Clinton Aigbavboa’s research while affiliated with University of Johannesburg and other places

The importance of construction education cannot be overemphasised in the South African construction industry. Continuous education, training and learning are of great necessity to young construction professionals. Using a case study approach, this study aims to examine the research boot camp organised by the DSI/NRF Research Chair in Sustainable Construction Management and Leadership in the Built Environment. The study reveals a diverse racial composition of the research bootcamp comprising various young professionals from countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, and others. The boot camp taught participants both hard and soft skills related to research skills, data analysis, language familiarity with academic software, subject matter expertise, time management, and emotional intelligence. Furthermore, the research boot camp aligns with the Africa Agenda 2063, the National development plans of South Africa, and the Sustainable Development Goals 4,5 and 10. This study is important in understanding the competitive advantage the construction industry can gain and the sustainability it can achieve by developing young professional's competencies. There is a need for the construction industry to be involved in supporting more of this research boot camp to foster self-actualisation, engagement, and resilience and help young professionals stay abreast of the latest developments in the industry. Also, there is a need for more of this approach to learning and training across race and gender, which is supported and promoted by the construction industry in line with the Skill Financing Act. This study aligns with the conference's skill development and human resource management theme.

Despite continuous advocacy for sustainable building construction (SBC), it is hardly implemented in Africa. There have been varied views on whether regulatory characteristics concerning SBC should be voluntary or mandatory. Experts recommend customising regulatory characteristics to fit the specific country setting. This paper confirms the critical characteristics of implementing SBC in South Africa (SA) effectively. Using a structured questionnaire, data were collected from professionals in the built environment in SA. The data analysis included descriptive statistics, determining group opinion differences, model tests, and fit statistics for a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). It was revealed that mandatory enforcement of sustainable construction rules, mandatory assessment, mandatory sustainable building certifications, and mandatory incentive programs are necessary to implement SBC successfully. This study’s practical implications stem from its ability to provide stakeholders and policymakers with the necessary understanding of the key aspects to help them properly direct reform plans. Laws, regulations, and assessments that must be strictly enforced imply that all stakeholders must have a grave corporation or mandate for practical SBC to accomplish sustainable development goals. By confirming the critical regulatory characteristics, this study would drive and assist government agencies, construction companies, policymakers, and built environment stakeholders in properly guiding improvement initiatives.

Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as a revolutionary technological asset across multiple sectors, including the construction and Facilities Management (FM) industry. This study aims to evaluate the level of VR applications for facilities management in the construction industry. A field survey was conducted among construction professionals in Gauteng province, South Africa, to identify the level of virtual reality applications for facilities management in construction projects. A random sampling method was used to collect data, and 127 questionnaire responses were received from the construction professionals within the study area. Data collected was computed using a descriptive statistical approach, and the valid mean item score was determined. The study findings identified and ranked the level of VR application, with the highest being space modelling, planning of construction processes, virtualisation of buildings, site layout planning, fire risk assessment, and site landscaping, and the lowest ranked being promoting information among users. In conclusion, this study highlights the growing utilisation and varied applications of Virtual Reality (VR) for Facilities Management (FM) within the construction industry, providing valuable insights for advancing operational efficiency and decision-making processes. Furthermore, it was established that by proactively integrating VR and harnessing its different advantages, facilities management within the construction industry can lead to innovation and attain sustainable growth in its level of applications.

Purpose The use of technological innovations to effectively deliver construction projects is gaining significant coverage. This study aims to assess the inhibiting factors to the utilisation of laser scanners for the delivery of construction projects in developing economies using South Africa as the study area. Design/methodology/approach Adopting a quantitative technique, this study elicited responses from construction professionals using a questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. A four-pronged data analysis method was used, comprising descriptive statistics, Kruskal−Wallis h-test, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Findings Findings from the study show that lack of awareness and high cost of acquisition are the barriers rated by the study’s respondents the most. Also, findings from the EFA and CFA conducted showed and affirmed the significance of three constructs inhibiting factors to the utilisation of laser scanners for construction project delivery: technical hindrances, financial impediments and institutional challenges. Practical implications This study makes practical contributions to the discourse of using innovative technologies for effective construction project delivery by inhibiting factors to the use of laser scanners. Originality/value Evidence from the literature shows that no study has assessed the barriers to the utilisation of laser scanning technology for construction projects in the South African construction industry. This study strives to close this gap in the literature.

Purpose The increasing energy consumption in residential buildings poses significant challenges to sustainability, economic efficiency, and environmental health. Despite the availability of numerous energy-saving strategies, their adoption remains inconsistent due to various barriers such as cost, awareness and technical limitations. This paper aims to assess energy-saving strategies mitigating high energy consumption in residential buildings. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a quantitative research methodology. A carefully developed study questionnaire was distributed to a group of 20 Delphi experts to collect quantitative data. These experts possess extensive experience in the areas of energy use, energy management and energy savings. The questionnaire was also issued to the end users to gather quantitative data. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive analysis. Findings The study results indicate a strong preference for certain energy-saving measures, with energy-efficient appliances, occupant behavior adjustments and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system upgrades emerging as the most frequently adopted strategies. Measures such as installing smart thermostats and energy-efficient windows also ranked highly, reflecting their perceived effectiveness in reducing energy consumption. However, strategies like weatherizing buildings and using smart power strips were less frequently implemented, suggesting lower prioritization or barriers to adoption. The findings further emphasize the importance of HVAC-related maintenance and upgrades, highlighted by their top rankings and frequent use, while simpler actions, such as insulation and turning off lights, were ranked lower despite their potential for energy savings. Research limitations/implications The study’s limitations include reliance on self-reported data, potential bias in participant responses and a lack of consideration for contextual factors such as regional climate, socioeconomic conditions and technological access that may influence the adoption of energy-saving measures. Originality/value This research is distinctive in its integration of the Delphi method with questionnaires to holistically evaluate and assess energy-saving measures for reducing excessive energy use in residential structures. By integrating expert consensus with empirical data from diverse residential contexts, it provides a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of effective energy management practices.

The impact of digitalisation implementation on customer satisfaction within the hospitality industry is essential for increasing customer satisfaction in developing countries, particularly South Africa. However, the impact of digital integration in the hospitality industry must be understood to enrich its application and significantly transform service delivery in the South African hospitality industry. This study assesses the impact of digitalisation implementation on customer satisfaction in the South African hospitality industry. Structured questionnaires were distributed through random sampling techniques to 300 participants involved in the hospitality industry within Gauteng province in South Africa to collect data on employee education and training factors in customer satisfaction in the South African hospitality industry, out of which 260 were retrieved. Data collected through the questionnaire were computed using a descriptive statistical approach. Using a statistical data equation, a valid mean item score was determined in the study. The study findings indicated the impact of digitalisation in transforming hospitality industry service delivery, such as enhancing privacy, security, reservation via website, contactless payment, determining complaints of guests, controlled room temperature, controlled lights, and digital check-in. These factors impacted customer satisfaction in the South African hospitality industry by integrating digitalisation to improve decision-making, service delivery, and marketing strategies. The study recommends that the hospitality industry while embracing digitisation, emphasise the least-ranked factors: food and beverage automation, electronic room keys, automated packing solutions, and automatic answering machines, which are examples of technologies that can improve the efficiency of hospitality operations.

Purpose Creating green design capability readiness has become an emerging necessity toward increasing sustainable performance. However, the understanding of the green design readiness markers for housing delivery is lacking. The purpose of this study is to highlight a green design capability readiness model for affordable housing delivery. Design/methodology/approach Through the use of the self-determination theory and the Technology–Organization–Environment framework, a comprehensive review of related literature revealed 23 indicators on motivational, technological, organizational and environmental markers for green design practices capability readiness for affordable housing delivery. Adopting a deductive design, a questionnaire was developed from these markers for a survey on practitioners with knowledge and experience in green design, sustainability and housing supply chain through purposive and snowballing sampling. Mean score analysis and fuzzy synthetic evaluation were subsequently used to develop the capability readiness model. Findings This study affirmed the markers and revealed the top indicators in each of the markers. The markers subsequently accounted for 28%, 29%, 17.7% and 25.3% of green design capability readiness for affordable housing delivery. Accordingly, technological and motivational markers had the greatest contributions to green design readiness for affordable housing followed by environmental marker and organizational being the least. Practical implications The findings of this study will contribute to developing the right motivations, technological capability and regulatory factors for green design practices to optimize the capability readiness for affordable housing delivery in Ghana. Originality/value The model serves as a valuable resource that could be used to objectively align actions and gauge readiness for green design practices toward sustainability performance improvement in affordable housing delivery. It could also aid in benchmarking the readiness potential of future regulations, policies and motivations for green design practices, concepts and technologies for housing delivery.

This study explores the synergies between digital technologies and lean project delivery to address persistent challenges in the construction industry. The primary aim is to examine the integration of digital technologies, such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and modular construction techniques, with lean principles to transform construction project management. Building on previous research highlighting the potential of these approaches, a narrative literature review examined existing knowledge on leveraging digital tools to enable lean project delivery. The review process involved secondary data from scientific databases, with 150 potentially relevant papers scrutinized and reduced to a final sample of 68. Findings demonstrate that integrating digital technology and lean principles drives substantial improvements in collaboration, visualization, data-driven decision-making, productivity, supply chain management, and overall project performance, as evidenced by global case studies. The study identified key challenges and implementation considerations, including the need for cultural shifts, training investments, and robust data management capabilities. BIM's role in enhancing design coordination and modular construction's contribution to waste reduction and efficiency are highlighted as critical components of this integrated approach. The research builds upon earlier studies emphasizing the importance of digital transformation in construction, while uniquely focusing on its synergies with lean principles. Future research directions include indepth case studies, empirical investigations, and collaborative initiatives to further validate benefits, develop best practices, and explore emerging technologies' role in enhancing digital-lean synergies, thus unlocking the full potential of this integrated approach.