Building Technology

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Building Technology

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    Thermal Comfort Performance of Thermoelectric Peltier Module Refrigeration System in Built Environment
    (School of Environmental Technology, Federal University of Technology Minna. PMB 65, Minna, Niger State Nigeria., 2024-11-29) Musa Titus Dada; Ejiga Anthony Ejiga
    According to data provided by the International Energy Agency, nearly 1.6 billion air conditioning (A/C) systems were operating globally in 2017, accounting for approximately 6% of the overall final energy consumption. To address the energy and economic challenges posed by such extensive use of air conditioning for thermal comfort, it is imperative to identify alternative solutions that can effectively operate in warm-humid environments. This study explored the thermal comfort performance of thermoelectric module refrigeration (TEMR) system in built environment; installed in a single-room facility in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria, over a one-month period. The experimental setup involved a test room measuring 1.3 m x 2.6 m x 3 m, equipped with aluminum roofing, an asbestos ceiling, an aluminum-framed window, and a steel door. The TEMR system was assessed for its ability to regulate indoor temperature and humidity under varying external climatic conditions. The TEMR system operated at a constant current of 6.4A, with data collected at specific intervals throughout each day. Results indicated that the TEMR system significantly reduced indoor air temperature and relative humidity, particularly during peak operational hours (12:00 pm to 2:00 pm). Weekly variations showed temperature drops from 37°C to 22°C and humidity reductions from 60% to 32% within 60 minutes of operation. These findings align with ASHRAE Standard 55-2017 for indoor environmental quality. The study concludes that the TEMR system is effective in improving indoor climatic conditions, offering a sustainable and energy-efficient cooling solution. Its performance, influenced by external climatic factors, demonstrates potential for broader application, particularly in developing regions where long- term, low-maintenance, and environmentally friendly cooling solutions are needed.
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    Analysing the Physical Condition of Buildings: A Case Study of an Institution of Learning in Nigeria
    (School of Environmental Technology International Conference Proceedings (SETIC 2024), 2024) Abass, A.; OGUNBODE Ezekiel Babatunde; Olubajo, O. O.
    Abstract Buildings depreciate with time and gradually perform less than they are expected. This is a concern for building owners and users. Research on depreciation of building tends to focus on identifying or categorising defects. However, investigations that examine the condition of public buildings that inhabit large and frequent users is limited. The aim of this research is to analyse the physical condition of public buildings in an institution of learning. This study adopts a case study approach involving physical observations and the condition rating of three buildings in an institution of learning in Nigeria. The results of the analysis showed that there were several similar defects on the walls, floors, roof, electrical and mechanical services. The results on the condition of the buildings showed average condition index values indicating that the buildings were in moderate condition with the laboratory in a better condition with an average condition rating of 0.58 and the offices with an average condition rating of 0.52 and the classes with an average condition rating of 0.44. The study argues that improving the condition or state of the buildings would lead to enhanced building performance.
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    APPRAISING OFFICE ERGONOMIC MEASURES IN THE SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, MINNA
    (KESJ Environmental Science Journal, 2024-02) HASSAN, K. M., MOHAMMED, Y.D., NMADU, Helen Gogo, ADULRAHMAN, R.S.
    Accidents that occur in offices are frequently due to poorly designed office environment and improper office procedures. From 1991-2004 the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board reported that musculoskeletal disorders accounted for nearly 42% of all lost time. This accounts for only lost time which underestimates the true nature of problems as many individuals continue to work with pain and discomfort. The study aimed at appraising office ergonomic measures in the school of environmental technology of federal university of technology, Minna, the objective of this study is to provide such information to improving human health, safety and performance at workplace through the application of sound workers and workplace principles. The study is criteria – based in which questionnaires were administered to selected 65academic staffers who met the research criteria. Correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between Staff Assessment of Ergonomic Measures and Standard Ergonomic Measures. Regression analysis was used to determine the impact of SEM on SAEM. The Pearson correlation reveals a positive moderate significant relationship between standard ergonomic measures and staff assessment of ergonomic measures (r is 0.561, while its P < 0.001). Findings reveals that standard ergonomic measures contributes additional benefits of unstandardized coefficient = 0.527, t = 8.135 and P < 0.005. It can be concluded that a reasonable correlation exists between staff assessment of ergonomic measures and standard ergonomic measures practice at workplace. The regression prediction findings indicate that additional improvement on the level of staff's assessment of ergonomic measures will spring up enormous benefit to prevent musculoskeletal disordersat workplace. The study recommends adequate training and awareness of staffers as regard to office ergonomic measures.
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    Exploring the Patterns of Deterioration: A Case Study of Buildings in a Residential Estate in Nigeria
    (Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Infrastructure and Sustainable Development (ICSID 2024)At: Covenant University, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, 2024-09) Olubajo, Oluseun Olukemi; Kudu, Mohammed; Abass, Abdulshakur
    Research into the deterioration of buildings tends to focus on probable causes. However,investigations that explore the nature, extent and pattern of the deterioration in residential buildings is limited. This study aims at exploring the patterns of deterioration in a residential estate with multiple buildings in Minna and the liveability of the community. The study adopts a mixed method approach with a case study and data is obtained through observations and a structured questionnaire administered by hand to residents on the condition of their buildings.The results revealed huge similarities in the nature and extent of deterioration for different building types in the estate with dampness of walls/roofs being the most severe form of deterioration (MIS =3.71) and heavy rainfall being the most likely cause of deterioration (MIS= 3.85). The study also found that majority of residents opted to live in the estate generally because they felt safe (MIS = 4.33). The study argues that the level of deterioration in the buildings might lead to lower living conditions in the estate.
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    Analysing the Influence of Offsite Construction Logistics on the Performance of Construction Projects
    (Journal of Construction Engineering, Management & Innovation, 2025-04-07) Olubajo, Oluseun Olukemi; Olubajo, Oladoyin Rachel
    Coordinating the logistics of workers, equipment and materials from varying locations can be challenging. This is a concern for project managers because disruptions in construction work leads to losses in production and business. Research into offsite logistics in construction tends to focus on factors that can optimise the performance of construction logistics. Another theme in the literature focuses on the application of digital technologies in construction logistics. However, investigations that examine the dynamics associated with offsite construction logistics and their implications on the performance of construction projects is limited. This study analyses the influence of offsite construction logistics on project performance. This study adopted a survey approach with a structured questionnaire that was administered to 200 construction practitioners and obtained data from 176 respondents on key aspects of offsite construction logistics indicating an 88% response rate with a reliability of 0.911. The results of this study revealed that integrating construction equipment and digital technologies in offsite operations has a positive and significant influence on the time performance of construction projects. The findings of this study are of value to construction professionals struggling to manage disruptions or delays and seeking to improve the way they manage offsite logistics involving multiple parties. The study contributes to the literature on construction logistics by extending our understanding on key aspects of offsite logistics that significantly impact on the performance of construction projects. This study argues that offsite construction logistics can be managed to overcome disruptions or delays by integrating the use of digital technologies in monitoring work flow and construction equipment in concrete works amongst others.
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    Reviewing Emerging Technologies Adoption Among Construction Project Managers in Nigeria
    (School of Environmental Technology, Federal University of Technology Minna. PMB 65, Minna, Niger State Nigeria., 2024-10-14) Shehu, Aminu Muhammad; Jimoh, Richard Ajayi; Adefemi, Aka; Olubajo, Oluseun Olukemi
    Though emerging technologies are available to improve project performance, project managers in the Nigerian construction sector avoid their adoption. This have resulted in the rate of failed projects within the Nigerian construction sector due to poor coordination of construction tasks relying on obsolete process. Hence, the review of literature to ascertain the influencing factors of project managers avoidance in implementing emerging technologies in their professional practice. Using thematic analysis, four (4) influencing themes were identified in the literature namely; technology, organizational, environmental and socio-cultural related factors. These themes evidenced the influencing factors in emerging technologies adoption among project managers in the Nigerian construction industry. The potentials of emerging technologies adoption on project managers performance in the construction industry is impacted in terms of cost, quality and time of successful projects delivery. However, technology avoidance behaviour of project managers will lead to project abandonment, continued inadequate automated evaluation, monitoring of construction project performance Therefore, the study recommends that stakeholders in the Nigerian construction industry must continue to navigate through the barrier factors limiting construction project managers adoption of technology to lower the rate of failed and abandoned projects in the Nigerian construction industry.
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    Barriers Influencing Construction Firms' Adoption of Emerging Technologies in Supply Chain Management
    (School of Environmental Technology, Federal University of Technology Minna, P.M.B 65, Niger State, Nigeria, 2024-10-14) Shehu, Aminu Muhammad; Jimoh, Richard Ajayi; Adefemi, Aka; Olubajo, Oluseun Olukemi
    The construction industry plays a critical role in the economic development of nations and efficient supply chain management is crucial to its success. However, the construction sector remains one of the least digitized sectors despite the benefits of emerging technologies This study investigates the barriers influencing the adoption of emerging technologies in construction supply chain management. The study adopted a quantitative approach using a closed ended questionnaire. Data was collected via simple random sampling from 73 construction firms, though 52 were properly filled and returned for the analysis. The data was analysed using mean score item to ascertain the degree to which barriers influence the adoption of emerging technologies by construction firms. The barriers were grouped into three categories, technological, organisational and environmental barriers. The study revealed that the major technological barrier is lack of technical expertise within the organization, organisational barriers is resistance to change from employees and for to environmental regulatory compliance issues. Therefore, it becomes imperative to invest in training and developing partnerships with educational institutions for continuous learning and government to review and update local content requirements to balance domestic growth with technological advancement.
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    Potentials of Dialium guineense Endocarp Ash as a Cement Replacement Material
    (Path of Science, 2024-10-10) Olubajo, Olumide Olu; Surajudeen, Abdulsalam; Oluwaferanmi, Oloruntope Jacob; Olubajo, Oluseun Olukemi
    Agricultural wastes such as Dialium guineense Endocarp are often generated in volumes that surpass disposal efforts. This concerns communities because improperly handled agricultural waste can lead to environmental challenges. Research on the use of agro-industrial or natural waste as cementitious materials tends to focus on the ashes from orange peel, locust bean pod, palm oil fuel, rice husk and sugarcane bagasse as partial replacements for cement. However, investigations are limited, focusing on Dialium guineense Endocarp ash (DEA) as an alternative cementitious material to reduce CO2 emissions and agricultural waste. This study explores the potential of DEA as a partial cement replacement material. Partial replacement of Portland limestone cement with DEA 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 wt.% for physical properties while mortar strength was varied from 0 -5 wt.%. Dialium guineense Endocarp pods were collected in Bauchi state- Nigeria, washed, dried, and grinded, followed by determination of thermal stability of the endocarp via Thermogravimetric Analyzer/ Differential Thermal Analyser (TGA/DTA). The resultant ground endocarp was calcined at 600 oC in a furnace for 4 hours, characterised by its chemical composition and functional groups via X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, respectively. The mortar strengths of 72 cubes for 3 days, 7 days, 28 days and 60 days were produced and determined with a mixing ratio of 1:2:4 (water: cement: sand) according to ASTM standards. The XRF analysis of DEA revealed that the composition of silicon, aluminium and iron oxides was less than 50 wt.% (24.84 wt.%), which did not meet the minimum requirement by standard to be considered a pozzolan with a high CaO content of 25.58 wt.% and possessed significant K2O content of 36.03 wt.%, an increase in the standard consistency and retardation of both setting times of DEA cement blends was experienced when the cement replacement with DEA was increased. The consistencies and setting time of the DEA-cement blends were higher than control. This prolonged setting times and higher consistency could be linked with the unburnt carbon presence in DEA. As the curing age progressed, the mortar strength experienced increments despite clinker diminution, suggesting pozzolanic activity. Most DEA cement blends produced enhanced strength at 28 days for cement replacement up to 4%, which led to diminished strengths that produced strength slightly lower than control despite clinker diminution. The optimum percentage of cement to be replaced with DEA was determined at four wt.%. DEA possesses properties that are useful as a partial cement replacement material.
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    Understanding a Worker Recruitment as a Practice of Informality in Construction Work Packages
    (Proceedings 40th Annual ARCOM Conference, 2-4 September 2024, London South Bank University, UK. Association of Researchers in Construction Management, 411-420., 2024-09-04) Olubajo, Oluseun Olukemi; Daniel, Emmanuel Itodo
    Research into the recruitment of workers in construction tends to focus on the relationship between operating environments and informal recruitment of a worker. A second thread compares the informal and formal sector of the construction market. However, detailed understanding of how workers are hired and the role of objects in projects executed informally is limited. This study explores how objects feature when workers are engaged informally around specific work packages. A social practice approach is adopted, and practices enacted with workers recruited with minimal compliance to formal housing regulations are studied. Data is obtained through interviews and observations in a building project in Lafia, Nigeria. The results reveal that objects prefigured in hiring workers for different work packages which enabled construction practitioners to do four things: carry out a situated assessment, estimate the volume of work, negotiate verbal agreements, and coordinate work. This study argues that objects enable project parties to enter verbal agreements or invisible contracts.