Journal of Surveying, Construction and Property

EXAMINING HOUSING EXPERIENCES OF URBAN REFUGEES IN KLANG VALLEY, MALAYSIA

2025-01-02T16:52:28+08:00

Malaysia has hosted refugees without a formal refugee policy or legal framework for many decades. The absence of adequate accommodation and reception facilities for refugees and asylum seekers, coupled with insufficient housing during their transitional period before resettlement, presents significant challenges. These "living in limbo" conditions exacerbate uncertainty, violence, and insecurity in refugees' lives. This paper aims to examine housing experiences of urban refugees in the Klang Valley. The research involved a survey of 196 refugees, predominantly from Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Myanmar residing in Klang Valley. The findings provide critical insights into the housing experiences of refugees in Malaysia. The findings found that Refugees are satisfied with the building services, unit design, provision of kitchen and laundry spaces, and basic facilitates. Satisfaction level is also quite significant in terms of building cleanliness and maintenance. However, they indicated significant discrimination in securing rental accommodations, as landlords are reluctant to lease properties to refugees. Additionally, many refugees encounter difficulties due to frequent rent hikes. The insights gained from this study can assist stakeholders in addressing these challenges and enhancing the management and support provided to the refugee community, paving the way for further exploration and implementation of effective solutions.

IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON URBAN DEVELOPMENT: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

2024-12-18T15:55:09+08:00

The COVID-19 pandemic gradually became prevalent globally in early 2020, affecting multiple aspects of lifestyle, transportation, and politics, and hitting the world economy hard. Due to the large population and economic activity densities, urbans are more vulnerable to more dangers. The influence of COVID-19 on urban areas is therefore widespread. The authors reviewed the literature after the first confirmed cases in Wuhan, China, to present a comprehensive evaluation of studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on urban development. The results show that studies on the impact of COVID-19 on cities are mainly related to five main topics, namely (1) environmental quality, (2) social impact, (3) economic impact, (4) urban residents, and (5) urban planning and management. While this shows the diversity of the research agenda, the first theme dominates, whereas the others remain relatively under-researched with little systematic research. This paper also has five more suggestions that can be used in planning and designing cities after COVID to help them grow in a way that is sustainable. Overall, the available research indicates that the COVID-19 crisis offers governments and planners a powerful chance to better respond to future emergencies and disasters and to promote sustainable and healthy urban development.

EXPLORING DWELLING OVERCROWDING MEASURES: OBJECTIVE APPROACHES AND PERCEIVED CROWDING

2025-01-20T08:25:03+08:00

Dwelling overcrowding is a complex issue not only measured by standard guidelines but also by subjective perceptions of crowding. It extends beyond physical dimensions to encompass human factors such as psychological and social experiences. While intervention policies often focus on addressing spatial constraints, integrating objective approaches with subjective measures can provide more effective and holistic solutions, especially in sustainable housing intervention. This study aims to address the complexity of dwelling overcrowding by reviewing existing objective approaches and exploring perceived crowding as a complementary measure. The methodologies used for this study are literature searches and review analysis, guided by standard guidelines from multiple countries. A comprehensive literature search with selection criteria focusing on overcrowding measures, contributing factors, and housing policies. The literature was categorized into three key themes: objective measures of overcrowding, perceived crowding as a subjective measure, and intervention strategies. Findings highlight the importance of integrating objective and subjective measures in housing policies to address both physical and experiential aspects of overcrowding. This study provides the foundation for evidence-based policy recommendations. Future research should test the variables through real-world case studies to assess factors influencing overcrowding and the effectiveness of proposed housing interventions.

DEVELOPMENT OF AN INSTRUMENT TO INVESTIGATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE RISKS RELATED TO EMPLOYERS’ AND CONSULTANTS’ CONTRACTUAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONTRACTORS’ WORK PROGRESS, CONSIDERING PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS AS A MODERATOR

2025-02-04T15:25:35+08:00

There is a lack of studies examining the risks faced by contractors related to the non-adherence to contractual responsibilities by employers and consultants, and how project characteristics influence the impact of these risks on the contractors’ work progress. Due to the absence of a suitable survey instrument in past studies, this paper aims to introduce a valid survey to investigate the relationship between the risks related to the employers' and consultants’ contractual responsibilities and contractors’ work progress, and the moderating effect of project characteristics. A 43-item survey instrument was developed based on the PAM Contract 2018, past studies, and insights from industry experts. The instrument was validated through a qualitative approach (expert judgment) and a quantitative approach (content validity index). The validation method adopted in the study ensures that the items included in the proposed survey are clear and appropriately represent the key variables (employer-related risks, consultants-related risks, project characteristics, and contractors’ work progress). The final 40-item survey instrument has an average content validity index of 0.951, indicating excellent content validity. This paper presents the procedures adopted for developing and validating the survey instrument. The findings of this paper are valuable for future researchers in developing survey instruments.

UNVEILING PROJECT MANAGERS’ COMPETENCIES IN GREEN VS. NON-GREEN CONSTRUCTION USING THE CRAWFORD INTEGRATED MODEL

2025-03-14T08:37:04+08:00

The construction industry is undergoing a transformative shift toward sustainability, driving the need for specialized competencies among project managers in green construction projects. This study explores the critical differences in competencies required for managing green construction projects compared to non-green construction projects, using the Crawford Integrated Competency Model. Through an in-depth analysis, the classification matrix highlights the similarities and differences across competencies essential for effective project management in the green construction sector. The finding serves as a diagram for understanding the comprehensive skill set necessary for project managers operating in this specialized field, facilitating a clearer understanding of how knowledge, skills, and attitudes intersect in green construction project management. By identifying the core competencies required, this study provides a framework for professional development and training programs tailored to project managers in the green construction industry, ensuring that they possess the necessary attributes to succeed in the evolving landscape of sustainable building practices.

PRESERVING CULTURAL VALUES THROUGH POCKET PARKS IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

2025-02-13T08:08:48+08:00

Modern urban areas face difficulties maintaining their cultural values due to their rapid growth. The purpose of this review is to synthesize existing research on how the roles of pocket parks can contribute to preserving the cultural values within an urban environment. A thorough search of databases specializing in pocket parks and cultural values was conducted. This study employs a narrative review of scholarly publications to evaluate how pocket parks, which are small, accessible green spaces, contribute to preserving cultural values in urban environments. The findings reveal how pocket parks play a role in preserving cultural values such as identity and authenticity by providing a public space that can offer artistic value and cultural expression. Additionally, with the preservation of cultural values, these parks also reinforce the sense of belonging that further enhances equity through placemaking, which can honour diversity while maintaining the unique identity of the community. Compared to past research, this study presents thorough evidence of literature from a diverse viewpoint, highlighting the roles of pocket parks that are significant towards cultural preservation in an urban environment. The findings advocate for designing policies that leverage small-scale interventions to balance cultural preservation with equitable development in rapidly transforming cities.

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW: UNDERSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL DRIVING FACTORS OF HERITAGE BUILDING DEGRADATION

2025-02-04T16:38:22+08:00

As the realm responds to nature's will, environmental factors are often cited as threatening the heritage building's wholeness and genuine character. Evolution in this research field has discussed various fractions of elements into these factors. Inevitably, this Systematic Literature Review (SLR) aims to comprehensively understand the extent and nature of environment, such as humidity, temperature fluctuations, pollution, and biological growth, that influence heritage buildings' degradation. Focusing on scholarly articles between 2020 and 2024 from reputable databased of Scopus and ScienceDirect, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework and systematic review of the filtered articles, the study found the contributed insights of the key area. The findings are categorized around three main themes: (1) Environmental and Climatic Impacts, (2) Material-Specific Degradation Mechanisms in Heritage Buildings, and (3) Diagnostic and Preventive Technologies for Heritage Building Preservation. The review reveals that moisture and temperature as the main environmental factors causing material decay, show up the cracking, erosion, and biological growth. Air pollution hastens chemical degradation, whereas natural disasters cause immediate and widespread loss in structural integrity. This paper calls underlining interdisciplinary collaboration to respond to environmental challenges ensuring the structural integrity of heritage buildings for future generations.

BUILDING ORIENTATION EFFECTS ON HVAC ENERGY PERFORMANCE: EDUCATIONAL BUILDING ANALYSIS IN CHINA'S HOT-SUMMER-COLD-WINTER ZONE

2025-03-25T12:08:48+08:00

This study investigated the impact of building orientation on HVAC energy consumption in educational buildings within China's hot summer and cold winter (HSCW) climate zone. Through EnergyPlus simulations of a representative teaching building in Chongqing, this research analysed heating, cooling, and total HVAC energy consumption patterns across 24 different orientations. The results demonstrate that building orientation significantly influences energy performance, with the south-facing orientation (180°) achieving optimal energy efficiency at 58.55 kWh/m², while the west-facing orientation (270°) exhibits the highest consumption at 63.01 kWh/m², representing a 7.62% variation. The study reveals that maintaining the building orientation within ±15° of due south can effectively optimise year-round energy performance, particularly in regions with significant seasonal variations. Furthermore, the findings indicate distinct seasonal patterns, with south-facing orientations demonstrating superior winter performance through optimal solar gain while requiring careful solar control strategies during summer. This study provides quantitative evidence to support the development of specific orientation design guidelines for building energy standards, offering practical insights for architects and urban planners in creating energy-efficient educational facilities in HSCW climate zones.

A NARRATIVE REVIEW TO ACHIEVE NET-ZERO ENERGY HOMES IN MALAYSIA

2025-02-04T15:23:11+08:00

Malaysia is heavily reliant on fossil fuels for electricity production but aims to reduce carbon emission intensity by 45% by 2030 and achieve net zero carbon emission by 2050. As residential buildings are one of the major energy consumers, achieving net-zero energy in homes is essential. This paper reviews the development of Net-Zero Energy Homes (ZEHs) globally and evaluates their relevance to Malaysia’s tropical climate. A narrative review approach was used to examine ZEH definitions, energy consumption factors, and green retrofitting strategies. The findings highlight the need for tailored policies and design standards suited to the local climate and socio-economic conditions. Recommendations are proposed to guide future development and policy actions for achieving energy-efficient residential housing in Malaysia.

THE IMPORTANCE OF URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, THE CASE OF THE UNIVERSITY BELT, MANILA CITY

2025-01-21T16:19:45+08:00

The University Belt, known for its agglomeration of educational institutions, faces rapid urbanization, rising population densities, and poverty rates. With the National Building Code of the Philippines outdated and the Manila Zoning Ordinance baseless due to the lack of a Comprehensive Land Use Plan, the University Belt showcased increased developments, converting low-population, low-building-density areas into unregulated high-population, high-density areas with condominiums, apartments, lodging, and commercial establishments. Without action, the University Belt and its urban development will become even more uncontrolled. The research argues that an Urban Design Guideline will regulate development and redevelopment in the study area and foster control. Thus, this paper seeks first to understand the urban growth and development trend that led to the current condition of the University Belt, determine why the University Belt continues to promote an uncontrolled and unregulated neighborhood despite having governing policies for architecture practitioners, and synthesize architecture practitioners' insights on the governing urban development control policies to highlight the possible need for Through foot and windshield surveys, GIS mapping, a careful study of available datasets, and a survey, the site's context was fully understood and analyzed. In this research, a stratified random sampling approach using a normal distribution with 397 architecture practitioners in the study area found that those who observe urban development controls lack the confidence and relevance to follow it. This research emphasizes the importance of an Urban Design Guideline because it will consolidate all issues of compatibility, frequency, specificity, and harmony of applicable urban development controls in the University Belt to create a high-quality, livable environment ready for transit-oriented development.