scholarly journals Driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution Initiative Through University and Industry Collaborations

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-230
Author(s):  
Aliu John ◽  
Aigbavboa Clinton ◽  
Wellington Didibhuku Thwala
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
The Body ◽  
Industrial Training ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Delphi Approach ◽  
Study Process

As the world basks in the euphoria of the fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), Africa is gearing up for this innovative age, with South Africa as one of its leading voices. One of the ways of leveraging on the opportunities presented by the 4IR era is to foster collaborations between universities and the construction industry (university-industry collaboration, UIC). This research article aims to determine the positive impacts of UIC on the employability of built environment graduates. A qualitative Delphi approach was adopted to validate 16 factors, which were identified from literature. A total of 14 experts completed a two-stage iterative Delphi study process and reached consensus on all 16 factors identified. This study found that networking activities with industry professionals, student's exposure to innovative ideas and 4IR training programme opportunities are some of the ways through which UIC can improve 4IR knowledge and employability skills among students. From the Delphi survey results, educational institutions have been placed under significant pressures to intensify collaborations with the industry by creating avenues for students to experience industrial training with present-day 4IR-driven sectors such as the construction industry, which has begun the adoption of 4IR elements into its processes to improve efficiency and productivity. Although the issue of UIC has been widely discussed in the body of knowledge, very few have incorporated the 4IR dimension as a gap, which this study aims to fill.

Recounting the Empowerment of Women in Rural Areas of KwaZulu-Natal from Information and Knowledge in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era

Libri ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenrose Jiyane
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
The Body ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Critical Resource

Abstract The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) marks the new, advanced era of development in humankind, and globally countries are in the process of ensuring their citizenry’s readiness. In South Africa, various governmental departments, organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and non-profit organisations (NPOs) are making efforts, through their plans, talks and actions, to attain this status for all her people, particularly women in rural areas. However, the development of women in the rural areas for empowerment remains a concern in developing countries. Consequently, there is a dire need to ensure the developmental status for women in rural areas in the advent of the 4IR, and this paper seeks to demonstrate that information and knowledge may be instrumental in empowering women in rural areas to strive in the 4IR. Accordingly, information and knowledge are a critical resource contributing to the empowerment of women in rural areas for their development. An exploratory question is raised to determine whether South Africa is ready for Fourth Industrial Revolution. The outcome of this paper will contribute to the body of knowledge advocating the importance of information and knowledge in the empowerment of women in rural areas. Significantly, it will generate insights for policymakers on the important role of information and knowledge for women’s development.

NreASAM: Towards an Ontology-Based Model for Authentication and Auto-Grading Online Submission of Psychomotor Assessments

2021 ◽  
pp. 166-189
Author(s):  
A. Kayode Adesemowo ◽  
Oluwasefunmi 'Tale Arogundade
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Real Life ◽  
The Body ◽  
Multiple Choice Questions ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Online Submission ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Packet Tracer ◽  
Evidenced Based ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Core and integral to the fourth industrial revolution, knowledge economy, and beyond is information and communication technology (ICT); more so, during and post the novel coronavirus pandemic. Yet, there exists a skills gap in ICT networking and networks engineering. Not only do students perceive ICT networking to be difficult to comprehend, lecturers and institutions grapple with the adequacy of ICT networking equipment. Real-life simulators, like the Cisco Packet Tracer, hold the promise of alternate teaching opportunities and evidenced-based environments for (higher-order) assessment. Research in the last decade on ontology for assessments have focused on taxonomy and multiple-choice questions and auto-generation and marking of assessments. This chapter extends the body of knowledge through its ontology-based model for enabling and auto-assessing performance-based and/or pseudo-psychomotor assessment. The auto-grading online submission system assists with authenticity and enables authentic and/or sustainable assessments.

scholarly journals Analysis of reverse logistics implementation practices by South Australian construction organisations

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 332-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Chileshe ◽  
Raufdeen Rameezdeen ◽  
M. Reza Hosseini ◽  
Steffen Lehmann ◽  
Chika Udeaja
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Reverse Logistics ◽  
South Australia ◽  
The Body ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
New Construction ◽  
Method Approach ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Current Practices

Purpose – A large number of benefits have been reported when reverse logistics (RL) is fully implemented in the construction industry. However, RL is yet to become common place in the construction sector, particularly in Australia. The particular sub-sector in which RL operates is small and weak and the remainder of the sector must embrace and accommodate it comfortably. Research is lacking on how to promoting RL in the construction industry. Very little has been done to identify the current practices that have the potential to promote RL industry-wide. The purpose of this paper is to identify the practices that work well in the sector, a strategy could be mapped out to promote RL to all stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach – In order to fill the above gap, the present study used a mixed method approach to gather and evaluate current practices and their potential to promote RL in South Australia’s construction industry. Practices that were identified using a comprehensive literature review were evaluated with a questionnaire survey and series of interviews involving construction professionals. Findings – The findings are that practices facilitating deconstruction is the most important, followed by practices facilitating the use of salvaged materials in new construction to promote RL in South Australia. Awareness of deconstruction benefits, challenges and procedures at the organisation level and facilities and services at industry level were associated with RL implementation. Availability of salvaged materials in the market was found to influence its use in new construction and as a consequence its demand. Designing for reverse logistics is another practice that could facilitate deconstruction and the onus of its promotion lies mainly with the designers. Research limitations/implications – This research was confined to one state in Australia. As such the generalisation to other states and other countries should be treated cautiously. Practical implications – The findings of this study can help inform the industry and its stakeholders on areas that they need to concentrate more on to make the South Australian construction industry a fully RL integrated one. To that end the authors propose some recommendations arising from the findings reported here. Originality/value – This study makes a contribution to the body of knowledge on reserve logistics within a previously unexplored South Australian context. In addition, the study provides valuable insights into the contribution of RL practices to the construction industry.

Digitization in construction

BUILDER ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 266 (9) ◽  
pp. 15-17
Author(s):  
Anna Tryfon-Bojarska ◽  
Ewelina Wińska
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Project Management ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Property Development ◽  
Innovative Project ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution ◽  
The Impact

The fourth industrial revolution leads to a comprehensive digital transformation of enterprises. Its nine pillars also affect the construction industry. This article presents the impact of digital transformation on innovative projects which are implemented in the construction industry. It describes examples of digital innovations that are used in the life cycle of a property development undertaking, as well as examples and case studies of applied innovative project management models.

scholarly journals Features of Digitalization in the Construction Industry as an Important Factor of Its Sustainable Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 169-174
Author(s):  
K. Voskovykh
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Current Level ◽  
Construction Site ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution

This article determines that in the context of global digitalization, the competitiveness and sustainable development of companies depend on the speed of mastering new technologies. Assessment of the current level of the construction industry indicates its lag behind other industries. The aim of the study is to analyze the current level of digitalization of construction companies and summarize the constraining factors. The importance of continuous digitization of production and logistics, networking of autonomous smart objects or the use of self-learning systems in order to increase flexibility and optimize processes is emphasized. The main benefit of implementing digital business models is reducing the time it takes to make decisions, implement a project, and bring products to market. The factors holding back digital processes at the construction site are highlighted: a high proportion of manual production, over-regulation, dependence on the public sector and cyclical changes, the scale of the company. New technologies resulting from the fourth industrial revolution promise more efficient processes, greater time and cost savings, greater productivity and quality. The construction industry must catch up with other industries, because it also has to face the challenges of globalization, urbanization, climate change, resource scarcity, demographic change and other events that disrupt its sustainable development. Construction Site 4.0 promises improvements, but the fourth industrial revolution on the construction site is just beginning.

scholarly journals Worker 4.0: The Future of Sensored Construction Sites

Buildings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Calvetti ◽  
Pedro Mêda ◽  
Miguel Chichorro Gonçalves ◽  
Hipólito Sousa
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Base Point ◽  
The Body ◽  
Embedded Sensors ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Workforce Management ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Workforce Productivity ◽  
Workforce Performance

The digitalization of the construction industry (CI) has the aim—among others—to raise the bar of overall productivity. The craft workforce is very relevant on the overall value-chain. Therefore, a boost in this dimension impacts the entire sector. There is a gap in proper methodologies to measure and model productivity. Construction 4.0 novelties provide new approaches for its evaluation and progress. This communication presents a review of workforce productivity assessment and delivers methods focusing primarily on craft workers motion monitoring. Products and services opportunities from Construction 4.0 in the spectrum of craft workforce management include support by embedded sensors for data collection that allow near real-time monitoring. The work developed led to the systematization of a framework to standardize craft workers’ motion productivity. The craft workforce motion productivity framework, Worker 4.0, tenders nine processes integrated on a flowchart to streamline task processes assessment and mechanization level. It also sets up a two-handed/two-legged chart system to model craft workers’ activities and operations. The contributions to the body of knowledge are substantiated on the framework creation with the ability to model and assess craft workforce performance. This approach is meant to serve as base point for different stakeholders focusing on skills, efficiency, mechanization and productivity improvements.

Enhance Market Entry Skills for Vietnamese Agricultural Small and Medium Sized Enterprises to Penetrate International Markets

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (5E) ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Tien Dat
Keyword(s):  
Market Research ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
International Markets ◽  
The Body ◽  
Agricultural Products ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
China Trade ◽  
Management Capacity ◽  
Trade War

In the era of industrial revolution 4.0, despite of great potential in export of agricultural products, the engagement of Vietnamese small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in this activity is rather small and is almost through indirect export. Particularly, the current US-China trade war may lead to more stringent technical barriers to the export of Vietnamese agricultural products when both sides doubt about the origin of Vietnamese agricultural products. In this context, supports provided for Vietnamese SMEs to enhance their export management capacity is necessary. This paper focuses on developing skills to assist SMEs in penetrating international markets such as market research skill and market identification skill. To investigate training needs of Vietnamese SME managers, qualitative methodology with the participation of 124 Vietnamese SME managers was used. The research results are expected to be useful for SMEs, training/consulting institutions as well as government agencies in developing training programs to support Vietnamese SMEs in exporting agricultural products. The paper also makes contribution in developing the body of knowledge related to human resource management in emerging markets such as Vietnam.

scholarly journals Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing of Concrete Products: Revolutionizing and Remodeling the Construction Industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Valente ◽  
Abbas Sibai ◽  
Matteo Sambucci
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Additive Technologies ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution ◽  
The World ◽  
Hardened Properties ◽  
Traditional Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing is one of the main topics of the fourth industrial revolution; defined as Industry 4.0. This technology offers several advantages related to the construction and architectural sectors; such as economic; environmental; social; and engineering benefits. The usage of concrete in additive technologies allows the development of innovative applications and complexity design in the world of construction such as buildings; housing modules; bridges; and urban and domestic furniture elements. The aim of this review was to show in detail a general panoramic of extrusion-based additive processes in the construction sector; the main advantages of using additive manufacturing with the respect to traditional manufacturing; the fundamental requirements of 3D printable material (fresh and hardened properties), and state-of-the-art aesthetic and architectural projects with functional properties.

scholarly journals Ascertaining the Inconsistency of AEC Students’ Perceptions and Behaviors Regarding Sustainability by Mixed Methods

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (24) ◽  
pp. 13274
Author(s):  
Yuanxin Zhang ◽  
Liujun Xu ◽  
Wei Wu ◽  
Zaijing Gong ◽  
Hashem Izadi Moud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
The Body ◽  
Spatial Distance ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Recycling Behavior

University students in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) are the main force and future leaders of the construction industry, and their values shape the model and direction of the industry’s future development. The construction industry is the largest contributor of waste and greenhouse gas emissions. However, there is an inconsistency between AEC university students’ perceptions and behaviors regarding sustainability, which has received little attention. This study attempts to shed light on the root causes of the inconsistency from the psychological perspective, incorporating construal level (CL) theory and psychological distance (PD) theory into situational settings of the experiment. We recruited 556 AEC students from 20 different universities to participate in data collection. Research findings revealed that PD has a significant influence on AEC students’ recycling behavior with variance in the effect of different dimensions, even though CL has no significant impact. Furthermore, findings show that spatial distance poses the greatest impact on AEC student recycling behavior, followed by information distance, temporal distance, experience distance, hypothetical distance, and social distance. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by introducing CL and PD into sustainability perception and behavior research in construction and has practical implications for universities with sustainability curricula in AEC.

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