Electronically automated machines with a longer lifespan than human work make up robotic technology. The aging workforce in the prefabricated building business may be addressed by robots, which explains why there are less young people employed there than in other sectors of the economy. Robotic technology is cost-effective since it reduces the time required to complete building projects and the expense of manpower, which also lessens the possibility of accidents. Therefore, it is crucial to consider the benefits of robotic technology adoption in the context of the South African prefabricated building industry. The study adopted a quantitative survey method to obtain data from architects, civil engineers, quantity surveyors, mechanical and electrical engineers, construction managers, and project managers. The data were examined using SPSS, and the suitable dispersion measure and inferential statistics were used. According to the report, the key benefits of adopting robotic technology in the prefabricated building business in South Africa include faster construction timeframes, improved work quality, and increased productivity, efficiency, and profitability. The results also showed that improving worker health and safety would result from introducing robotic technology to the prefabricated building industry. The study's conclusions suggest that because of the advantages discovered, the prefabricated building industry in South Africa should adopt robots more swiftly.

The purpose of this paper is to provide understanding of the seasonal pattern of air leakage (infiltration) in Chinese vernacular buildings across China’s five climate regions. In achieving the set purpose, a grand extensive literature survey was conducted and supported with data drawn from established Meteonorm V6.1 on sensible heat and psychrometric variables. Numerical computations for normalized and specific infiltration from stack effects followed the Gowri method in line with ASHRAE reference 2004. Solar energy admittance into building followed Bouger’s model form Angstrom properties. From the distribution of vernacular buildings across five climate regions of China, evidence from computational and numerical values showed symmetries in terms of minimums and maximums times of occurrence. Further, a reciprocal pattern exists between solar radiative admittance and region’s temperature profile. Knowing that Chinese vernacular building heritage extended to further Asia, this research became limited to only the Chinese region. It became difficult to report if the construction culture away from China has correlation with infiltration and energy admittance value. Earlier works on Chinese climate and vernacular dwellings reported a climate responsive dwelling designed by passive cooling strategy; a gap was closed by extending the previous work to specific infiltration pattern and energy admittance level. Chinese vernacular buildings by virtue of research outcomes are and should be adoptable to modern housing needs for cultural integration.

PurposeThe paper assessed the required drivers of mentoring practices in construction-related firms: a perspective of the quantity surveying (QS) firms in Nigeria with a view to providing possible drivers for effective mentoring relationships in the respective construction firms.Design/methodology/approachSurvey design was used to assess the level of knowledge, mentoring concept adoption and the required drivers of mentoring relationships in construction-related firms. QS firms in Abuja, Nigeria were sampled through the use of semi-structured questionnaires. A total of 149 questionnaires were administered to principal partners, partners, senior quantity surveyors and quantity surveyors in QS firms in Abuja through personal delivery. A total of 142 of them were returned and found suitable for analysis, representing 95.30% effective response rate. Percentage, mean, Kruskal–Wallis and factor analyses were utilized for the analysis of the data.FindingsThe study revealed an appreciable knowledge of mentoring concept but not so much with the adoption in the respective firms. This connotes that there is a problem with the adoption of mentoring concept in construction-related firms despite knowledge of the concept. Also revealed by the study, are the required drivers of mentoring practices in construction-related firms.Practical implicationsThe findings show the required drivers of mentoring practices in construction-related firms and the recommendations to further the adoption and implementation of these drivers to ensure mentoring practices thrive in construction-related firms in the country.Originality/valueThis paper reveals the required drivers of mentoring practices in Nigerian construction-related firms and provides ways through which the drivers can be implemented in the construction firms.

The purpose of this paper is to provide understanding on the seasonal pattern of air leakage (infiltration) in Chinese Vernacular buildings across China’s five climate regions. In achieving the set purpose, a grand extensive literature survey was conducted and supported with data drawn from established Meteonorm V6.1 on sensible heat and psychrometric variables. Numerical computations for normalized and specific infiltration from stack effects followed the Gowri method in line with ASHRAE reference 2004. Solar energy admittance into building followed the Bouger’s Model form Angstrom properties. From the distribution of vernacular buildings across five climate regions of China, evidence from computational and numerical values showed symmetries in terms of minimums and maximums times of occurrence. Further, a reciprocal pattern exists between solar radiative admittance and region’s temperature profile. Knowing that Chinese vernacular building heritage extended to further Asia, this research became limited to only Chinese region. It became difficult to report if the construction culture away from China have correlation with infiltration and energy admittance value. Earlier works on Chinese climate and vernacular dwellings reported a climate responsive dwelling design by passive cooling strategy; a gap was closed by extending the previous work to specific infiltration pattern and energy admittance level. Chinese vernacular buildings by virtue of research outcome are and should be adoptable to modern housing needs for cultural integration.

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