Determinants of sustainable building materials (SBM) selection on construction projects

The complexity and fragmented nature and the multiple stakeholders in the construction industry often make it difficult to come up with a firm decision regarding sustainable building materials selection. The wrong choice could negatively impact the project objective and performance outcome. This study assessed the critical factor influencing the choice of sustainable building materials (SBM) selection on construction projects in the Southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire, non-probability (purposive and snowball) sampling techniques, and an internet-mediated survey. Data analyses were carried out using the appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical tools and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The study revealed recycled plastic, natural clay and mud, stone, bricks and tile, cellulose, stray bales, grasses, limestone, and wood timber, are the commonly used sustainable building materials. Also, their level of awareness is high while their adoption is moderate. EFA revealed that the major clusters of determinants of the choice of green building materials are: emissions minimisation, low running cost and reusability, low thermal and energy consumption efficiency, low cost and high health and safety consideration and waste minimisation. The key factors influencing the choice of sustainable building materials selection in construction are: reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, materially embodied energy cost, operating and maintenance costs, non-toxic or low toxic emissions generated by the products/materials, recyclability of the building materials, availability of the technical skills, renewable (reusable) properties, inhibiting the impact of buildings on the environment, safety and health of the occupants, and appearance and aesthetic. It is recommended that consideration be given to these factors in selecting sustainable/green building materials in the designs and specifications of construction projects.

Analysis of sustainability insertion in materials selection courses of engineering undergraduate programmes

Purpose This study aims to analyse how the materials selection courses of engineering undergraduate programmes can be better aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Design/methodology/approach Initially, a content analysis was performed in 39 materials selection course descriptions from 40 engineering undergraduate programmes of Brazilian higher education institutions, and subsequently, Delphi method procedures were conducted with professors that teach or have taught the course and are knowledgeable in the subject of sustainability. Findings Considering the analysed course descriptions, it was shown that most of the materials selection courses do not consider or present little emphasis on sustainability aspects. Regarding the Delphi method, eight items were evidenced to consider sustainability aspects in the analysed courses. Originality/value This study contributes to the debates about sustainability insertion in engineering undergraduate programmes. More specifically, the findings presented consolidated information that professors and coordinators can use to align materials selection courses with the SDGs better.

Lexicon symbolic meaning in building houses tradition on building materials selection as local wisdom in Minahasa Tombulu area

The researcher discusses some of the forms of local wisdom in relation to the tradition of building houses. This study is entitled Analysis of the Symbolic Meaning of the Lexicon in the Tradition of Building a Residential House in Preparation for Selection of Building Materials as Local Wisdom in the Tombulu Minahasa area: Ethnosemantic Studies. Research related to local wisdom is important because now people in the Tombulu area when building houses no longer follow the traditional way like the way our ancestors did in the past. The researcher explores and reveals the symbolic meaning of the lexicon like what is used in building houses as local wisdom in the Tombulu Minahasa area. The objectives of this study are (1) to identify and classify the lexicon on the tradition of building houses on the selection of building materials as local wisdom in the Tombulu area; (2) Explaining the symbolic meaning of the lexicon in the tradition of building houses in the selection of building materials as local wisdom in the Tombulu area. The method used in this study is a qualitative descriptive method. Researchers describe and explain narratively.

Modified Fuzzy Logic Method for Materials Selection in Mechanical Engineering Design

Materials selection is one of the primary steps in designing products, including mechanical ones. As a result, researchers are continuously developing simple, accurate, and feasible techniques to enhance the performance of the designed component by selecting the optimum materials from a wide variety of candidate materials. In this research work, a modified fuzzy approach referred to as Modified Fuzzy Logic Method (MFLM) is proposed to provide some highly appreciated advantages besides resolving some of the substantial shortcomings of the existing solutions. Customizing the method based on the designer’s knowledge and level of expertise, simultaneous consideration of qualitative and quantitative properties, and high accuracy in the ranking of candidate materials are some of the significant benefits of MFLM in comparison to the available alternative methods. While, complexity, high volume computational efforts, and more are amongst the resolved drawbacks. Moreover, the produced results show the power and simplicity of the technique in solving complex problems like materials selection for a gas turbine blade which involves a high range working temperature.