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Topic Review
Fee Variability among Built Environment Professionals in SA
The capacity of professional services in the built environment to produce revenue and employment has contributed to the significant impact of the built environment on socio-economic development. Because of the market’s competitiveness, it is common practice in the South African construction industry for professionals to provide heavily discounted professional fees on building projects.
  • 448
  • 11 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Emotional-Intelligence and Decision-Making Association: Improving Productivity UK Construction-Industry
Sixty-five per cent of construction project failures stem from various challenging factors, often associated with human error factors (HEF) and the escalating complexity and technical demands within the UK construction industry. Successfully navigating these challenges requires not only technical skills but also a robust set of ‘soft skills’. Despite the significance of these findings, there is a considerable gap in the perception, uptake, and application of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in the UK construction sector, particularly concerning its impact on the performance of construction professionals and the enhancement of productivity. This research investigated the relationship between EI and the decision-making processes of construction professionals in the industry, aiming to improve productivity. The goal was to uncover the extent of the association between various EI models and decision-making for construction professionals, as well as to understand the perception of EI among construction professionals and its critical role in their decision-making to boost productivity, ensure project success and safeguard project team members.  Data were collected using a mixed-method research design that incorporated both quantitative and qualitative studies. Twenty-two construction professionals participated in semi-structured (open-ended) interviews, while forty completed a survey questionnaire. The analysis utilised the six-phase reflexive thematic analysis method by Braun and Clarke (2022). From the qualitative data, the study revealed a correlation between individuals' perceived EI competence and their decision-making contexts rather than their overall scores. The findings carry practical implications for the construction industry and offer insights for project team members. Overall, the study indicated a stronger link between decision-making and EI than technical skills, particularly in contexts requiring additional competencies. The results suggest that EI is a notable deficiency, and understanding EI in the UK construction industry is a crucial determinant of construction professionals' performance and enhanced productivity. This research is significant for both researchers and industry practitioners as it sheds light on how construction professionals perceive information and make decisions. Additionally, the study contributes to professional practices and the body of knowledge within the construction sector. The aim is to evaluate construction professionals'  perceptions of EI competence concerning decision-making during project execution to boost productivity in mega-projects.
  • 309
  • 29 Sep 2025
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Masonry Arches: Thrust Line and Strength
The concept of ‘thrust line’ has its roots in historical contributions that laid the foundation for the development of modern tools useful for the limit analysis of masonry arches and vaults. This concept can be traced back to two different, but related, notions: ‘line of resistance’ and ‘line of pressure’. In this paper, both historical contributions and recent developments of the thrust line method will be discussed with a focus on those formulations which take into account the material’s properties, in particular compressive strength.
  • 91
  • 10 Mar 2026
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
A SWOT Analysis of Modular Construction
Modular construction is generally defined as a typical offsite construction approach that can improve environmental sustainability throughout the building project lifecycle. Based on this situation, identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) while promoting this sustainable construction method effectively during the urbanisation process is essential. Generally, modular construction is a sustainable building approach that can improve project sustainability, considering the environmental, social, economic, and technological aspects. A comprehensive understanding of the basic situation of prefabricated construction is worthwhile to ensure the widespread adoption of this offsite building method. By employing the SWOT analytical framework, this study adopts a literature review approach to conduct the investigation. In terms of the project results, the core strengths of using modular construction include improving environmental sustainability, enhancing management effectiveness, and improving construction safety and quality. The major weaknesses, on the other hand, are a lack of expertise and research, excessively high initial costs, and difficulties in stakeholder coordination. On the other hand, the major opportunities include promoting the SDGs and other policies, the Industrial Revolution 4.0, and urbanisation and building demands. The main threats, however, include substitute construction technologies, imperfect building codes and standards, and a lack of social and market acceptance. Further research can increase the sample size and collect more accurate firsthand data to validate the results of the current investigation, which can increase the effectiveness of promoting modular construction in the targeted regions.
  • 52
  • 22 Jan 2026
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Intelligent Eyes on Buildings: A Scientometric Mapping and Systematic Review of AI-Based Crack Detection and Predictive Diagnostics of Building Structures
Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based crack detection in buildings uses computer vision and deep learning to automatically identify structural cracks from inspection images. In recent years, many studies have explored this topic, but the overall development of the field, its methodological practices, and the remaining challenges are still not fully clear. Unlike most previous reviews that focus mainly on technical methods, this study combines a large-scale scientometric mapping of the research field with a focused technical analysis of recent AI-based crack detection methods specifically applied to building structures. This study therefore provides a dual-layer review covering research published between 2015 and 2025. A total of 146 Scopus-indexed publications were analysed using Visualization of Similarities viewer (VOSviewer) to examine publication growth, thematic evolution, collaboration patterns, and citation structures. In addition, a focused technical review of 36 highly relevant studies was carried out to analyse task formulations, model families, datasets, evaluation protocols, and methodological practices. The results show a rapid increase in research activity after 2020, largely driven by advances in deep-learning and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based inspections. At the same time, collaboration networks remain uneven, and citation influence is concentrated in a limited number of research communities. The technical review further shows that most studies focus on detection-level tasks, particularly You Only Look Once (YOLO)-based models, while predictive diagnostics, automated inspection reporting, and decision-oriented Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) are still rarely addressed. Current datasets and evaluation protocols also remain mostly perception-oriented, which makes it difficult to assess robustness, generalisability and long-term predictive capability.
  • 44
  • 15 Jun 2026
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Real-Time Digitalisation: The Future of Post-Occupancy Evaluation in Buildings
Real-time digitalisation refers to the continuous collection, integration, and analysis of operational building data, enabled by the integration of digital technologies into building management platforms. It is an advanced extension of building post-occupancy evaluation (POE) that transforms it from a static, retrospective evaluation process into a dynamic, data-driven methodology. In this entry, real-time digitalisation is discussed in relation to its role within the POE framework. The discussion includes a review of its evolution from early automation systems to contemporary cyber-physical infrastructures, supported by advanced analytics and machine learning. In addition, its dual benefits are highlighted as both a measurement tool and a decision-support system. Prevalent implementation complexities that limit its practicality in the building industry are also discussed. Real-time digitalisation is unlikely to replace conventional POE; instead, it broadens its capabilities, reconfiguring the process into a continuous, evidence-based building performance management process. The future relevance of real-time digitalisation to POE depends on its ability to become less technology-focused and more human-centric. Its infrastructure needs to align with occupant-subjective metrics, become more affordable, and increase its capacity to translate data into practical building management actions. As buildings become increasingly socio-technical systems, real-time digitalisation is emerging as a core methodological component of mainstream POE, with its importance spanning the entire lifecycle of buildings.
  • 22
  • 07 May 2026
Topic Review
Low-Carbon Cementitious Materials
Low-carbon cementitious materials are a family of cementitious binders and constituents formulated or selected to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions expressed as CO₂-equivalent associated with cement and concrete production, relative to a specified conventional baseline, while providing the binding performance required for their intended applications [1]. Emission reductions can be achieved primarily by lowering the Portland-clinker fraction through partial replacement with supplementary cementitious materials, such as fly ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag, silica fume, metakaolin, and calcined clay, or by using alternative binder chemistries, including alkali-activated binders, calcium sulfoaluminate cements, belite-rich cements, and magnesium-based cements, which may require lower calcination temperatures or reduce reliance on limestone calcination [2]. Because conventional Portland cement production generates greenhouse-gas emissions from both the calcination of calcium carbonate and fuel combustion during clinker production, the low-carbon performance of a cementitious material is generally assessed by comparing greenhouse-gas emissions with those of an appropriate baseline, using a defined system boundary and functional unit [3][4][5]. Such comparisons should also consider equivalent performance requirements, including strength, durability, and expected service life, to ensure that emission reductions are evaluated on a functionally comparable basis. Low-carbon cementitious materials therefore do not correspond to a single composition, clinker-substitution level, or strength class, and conventional blended cements may also be considered low-carbon when they demonstrate a meaningful reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions relative to an appropriate reference system.
  • 14
  • 21 Sep 2026
Topic Review
Energy-Efficient Building Envelopes
A building envelope (or building envelope assembly) is the physical separator between the conditioned interior and the exterior environment, comprising exterior walls, roofs, floors on grade or over unconditioned space, windows, doors, and associated air, vapor, and moisture-control layers [1]. An energy-efficient building envelope is designed to reduce unwanted heat transfer, air leakage, and moisture accumulation while maintaining acceptable indoor environmental conditions. Key performance considerations include thermal resistance, airtightness, moisture control, solar control, and, where appropriate, thermal mass [1][2][3]. Thermal transmittance (U-value), expressed in W/(m²·K), can be calculated for applicable building components and elements from the thermal resistances of their constituent layers and the relevant surface resistances in accordance with ISO 6946 [4]. ISO 6946 applies principally to relevant building components and elements and excludes windows, doors and other glazed units, curtain walling, building components involving heat transfer to the ground, and components through which air is designed to permeate [4]. Energy-efficient envelopes are therefore defined by their ability to achieve appropriate thermal, air, moisture, and solar-control performance while supporting energy-efficient building operation, rather than by a prescribed material or construction method [1][2].
  • 14
  • 22 Sep 2026
Topic Review
Sustainable Construction Management
Sustainable construction management is the integrated planning, coordination, and control of construction project resources, materials, processes, and supply chains to achieve project objectives while reducing environmental impacts and addressing social and economic considerations throughout the life cycle of the built asset [1][2]. It builds on traditional construction project management, which primarily focuses on cost, time, and quality, by incorporating the sustainability triple bottom line of environmental, social, and economic outcomes into project decision-making [1][2]. These sustainability considerations may include embodied carbon emissions, resource depletion, construction waste, worker health and safety, social equity, and long-term economic viability. In practice, sustainable construction management can be implemented through sustainable procurement, such as selecting materials with recycled or renewable content, products with verified environmental performance, and suppliers that meet defined environmental and social criteria [1][3]. Waste-reduction measures include accurate material planning, prefabrication and modular construction, on-site separation of waste streams, reuse of materials, and recycling of construction and demolition waste [1][3]. Design and construction strategies that facilitate disassembly, adaptability, reuse, and recycling can further improve resource efficiency and reduce waste over the building life cycle [3]. Sustainability performance can be evaluated using measurable indicators such as embodied carbon emissions (kg CO₂e/m²), construction waste generation (kg/m²), the percentage of construction waste diverted from landfill, recycled or reused material content (%), energy and water consumption, and project cost and schedule performance [2][4]. Social performance may additionally be assessed through indicators related to occupational health and safety, labor conditions, and stakeholder engagement [2][4]. Life-cycle assessment and other quantified environmental assessment methods can be used to evaluate environmental performance across the life cycle of a building [5]. Integrating these indicators into project planning, procurement, construction, and post-construction evaluation provides a basis for monitoring sustainability performance while balancing environmental, social, economic, cost, time, and quality objectives [2][4].
  • 11
  • 29 Sep 2026
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
The Real-World Use of Building Energy Regulations as a Mechanism to Accelerate Climate Resilience in the Global South
International research and policy frameworks underscore the value of mandatory energy regulations in reducing energy demand and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the built environment. However, Global South (GS) countries experience several challenges in effectively implementing building energy efficiency codes (BEECs), as codes are either absent, unevenly adopted or inconsistently enforced. A poor alignment with the specific climatic, socio-economic and construction realities further limits the potential of BEECs to support GS climate resilience. This research aims to identify opportunities to enhance building energy regulatory practices by exploring recent progress in the field. It also systematically evaluates existing mandatory BEECs in the GS to identify models and principles that could guide the development of more effective codes, specifically for GS countries without BEECs. It is hypothesised that the mandatory BEECs currently implemented in GS countries can be analysed using contextually relevant criteria to reveal common regulatory patterns, strengths, and shortcomings, thereby informing a climate-responsive framework suited to GS realities. This research implemented a two-tiered literature review. After determining the broad regulatory context, an exploratory review of the current state of the art in BEEC research was conducted. These publications (primarily 2016–2025) were obtained via a systematic query in Scopus. Following the exploratory review, this study performed a Systematic Quantitative Literature Review (SQLR) to assess mandatory BEECs from 18 GS countries. The findings reveal that BEECs are useful for delivering energy-efficient buildings in the real world. However, ample opportunities exist to improve their comprehensiveness in context and coverage. Improving regulatory implementation systems and structures, along with robust stakeholder engagement, can support better BEEC design and enforcement. To address the need for contextualised BEECs, the SQLR helped develop a taxonomy by comparing the mandatory codes. This research also introduces the Sustainable Level Indicator Model, Matrix, and Map (SLIM3) prototype, proposed as a decision-support tool, and hosted on an interactive online platform, thereby potentially contributing to real-world building energy regulatory practices. The SLIM3 tool organises the mandatory BEECs into a coherent, accessible framework that could assist GS decision-makers in benchmarking existing and new codes, identifying gaps and prioritising contextually appropriate improvements, thus contributing to a more resource-efficient built environment.
  • 10
  • 02 Jun 2026
Topic Review
Building Energy Efficiency
Building energy efficiency refers to the ability of a building and its energy-using systems to provide required services, such as thermal comfort, lighting, ventilation, and domestic hot water, with a reduced amount of energy input [1]. It should be distinguished from energy consumption, which refers to the actual amount of energy used by a building during a specified period. Energy efficiency therefore concerns the relationship between energy inputs and the services or performance delivered, whereas energy consumption describes the quantity of energy consumed [1][2]. Building energy efficiency is influenced by the thermal performance of the building envelope, the efficiency of heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, lighting and appliances, building operation, and occupant-related factors. Assessment may be based on calculated or measured energy performance and can consider delivered energy, primary energy, or other energy-related metrics [1][2]. ISO 52000-1 provides a framework for assessing the overall energy performance of new and existing buildings using measurement or calculation. In practice, building energy efficiency is evaluated using indicators such as energy use intensity (EUI), expressed as energy consumption per unit of floor area and time; primary energy use per unit of reference floor area; and energy performance ratings or benchmark scores [2][3]. EUI can be calculated from measured energy consumption and used to compare a building with similar buildings, historical performance, or a defined target. Building energy standards and performance requirements may specify minimum envelope insulation levels, minimum system efficiencies, maximum allowable energy use, or other performance targets [4]. Energy performance certificates and benchmarking schemes similarly provide standardized approaches for reporting or comparing building performance.
  • 8
  • 29 Sep 2026
Topic Review
Intelligent Construction
Intelligent construction refers to the integration of digital technologies, data-driven methods, artificial intelligence, and automated systems throughout the building life cycle to improve the planning, design, construction, and operation of built assets. It encompasses building information modeling (BIM), Internet of Things (IoT), digital twins, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotics, and construction automation, which can be combined to support information integration, monitoring, analysis, decision-making, and automated or semi-automated construction processes [1][2]. Rather than referring to a single technology, intelligent construction represents an integrated approach in which digital information and computational technologies are used to improve construction processes, productivity, safety, quality, and decision-making across the project life cycle [1]. BIM provides structured digital information about building components and project processes, while IoT devices, sensors, reality-capture technologies, and other data sources can provide information about the physical construction environment. These data can be integrated into digital twins to establish connections between physical assets and their digital representations, supporting applications such as construction progress monitoring, quality control, safety management, resource and logistics management, and predictive analysis [2][3]. AI and machine learning can be applied to tasks such as cost and schedule prediction, risk assessment, image-based quality inspection, safety monitoring, and decision support [4]. Robotics and automated construction systems further extend intelligent construction from digital analysis to physical execution, including automated material handling, robotic assembly, autonomous construction equipment, inspection, and human–robot collaboration [5]. The implementation of intelligent construction faces technical, organizational, and workforce-related challenges. Data quality, interoperability, and data integration can affect the reliability and scalability of systems that combine BIM, IoT, digital twins, AI, and robotic technologies [2][3]. Differences in data structures and software platforms may hinder information exchange across project participants, while insufficient data quality can reduce the reliability of AI-based analysis and digital-twin applications [2][3]. Implementation may also require substantial investment in digital infrastructure, changes to established workflows, and personnel with appropriate digital, analytical, and technical skills [1][3]. Therefore, intelligent construction depends not only on the adoption of individual technologies but also on their effective integration with project processes, information management, and human expertise throughout the building life cycle.
  • 6
  • 29 Sep 2026
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