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The performance of functions by a modern state in all spheres of life of society and individuals, a high level of social obligations, along with the main traditional tasks of maintaining defense capability and internal order, require a strong and stable financial system. Historical experience shows that payments made by the population to their state were not voluntary and consisted of mandatory, compulsory withdrawal of part of the payer's funds or property in favor of the state, which in turn contributed to the population's search for ways to avoid making these payments. The housing construction industry is one of the most risky sectors of the modern economy. According to Article 47 of the Constitution of Ukraine, everyone has the right to housing. The state shall create conditions under which every citizen will be able to build housing, purchase it as property or rent it. According to Article 47 of the Basic Law of Ukraine, the right to housing can be realized by building housing, purchasing it in ownership or renting it, and by citizens in need of social protection - by receiving social housing from the state or local governments free of charge or for a fee affordable to them in accordance with the law. Citizens in need of social protection are provided with housing by the state and local self-government bodies free of charge or for an affordable fee in accordance with the law. Citizens in need of social protection are provided with housing by the state and local governments free of charge or for an affordable fee in accordance with the law. The need for housing construction is growing every year and, as a result, more and more construction companies are entering the market. Today, when thousands of apartment buildings have been destroyed as a result of the hostilities, this need is even more urgent. Therefore, close attention to the activities of developers by the state often manifests itself in a rather drastic change of the so-called "rules of the game", including in the field of taxation. Given the growth in construction volumes and expansion of the real estate market, tax evasion in the field of housing construction can significantly undermine the state's financial resources, threaten budgetary sustainability and limit the government's ability to meet the housing needs of citizens. However, an effective fight against these offenses can contribute to the creation of a perfect tax system and increase financial discipline in the field of housing construction. The article examines the theoretical and legal aspects of criminal liability for criminal liability for tax evasion, fees (mandatory payments) in the field of housing construction, and the provisions of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and other legal acts. The article examines the theoretical and legal aspects of criminal liability for criminal liability for tax evasion, fees (mandatory payments) in the field of housing construction, the provisions of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and other legal acts. The author formulates requirements for improving legislation on tax evasion in the field of housing construction and the need to provide support for housing constr uction and settle tax issues in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern construction methods, such as additive manufacturing, are aimed to enhance the efficiency and quality of construction processes while potentially reducing waste generation and material use, thus contributing to sustainability performance (SP). However, comprehensively understanding the sustainability trade‐offs associated with these methods is crucial for guiding both research and practical applications toward sustainable development. This study aims at quantifying the SP of various construction methods for housing, including traditional, prefabricated, and additive manufacturing approaches. A sustainability index, integrating economic, environmental, social, and technological criteria, is utilized to assess different alternatives. Findings reveal promising aspects of 3D printing technologies, such as potential cost reductions through scale increase and process optimization, minimized material waste generation, creation of skilled employment opportunities, and enhanced construction flexibility and ease. Nevertheless, challenges persist, notably significant greenhouse gas emissions and limited supplier availability. Addressing these challenges is imperative for advancing the sustainable implementation of additive manufacturing in construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating sustainability concepts at all decision-making stages in the construction of residential buildings is essential to maximize benefits without compromising functionality. This study aimed to identify and analyze the obstacles hindering the application of Agile Project Management (APM) in residential construction projects. The research specifically addressed the following questions: What are the key barriers to APM adoption in Nigerian residential construction projects? How do these barriers impact the effectiveness of APM in promoting sustainability? A questionnaire survey was distributed to 120 construction professionals in Nigeria, capturing insights on APM challenges. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to categorize these obstacles into four main areas: social, economic, human factors, and culture and expectations. Subsequently, partial least squares-structural equation modeling was used to construct a model assessing the significance of these barriers. The findings revealed that economic factors, with a statistical significance coefficient of 0.516, are the most significant barriers to APM adoption. Social factors, cultural expectations, and human factors also play notable roles, though to a lesser extent. The outcomes provide valuable guidance for decision-makers in Nigeria's construction sector, emphasizing the need for strategies that address economic constraints and foster greater adoption of APM practices to achieve cost reduction and enhanced sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Log house construction is a well established style of home building across many centuries. Orthogonal joineries classically guarantee structural strength in log house construction. The paper investigates the structural response of log walls with orthogonal, standard, and Butt-and-Pass joineries under lateral loads. Finite element models are developed and validated through comparisons with available experimental results. Various parametric studies are presented assessing the effect of the penetration length, openings, reinforcement methods, log profiles, and log wall orthogonal joineries on the lateral strength and stiffness of the wall systems. The study indicates a significant impact of these parameters on the log wall lateral load-resisting behaviour. Finite element models show that the log walls with the TR system (three bottom and three top logs were tied with the rods) demonstrated the greatest maximum lateral resistance, followed by the Tie-down system. Generally, a greater initial stiffness was indicated in the log walls with the Tie-down system, followed by the TR system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interaction between actors in sustainability transition is fundamental for generating knowledge about what constitutes a just, equitable and sustainable society. This paper focuses on the Finnish housing and construction sector as a socio-technical system, which currently accounts for about 40% of energy consumption and 35% of greenhouse gas emissions. A qualitative interview study with 18 organizations and a larger network study involving 35 actors were conducted to address the research questions: How do actors constitute a network and define climate-wise housing and construction? What specific focus areas can be identified around climate action? What issues support or inhibit climate-wise housing and construction? Although the network appeared relatively dense and inclusive, misalignment emerged upon closer examination. The actors were uniformly engaged in energy-related topics, but differed in their emphasis level on household choices, low-carbon materials, and the circular economy. Supporting and inhibiting factors were identified within three broad categories: alignment of goals, network characteristics, and transformation propensity. The findings suggest that climate action is gaining ground in housing and construction, but there is evidence of institutional inertia, a demand for accelerating support for intermediation, and a need to harness organizational resources and individual capabilities to create sustainability transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst the persistent urban expansion in European cities, the need for high-quality housing for growing populations remains a challenge. Integrating newly developed housing areas into the urban fabric and fostering a distinct local identity pose additional challenges. Despite extensive research in this realm, there exists a gap in the examination of the extent of shared space utilization in new housing developments. This study fills that gap by analyzing the quantity, quality, and diversity of space utilization in new housing projects, focusing on the development processes and maintenance methods. The research, conducted through site and case study analyses of Sonnwendviertel Ost development area in Vienna, underscores that the shared utilization of spaces is closely tied to distinct housing models with varied levels of financing and involvement of diverse actors. Consequently, it provides insights into the housing models and their configurations that best facilitate the development of shared use of spaces in housing construction. This, in turn, is perceived as instrumental in cultivating a more robust neighborhood identity and enhancing the livability of communities, thereby contributing to sustainable urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractWith rising urban inequalities worldwide, inclusionary planning instruments can contribute to more just and inclusive cities and societies by making housing accessible to various social groups. Although these instruments have existed for several decades, their implementation has not always been successful. There is a limited understanding of how these instruments contribute to the public good and the reasons for their failure. By examining the implementation of two inclusionary instruments known as the Balanced Housing Ratio 1:2:3 and the ‘Socialization’ Process used to regulate the construction of new housing by the private sector in Jakarta and Yogyakarta (Indonesia), this article provides evidence to better understand the reasons for their failure and gives entry points for policymakers to be able to design and implement inclusive planning instruments that have stronger impact. The research uses qualitative methods for data collection, including semi-structured interviews as the principal method, complemented by observations, a policy review and a workshop for background and contextual information. This in-depth analysis of the challenges to implement inclusionary instruments related to housing development in Indonesia shows that their failure leads to further social and spatial inequality in cities and a shortcoming of the planning system to contribute to the public good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractWe provide a legally-grounded and theoretically-oriented approach to the question of how large a home needs to be for it to count as adequate from the point of view of the right to housing. We propose that a rich understanding of the reasons for which there is such a right generates a framework to think about what housing needs to be like in order to count as adequate, and we suggest how this framework might help us to think about some questions about the physical characteristics and size of adequate housing. Using this framework, we consider the viability of various existing standards with particular attention to the case of Toronto, Canada, as an illustration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability principles should be incorporated into all decision-making stages for residential construction projects to ensure maximum revenue while maintaining essential residential building services. This study identifies and analyzes the critical success factors (CSFs) necessary for implementing agile project management (APM) in residential construction projects. Data were collected from 120 professionals in the Nigerian construction industry through questionnaire surveys to understand the implementation of APM. The CSFs were obtained from previous research and analyzed within the specific context of the Nigerian construction industry through questionnaire surveys. The CSFs were grouped into two main categories using exploratory factor analysis: dynamic project optimization and agile project foundations. The model for the CSFs was developed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The study found that the dynamic project optimization element had the most significant impact on the model, highlighting its importance as a key CSF in APM implementation. These results support the adoption of APM within Nigeria's construction industry as stakeholders and professionals seek effective strategies to reduce costs and improve sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate dispositions have been associated with implementing sustainable building construction (SBC). Prior studies have underscored the need for institutions to adopt sustainable development concepts as an integral part of their operations. Nonetheless, there remains ambiguity about the characteristics essential for enabling SBC, particularly for construction companies. Consequently, this study explored the corporate dispositions influencing SBC implementation in South Africa. The respondents included built environment professionals in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Descriptive and principal component analyses were used to determine the essential characteristics or features. The study found that top management support, competency, availability of finance for the project operation, good project management culture, stakeholders' involvement and commitment, and commitment to innovative construction are the most critical corporate disposition features for SBC implementation. These formed a principal cluster called corporate capability and commitment. The insight from the critical corporate dispositions analysis is anticipated to trigger improvement initiatives and mitigate unsustainable practices and the unaffordability of smart houses in the South African construction industry. The findings suggest that mobilising competent human and financial resources for project operation among construction firms will support the adoption of modern building techniques and the erection of smart houses. Similarly, competitive advantage and committed involvement of the relevant stakeholders, including government and community, can lead to subsidy, alignment of local needs and aspirations, and reducing the high price of erecting sustainable/smart buildings and rental costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The necessity to derive sustainable building solutions from the local vernacular architecture is being increasingly asserted in the global debate about the immense energy consumption, natural resources depletion, and high levels of Green House Emissions (GHG). Paradoxically, a limited number of research has addressed this issue in the arid hot regions and much less in the Arabian Peninsula. As a contribution to this debate, the present paper evaluates the sustainable features present in the Omani vernacular houses and their efficacy in terms of thermal comfort and energy performance. A Methodology that combines on-site measurements with modelling simulations, using DesignBuilder software, was applied to achieve the three objectives assigned to this study: (a) Characterization of Vernacular Architecture in Oman and its bioclimatic features, (b) Evaluation of the thermal and energy performance of a selected vernacular house. (c) A comparison of thermal and energy performance between a vernacular dwelling and a contemporary Omani house. The numerical simulation confirmed that the vernacular construction system provides enhanced thermal performance when compared to its modern counterpart. It has also been showed that the house with a vernacular construction system requires twice less cooling energy than its modern counterpart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used a sub-model within system dynamics to simulate and quantify CO2 emissions in the residential sector, focusing on the Nishikawa forestry region in Saitama Prefecture. The model evaluated emissions from the life cycle of houses, including production, transportation, use, maintenance, and disposal. The business as usual (BAU) scenario projects annual new housing inflows. The woody biomass utilization (WBU) scenario showed a 10% carbon reduction over 30 years by replacing new housing with timber construction, despite increased emissions from new constructions. The study highlights the economic benefits of utilizing carbon credits to support reforestation, making it possible to secure the sustainability of regional forestry to supply timber materials to the residential sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Degradation of natural and semi‐natural habitats is often initiated and facilitated by expansions in anthropogenic infrastructures. Identifying and reducing the impact of anthropogenic structures on the wildlife that these habitats support is vital for biodiversity conservation. In Iceland, the number of summer houses has increased over the past two decades, from ~10 000 to 15 000, and >7000 additional plots for summer house construction have been approved. Most of this housing infrastructure development is in the Icelandic lowlands, which support internationally important populations of several ground‐nesting bird species. To explore the effects of summer house infrastructure on the distribution of ground‐nesting birds, we conducted surveys at 292 points within 71 sites with varying density of houses and associated infrastructure (tracks, decking, etc). Significant reductions in abundance with increasing housing density occurred in five (Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria), Black‐tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa), Redshank (Tringa totanus), Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) and Meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis)) of the seven study species, while one species (Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)) showed no change and one (Redwing (Turdus iliacus)) increased. The differences in abundance between plots with no houses and plots with high house densities (>0.5 houses ha−1) ranged from 34 to 95%, despite the housing infrastructure covering only ~6% of the area of these plots. These findings suggest that even relatively low densities of anthropogenic structures in natural or semi‐natural areas can have substantial impacts on wildlife in the surrounding areas and highlight the urgent need for effective planning regulations to limit the expansion of anthropogenic structures into currently undisturbed habitats, particularly in areas of high biodiversity value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK's residential housing stock is undergoing a transformation. In 2017, 20% of the national housing stock comprised flats. Over the next 25 years, it is estimated that flats in medium- or high-rise blocks will account for over 50% of new residential construction. As the rate of high-rise residential development accelerates, new forms of external cladding are being developed that are lightweight and quicker to construct. In addition, residential facades are responding to challenges to improve energy efficiency and safety. Following the tragic events of Grenfell Tower in London in 2017 and the subsequent Hackitt report, there has been an expectation that the construction industry can learn from other sectors. Effective systems of design control and quality assurance already exist within infrastructure, for example nuclear and rail. A cultural shift is imminent where practices from these sectors will transfer into residential. This article considers the current practice of facade procurement within the residential sector, reviews how this will be affected by the Building Safety Act 2022 and draws parallels with other types of infrastructure. It is proposed that sectors that may seem far removed from the residential sector have valuable knowledge and experience to share. The article concludes by considering how greater design control, information capture and assurance will have benefits for addressing the zero-carbon agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical consciousness leads to a deeper understanding of rural housing policies and helps to find structural solutions to the present-day situation. This statement is illustrated with a study on two villages in the Dutch province of Drenthe. Starting with a historical account of the post-war 'top-down' planning culture, the analysis moves further by assessing the change towards a 'bottom-up' planning culture. This culture fulfils the needs of those who living in villages better. However, old habits remain in place and hamper the new culture to become more mature. Historical consciousness helps administrators, civil servants, and actors from the local civil society to become aware of (in)effective behaviour. The concept of a new 'bottom-up' planning culture helps them to develop the formal and informal ways for the construction of housing further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shipping containers that remain in ports after exporting or importing products cause an environmental and logistical problem. Transporting them to the port of origin is costly; therefore, some of them are stored in the regions of destination. Recycling or reusing them in an efficient and sustainable way represents a clean alternative. The purpose of this article is to analyze the feasibility and impact of implementing different insulating configurations on the energy demands required by a house based on a construction with standardized shipping containers. More specifically, it assesses the impact of the different orientations in which the dwelling can be arranged, depending on the location and its meteorological data. To this aim, a construction model will be developed in which first, the geometrical parameters are defined, and second, the energy characteristics are identified. The results show that, in Southwest Europe, the western orientation generates a saving of 10% of the energy demand compared to the less favourable orientation, which is the southern one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Folklor / Edebiyat is the property of Cyprus International University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Data indicate that carbon dioxide emissions from residential buildings in China constitute 60% of the country's total, making carbon reduction efforts in residential construction crucial for achieving dual carbon goals. From the perspective of eight major economic regions, this paper selects energy consumption, per capita residential area, and residential population as input indicators, per capita disposable income as the output indicator, and carbon dioxide emissions as the undesired output indicator. It employs the super-efficiency model based on the directional distance (super-DDF) function and the Malmquist-Luenberger (ML) index to measure the static and dynamic carbon emission efficiencies of residential buildings (RBCEE) during their operational phase from 2010 to 2020. After analyzing the differences and equity in RBCEE among regions using the Theil index and Gini coefficient, the σ-convergence, absolute β-convergence, and conditional β-convergence methods are utilized to explore the changing trends of RBCEE across the eight major economic regions. Results show that the static RBCEE in China is at a medium level; dynamic efficiency has improved across all eight regions, though at varying rates; overall, RBCEE exhibits poor equity and significant differences, with intra-group differences being a major cause. In terms of convergence, all eight economic regions display significant absolute β-convergence and conditional β-convergence. Finally, based on the research findings, this paper proposes corresponding emission reduction recommendations for the eight major economic regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction activities are a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. However, the majority of construction‐driven emissions are indirect, meaning that these emissions occur during the manufacturing and transport of construction materials. This is in contrast with direct emissions, which are directly emitted from construction machinery. These indirect impacts are represented as embodied emissions and are difficult to quantify at scale, limiting the effectiveness of climate policymaking in the building sector. This paper presents results from a comprehensive account of embodied emissions within the Canadian construction sector, at a resolution far higher than existing global accounts, as well as novel analyses of flows and intensities of embodied emissions. It has the specific goal of serving as a baseline for future analyses of decarbonization scenarios and the more general goal of highlighting the importance of a consumption‐based approach to climate policymaking in the sector. The accounts are produced via an environmentally extended input–output analysis based on Canadian supply–use tables for the year 2018, and results are presented for the 13 provinces and territories as well as 19 categories of buildings and infrastructure. Results show that demand from construction drives 13% of Canada's consumption‐based emissions, residential construction is by far the largest driver of emissions, and at 0.28 kgCO2eq per Canadian dollar of GDP, the efficiency of Canadian construction is roughly in line with the OECD average. A disproportionate share of emissions is driven by construction in provinces that are growing fast in terms of their populations, feature significant extractive industries, and feature higher emissions intensities. The construction sectors of western provinces are highly interconnected and receive a disproportionate proportion of embodied emissions from Alberta, whose high level of emissions promises to complicate decarbonization efforts. This article met the requirements for a gold‐gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the history of the housing cooperative Trondhjems Kooperative Boligselskap (TKB) [The Trondheim Cooperative Housing Association] in relation to societal and political currents in contemporary Norway. The article also discusses how the neighbourhood and its architectural layout were adapted to changing uses over a 100-year period. Established in 1922, the TKB is the second-oldest housing cooperative in Norway. An important distinction from similar cooperatives was its construction process, where members of the construction workers’ union built their own homes and set up a production unit to continue developing new projects. Two related movements contributed to the TKBB’s foundation: Firstly, the work of the Norwegian Association of Housing Reforms, and the Own Homes movement, both inspired by the Ebenezer Howard Garden City concept. Secondly, the labour movement, which initiated the construction of the TKB. The main actor behind the housing association was the Norwegian architect and planner, Sverre Pedersen. Consisting of 86 units in 11 duplexes and 16 quadruplexes, the timber houses are organized with small gardens and within larger green communal spaces. The article elaborates on how elements from the TKB’s organizational and architectural principles are relevant to developing social housing in Norway today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health of older adults is crucial for the overall health of the entire life cycle. Based on population sampling survey data and census data from 131 prefecture level units in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) during 2010–2020, this study used exploratory spatial data analysis, geographical detector, stepwise regression analysis, and GTWR model to analyze the spatiotemporal pattern and influencing factors of the health level of older adults in the YREB. The results show that the health level of older adults in the YREB slightly increased from 2010 to 2020, with the most significant improvement in the upstream region and the most significant decline in the midstream region. The older adults' health level in the YREB displays a gradient decreasing pattern of the downstream, midstream, and upstream regions. The health level of older adults in the YREB is influenced by a combination of natural and social environment factors. Areas with lower altitude and moderate humidity climates are more conducive to the health of older adults. The increase in influencing factors such as population migration rate, per capita GDP, average years of education, per capita housing construction area, per capita park green area, and green coverage rate in built-up areas is conducive to improving the health level of older adults, while lower number of health institutions per 1,000 people and higher household support rate are not conducive to improving the health level of older adults. In addition, over time, the health-promoting effect of natural environmental factors is enhanced from 2010 to 2020, and the influence of annual precipitation on shaping the spatial pattern of older adults' health level became more obvious. Although the promoting effect of population migration on the health level of older adults tends to weaken, it remains the primary factor affecting the spatiotemporal differentiation of older adults' health level in the YREB. The impact of social development on the health level of older adults has changed from a positive health effect (improvement) to a negative health effect (loss). The health-promoting effect of living environment factors is enhanced. The health-inhibitory effect of household support rate increased, and showed a gradient decreasing pattern from downstream to midstream to upstream. The findings of this study can provide a more in-depth understanding of the spatiotemporal pattern of the health level of older adults in the YREB and the factors influencing it, improve the health level of older adults in the region, and promote the development of healthy and active aging in the YREB, and improve the human health. At the same time, this study also supplements the related research on aging and the health level of the elderly. Firstly, it can provide reference for the research on the health of old adults in other countries and regions around the world. Secondly, it can also provide a basis for research on aging and the health of old adults in cities and counties under YREB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What kind of impact does the government's housing support expenditure have on residents' consumption? This is a topic that deserves in-depth study and is of practical significance. This study constructs provincial equilibrium panel data based on China's guaranteed housing construction and financial expenditures on housing support data from 1999–2009 and 2000–2021. It applies the systematic GMM method to estimate the impact of government housing support expenditures on residents' consumption. The study found that whatever form of expenditure on housing support contributed to the total consumption of urban residents, while the impact on the consumption structure had different results. Based on the divisions of consumption structure, the results of the increase in government housing support expenditure on the consumption structure of urban residents are different. An examination of different forms of housing support reveals that the predominantly secure form of housing construction has a positive effect on all consumption structure divisions. Whereas the predominantly monetary subsidy form has a significant positive relationship with housing, necessity, and durability consumption expenditures, it has a weak or even negative relationship with non-housing, non-necessity, and non-durability consumption expenditures. The research in this paper makes up for the lack of current literature examining the economic effects of housing support from the perspective of consumption structure and provides a theoretical basis and policy reference for constructing a multi-level gradient housing support system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A supermarket made of infra‐lightweight concrete – Proof of stability for a fire wall Infra‐lightweight concrete (ILC) is a special form of lightweight concrete which, due to its low density, possesses improved thermal insulation properties in comparison to normal concrete. ILC facilitates the construction of monolithic, single‐layer building skins without any added thermal insulation or facade cladding. This way, the building components are effectively simplified in comparison to conventionally insulated concrete members and the recyclability is significantly improved. In addition to that, structural elements made of ILC have a reduced CO2 footprint in comparison to conventional composite elements of the building envelope. After 15 years of research and several completed construction projects in the housing and education sector, a commercial retail building has been realized. For this project, an individual approval for a firewall built out of ILC was obtained based on a fire test in combination with a transfer concept based on calculations. This article demonstrates the transfer concept as well as a simplified structural analysis concept for the proof of stability developed for the special application of a firewall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imagine the vast Palaeozoic oceans: graptolites (Pterobranchia, Graptolithina) appear as small and inconspicuous benthic faunal elements in the early Cambrian, later becoming one of the dominating planktic groups of macrofauna in Ordovician and Silurian marine environments. Their unusual organic housing secretions (tubaria) in the fossil record makes them one of the most important biostratigraphic markers for the Ordovician to early Devonian time intervals. The occurrence, especially of the planktic graptolites, in black shales led to the common notion of a life style that related them to anoxic or dysaerobic environments, but is merely a preservational aspect. Their demise in the early Devonian may be related to the origination and diversification of large plankton feeding organisms in the marine realm as the graptolites were unable to complete with the much faster growth and reproduction of smaller, non-colonial organisms that did not need to waste time producing a housing construction. Thus, from the later Devonian onwards, the graptolites were largely gone and the oceans were teeming with fast reproducing and growing micro-and macroplankton. Larger predatory animals evolved as plankton feeders, that may have preyed on the graptolites. Only a few cryptic benthic species survived into the modern world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precast construction offers multiple benefits, encompassing heightened productivity, an enhanced working environment, and significant waste reduction. Timely delivery of precast components (PCs) is of paramount importance in the successful execution of construction projects, mainly because processes involving precast prefabrication are identified frequently as critical activities in the majority of cases. However, current scheduling models for precast production need to meet the demands of dynamic environments in which construction projects contend with uncertainties. Consequently, it is essential to investigate and develop more-resilient and flexible scheduling approaches to address these challenges effectively and guarantee the timely delivery of precast components in these dynamic construction scenarios. To address these challenges, this study introduces an approach that integrates precast tracking, positioning, progress monitoring, and analysis among the multiple stages undertaken by project communities. Each component's status is updated dynamically in the cloud-based Building Information Modeling (BIM) platform using radio-frequency identification (RFID) and ultrawideband (UWB) technologies. Moreover, the collected data are updated to a dynamic production planning engine to be analyzed more accurately and flexibly for prefabrication, fitting-out, installation resources, workerpower planning, scheduling, and execution. To verify the efficiency of the proposed system, on-site testing was performed on a prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC) residential building project. The findings show that a precast component can be tracked precisely on-site and that the sensor network can deliver trustworthy data. This research adopted an innovative and comprehensive methodology, centering on the transmission of real-time data collected via RFID and UWB sensing to enable dynamic scheduling in precast construction. By facilitating dynamic planning, scheduling, optimization, and progress monitoring, the study introduces a paradigm shift in construction project management, markedly improving the efficiency and effectiveness of project execution. Practical Applications: Precast construction, known for its efficiency and sustainability, faces a key challenge in ensuring the timely delivery of precast components. This is crucial because PCs assembly often represents critical activities in construction projects. Current scheduling engines struggle to adapt to the unpredictable nature of construction environments, which frequently deal with uncertainties. This study presents an innovative approach that integrates tracking, positioning, and progress monitoring of PCs using advanced technologies. By employing radio-frequency identification and ultrawideband sensors, PCs' status is updated in real-time on a cloud-based Building Information Modeling platform. These data are uploaded into a dynamic production scheduling engine, enhancing the accuracy and flexibility of scheduling and execution, especially for prefabrication and installation stages. This approach was tested in a real-world prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction residential building project. The results demonstrate the system's ability to locate PCs on-site precisely and provide reliable data. This holistic strategy not only allows for dynamic scheduling, optimizing workerpower and resource allocation, but also enhances overall project management. This leads to more-effective planning, optimization, and monitoring of progress, significantly improving project execution in precast construction environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circular economy plays a key role in the wider transition to a low-carbon built environment. Materials are critical in this transition, yet there is limited information about their current use in the built environment in many regions. This explorative study investigated circular economy in the Australian construction materials industry using a three-stage mixed-method approach. The first stage was to map actors and their practices and challenges related to material supply, use, and end of life. This involved 20 interviews with stakeholders and a workshop. The second stage was to assess key materials stocks and flows to identify the volume of the challenge through existing databases and consultation with industry stakeholders. The third stage was to understand the current state of material circularity at industry-leading examples. This was investigated through 13 interviews across two case studies, alongside site visits. These complementary research methods and stages provided findings into material circularity potential within the residential construction sector from both a macroperspective and a microperspective. The results included that new materials being used in construction are more than double the flow of waste out, showing that stocks of materials in use are growing rapidly but that data gaps are extensive. There was a focus on material reduction for cost-savings and sustainability, but there was significant opportunity for other circular economy principles, such as rethinking construction techniques. Further, in the context of a highly volatile industry, circularity requires a focus on material-specific institutional arrangements. The contribution to knowledge on construction materials and their supply chain provides fundamental insights that are required for the transition toward a circular economy, where the residential construction sector (not just in Australia but globally) would more readily reduce, reuse, recycle and recover resources, as well as being less reliant on virgin material use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building, demolishing, and rebuilding new structures, instead of renovating vacant buildings for adaptive reuse, generates a significant amount of waste. Quickly assessing if and how a building can house a new function can be time-consuming. We developed a method that automates this process using a graph-based strategy in which both the building and the functional program are represented by attributed graphs. Specifically, the new method performs a node matching strategy based on the properties of the nodes and the topological structure of the graphs by which each empty room is filled with an activity of the new function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Management of construction projects at a strategic level requires managers of the managerial degree to adopt an appropriate structure for their implementation. The choice of the method of execution of the works is determined by many factors, among others the deadline for their completion and the availability of the means of production. These factors are directly reflected in the monotonicity of the basic indicators of the earned value method, used to assess the progress of works implementation, in selected periods of their control. The article attempts to analyze the sensitivity of the Earned Value Indicator (BCWP -- Budget Cost of Work Performed) in the EVM method, depending on the adopted structure of implementation of a construction project, using the original concept of monitoring deviations from the assumed duration. In the study of the degree of sensitivity of the analyzed indicator, an example of construction of a multi-family housing development was used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hollowing out of rural areas is a phenomenon of large-scale idle and abandoned rural homesteads in the process of rapid industrialization and urbanization, which has been an urgent problem to be solved in the comprehensive implementation of the rural revitalization strategy. Based on the perspective of population migration, this paper constructs a theoretical framework for rural population migration from three dimensions: urban attractiveness, farmers' willingness to migrate, and macro policy environment. The paper analyzes the mechanism of population migration affecting rural hollowing, and quantitatively analyzes the evolution law and driving mechanism of rural hollowing through the construction of the rural hollowing indexes, taking D village located in loess hilly areas as an example. It is found as follows. (1) With the development of macroeconomic and changes in policy environment, the settlement space of D village has gone through stages of internal migration of residential areas, rapid expansion of villages, differentiation of new and old villages, and revitalization of idle residential land. Accompanied by this is the evolution process of the emergence period, development period, prosperous period, and stable period of rural hollowing. (2) The hollowing out of D village is driven by the core factor of population migration, which is the result of the interaction between the internal migration succession of settlements and rural population loss. From a temporal perspective, the initial rural hollowing is mainly influenced by the dominant role of residential renewal, which is manifested as the hollowing out of homesteads. After the demand for housing construction is saturated, the dominant role gradually weakens, and the implicit role caused by continuous population loss becomes the dominant factor of rural hollowing, and the degree of hollowing out gradually intensifies. (3) Affected by the internal and external support conditions of rural development, rural hollowing may exhibit differentiated trends such as re-solidification, steady hollowing out, and developing hollowing out. The process and evolution direction of rural hollowing can be regulated through institutional reform, basic investment, and industrial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges today. An increasing population accelerates the construction of concrete houses and the use of air conditioners, thereby leading to an increase in energy consumption. When the walls of buildings are well-designed and insulated, energy consumption can be reduced. Therefore, it is important to measure the thermal performance of wall systems accurately. The existing traditional methods of measuring R- and U-values provide acceptable solutions for steady-state controlled, uncontrolled or transient state-controlled conditions. However, a need to develop a novel approach for transient state-uncontrolled realistic conditions has been identified. The present study involves both experimental and numerical investigations. An in situ model room with dimensions of 1.60 m × 1.73 m × 1.50 m was built for the experimental work, and a series of experiments were conducted. For numerical work, two models using Ansys Fluent 2021/2022 and MATLAB Simulink 2021/2022 were developed. The real-time experimental data were fed into numerical models to predict the thermal behavior of the wall system. The results include the evaluation of a concept called 'Time-Lag' for all three models. 'Time-Lag' is the time taken for the heat energy to flow across the wall system. The Time-Lag for the experimental model was 8 h 45 min, while for MATLAB and Ansys models, it was 8 h 22 min. (average) and 7 h 30 min, respectively. Minor variations validate the accuracy of the numerical models. Further, a novel method using a new parameter in building systems called 'thermal impedance Z-value' was developed to estimate the real-time thermal performance of walls using MATLAB Simulink. The Z-value measures the ability of a wall system to resist the flow of heat (thermal resistance, R-value) combined with its ability to store heat energy (thermal capacitance, Cth-value). It is evaluated for steady-state and dynamic (transient) systems. For the steady-state system, the Z-values on the outer and inner walls were 18.2683 K/W and 18.6761 K/W, respectively with a minor difference of 0.4078 K/W at the end of 72 h. For the dynamic system, the Z-value did not reach a constant value and fluctuated in a particular pattern during 24 h of the solar cycle with average values of 3.2969 K/W on the outer and 1.2886 K/W on the inner walls at the end of 72 h, thus presenting more accurate and realistic thermal performance results of a wall system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the world population surpassed 8000 million people. Providing housing for such a large population poses a great challenge for the building industry and its impact on the planet. The rise in the urban population leads to greater impacts not only on the environment but also on economies and societies. Consequently, reducing these externalities is mandatory to preserve the welfare of the world. One way of optimising the economic cost of housing is through industrialising the production of housing. However, a balance between housing optimisation and the management of the social/environmental impacts has not yet been achieved. In order to bridge this gap, in this study, a holistic evaluation of several housing systems was performed using the MIVES ("Modelo Integrado de Valor para una Evaluación Sostenible")-based multicriteria decision-making method (MCDM method). Moreover, the obtained results were compared, showing which industrialised building technique might enhance the sustainability of housing production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is the most populous country in the world, having a population of 1.42 billion in 2022. It is urbanizing rapidly, with the present urbanization level at about 35%, which is expected to reach about 40% by 2030. There was an estimated demand of 11.22 million homes in urban India in 2017, of which 95% was in the affordable housing sector. This demand is expected to increase with the current urbanization trends. The Indian government is promoting the construction of millions of affordable houses under its ambitious Prime Minister's Housing Program. These houses are planned, designed, and constructed using local materials and techniques, considering local climatic, geological, hazard, and socio-economic conditions. We examined the 30 most commonly applied housing typologies to determine which typologies and materials have minimum embodied energy and construction costs. The results indicate that load-bearing housing construction of up to three stories, with a plinth–carpet area ratio of 1.31, constructed with any of the blocks-based masonry techniques, has the lowest embodied energy and construction cost, and houses with a plinth–carpet area ratio of 1.51 have the highest. Further, houses constructed with Hollow CC block masonry have the lowest embodied energy, and HF Fly Ash block-based masonry has the lowest construction cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students need to have a good understanding of occupational health and safety to avoid accidents during practical activities and in the workplace. To help with this, digital technology can be used to create learning materials and media that aid in achieving learning objectives. This study aimed to develop a mobile application that could be used as a learning resource during practical activities in workshops. The research was carried out at the Department of Construction and Housing Engineering in a Vocational High School in Surakarta, using the Alessi & Trollip research method. The development process consisted of three stages: Planning, Designing, and Development. The study employed various techniques, such as questionnaires, interviews, observation, and documentation, to collect research data. The study used interactive models to analyze qualitative data and descriptive statistics to analyze quantitative data. As a result, the learning resource created has a material suitability level of 90% and media suitability of 100%. User testing has shown positive results, with individual test scores averaging 90% and class test scores averaging 90.35%, which is rated as "very good." This study aims to provide an appropriate learning resource that addresses the identified problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the early 2000s, Morocco's government is running the Villes Sans Bidonville programme (VSBP) as a literal reference to international policy claims for Cities Without Slums. Initially and in contrast to past, unsuccessful attempts to eradicate the country's bidonvilles, more inclusive resettlement schemes – participatory and affordable for all – should help to avoid that residents resell resettlement housing and move back to bidonvilles. However, this article shows that with the advancement of VSBP, more recent resettlement has become authoritarian, exclusionary, and unaffordable again. Large numbers of low-income households of one of Rabat/Salé's last bidonvilles are effectively excluded from accessing resettlement housing, because they cannot afford the construction of a house on their assigned resettlement plot. For many, reselling their plot is the only option to access alternative housing after displacement. Building on narrative and biographic interviews with displaced former bidonville residents who are not living at the resettlement site, this article looks at how displaced bidonville dwellers cope with housing unaffordability. Where do people move why if affordable informal housing is demolished and state-subsidised alternatives are inaccessible? The results show how unaffordable resettlement schemes divide established bidonville communities, leaving the most vulnerable residents behind. Furthermore, they highlight people's severe constraints, struggles, and uncertainties in seeking to achieve decent residential stability outside stressful rental accommodation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that many residential construction projects suffer from low quality due to a variety of factors; therefore, to find out the level of dissatisfaction among stakeholders, the underlying causes, and the recommendations, this study uses a survey. Owners, controllers, and contractors were asked to complete questionnaires online. To rank dissatisfaction levels, incomplete or defective works, and suggestions for improving construction quality, data from the survey were analyzed by frequency indexes (FIs), and project stakeholders' perceptions were aggregated by "probabilistic or." The study reveals that 52% of flat owners are somewhat satisfied with the building inspection company's inspections, but most owners agreed (4.13±0.98) that consultants should inspect the construction, whereas the lowest dissatisfaction (1.71±1.30) is "getting smaller apartments than promised." Construction dissatisfaction can be attributed primarily to "high-profit expectations by building contractors," whereas "the lack of sufficient qualified workers," "the lack of competence of building contractors," and "incompetence and ineffectiveness of site chiefs/managers" are also prominent. From the perspective of controllers and contractors, the highest consensus (4.43±0.92 ; 4.24±0.85) is "needing to work with experienced construction site managers," whereas the lowest dissatisfaction (2.57±0.72 ; 2.45±1.02) is "the overall quality of constructed residential buildings." It appears that contractors' dissatisfaction is lowest (2.42±0.95) when it comes to "contract-conforming construction quality." A general dissatisfaction rate of close to average is reported by the owners, whereas the dissatisfaction rates of the controllers and contractors are close to "above average." Based on the findings, this study provides valuable information and recommendations for improving the quality of construction for the successful completion of building projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]