Mixed-use development project in urban area emerged to cater the increase of population in the region. Due to rapid urbanisation, many research recommended the engagement of human with nature in cities development, including the mixed-use development project since nature and human are holistically created to complement each other. This is where the United Nation (UN) under its sustainable development programme has established 17 development goals that amongst all cover both sustainable cities and communities. This shows the urgency of having cities that best fit human nature. However, although many mixed-use development projects were constructed with senses of nature, many of these projects are harmful to environment as they are unable to sustain the natural habitat as well as human needs. Hence, there are many attempts to connect human with nature in Malaysia via sustainable cities and green cities concepts although no specific guidelines on these have been established. Recently, emerged the term biophilic cities, a new concept combining sustainable and resilient cities, which are also seen as the panacea to these mixed-use development project issues despite the efforts done via the former concepts of sustainable and green cities alone. Generally, biophilic cities resemble green cities with a few enhanced greener criteria that affiliate human to nature as opposed to green and sustainable cities that merely bring nature to human. Therefore, this paper aims at investigating the elements of biophilic cities that can be adopted for mixed-use development project in Malaysia. Via systematic literature review, this paper listed the criteria of biophilic cities from previous studies, which are then used in designing the questionnaires distributed to 173 construction players in the mixed-use development projects in Malaysia. It is found that biophilic cities encompass four main criteria that are important to be adopted in mixed-use development project in Malaysia, namely “building”, “block”, “street” and “neighbourhood”, with a total of eight design elements. As biophilic cities are closer to human needs and environment whilst able to manage the rapid urbanisation and increased world population that is meant to be tackled by the mixed-use development project, construction players should start to consider adopting the biophilic cities concept in their mixed-use development project in Malaysia.

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Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) is a tool used in near surface geophysical surveys by flowing an electric current through electrodes that were injected into the ground. The usage of electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) method dominated by geophysicist has increased tremendously in geotechnical engineering application owing to the efficiency and effectiveness of the method in term of time, cost and also data coverage. The survey performed with respect to the particular reference to ERI in determining the granite rock underneath the ground. There were seven (7) lines of ERI performed at the study area by using ABEM Terrameter LS 2 set of equipment based on Schlumberger protocol. Six (6) boreholes were also drilled to obtain engineering properties of rock at the study area. In order to develop the relationship between resistivity and engineering properties, a comparison between borehole field test result and the resistivity value were made. Results from the ERI indicated the presence of zones with high resistivity values identified as overburden soil, fractured granite and solid granite. The findings of this study also showed that the electrical resistivity imaging coupled with borehole drillings were applicable tools for the determination of the granite rock underneath the ground via subsurface profiles and such as depth of overburden soil and engineering properties of soil. In conclusion, ERI is a method that does not disturb the structure or the function of the soil which successfully became the best method in exploring the granite rock.

Performance appraisal system is a common practice in any organisation to appraise performance of workers. In the Malaysian construction industry, performance appraisal system is applied to appraise contractor’s performance in many angles including: quality performance; time performance; cost performance; environmental performance; health and safety performance; productivity performance; and human resources performance. This is where the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) established three guidelines in strengthening the Construction Industry Transformation Programme (CITP) by appraising the contractor’s performance through identification of their weaknesses as well as drafting and offering suitable trainings in enhancing their performance. This paper is therefore undertaken with the objectives of: (1) determining the current practice of contractor’s performance appraisal system in the Malaysian construction industry; and (2) examining the construction players’ perception and understanding on the existing contractor’s performance appraisal system in the Malaysian construction industry. A set of questionnaires is designed and distributed to 157 contractors from G1 to G7 class. The paper finds that: (1) contractor’s performance appraisal system is benefiting the contractors yet should be improved for its efficiency; and (2) construction players have sufficient understanding on contractor’s performance appraisal system. It is expected that the improvement of contractor’s performance appraisal system via the findings of this paper would assist in achieving the three focuses of Transformasi Nasional 2050 (TN50), namely science and technology, urban prosperity as well as environment.