presents a predictive demand-vehicle assignment mathematical model. Results show that the model reduces the operational costs due to vehicle search and vehicle transportation, and material damage costs due to vehicle-material mismatch at a great extent.

Construction organizations in developing nations constantly lag in embracing changes in innovation, environmental sustainability, and safety, amongst others. Their contributions to environmental degradation, resulting in health-related consequences for construction stakeholders, are also alarming. Implementing environmental management tools such as environmental management systems (EMS) is often advocated to address the negative environmental impacts of construction organizations. Construction firms in developed nations have embraced EMS and implemented it to enhance construction business, environmental performance, and construction workers' health, while similar evidence is not recorded in developing nations. Therefore, this study investigated the barriers to EMS implementation through a survey of construction professionals in the Nigerian construction industry. 106 valid data were analyzed using factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha test, and fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE). The results of the factor analysis revealed four groups of barriers to EMS implementation, which are prioritized in the order of knowledge-related, stakeholders-related, process-related, and cultural-related barriers with FSE. The relationships between the four classes of barriers were determined using interpretive structural modelling (ISM) in which "knowledge-related barriers" are indicated as the core barrier to EMS implementation. To address the barriers to EMS implementation, organizing training, providing the needed resources for environmental education, collaborating with construction stakeholders, providing a reward system, and others were recommended. This study contributes theoretically and practically to environmental-related discourses in the construction industry. Theoretically, utilizing FSE provides an interesting insight that acknowledges the unique challenges of developing nations in the domain. Practically, this study gives an actionable focus for construction stakeholders to domesticate EMS within the local construction environment, thereby improving knowledge of the importance of environmental sustainability and pro-environmental behaviors.

Prefabricated housing (PH) is widely supported and applied in China due to its high efficiency and low carbon emissions. However, the adoption of this sustainable construction method has been slow in rural areas, hindered by economic, policy and location factors. To promote the development of low-carbon construction in rural areas and address the obstacles, this study focuses on Jiangsu province as a case study, proposing effective strategies to modernize and advance sustainable rural housing. The primary barrier to the prefabricated concrete (PC) adoption in rural Jiangsu were identified through a literature review and expert interviews. A survey was then conducted to assess the impact of these barriers, yielding 228 valid responses from industry professionals. Factor analysis was conducted using SPSS 19.0 to calculate the multi-level weights for influencing factors across dimensions. Based on these findings, key obstacles were further analyzed through strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis to develop targeted countermeasures and recommendations. The research results show that: (1) Among secondary indicators, Policy factors (weight = 0.219) and Location factors (weight = 0.215) have the most significant impact PC promotion in rural Jiangsu; (2) Among the tertiary indicators, the critical factors are "The standard system is incomplete" (weight = 0.059), "The technical system is not mature" (weight = 0.048), "Lack of specific departments for promoting and supervising at the grassroots level" (weight = 0.046); (3) Strategies such as enhancing policy alignment and market penetration, tailoring solutions to local demands, establishing a robust regulatory framework, and fostering community engagement and acceptance can effectively address the challenges of promoting PC in rural areas. This research provides actionable pathways for the advancing prefabricated housing in Jiangsu and offers valuable references for other regions seeking to promote prefabricated housing in China.

This study investigates the indoor air quality (IAQ) of restaurants in Dubai with a focus on the impact of cooking-related pollutants on the health and comfort of both employees and patrons. Recognizing the release of particulate matter (PM), carbon oxides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during cooking, the study highlights the importance of maintaining healthy IAQ in restaurants. The study includes a detailed case analysis, evaluating current air quality standards, identifying potential pollutants, and assessing their implications. A preliminary assessment, combined with a quantitative inspection of the kitchen and dining areas, set the foundation for a survey conducted among staff and customers. This survey identified key areas of concern and the variables essential for monitoring to maintain IAQ at optimal levels. The study measured parameters such as PM_2.5, PM₁₀, temperature, humidity, interior lighting, CO, and total VOCs using appropriate instruments. Results indicated that cooking activities contribute to elevated levels of particulate matter, suggesting a need for enhanced ventilation or air purification systems to ensure a healthy working environment. While some employees reported discomfort during working hours, customer feedback was largely positive, with around 90% expressing satisfaction with the restaurant's IAQ. The findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring and improvement of IAQ in the hospitality industry to safeguard the well-being of both staff and patrons.

Over the past two decades, the field of robotics in construction has evolved into an interdisciplinary research domain that combines a multitude of pressing technologies. This work introduces an innovative review framework that assesses the interconnection between robotics in construction and automation, while also examining advancements in technologies. In this research, a novel classification framework was created and a comprehensive literature review was performed to shed light on recent developments in the field of robotic construction. The objectives are to delineate the diverse dimensions of robotics in construction, uncover the underlying themes and sub-themes within these dimensions, identify key research gaps in the current studies, and provide recommendations for future research endeavors. This paper concluded that the existing research focus primarily on technical aspects in robotics within construction, neglecting environmental considerations, while identifying a lack of long-term studies on structural performance, hindering concerns about durability. Additionally, challenges persist in integrating robotics into construction workflows without disruption, compounded by the absence of standardized practices and regulations, alongside concerns about safe human-robot interaction, affordability, and accessibility. Furthermore, inadequate training programs for workers and ethical concerns regarding job displacement, privacy, and societal impacts underscore the need for careful examination in the responsible and ethical deployment of robotics technologies. Finally, research efforts should emphasize the development of user-friendly interfaces and ergonomic designs for construction robots to enhance their usability and acceptance among workers, ultimately contributing to the successful integration of robotics into construction practices.

Construction organizations in developing nations constantly lag in embracing changes in innovation, environmental sustainability, and safety, amongst others. Their contributions to environmental degradation, resulting in health-related consequences for construction stakeholders, are also alarming. Implementing environmental management tools such as environmental management systems (EMS) is often advocated to address the negative environmental impacts of construction organizations. Construction firms in developed nations have embraced EMS and implemented it to enhance construction business, environmental performance, and construction workers' health, while similar evidence is not recorded in developing nations. Therefore, this study investigated the barriers to EMS implementation through a survey of construction professionals in the Nigerian construction industry. 106 valid data were analyzed using factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha test, and fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE). The results of the factor analysis revealed four groups of barriers to EMS implementation, which are prioritized in the order of knowledge-related, stakeholders-related, process-related, and cultural-related barriers with FSE. The relationships between the four classes of barriers were determined using interpretive structural modelling (ISM) in which "knowledge-related barriers" are indicated as the core barrier to EMS implementation. To address the barriers to EMS implementation, organizing training, providing the needed resources for environmental education, collaborating with construction stakeholders, providing a reward system, and others were recommended. This study contributes theoretically and practically to environmental-related discourses in the construction industry. Theoretically, utilizing FSE provides an interesting insight that acknowledges the unique challenges of developing nations in the domain. Practically, this study gives an actionable focus for construction stakeholders to domesticate EMS within the local construction environment, thereby improving knowledge of the importance of environmental sustainability and pro-environmental behaviors.

This study investigates the indoor air quality (IAQ) of restaurants in Dubai with a focus on the impact of cooking-related pollutants on the health and comfort of both employees and patrons. Recognizing the release of particulate matter (PM), carbon oxides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during cooking, the study highlights the importance of maintaining healthy IAQ in restaurants. The study includes a detailed case analysis, evaluating current air quality standards, identifying potential pollutants, and assessing their implications. A preliminary assessment, combined with a quantitative inspection of the kitchen and dining areas, set the foundation for a survey conducted among staff and customers. This survey identified key areas of concern and the variables essential for monitoring to maintain IAQ at optimal levels. The study measured parameters such as PM_2.5, PM₁₀, temperature, humidity, interior lighting, CO, and total VOCs using appropriate instruments. Results indicated that cooking activities contribute to elevated levels of particulate matter, suggesting a need for enhanced ventilation or air purification systems to ensure a healthy working environment. While some employees reported discomfort during working hours, customer feedback was largely positive, with around 90% expressing satisfaction with the restaurant's IAQ. The findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring and improvement of IAQ in the hospitality industry to safeguard the well-being of both staff and patrons.

The escalating demand for energy and resources in the construction industry, together with poor energy performance of existing buildings, pose challenges for sustainability. Despite the incorporation of advanced technologies in modern construction to reduce energy consumption, a significant number of buildings are yet to adopt sustainable practices, owing to lack of awareness about potential technologies, and the considerations for selection. To this end, the current study aims to survey commercial buildings to explore the technologies implemented together with the basis that influenced the implementation. A detailed survey including semi-structured interviews with professionals engaged in the selected non-domestic buildings were conducted. The selected buildings comprise three (3) certified retrofit, eight (8) certified new and seven (7) non-certified green. The findings show that the buildings have incorporated 54 different technologies under the main sustainability criteria of water efficiency, lighting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, indoor environmental quality, and sustainable site. Advanced technologies, such as free cooling appliances, on-site wastewater treatments, and water-efficient climate-tolerant plantings, were predominantly found in green-certified buildings, while non-certified buildings tend to adopt more universally applicable and accessible technologies, like LED lighting, compact fluorescent lamps, and low-flow plumbing fixtures. The paper presents a detailed analysis on use of technologies with different building function, green rating levels, and challenges faced. Hence, the study findings would facilitate technology adaptation for a given context by providing insights into the availability and adaptability of green retrofit technologies in the Sri Lankan context for non-domestic buildings.

This study evaluates the economic efficiency and viability of optimizing hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) for zero-energy buildings (ZEBs) in remote communities, with a specific focus on Ankara, Turkey, in response to the increasing demand for renewable energy driven by concerns over fossil fuel scarcity, environmental sustainability, and rising conventional energy costs. Using the Hybrid Optimization Model for Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) program, known for its advanced algorithms that accurately model and optimize hybrid systems by considering factors such as weather data, load profiles, and equipment specifications, we perform a comprehensive techno-economic analysis. We explore five different HRES configurations, combining photovoltaic (PV) panels, wind turbines (WT), diesel generators (DG), and battery storage systems, to determine the most cost-effective and reliable solution for powering approximately 30 rural households. The analysis reveals that the optimal configuration includes 107 kW of PV, three 10 kW WT, a 10 kW DG, and 45 units of 7.15 kWh batteries, demonstrating a net present cost (NPC) of $568,431 and a cost of energy (COE) of $0.257/kWh. This setup achieves significant annual energy production of 165,068 kWh from PV, 96,329 kWh from WT, and 27,100 kWh from DG. This configuration maintains a high state of charge (SoC) in the battery storage, ensuring system stability and extending the battery lifespan. The system's ability to consistently meet load demands with minimal reliance on the DG highlights its superior techno-economic synergy compared to other scenarios. Sensitivity analysis reveals that a doubling of fuel prices increases COE by 14% and NPC by 13%, while a 40% reduction in PV and WT capital costs decreases COE and NPC by approximately 16% and 18%, respectively. Furthermore, declining expenses associated with PV and WT installations emphasize the ongoing affordability of renewable energy solutions. These results provide valuable insights for the deployment of cost-effective and reliable HRES in similar remote locations, contributing to the broader goal of sustainable energy solutions for ZEBs.

Prefabricated housing (PH) is widely supported and applied in China due to its high efficiency and low carbon emissions. However, the adoption of this sustainable construction method has been slow in rural areas, hindered by economic, policy and location factors. To promote the development of low-carbon construction in rural areas and address the obstacles, this study focuses on Jiangsu province as a case study, proposing effective strategies to modernize and advance sustainable rural housing. The primary barrier to the prefabricated concrete (PC) adoption in rural Jiangsu were identified through a literature review and expert interviews. A survey was then conducted to assess the impact of these barriers, yielding 228 valid responses from industry professionals. Factor analysis was conducted using SPSS 19.0 to calculate the multi-level weights for influencing factors across dimensions. Based on these findings, key obstacles were further analyzed through strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis to develop targeted countermeasures and recommendations. The research results show that: (1) Among secondary indicators, Policy factors (weight = 0.219) and Location factors (weight = 0.215) have the most significant impact PC promotion in rural Jiangsu; (2) Among the tertiary indicators, the critical factors are "The standard system is incomplete" (weight = 0.059), "The technical system is not mature" (weight = 0.048), "Lack of specific departments for promoting and supervising at the grassroots level" (weight = 0.046); (3) Strategies such as enhancing policy alignment and market penetration, tailoring solutions to local demands, establishing a robust regulatory framework, and fostering community engagement and acceptance can effectively address the challenges of promoting PC in rural areas. This research provides actionable pathways for the advancing prefabricated housing in Jiangsu and offers valuable references for other regions seeking to promote prefabricated housing in China.