{"title":"A Conceptual Framework for the Application of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the Management of Housing Projects in Nigeria","authors":"A. Achoru, E. Achuenu, D. Mallo","doi":"10.7176/cer/12-6-04","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/cer/12-6-04","url":null,"abstract":"The Nigerian housing project setting has been marred with challenges which have continuously led to project under-performance and failure. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is presented as a strategy to mitigate the challenges. CSR which deals with housing project firms’ responsibilities in service delivery towards shareholders, stakeholders and society comprises a landscape of theories. The absence of CSR application towards solving housing project life cycle challenges presented a gap which informed the study. Variables are presented in a suitable and explored framework with a view to examining the potentials of CSR as a panacea to the challenges. This study presents stakeholder and ethical theories as the underpinning theories for the application of CSR in the management of housing projects along the project life cycle phases. Stakeholder theory states that firms’ owe a responsibility to a wider group of stakeholders, other than just shareholders. Ethical theory of CSR applies to housing projects as ethics help to guide the practice of various stakeholders involved in the process of housing project management. Methodology used was a review of documented evidence from related literature. This study found that CSR application in Nigerian housing projects, although rudimentary has yielded positives when implemented. Proper CSR application in housing projects has the capacity to mitigate housing project challenges across each project life cycle phase. This study also recommends the proposition of CSR application in effective housing project management as a standard being a panacea to existing challenges. Keywords: Corporate social responsibility, Housing project, Theories, Framework DOI: 10.7176/CER/12-6-04 Publication date: June 30 th 2020","PeriodicalId":10219,"journal":{"name":"Civil and environmental research","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82055182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Characteristics and Management Practices of Public Toilets in Wa, Ghana","authors":"Christian Ahuma-Smith, Samson Bavuno, G. Dokyi","doi":"10.7176/cer/12-6-08","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/cer/12-6-08","url":null,"abstract":"Public toilets are an important sanitation option that responds to the sanitary needs of the urban poor and transient populace. This research, therefore seeks to explore the characteristics and, the operation and maintenance practices of public toilets in Wa Township. All the public toilet facilities in Wa were purposively selected and considered under this study. The use of qquestionnaires, survey and key informant interviews were employed to solicit the required data that were analysed to generate the desired outcomes. The results indicate that sanitary conditions of most public toilet facilities were in a sorry state and need urgent improvement. The findings of the study further suggested that poor supervision, lack of regular and adequate on-site water supply, lack of training on toilet management and maintenance has contributed to the sorry state of most toilet facilities. In line with the findings, the study recommends the resourcing and tooling of Environmental Health Officers of the Municipal Assembly for effective and intensive monitoring of the public toilet facilities to ensure operators comply with the guidelines for the provision, operation, and maintenance of public toilets The study further recommends the establishment of a sludge treatment plant or a dedicated and regulated site for the dumping of faecal sludge. Key words Public Toilet, Faecal, Sludge, Management DOI: 10.7176/CER/12-6-08 Publication date: June 30 th 2020","PeriodicalId":10219,"journal":{"name":"Civil and environmental research","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89869375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comparative Analysis of the Properties of Mortar Produced with Palm Kernel Oil Cake (PKOC)","authors":"G. Dokyi, Christian Ahuma-Smith, Samson Bavuno","doi":"10.7176/cer/12-6-06","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/cer/12-6-06","url":null,"abstract":"The study explores and compares the properties of mortar produced with palm kernel oil cake (PKOC) as partial replacement of sand to traditional cement/sand mortar. Having reviewed some relevant literature on the topic, samples of materials required were collected and batched by volume to a mix proportion of (1:3). The PKOC replacement varies from 0%, 12.5%, 25% and 37.5% with water to 0.3. A total of 16 cubes was molded, cured for 21 days, subjected to various tests at each percentage replacement. The weight and density of the PKOC samples are found to be lighter than the control sample. It was observed that the compressive strength decreases from 12.5% upwards of PKOC aggregate replacement. Also, the water absorption decreases as the PKOC aggregate replacement increases. And it was finally recommended that before one can use PKOC as a partial replacement in traditional cement/sand mortar, its content should not exceed 12.5%. Keywords: Palm kernel, palm kernel oil cake, mortar, properties of mortar DOI: 10.7176/CER/12-6-06 Publication date: June 30 th 2020","PeriodicalId":10219,"journal":{"name":"Civil and environmental research","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82924435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Review on School Based Environmental Club Impact on Student and General Environment","authors":"Umer Abdela","doi":"10.7176/cer/12-6-02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/cer/12-6-02","url":null,"abstract":"Environmental clubs plays an important role in creating environmental awareness for the future generation. Environmental clubs performs activities to save the environment, through activities like planting trees, increasing pollution impact on environment. Environmental clubs is a platform on which knowledge about environment is gained early during childhood. They offer programs and activities to encourage others to reduce pollution, plant trees, and more through voluntary group which promotes the participation of students in learning about, and improving their environment. Therefore, this paper was sets out to review the impact of school based environmental club on student and environment in general. The findings of those reports related to the selected topic and an objective was organized from student and environmental perspectives from different published and unpublished materials found. The review result concluded as it is a wonderful opportunity to create awareness, build attitudes and help students take up activities in real world in which the constraints of the classroom and curriculum will not allow. An Environmental clubs can thus help to extend boundaries and scope of the formal educational system encouraging creativity, and improving students for constructive action. The environmental activity performed by environmental club a group contributes for environmental conservation at varies level from increasing awareness for community to direct intervention in conservation works. Although environmental club contribution is evident there is also number of challenges related financial and knowledge gaps. So increasing funding, training on Environmental Education, integration of Environmental Education in all primary and secondary school curriculum, support from government and other donors should be with the environmental club to expect more result. Keywords: - environmental club, environment, Environmental education, impact, student DOI: 10.7176/CER/12-6-02 Publication date: June 30 th 2020","PeriodicalId":10219,"journal":{"name":"Civil and environmental research","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84121995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Optimization of Water Distribution System Using WaterGEMS: The Case of Wukro Town, Ethiopia","authors":"T. Berhane","doi":"10.7176/cer/12-6-01","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/cer/12-6-01","url":null,"abstract":"This study was aimed to optimize the designed water distribution system in the Wukro town using WaterGEMS model. The Darwin Designer in WaterGEMS was applied for finding optimal pipe diameter to supply adequate quantity of water at satisfactory pressures to the end users. In the WaterGEMS model, the Darwin Scheduler of daily pumping operations tools also used for optimal control and operation of pump systems. The WaterGEMS model was implemented in water distribution networks which include 117 pipes (40.67km), 99 demand nodes (equivalent to 50480 end users) that are spread across a hilly area over a 1989m to 2046m elevation gradient. The model was calibrated at the selected nodes within very good performance. The results have shown that the maximum pressure before optimization is 31.1m and after optimization increased to 38.1m, the minimum pressure on the former is 7.9m and 16m later during peak hour demand. Comparison of results showed that the optimized networks reduce the cost by 9.6% than those of before optimization networks by traditional hydraulic. In addition to this, the optimal tanks filling/emptying arrangement decreased the daily cost of energy consumptions by 12.5% compare as a currently scheduled pump. The finding of this study indicated that the WaterGEMS model is a promising approach for optimal sizing of pipes in design water distribution networks and pumping operational schedules. Keywords : Water Distribution Network, Genetic Algorithm, Pipe Diameter, Energy consumption, Darwin Designer, Darwin scheduler DOI: 10.7176/CER/12-6-01 Publication date: June 30 th 2020","PeriodicalId":10219,"journal":{"name":"Civil and environmental research","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81204696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. G. Okeniyi, O. Alli, T. A. Amusat, A. S. Akolade
{"title":"British Standard and Euro Code: Model of Singly Reinforced Rectangular Concrete Under Actions","authors":"A. G. Okeniyi, O. Alli, T. A. Amusat, A. S. Akolade","doi":"10.7176/cer/12-6-05","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/cer/12-6-05","url":null,"abstract":"Upgrading are desired Changes on any standard in operation. Meanwhile context understanding are required to achieve positive impact on the subject system. In same vein, codes of practice are always revised and that users should be made to use the latest edition of any relevant standard. Thus a model is developed to describe the sectional analysis difference with predicting implications of various combinations of sectional dimensions in structural reinforced concrete elements with reference to the two codes. The method adopted is purely mathematical technique of modeling, concept and application. Based on the previous behavioural knowledge of such using BS code, Okeniyi et al (2012), a concrete rectangular section of singly reinforced status was also used as a case study. The section was analyzed from stress-strain relationship to formulate the governing equations and the same was specified by breadth b, total depth h and moment of resistance M R . This was simulated to describe the relationship between the variable parameters and predict the behavior of a rectangular section under loads with reference to British Standard and Euro Code. The model, thus defines clearly sectional analysis difference increasing understanding for better structural design skill. Keywords: Reinforced Concrete, Stress-Strain Relationship, Rectangular Section and Moment of Resistance DOI: 10.7176/CER/12-6-05 Publication date: June 30 th 2020","PeriodicalId":10219,"journal":{"name":"Civil and environmental research","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88811928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
David Vom Tahi Onana, Blaise Ngwem Bayiha, D. Fokwa, R. Nzengwa
{"title":"Assessment of Degradations/Defects and Maintenance of Administrative Primary and Secondary School Buildings of the City of Bafoussam, Cameroon","authors":"David Vom Tahi Onana, Blaise Ngwem Bayiha, D. Fokwa, R. Nzengwa","doi":"10.7176/cer/12-6-03","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/cer/12-6-03","url":null,"abstract":"This paper reports the findings of a survey on assessment of degradations/defects and maintenance of administrative primary and secondary school buildings of the city of Bafoussam, Cameroon. Data were collected with the use of structured questionnaires as shown in appendix II administered on various managers of public primary and secondary schools in the three districts of Bafoussam namely, Bafoussam I, Bafoussam II and Bafoussam III. Data were analysed with basic descriptive tools such as percentage. The results showed that the primary schools buildings in the city of Bafoussam are more degraded than those of secondary schools as an example 98% of primary school buildings in the city of Bafoussam show an aging of the paint on the walls, i.e. 127 buildings, while those of secondary school buildings show 86% i.e. 157 buildings. 85% of primary school buildings in the city of Bafoussam have a ceiling in poor condition i.e. 111 buildings, while those of secondary schools buildings have 76% i.e. 132 buildings. The secondary school buildings in the city of Bafoussam have undergone more maintenance works than those of primary schools. Keywords: Degradations/defects, Maintenance, Primary school buildings, Secondary school buildings, Bafoussam DOI: 10.7176/CER/12-6-03 Publication date: June 30 th 2020","PeriodicalId":10219,"journal":{"name":"Civil and environmental research","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84854828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R. O. Oladosu, Siyaka Abdulrahman Arudi, Yusuf AbdulWaheed Adeiza
{"title":"Assessment of Residents’ Level of Neighbourhood Satisfaction in Violence-Induced Segregated Urban Environments","authors":"R. O. Oladosu, Siyaka Abdulrahman Arudi, Yusuf AbdulWaheed Adeiza","doi":"10.7176/cer/12-6-07","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/cer/12-6-07","url":null,"abstract":"Urban violence has resulted into segregation of urban dwellers along neighbourhood divides in many cities of the world. It is well documented that neighbourhood satisfaction is a vibrant contributor to the overall wellbeing of urban dwellers; yet, investigative research on how satisfied are residents in such violence-induced segregated urban environments- a neighbourhood scenario where different ethnic, religious or ethno-religious groups previously co-existed but later parted as a result of inter-group violence, seems not to have been given sufficient attention as a specific matter of concern in neighbourhood studies. Exploring the attributes of the physical and social environment as well as neighbourhood facilities and public utilities, this study examined the level of neighbourhood satisfaction in the segregated Jos city of Nigeria, through a measure of central tendency and spread, employing SPSS-22. The study discovered that residents experienced low degree of satisfaction in both homogenous and mixed neighbourhoods identified in the city. Analysis however revealed significant differences between the two types of neighbourhood in terms of elements examined in relation to the three key attributes employed for the examination. Keywords: neighbourhood satisfaction, violence-induced, segregated urban environment, homogenous neighbourhood, mixed neighbourhood DOI: 10.7176/CER/12-6-07 Publication date: June 30 th 2020","PeriodicalId":10219,"journal":{"name":"Civil and environmental research","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82147457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An Evaluation of the Relationship Between Integrated Rural Development Scheme, Livelihood Assets and Housing Condition in Nigeria","authors":"A. Odebode, O. Olatoye, A. Olalere, A. Olaniyan","doi":"10.7176/cer/12-5-06","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/cer/12-5-06","url":null,"abstract":"The paper examined the relationship among integrated rural development scheme, livelihood assets and housing condition in selected rural areas in Osun state. This is necessitated by the need to look at an alternative ways of financing rural housing through self-help project. It is also inspired by the need for sustainability in better housing condition in the rural communities.The paper carried out a survey of participants of an existing integrated scheme that was established with the objective of improving farmers’ welfare through improved productivity in 28 rural communities under the jurisdiction of Justice Development and Peace Makers’ Centre (JDPMC), Osogbo, Osun state. Data was obtained from 344 respondents selected through a multi-staged sampling across 28 rural communities in Osun state. The data obtained was analysed with the use of frequency distribution, correlation, regression and chi-square analysis.The results of the study in this paper reveals, among others, that the mode of operation and housing condition has positive relationship and are not independent of each other. Similarly, there is significant relationship between household size (r = 0.327) and housing condition, livelihood assets (r = 0.451) and housing condition at P ≤ 0.01. Based on these findings, integrated scheme has positive relationship with housing condition because the more the livelihood assets through integrated scheme, the better the rural housing condition in Nigeria.The paper therefore suggests consideration of integrated scheme as an effective strategy for rural housing improvement. The study is a pioneering attempt at establishing whether increase in participants’ assets such as physical, financial, natural, human and social capital due to the integrated scheme will lead to significant improvement in housing condition. Keywords: relationship, integrated, rural development scheme, livelihood assets, housing condition, and rural areas. DOI: 10.7176/CER/12-5-06 Publication date: May 31 st 2020","PeriodicalId":10219,"journal":{"name":"Civil and environmental research","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85149063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vanessa Asiimwe, Sheilla Mukonyezi, Patience Akugizibwe, Ronald Ekyalimpa
{"title":"Production Metrics for Planning Structural Drafting Operations for Reinforced Concrete Staircases in Structural Firms within Uganda","authors":"Vanessa Asiimwe, Sheilla Mukonyezi, Patience Akugizibwe, Ronald Ekyalimpa","doi":"10.7176/cer/12-5-02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/cer/12-5-02","url":null,"abstract":"Productivity and production rate benchmarks for labor and equipment in the construction sector are vital metrics used to support comprehensive project planning and control activities. Scheduling and budgeting are the two project planning processes that utilize these metrics in their development and use. There is a misconception that project planning and control processes are mainly undertaken by the contractors for construction process but not by consultants for their analysis, design, and drafting processes. Interactions with practitioners serving in supervisory roles in consulting firms so the need and desire to perform these operations too, so that they are furnished with timeline and cost information to better plan and manage their tasks. However, most research activity has been directed towards obtaining benchmarks related to onsite construction processes leaving those in analysis, design, and drafting clueless about what possible benchmarks for their activities are. This study set out to measure and benchmark structural drafting operations for reinforced concrete staircases. Time measurements were done for two of the different types of reinforced concrete staircase configurations, i.e. straight-run and spiral staircases and benchmarks proposed for each of those types. Keywords: Productivity, production rate, benchmarks, reinforced concrete staircases, structural drafting DOI: 10.7176/CER/12-5-02 Publication date: May 31 st 2020","PeriodicalId":10219,"journal":{"name":"Civil and environmental research","volume":"42 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88078377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}