In recent years, the concept of sustainable regeneration has been recognised as being a major social and economic concern which has been a focal point of government policy for some time in the UK. The appreciation of such concerns has led to the development of various evaluation frameworks to guide practitioners to deliver higher and improved sustainability standards for their sustainable regeneration projects. Although these evaluation frameworks have been applied on sustainability projects in general, their focuses have remained limited to the evaluation of the environmental benefits, seemingly, relegating the social and economic benefits to the background. It has been argued that achieving successful delivery of socio-economic regeneration has proved to be elusive and difficult to deliver due to lack of understanding and over concentration on the environmental aspect of sustainability. While there have been some studies on sustainability evaluation of regeneration projects in general in the UK, it is contended that, there remain a paucity of a well-defined empirical research that is able to deal with the issues relating to the evaluation of the socio-economic sustainability benefits of sustainable regeneration projects. Hence the study aims to develop a framework that can be used to evaluate the social and economic sustainability benefits of sustainable regeneration projects. The study adopts a mixed method approach: qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to explore the research questions to meet the aim and objectives set out for the study. A qualitative data is collected through semi-structured interviews from 21 practitioners from three selected construction organisations involved in the delivery of sustainable regeneration projects in the UK. This is complemented by a quantitative data collected through a questionnaire survey from 193 practitioners involved in the delivery of sustainable regeneration projects in the UK. The study identifies a number of barriers and drivers that determine the adoption and implementation of the social and economic sustainability factors in the delivery of successful sustainable regeneration projects in the UK. Notable among the barriers identified include, lack of funding/financial support, the contracts’ requirements and lack of clients’ willingness to adopt sustainability. Similarly, enhancement of reputation, competitive advantage and clients’ requirements are some of the drivers identified to be determining the adoption and implementation of the social and economic sustainability factors in the delivery of the regeneration projects. The findings also reveal that health and safety, education and skill training opportunities and affordable housing are the most considered social sustainability factors being promoted by practitioners on their regeneration projects. The economic sustainability factors which are currently being promoted by practitioners include, value for money, profitability for investors/developer (Return on investment) and jobs and employment opportunities. It is observed that a significant number of practitioners are still not genuinely committed to adopt and implement the socio-economic sustainability principles on their regeneration projects. The study also identifies the lack of understanding and knowledge of the sustainability composition of sustainable regeneration projects. An evaluation framework is developed to guide practitioners to evaluate the social and economic sustainability benefits of their sustainable regeneration projects. It recommends for guidelines or checklist of the key sustainability composition of sustainable regeneration projects to guide practitioners.

The principle of transparency is rarely evident on construction sites. Current practice shows that instability in the execution phase is common, where activities, assumed to be feasible, have be rescheduled initiating a chain of further readjustments and uncertainties. In responding to these uncertainties, the lack of transparency in the construction process leads to communication issues and inefficient decision-making. There is little transparency of activities in the execution phase, making it difficult to foresee and communicate problems and plan to resolve them. The LCM model is a Visual Management Model based on the Lean concepts, designed to improve transparency in production planning and control in construction. LCM is an acronym for Lean Construction Management. The aim of this research work is the development of this Visual Management Model, by clarifying its contribution to theory and practice. To address this aim, the Design Science method is adopted in this investigation. Design Science is applied to develop artefacts for solving problems with practical relevance and potential for theoretical contributions. Outputs of the work include i) the LCM model itself ii) instantiations of the LCM model to refurbishment and power plant construction (demonstrating that the solution works) iii) an evaluation of the utility and applicability of the model and iv) an explanation of its theoretical significance. The research focuses on three case studies which were important for devising, further improving and evaluating the model. This research provides a new model and associated method for applying Visual Management for production planning and control in construction. The model demonstrates how visual tools are systematically applied to manage information flow, support communication and to shed light on the deficiencies of traditional project management. In addition, it demonstrates how visual tools can be used to improve communication barriers and transparency when applying other systems of planning and control in construction such as the Last Planner System.

The valuation of any property follows a process which if followed results in a reasonably consistent determination of value. While the valuation of properties usually traded in the market is reasonably rampant and within the everyday pre-occupation of the professional valuer, the valuation of contaminated land occurs occasionally and poses serious challenges to the valuer in the absence of any framework. The issue of contamination by oil pollution has been very rampant in the Niger Delta wetlands of Nigeria and valuers called upon to assess damages resulting there from have had to adopt valuation processes prescribed for marketable real properties and neglecting to value the ecosystem goods and services that exist in the wetlands, due to the absence of any framework for such valuations. The valuation methods used in valuing properties compulsorily acquired by Government being adopted in valuing contaminated properties including wetlands is contrasted with that used for assessing the compensable value of damages due to contamination and the existing valuation framework examined to confirm its applicability to valuing contaminated wetlands. This research aims to develop a framework for the assessment of the compensable value of damages due to contamination to wetlands by oil pollution in the Niger Delta wetlands. The research adopts an interpretivist philosophy, an abductive logic with a mixed method approach and a case study strategy to examine the valuation practice when faced with the challenge of valuing an oil contaminated wetland in the Niger Delta. The case study strategy afforded the opportunity to apply several data collection techniques and analysis. It is argued the behaviour of valuers is a subjective phenomenon that should be interpretatively studied to understand valuers’ behaviour. Literature and documents were deductively analysed while a questionnaire survey was conducted among the valuation firms and triangulated with data from semi-structured expert interviews of some purposively selected firms. The thesis suggests the definition of value of contaminated wetlands should be a special and not a market value, as the assumption of willing sellers and buyers does not apply in contamination situations. It is suggested that the physical composition of wetlands be recognised and an appropriate framework incorporating both the upland and wetlands components be adopted for its valuations. Finding that valuers anchor their practice and frequently adopt the pre-determined compensation method of valuation to assess the value of contaminated wetlands, it concludes that the resultant paltry compensation is partly responsible for the Niger Delta conflicts and does not comply with international best-practices, and also engenders discontent among the stakeholders of a contaminated wetland valuation. The thesis contends that this practice originates from the inadequate valuation curricular and absence of a Standard of Practice, and recommends the inclusion of wetland economics in a revised valuation curricular. This thesis concludes by proposing a framework that will aid valuers to be consistent in assessing the compensable value of damages due to contamination.

Sustainable management of social (public) housing estates after their provision is becoming necessary in recent years due to the main purpose of meeting cheap, decent and safe housing needs of the citizens, and on the premise that housing is an indispensable human need. Notwithstanding of these, there is evidence that Sustainable Social (Public) Housing Estates Management (SSPHEM) are not being appropriately and successfully practiced. The body of knowledge reveals that the numbers of housing estates were paramount and emphasised by the relevant scholars, rather than, the effective post-construction management of these estates, for improvement of the social (public) housing estates deplorable conditions and to achieve the benefits of sustainability. The overall aim of this research is to develop a framework for Sustainable Social (Public) Housing Estates Management (SSPHEM) in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This research aim was attained through a critical literature review and investigation of themes relevant to the objectives: identification of the estate management principles and approaches currently used in the management of social (public) housing estates; identification of the maintenance management types and practices in the total housing estate management; identification of the underpinning concepts in stakeholder’s management and the relevance/ importance of their inclusion in the management; and to conceptualise sustainability in the context of social (public) housing estate management and identify those beneficial sustainability factors for social (public) housing estates. The research has drawn on works in relevant research methodologies, and has taken an interpretative pragmatic stance with an embedded multiple case study, being adopted to perform exploratory and explanatory case studies into the social (public) housing estate post-construction management. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected using 16 Nr) semi-structured interviews, 100 (Nr) questionnaires, documentation and direct observation. The primary data was analysed using NviVo 10 and SPSS 20 packages and interpretive thematic content analysis techniques. An operational SSPHEM framework was developed for the social (public) housing estates that involved the integration of the appropriate: estate management approach; building maintenance approach; relevant stakeholders’ involvement; and the beneficial sustainability factors. Using unsustainable management approaches was the main issue to the current social (public) housing estates incessant deplorable conditions and deficits. The study found that in-house estate management and unplanned maintenance management approaches; non-involvement/inclusion of the relevant stakeholders; and the meagre awareness, consideration, interlocking and integration of the essential and beneficial sustainability factors, were the main features of unsustainable management. The study established fourteen main factors hindering the sustainable housing estate management and maintenance approaches effectiveness. The study established six reasons for non-stakeholders involvement and seven essential and beneficial sustainability factors for the benefits of sustainability in the social (public) housing estate. The study found that effective and sufficient awareness, understanding, identification and assessment of the appropriate drivers within each theme, and a requirement for stronger correlation amongst the drivers is vital and assisted in the implementation of the operational SSPHEM framework. Operationalising the developed SSPHEM framework suggested strategies, that in itself should ensure improvements in the current social (public) housing estates qualities and conditions and would reduce shortages, with significant benefits appreciation. The framework enhances: monitoring; evaluation; and reporting; on social (public) housing estate performances and sustainability, providing information on areas needing enhancement. The SSPHEM framework is an effective instrument for the end-users of the framework for the social (public) housing estates post-construction management, and can be adopted in other regions of Nigeria, and developing and developed countries in the world over. The research endorsed that sustainable social (public) housing estate post-construction management should be achieved by users of the framework, being willing to make a sustainable change to the legal, cultural, financial/economic, social and political regulations to the practices of the current management approaches. Studying the relevant sustainability assessment toolkits and testing the developed SSPHEM framework, strengthens the sustainability of the framework purpose achievement. Federal and State Governments Housing Authorities staff capacity, training and research and development should encourage innovative and proactive practices for the effective performance and improvement in social (public) housing estates post-construction management.

The importance of emergency response systems have grown tremendously in the recent times due to the many manmade and natural disasters in recent years such as September 2001, July 2005 London bombings and the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami disaster. Disasters cost huge human, social and financial losses. For example, in Typhoon Haiyan, as of November 2013, the official death toll from Philippines‟s devastating storm has passed 10,000 people. In addition, based on early estimates, the reconstruction costs could come to as much as $20bn (£12.3bn). Conventional methods for disaster management have shown little prospects of realizing the true potential of current and emerging technologies. This PhD research aims to propose and evaluate a disaster management system based on the emerging ICT technologies with a focus on transportation in urban environments. This work is presented on an Intelligent Disaster Management System based on Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (VANETs) and Cloud Computing. Our research objective is to increase the safety and system efficiency, to reduce the accidents, congestion, and manage the emergencies and disasters. The effectiveness of the intelligent system has been demonstrated through modelling the impact of disaster on real city transport environments and compares it with the case where the intelligent proposed system was in place, and ability of generalizing the concept was increased through applying the proposed system on different cities. By applying our system, substantial benefits have been achieved in terms of improved and balanced traffic flow and smooth evacuation rates. Furthermore, a micro-simulation software model has been developed which employs the vehicular disaster management system in order to investigate the transportation evacuation strategies potential in reducing the human and economic losses. The particular contribution of my thesis is in the modelling and simulation of the traffic for disaster and evacuation scenarios. To this end, this project uses a range and mix of modelling and simulation technologies including macroscopic and microscopic simulation models; OmniTRANS and S-Paramics transport planning software. xix During the course of this PhD, disaster scenarios of varying scales involving 2-3 different cities of various sizes and characteristics have been modelled and analysed, thereby presenting a system which deliver advanced services in managing disasters which results in lower losses. Also, the Average Vehicle Occupancy impact on the evacuation process time has been investigated. Literally, it represents the higher number of car occupancy which means less number of trips required to the evacuation process. The results have shown that AVO contributes effectively in evacuation plans that are in place. Additionally, two different evacuation strategies have been applied and evaluated simultaneously and isolated. Subsequently, either continues the processes or perhaps there is a need to change the strategy where applicable and appropriate. In other words, after propagating the evacuation strategy, the traffic situation has been assessed and observed the effectiveness of the disaster management system on the network by comparing the performance of the proposed system against the traditional system. To sum up, the comparison between both scenarios shows the ability to secure more of vehicles, up to double the number, and hence improve the network performance in terms of safety. Moreover, there is an improvement in flow rate of many critical links. Many blocked links are turned into some reds and blues which means an improvement seemed to occur to the whole network.

Construction industry within Jordan (whilst it is sensitive to changes in economic activity; demographic factors and social development) it is progressively becoming more successful, as Jordan itself modernizes. As a result of this, there is agrowing need for specialized Information Technology (IT) software. The SMEs in the Jordanian construction industry are facing many challenges including competition from regional and international contractors. SMEs needs to change and modernize, especially in terms of using advanced IT as it can enable them to perform better and increase their ability to reach a high standard and have more credibility in the eyes of clients. The findings showed that SME contractors in Jordan are behind in the use of advanced IT such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and that AutoCAD dominated the production of engineering drawings and Microsoft application packages, e-mails and web browsers were among the top software utilized by the industry. The use of such technology is still lacking and this is mainly attributed to a number of social, cultural, financial, technological and legal factors. Therefore this research embarked on a journey to develop a framework for the Uptake of Advanced IT with Specific Emphasis on BIM by SMEs in the Jordanian Construction Industry. Using a mixed method research, interviews and questionnaires were conducted to find out why BIM adoption in Jordan is so slow and why the status quo, which is no adoption of BIM among SMEs at all. The research found that there were several barriers hindering the adoption of BIM among SMEs. The number of barriers spanned from product issues (i.e. the technology itself), process issues, to people or cultural issues. Some of these barriers are: Lack of Awareness of BIM, cost and time of investment, low level of education, lack of knowledge and skill, culture, training, etcetera. Therefore, using these findings and also with the help of literature, the research developed and tailored this framework to the context of construction SMEs in Jordan. The framework is structured in such a way to allow construction SMEs to adopt BIM properly. The framework was validated using Member Checking technique and the participants approved of the usefulness and the applicability of the framework. The hope is that the framework will serve as a stepping-stone to the future adoption of BIM among construction SMEs in Jordan and even the large construction companies may find it useful. Lastly, it was resolved that in order to resolve the issues of adoption, Project Owners; Public sector (government) and Private sector clients; Construction Associations; and Large construction companies would have to join hands to create awareness through training, seminars, courses, other programmes, practical adoption of BIM on projects and documentation of results.

This study aims to identify and assess the viability of the adoption and implementation of the Activity-Based Costing (ABC) system in the Libyan cement industry (LCI). The main expected contribution to knowledge is represented in the development of an analytical framework on the adoption factors of the ABC system in the LCI. The originality in the current study lies in bridging the gap in the knowledge and understanding of ABC system practices in the Libyan context. This study is the first to be conducted in a Libyan context as no previous empirical research has been undertaken on the subject of the ABC system in the Libyan environment. From this research it is expected that a deep understanding of the key factors that would encourage other Libyan organizations to adopt the ABC system can be gained which, in turn, would help them to become more efficient and more effective (by providing these organizations with a clear picture of where resources are being spent and whether money is being made or lost). The research started by gathering the adoption factors (eight factors) of the Activity-Based Costing system through addressing and analysing the literature published since 1987. Ascertaining these adoption factors helped the researcher in the framing of the interview questions; these factors were used as a guide to collect and assess the relevant data for this study in order to obtain valid results. The interpretivism philosophy was selected for this research. The research method used was the qualitative research method and the research strategy was multiple embedded case studies. The main data was gathered via face-to-face semi-structured interviews and documentation and direct observation were also used as other sources of evidence to enhance the research validity and reliability. The semi-structured interviews were conducted with employees from the top, middle and shop floor levels of the Ahlia Cement Company and the Libyan Cement Company. The various data were collected and analysed systematically by using thematic analysis. The results of the study show that ABC can be adopted in the Libyan cement industry due to the existence of most of the necessary factors required for the adoption of the ABC system in the Libyan cement environment. Key words: Activity-Based Costing, traditional cost accounting, the Libyan cement industry.

This study examines the implementation of Training Programmes (TPs) for the academic staff (AS) in Libyan Universities (LUs), where AS are key members of this community and supporting their continuing professional development to underpin excellence in learning and teaching is a high priority. A comprehensive analysis of the problems linked to the implantation of TPs in Libyan institutions is performed. It is obvious the pronounced TPs gap between Libya and the developed world due to social, political and economic conditions in an Arab countries where the primary delivery educational model is essentially traditional. Then possible ways of implementing successfully TPs in Libyan educational institutions by considering successful UK examples. This study identify the necessary factors for the affective implementation of training programmes in order to improve the performance of academic staff of Libyan universities. A single case study approach is adopted within one institution which is Tripoli University (UoT). The methodology used in the research had quantitative and qualitative. This study analyses data collected through a questionnaire with the holders of the Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) in select fourteen UK universities in order to investigate their opinion and perception about this Certificate, followed by four semi-structured interviews with the PGCHE holder in order to clarify their ideas and with three academic providers of such TPs to obtain more information from different viewpoints. In addition, semi-structured interviews undertaken with 31 AS from UoT in Libya. This study makes contributions to knowledge in: a) attempted to bridge the gap in knowledge within the HE sector by providing an empirical understanding of the phenomenon within this sector; b) the identification of barriers to the implementation of TPs which led to; narrowing the gap in the knowledge in the field of academic training about implementation-barriers in HE in general that has never been explored before ; c) identifies issues around the improvement of existing universities in Libya and the development of future Libyan universities; d) it also leads to the potential identification 2 of ways that could improve HE in Libya and lead to education quality improvements for Libyan society; e) The recommendations of this research could aid the Libyan government to identify changes necessary in the Libyan HEIs in general so that they achieve the level of their counterparts in the developed countries; f) identification of the key factors affecting the implementation of TPs in LUs has helped in preparing the framework provided by the researcher at the end of this thesis, which could be used towards remedying the problems affecting TPs in LUs.

The Himalayan region is one of the most highly glacierised areas on Earth. Regarded as the “water towers” of Asia, the Himalayas are the source of several of the world’s major rivers. The region is inhabited by some 140 million people and ten times as many (~1.4 billion) live in its downstream river basins. Freshwater from the mountains is vital for the region’s economy and for sustaining the livelihoods of a fast-growing population. Climatic warming and the rapid retreat of Himalayan glaciers over recent decades have raised concerns about the future reliability of mountain melt-water resources, leading to warnings of catastrophic water shortages. Several previous studies have assessed climate change impacts on specific glacier-fed rivers, usually applying meso-scale catchment models for short simulation periods during which glacier dimensions remain unchanged. Few studies have attempted to estimate the effects on a regional scale, partly because of the paucity of good quality data across the Himalaya. The aim of this study was to develop a parsimonious grid-based macro-scale hydrological model for the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra basins that, in order to represent transient melt-water contributions from retreating glaciers, innovatively allowed glacier dimensions to change over time. The model initially was validated over the 1961-90 standard period and then applied in each basin with a range of climate-change scenarios (sensitivity analysis- and climate-model-based) over a 100-year period, to gain insight on potential changes in mean annual and winter flows (water availability proxies) at decadal time-steps. Plausible results were obtained, showing impacts vary considerably across the region (catchments in the east appear much less susceptible to glacier retreat effects than those in the west, due to the influence of the summer monsoon), and, in central and eastern Himalayan catchments, from upstream to downstream (effects diminish rapidly downstream due to higher runoff from non-glaciated parts).

Rapid evolution in the internationalisation of developing construction markets (along with increased global competition, technological innovation, and economic and political issues) has led organisations to become more efficient and effective. This has in turn enabled construction organisations to adapt and survive in today’s highly competitive business environment. Dealing with such challenges while carrying out ongoing construction work requires the adoption of suitable strategic business approaches, such as the market orientation approach. Market orientation focuses on understanding customers’ conflicting desires and needs, staying up-to-date with competitors’ activities, and reforming organisational policies and procedures accordingly. Several conceptual and empirical studies have investigated the relationship between market orientation and firm performance. These studies found strong support for the positive impact of market orientation on firm performance in a number of different environments and contexts, especially in developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Studies set in developing countries, such as Saudi Arabia, are still limited. In recent years, the Saudi economy has experienced marked improvements in many industries, including the construction industry. This reflects Saudi Arabia’s successful economic development. In order to retain these improvements, however, the Saudi construction industry has to face a number of economic, cultural, global, and market challenges. Bhuian (1995; 1997; 1998; 2012) has investigated the relationships between such factors and business performance in Saudi industries; however, examining these effects in the Saudi construction sector may yield different results. All of these considerations have motivated the present research project, which aims to develop a model for assessing the implementation of market orientation in Saudi construction organisations. In order to achieve this aim, a comprehensive review of the literature was undertaken. This literature review focused on factors that prompted Saudi construction companies to become market-orientated. These factors were divided into two categories; namely, internal factors (e.g., top management characteristics, interdepartmental dynamics, and organisational structure and systems) and external factors (e.g., competitiveness, market characteristics, and governmental regulations). These factors were then drawn upon to form a number of hypotheses. Accordingly, a survey, in the form of an Internet-based quantitative questionnaire, was designed in order to investigate these hypotheses. In particular, the questionnaire sought to identify factors affecting market orientation in Saudi construction companies. After administering the survey, only 220 usable questionnaires (out of 334 responses received) were analysed using factor analysis. The findings of this study support the proposed hypotheses. In particular, the study indicated that the market orientation of Saudi construction companies is determined by 15 factors across the following four dimensions: Communication and Interaction, Risk-Taking, Competition, and Organisational Systems. On the basis of these findings, an assessment model for market orientation in Saudi construction companies was developed. Subsequently, a supplementary model was built in order to help company managers to implement the market orientation concept using the interpretive structural modelling (ISM) technique, which is an effective qualitative method for developing such models. Fulfilling the aim of this research offers both academic and practical contributions to the study of market orientation. Researchers, for example, will be able to use this research to identify initial indicators and tools for further in-depth studies related to market orientation, while managers will gain added insight into and guidance on market orientation. This will ultimately help managers evaluate, reframe, and prioritise their managerial practices.