Flooding and water inundation could result in great damage to road pavements. In principle, the d... more Flooding and water inundation could result in great damage to road pavements. In principle, the design of pavement structure is based on the strength of compacted soil known as subgrade or road foundation. Therefore, subgrade is the major significant part of road structural systems. When roads are inundated for a long time or repeatedly, the materials in each layer of road structure become saturated, and then the original condition of subgrade soils will be compromised. This study investigated the effect on sub-grade strength and properties due to road submergence period and repeated submergence of road structural systems. Two types of soil that are normally used as the embankment soils in road construction, which can be categorized as cohesive and cohesionless materials were used in this study. California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test and Oedometer consolidation test were carried out on the various categories of inundation and loading conditions including repeated inundation. The findin...
The synchronization of traffic light systems is one of the best solutions in order to avoid probl... more The synchronization of traffic light systems is one of the best solutions in order to avoid problematic traffic jams. Traffic timing is a major concern when it comes to traffic management. One of the common causes of traffic jams is because of nonsynchronized traffic light systems. Once a light turns green, traffic begins to move, but by the time the moving traffic reaches the next light, the signal is still red. This will disrupt the continuity of the traffic flow, especially for large main roads. The smooth flow of traffic on main routes is important to clear dense traffic in a given time. This study examined the density of vehicles on Jalan Bukit Gambier and also the traffic timing was documented in order to plan out proper re-timing for traffic lights along the studied road. The outcomes of this study support the hypothesis that retiming traffic lights to create a synchronized traffic light system for main roads will greatly improve traffic flow.
Article history: Although road infrastructure have been properlydeveloped in Malaysia, environmen... more Article history: Although road infrastructure have been properlydeveloped in Malaysia, environmental issues related to the roads have increased significantly.In spite of government efforts to adapt the environmental regulations, road problemsin terms of environmentalissueshave remained unsolved with a great gap towards green road standards. Malaysian roads are faced from two perspectives in terms of environmental problems: Environmental Impacts of roads such as urban heat island (UHI) and Environmental Hazards on roads such as floods. Green road standards as an environmental rating system have been introduced worldwide; however, such efforts need to be developed in Malaysia.Based on thorough review of previous literature, this paper discusses the current challenges and required strategies towards green road infrastructure in Malaysia.
The strength of subgrade soil or road foundation could influence the design of road pavement stru... more The strength of subgrade soil or road foundation could influence the design of road pavement structures. Flood can be one of the causes of weakened subgrade and consequently road damages. Since the condition of subgrade layer is critical in the road pavement stability, a preliminary study was carried out to ascertain the use of polyurethane insertion as a stabilization mechanism in road subgrade. This study was conducted based on two types of soil that are usually used as soil embankment in road construction. California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test was conducted on the various categories of soaking days and repeated submerged conditions to determine the strength of subgrade soil with and without polyurethane layer. It can be concluded that polyurethane layer can be used to increase or maintain the strength of subgrade soil from the inundation effect.
This paper reviews on the building contractors motivating factors on adopting the newly imposed q... more This paper reviews on the building contractors motivating factors on adopting the newly imposed quality assurance initiative in Malaysia’s construction industry. The quality assurance initiative named Quality Assessment System in Construction (QLASSIC) – The Construction Industry Standard (CIS) – CIS 7:2006. It is introduced by the Construction Industry Development Board of Malaysia (CIDB). This QLASSIC system consists of a building construction standard where all the contractors must follow the specifications, if adopting this system in their construction project. The literature commonly categorizes motivation factors into two types –internal and external. Both types of motivation factors, related to the benefits on adopting the QLASSIC system, are put into this study. Further analysis will be done to determine the motives and benefits relationship behind the adoption of the QLASSIC system in the construction projects.
A Quality Project is defined as a project that meet the requirements or satisfaction of the custo... more A Quality Project is defined as a project that meet the requirements or satisfaction of the customer as stated in the contract's documents. A successful completion of project refers to project that is completed on time and meets the required quality as defined in the contract documents. Extension of Time (EOT) or delays in completing a project should be avoided as much as possible by a contractor. Government projects involve taxpayers' money. Delays normally involve extra cost that could have been used for other badly needed infrastructures. Certain measures must be taken by the government, the custodian and manager of taxpayers' money, to avoid the delays so that it will not jeorpadize the successful completion of a project.
This paper reviews the quality assurance approach which may have a huge potential impact in Malay... more This paper reviews the quality assurance approach which may have a huge potential impact in Malaysia’s construction industry. Rather than the price of the product alone, it has been stated by many previous researchers that a better product quality will serve as an advantage in sustaining the competition that emerges in the construction market. Recently, quality has been identified as one of the basic requirements that the clients tend to look for. Buyers are becoming more educated and their expectation on high-quality products is increasing. The preference for product quality as one of the clients’ aspect of concern in completed buildings can be classified as one of the biggest investments of assets in their entire lives, for most clients. This phenomenon results in the Malaysian government introducing a quality system model – the quality assessment system in construction (QLASSIC) to promote the approach towards better quality delivery in the construction industry.
Laboratory experimental investigations were conducted to identify suitable shape and dimension of... more Laboratory experimental investigations were conducted to identify suitable shape and dimension of objects as well as its capability to reduce flow velocity. The first stage of the study was to identify suitable shape and its arrangement. In this test a scale of 1:20 was used in a flow table experiment. The water flow pattern was recorded focusing on the distance and amplitude of the pattern as water flow pass the obstructing objects. The second stage of the investigation involved a hydraulic model investigation. In this investigation, the velocity reduction effects of the selected objects shapes were studied. The results are classified into three distinguishable patterns of diffusion. Two objects shapes and arrangements selected for use in the hydraulic model investigation indicated its capability to reduce flow velocity satisfactorily consistent with the flow pattern in the preliminary findings.
2021 International Congress of Advanced Technology and Engineering (ICOTEN), 2021
Accessibility primarily influenced the transport provision on land use. If the area consists of a... more Accessibility primarily influenced the transport provision on land use. If the area consists of a better transport network, the economic growth surrounding the area is more highly developed. From the perspective of the transport model, it is very crucial to establish accessibility by weighting land use as one of the main variables. The key indicator in defining the most efficacious network supply and quality is through the measurement of the accessibility to the public bus service provided. This study assessed the acceptable walking distance to the nearest bus stop by using GIS analysis and service access coverage index. The finding discovered that the access coverage is directly proportional to the radius of the catchment area, and the walking behavior is influenced by the availability of the walking pathway. The local authorities' concern on the development of good infrastructure will help to sustain the public transportation system.
The increasing demand for mobility across the whole region has created problems such as road traf... more The increasing demand for mobility across the whole region has created problems such as road traffic congestion, insufficient parking, pollution and road safety problems. People nowadays seem to be tolerating the problems when they choose private transportation for comfort and reliable journey as compared to the public bus transportation which is being described as hectic and inefficient. However, bus operators along with the authorities need to review the public bus transport planning process as this can help design of an efficientbus network system and attract greaterbus transport usage. Route network design is an important phase in network planning consisting of several elements where the appropriate design of route network will affect the subsequent four phases in network planning. With the call for an efficient route network system mounting, the operators and the authorities need to enhance the public bus transport system as a whole with deeper understanding of user demand rather than just considering profits issues alone. Thus, the public bus usage should be advantageous not only from the perspective of users, operators and authorities but will also positively affect the environment thus leading to a sustainable public bus transportation system.
Deterioration of road structural integrity because of flooding may cause huge expenditure for reh... more Deterioration of road structural integrity because of flooding may cause huge expenditure for rehabilitation and maintenance of roadway. In principle, the design of pavement structure is based on the strength of compacted soil known as the subgrade or road foundation. Therefore, subgrade is a significant part of the road structural system. When roads are inundated for a long time or repeatedly, the materials in each layer of road structure become saturated, and the original condition of subgrade soils will be compromised. This study investigated the effect on sub-grade strength and properties due to road submergence period and repeated submergence of the road structural systems. Two types of soil that are normally used as the embankment material in road construction, which can be categorized as cohesive and cohesionless materials, were used in this study. California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test and consolidation settlement test were carried out on various categories of inundation and loading conditions including repeated inundation. The findings indicated that the strength of subgrade soil further decrease when they are inundated for a longer period. Similarly, consolidation test also shows that a quick and higher settlement could occur when the soil is inundated for a longer period. These findings are useful for road design and maintenance strategies of flood affected road links.
Buildings will be weary, decaying and dirty as time goes by; but with highquality maintenance man... more Buildings will be weary, decaying and dirty as time goes by; but with highquality maintenance management we can prolong the lifespan of building, provide building services and keep the building performance at its ultimate level. The importance of carrying out a systematic and routine maintenance is to conserve building performance. However, this task is often neglected due to various factors including misunderstanding the needs of the maintenance works and lack of budget allocation. This paper highlights the current practice of maintenance management that are being implemented in 6 office buildings located in Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Kedah and Pulau Pinang. Using the responses of questionnaire answered by 150 respondents employed from these selected offices, personal interviews and visual inspection the following findings were made: the occupants were satisfied with the maintenance management of their buildings elements and the delivery characteristics of maintenance works. Visual inspection however showed that some elements are not in a good condition. In conclusion, some recommendations are made to improve the existing system including the establishment of a maintenance plan, selection of experienced contractors and the provision of a service desk. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Article history: Received 12 October 2014 Received in revised form 26 December 2014 Accepted 1 Ja... more Article history: Received 12 October 2014 Received in revised form 26 December 2014 Accepted 1 January 2015 Available online 17 February 2015
This thesis describes research carried out to investigate and model toll system operations on a c... more This thesis describes research carried out to investigate and model toll system operations on a closed toll highway network in Malaysia. The main objectives were to identify factors that influence toll operations and to investigate the effect of alternative layouts and strategies ...
International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 2015
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate contractors’ awareness level and adoption o... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate contractors’ awareness level and adoption of QLASSIC assessment system in construction industry and to identify the variables that influenced the adoption of QLASSIC assessment system. Design/methodology/approach – Quantitative research method was adopted in order to test the above issues. The questionnaire composed for two parts: awareness and adoption of QLASSIC system; and the factors that influenced the adoption of QLASSIC system. Those contractors who registered under grade 6 and 7 are the scope of respondents in this study. Findings – The adoption of QLASSIC assessment is not significantly affected by the awareness whereas the motivations and barrier factors do. It was discovered that the contractors perception on QLASSIC adoption are basically due to the significant factors; the internal motivations and barrier. The major influencing factors are internal motivation factors, external motivation factors and barrier factors. ...
Noise has been a problem since our country is a developing country. The noise pollution came from... more Noise has been a problem since our country is a developing country. The noise pollution came from the traffic as well as the development of construction industry. In 2012, there was a case in Johor Bahru where a project has been delayed for months due to the residents in the area of the construction blocking the roads for lorries and other transports to pass through. This is because the residents were disturbed by the noise of piling activities. In this research, a study was made on the relationship of the noise level produced by the construction activities and the annoyance level in the academic area. The method used is by taking the reading of the noise level and the questionnaire method. The main purpose of the questionnaire method is to rate the annoyance level produced by the construction activities. As expected, most of the respondents were annoyed by the noise produced by the construction activities even though the reading of the noise level is not that high. From this result...
Flooding and water inundation could result in great damage to road pavements. In principle, the d... more Flooding and water inundation could result in great damage to road pavements. In principle, the design of pavement structure is based on the strength of compacted soil known as subgrade or road foundation. Therefore, subgrade is the major significant part of road structural systems. When roads are inundated for a long time or repeatedly, the materials in each layer of road structure become saturated, and then the original condition of subgrade soils will be compromised. This study investigated the effect on sub-grade strength and properties due to road submergence period and repeated submergence of road structural systems. Two types of soil that are normally used as the embankment soils in road construction, which can be categorized as cohesive and cohesionless materials were used in this study. California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test and Oedometer consolidation test were carried out on the various categories of inundation and loading conditions including repeated inundation. The findin...
The synchronization of traffic light systems is one of the best solutions in order to avoid probl... more The synchronization of traffic light systems is one of the best solutions in order to avoid problematic traffic jams. Traffic timing is a major concern when it comes to traffic management. One of the common causes of traffic jams is because of nonsynchronized traffic light systems. Once a light turns green, traffic begins to move, but by the time the moving traffic reaches the next light, the signal is still red. This will disrupt the continuity of the traffic flow, especially for large main roads. The smooth flow of traffic on main routes is important to clear dense traffic in a given time. This study examined the density of vehicles on Jalan Bukit Gambier and also the traffic timing was documented in order to plan out proper re-timing for traffic lights along the studied road. The outcomes of this study support the hypothesis that retiming traffic lights to create a synchronized traffic light system for main roads will greatly improve traffic flow.
Article history: Although road infrastructure have been properlydeveloped in Malaysia, environmen... more Article history: Although road infrastructure have been properlydeveloped in Malaysia, environmental issues related to the roads have increased significantly.In spite of government efforts to adapt the environmental regulations, road problemsin terms of environmentalissueshave remained unsolved with a great gap towards green road standards. Malaysian roads are faced from two perspectives in terms of environmental problems: Environmental Impacts of roads such as urban heat island (UHI) and Environmental Hazards on roads such as floods. Green road standards as an environmental rating system have been introduced worldwide; however, such efforts need to be developed in Malaysia.Based on thorough review of previous literature, this paper discusses the current challenges and required strategies towards green road infrastructure in Malaysia.
The strength of subgrade soil or road foundation could influence the design of road pavement stru... more The strength of subgrade soil or road foundation could influence the design of road pavement structures. Flood can be one of the causes of weakened subgrade and consequently road damages. Since the condition of subgrade layer is critical in the road pavement stability, a preliminary study was carried out to ascertain the use of polyurethane insertion as a stabilization mechanism in road subgrade. This study was conducted based on two types of soil that are usually used as soil embankment in road construction. California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test was conducted on the various categories of soaking days and repeated submerged conditions to determine the strength of subgrade soil with and without polyurethane layer. It can be concluded that polyurethane layer can be used to increase or maintain the strength of subgrade soil from the inundation effect.
This paper reviews on the building contractors motivating factors on adopting the newly imposed q... more This paper reviews on the building contractors motivating factors on adopting the newly imposed quality assurance initiative in Malaysia’s construction industry. The quality assurance initiative named Quality Assessment System in Construction (QLASSIC) – The Construction Industry Standard (CIS) – CIS 7:2006. It is introduced by the Construction Industry Development Board of Malaysia (CIDB). This QLASSIC system consists of a building construction standard where all the contractors must follow the specifications, if adopting this system in their construction project. The literature commonly categorizes motivation factors into two types –internal and external. Both types of motivation factors, related to the benefits on adopting the QLASSIC system, are put into this study. Further analysis will be done to determine the motives and benefits relationship behind the adoption of the QLASSIC system in the construction projects.
A Quality Project is defined as a project that meet the requirements or satisfaction of the custo... more A Quality Project is defined as a project that meet the requirements or satisfaction of the customer as stated in the contract's documents. A successful completion of project refers to project that is completed on time and meets the required quality as defined in the contract documents. Extension of Time (EOT) or delays in completing a project should be avoided as much as possible by a contractor. Government projects involve taxpayers' money. Delays normally involve extra cost that could have been used for other badly needed infrastructures. Certain measures must be taken by the government, the custodian and manager of taxpayers' money, to avoid the delays so that it will not jeorpadize the successful completion of a project.
This paper reviews the quality assurance approach which may have a huge potential impact in Malay... more This paper reviews the quality assurance approach which may have a huge potential impact in Malaysia’s construction industry. Rather than the price of the product alone, it has been stated by many previous researchers that a better product quality will serve as an advantage in sustaining the competition that emerges in the construction market. Recently, quality has been identified as one of the basic requirements that the clients tend to look for. Buyers are becoming more educated and their expectation on high-quality products is increasing. The preference for product quality as one of the clients’ aspect of concern in completed buildings can be classified as one of the biggest investments of assets in their entire lives, for most clients. This phenomenon results in the Malaysian government introducing a quality system model – the quality assessment system in construction (QLASSIC) to promote the approach towards better quality delivery in the construction industry.
Laboratory experimental investigations were conducted to identify suitable shape and dimension of... more Laboratory experimental investigations were conducted to identify suitable shape and dimension of objects as well as its capability to reduce flow velocity. The first stage of the study was to identify suitable shape and its arrangement. In this test a scale of 1:20 was used in a flow table experiment. The water flow pattern was recorded focusing on the distance and amplitude of the pattern as water flow pass the obstructing objects. The second stage of the investigation involved a hydraulic model investigation. In this investigation, the velocity reduction effects of the selected objects shapes were studied. The results are classified into three distinguishable patterns of diffusion. Two objects shapes and arrangements selected for use in the hydraulic model investigation indicated its capability to reduce flow velocity satisfactorily consistent with the flow pattern in the preliminary findings.
2021 International Congress of Advanced Technology and Engineering (ICOTEN), 2021
Accessibility primarily influenced the transport provision on land use. If the area consists of a... more Accessibility primarily influenced the transport provision on land use. If the area consists of a better transport network, the economic growth surrounding the area is more highly developed. From the perspective of the transport model, it is very crucial to establish accessibility by weighting land use as one of the main variables. The key indicator in defining the most efficacious network supply and quality is through the measurement of the accessibility to the public bus service provided. This study assessed the acceptable walking distance to the nearest bus stop by using GIS analysis and service access coverage index. The finding discovered that the access coverage is directly proportional to the radius of the catchment area, and the walking behavior is influenced by the availability of the walking pathway. The local authorities' concern on the development of good infrastructure will help to sustain the public transportation system.
The increasing demand for mobility across the whole region has created problems such as road traf... more The increasing demand for mobility across the whole region has created problems such as road traffic congestion, insufficient parking, pollution and road safety problems. People nowadays seem to be tolerating the problems when they choose private transportation for comfort and reliable journey as compared to the public bus transportation which is being described as hectic and inefficient. However, bus operators along with the authorities need to review the public bus transport planning process as this can help design of an efficientbus network system and attract greaterbus transport usage. Route network design is an important phase in network planning consisting of several elements where the appropriate design of route network will affect the subsequent four phases in network planning. With the call for an efficient route network system mounting, the operators and the authorities need to enhance the public bus transport system as a whole with deeper understanding of user demand rather than just considering profits issues alone. Thus, the public bus usage should be advantageous not only from the perspective of users, operators and authorities but will also positively affect the environment thus leading to a sustainable public bus transportation system.
Deterioration of road structural integrity because of flooding may cause huge expenditure for reh... more Deterioration of road structural integrity because of flooding may cause huge expenditure for rehabilitation and maintenance of roadway. In principle, the design of pavement structure is based on the strength of compacted soil known as the subgrade or road foundation. Therefore, subgrade is a significant part of the road structural system. When roads are inundated for a long time or repeatedly, the materials in each layer of road structure become saturated, and the original condition of subgrade soils will be compromised. This study investigated the effect on sub-grade strength and properties due to road submergence period and repeated submergence of the road structural systems. Two types of soil that are normally used as the embankment material in road construction, which can be categorized as cohesive and cohesionless materials, were used in this study. California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test and consolidation settlement test were carried out on various categories of inundation and loading conditions including repeated inundation. The findings indicated that the strength of subgrade soil further decrease when they are inundated for a longer period. Similarly, consolidation test also shows that a quick and higher settlement could occur when the soil is inundated for a longer period. These findings are useful for road design and maintenance strategies of flood affected road links.
Buildings will be weary, decaying and dirty as time goes by; but with highquality maintenance man... more Buildings will be weary, decaying and dirty as time goes by; but with highquality maintenance management we can prolong the lifespan of building, provide building services and keep the building performance at its ultimate level. The importance of carrying out a systematic and routine maintenance is to conserve building performance. However, this task is often neglected due to various factors including misunderstanding the needs of the maintenance works and lack of budget allocation. This paper highlights the current practice of maintenance management that are being implemented in 6 office buildings located in Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Kedah and Pulau Pinang. Using the responses of questionnaire answered by 150 respondents employed from these selected offices, personal interviews and visual inspection the following findings were made: the occupants were satisfied with the maintenance management of their buildings elements and the delivery characteristics of maintenance works. Visual inspection however showed that some elements are not in a good condition. In conclusion, some recommendations are made to improve the existing system including the establishment of a maintenance plan, selection of experienced contractors and the provision of a service desk. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Article history: Received 12 October 2014 Received in revised form 26 December 2014 Accepted 1 Ja... more Article history: Received 12 October 2014 Received in revised form 26 December 2014 Accepted 1 January 2015 Available online 17 February 2015
This thesis describes research carried out to investigate and model toll system operations on a c... more This thesis describes research carried out to investigate and model toll system operations on a closed toll highway network in Malaysia. The main objectives were to identify factors that influence toll operations and to investigate the effect of alternative layouts and strategies ...
International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 2015
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate contractors’ awareness level and adoption o... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate contractors’ awareness level and adoption of QLASSIC assessment system in construction industry and to identify the variables that influenced the adoption of QLASSIC assessment system. Design/methodology/approach – Quantitative research method was adopted in order to test the above issues. The questionnaire composed for two parts: awareness and adoption of QLASSIC system; and the factors that influenced the adoption of QLASSIC system. Those contractors who registered under grade 6 and 7 are the scope of respondents in this study. Findings – The adoption of QLASSIC assessment is not significantly affected by the awareness whereas the motivations and barrier factors do. It was discovered that the contractors perception on QLASSIC adoption are basically due to the significant factors; the internal motivations and barrier. The major influencing factors are internal motivation factors, external motivation factors and barrier factors. ...
Noise has been a problem since our country is a developing country. The noise pollution came from... more Noise has been a problem since our country is a developing country. The noise pollution came from the traffic as well as the development of construction industry. In 2012, there was a case in Johor Bahru where a project has been delayed for months due to the residents in the area of the construction blocking the roads for lorries and other transports to pass through. This is because the residents were disturbed by the noise of piling activities. In this research, a study was made on the relationship of the noise level produced by the construction activities and the annoyance level in the academic area. The method used is by taking the reading of the noise level and the questionnaire method. The main purpose of the questionnaire method is to rate the annoyance level produced by the construction activities. As expected, most of the respondents were annoyed by the noise produced by the construction activities even though the reading of the noise level is not that high. From this result...
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