DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM

Special Investigative Project (SIP) CVNG 3015 and CVNG 3021

PROJECT TITLE Modelling Compliance Requirements of the Professional Engineer’s Duty of

Care in Construction Practices.
TYPE Construction Management
PROJECT DESCRIPTION The construction industry plays a vital role in shaping the modern world, but it also presents
(Background) various challenges related to safety, quality, and ethical standards. Professional engineers
in the construction field bear a significant responsibility for ensuring the safety and integrity
of structures. Central to this responsibility is the concept of the engineer's duty of care,
which outlines their ethical and legal obligations to protect public safety and well-being to
three primary stakeholders: clients, society and fellow professionals. This research proposal
aims to investigate and model the Professional Engineer’s Duty of Care in construction
practices, focusing on compliance with ethical codes of conduct and relevant regulations.

The student is required to critically review various literature (research articles, case studies,
legal precedent, codes of conduct and recognized engineering websites) on various
professional engineering associations to investigate case studies on violations and best
practices. The literature review shall cover three main domains: Firstly, review the ethical
bedrock of the Engineer’s duty of care, and dominant theories. Secondly, Investigation into
extant codes of conduct for engineers and their role in fostering compliance with safety
norms and ethical responsibilities is mandatory. Finally, the student is required to examine
case studies and research concerning construction mishaps, accidents, and their
ramifications for the engineer's duty of care.

The primary objectives are:

1. To understand factors surrounding ethical misconduct.
2. To build on issues of ethics and Procurement irregularities.
3. To apply the concepts of Duty of Care and Tort.
4. To identify key factors that influence a professional engineer’s compliance with their
duty of care in construction projects.
5. To conduct a quantitative survey to gather stakeholders’ perceptions and develop
framework or system to mitigate these critical factors for the Construction Manager
6. To develop a Structural equation model that outlines the relationships between the
Professional Engineer’s Duty of Care, ethical codes of conduct, compliance, and
effective construction practices.
7. To discuss the applicable laws, regulations, contractual provisions and codes of
conduct to curb ethical breaches.
Proposed Methodology and Model: This research will adopt a mix methodology. The
qualitative component will review case studies and a document analysis for reoccurring
factors. These factors will be developed into a closed ended questionnaire. This
questionnaire will be reviewed, verified and validated prior to administration to engineers.
Drawing from insights from the participants responses, a structural equation model will be
developed. This model will elucidate the relationships among the engineer's duty of care,
 compliance with ethical codes of conduct, effective construction practices and the influence
on an engineer's decision-making process.

By delving into the complex interplay between the Professional Engineer’s Duty of Care,
compliance, and codes of conduct, this research aims to provide valuable insights for both
academia and industry. The ultimate goal is to contribute to safer and more ethically sound
construction practices, fostering a culture of responsibility and accountability among
professional engineers.
Compulsory introductory
reading: 1. Smith, J. A. (2018). Ethical Codes and Professional Engineers: A Comparative Study.
Journal of Engineering Ethics, 25(1), 195-215.
2. Johnson, R. W. (2019). Regulation of Professional Engineers: A Comparative Study
of Global Practices. Engineering Management Journal, 31(1), 40-50.
3. Lee, H. S., & Chang, T. Y. (2020). Factors Influencing Engineers' Compliance with
Professional Codes of Conduct. Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering
Education and Practice, 146(2), 04020001.
4. Brown, M. A., & Berry, M. A. (2017). Ethical Decision Making by Individual Engineers:
A Model for Research. Journal of Engineering Education, 106(3), 369-396.
5. Duffy, V. G., & Lin, Y. (2019). Engineering Ethics and Effective Professional
Regulation. In 2019 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference
(ProComm), 1-7.
6. Hoven, P., & Simon, M. (2019). Modelling the Interplay of Ethical and Legal Aspects
for Engineering Design. Research in Engineering Design, 30(2), 263-281.
7. Fleddermann, C. B. (2019). Engineering Ethics. Pearson.
8. Davis, M. (2017). Thinking Like an Engineer: Studies in the Ethics of a Profession.
Oxford University Press.
9. Curnutt, J., & Pellegrino, J. W. (2019). Engineering Ethics: Balancing Cost, Schedule,
and Risk—Lessons Learned from Challenger, Columbia, and Mars Observer. Journal
of Failure Analysis and Prevention, 19(1), 91-104.
10. Baron, D. P., & Spranca, M. (2017). Protected Values. Ethics, 77(2), 337-353.
11. Chan, D. W. (2017). Anatomy of Major Building Failures. Engineering Failure
Analysis, 82, 142-155.
12. Locatelli, Giorgio, Giacomo Mariani, Tristano Sainati, and Marco Greco. 2017.
"Corruption in public projects and megaprojects: There is an elephant in the room!"
International Journal of Project Management 35 (3):252-268.

METHODOLOGY Case studies, legal precedents, Surveys

SPECIAL SPSS Amos

EQUIPMENT/MATERIAL
PREREQUISITE none
RESEARCH AREA
□Materials □Highways/Transportation □Soils/ Ceramics/ Geology □Environmental
□Fluids □IT/Computer/Education □Coastal □Structures x□construction

SIGN OFF:

PROJECT PROPOSER SUBJECT LABORATOR SENIOR LABORATOR SIP COORDINATOR

COORDINATOR TECHNICIAN
Aaron Chadee Dr Kailas Banerjee
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM

Special Investigative Project (SIP) CVNG 3015 and CVNG 3021

PROJECT TITLE Risk exposures of Scheduling Practices on Civil Engineering Projects.

TYPE Construction Management

PROJECT DESCRIPTION Efficient project scheduling is a critical aspect of successful construction management.
(Background) Timely completion of construction projects is essential not only for meeting client
expectations but also for minimizing cost overruns and ensuring optimal resource
utilization. In recent years, the construction industry has witnessed advancements in
scheduling methodologies and technologies. This research proposal aims to investigate
current scheduling practices in construction management and explore learnings to mitigate
risks exposures of contemporary scheduling practices to enhance civil engineering project
efficiency in SIDS.
Research Objectives:
1. To assess the current scheduling practices employed in construction management.
2. To identify common challenges and bottlenecks in construction project scheduling.
3. To develop a structural equation model to determine relationships among popular
scheduling practices and project efficiency.
4. To propose recommendations for optimizing scheduling practices to improve
project efficiency.
5. To discuss and recommend innovative scheduling methodologies and technologies.

Compulsory introductory
reading: 1. Brown, A. B., & Jones, C. D. (2019). Challenges in Dynamic Project Scheduling in
Construction. Journal of Construction Management, 15(3), 45-58.
2. Davis, E. F., Miller, G. H., & Williams, J. R. (2022). Leveraging BIM for Real-time
Project Monitoring in Construction. Construction Technology Journal, 28(2), 77-92.
3. Johnson, M. P., & Brown, R. L. (2019). Effective Scheduling Strategies in Construction
Management. International Journal of Project Management, 37(1), 102-117.
4. Johnson, S. R., Smith, P. Q., & Williams, K. T. (2021). Survey on Construction
Scheduling Practices. Construction Research Quarterly, 45(4), 213-229.
5. Miller, L. J. (2017). Enhancing Project Efficiency Through Advanced Scheduling
Techniques. Journal of Construction Engineering, 23(3), 89-102.
6. Smith, E. A., Williams, B. C., & Davis, P. M. (2020). Impact of Scheduling on
Construction Project Outcomes. Construction Management Journal, 34(4), 55-68.
7. Smith, P. Q. (2023). Interview Insights: Optimizing Scheduling Strategies in
Construction Management. Construction Industry Insights, 10(1), 21-36.
8. Williams, K. T. (2021). Emerging Technologies in Project Scheduling: A Review.
Journal of Construction Innovation, 29(2), 145-161.
METHODOLOGY This research will adopt a mixed-methods approach to gather comprehensive data.
Quantitative data will be collected through surveys distributed to construction
professionals, project managers, and stakeholders involved in construction projects
(Johnson et al., 2021). The survey will inquire about the scheduling practices currently
used, challenges faced, and the impact of these practices on project outcomes. Qualitative
data will be obtained through semi-structured interviews with selected industry experts to
gain deeper insights into specific strategies and technologies (Smith, 2023).
SPECIAL SPSS Amos
EQUIPMENT/MATERIAL
PREREQUISITE none
RESEARCH AREA
□Materials □Highways/Transportation □Soils/ Ceramics/ Geology □Environmental
□Fluids □IT/Computer/Education □Coastal □Structures x□construction

SIGN OFF:

PROJECT PROPOSER SUBJECT LABORATOR SENIOR LABORATOR SIP COORDINATOR

COORDINATOR TECHNICIAN
Dr Aaron Chadee Dr Kailas Banerjee
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM

Special Investigative Project (SIP) CVNG 3015 and CVNG 3021

PROJECT TITLE A Fuzzy Synthetic Model to evaluate risk factors contributing to design errors
and rework in Civil Engineering
TYPE Construction Management
PROJECT DESCRIPTION The occurrence of design errors and subsequent rework has significant implications for
(Background) project duration, cost and overall project quality. Identifying and mitigating the risk factors
contributing to these errors is crucial to ensuring successful project delivery. This proposal
aim at developing a fuzzy synthetic model to comprehensively analyze and prioritize the risk
factors that lead to design errors and rework in civil engineering projects.

The main objectives of this research proposal are as follows:

1. To identify and classify the key risk factors that contribute to design errors and
rework in civil engineering projects.
2. To develop a comprehensive database of historical project data, including design
errors, rework instances, and associated risk factors.
3. To apply fuzzy logic techniques to model the uncertainty and vagueness inherent in
risk factor assessment.
4. To synthesize a fuzzy logic-based model that accurately predicts the likelihood and
severity of design errors and rework based on identified risk factors.
5. To validate and refine the proposed model using real-world case studies and
compare its performance to existing models.

Compulsory introductory 1. Shen, Q., Wu, P., & Ng, T. S. (2018). Risk factors in design errors and rework: A case
reading: study of construction projects. Journal of Construction Engineering and
Management, 144(7), 04018041.
2. Ahmad, S., Wong, K. Y., & Jeong, H. S. (2020). Fuzzy risk assessment model for
construction projects. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 26(6), 530-541.
METHODOLOGY The research will adopt a mixed methodology comprising:

1. Data Collection: Historical project data, including design errors, rework instances,
and associated risk factors, will be collected from diverse civil engineering
projects.
2. Risk Factor Identification: A comprehensive list of risk factors will be identified
through a combination of literature review, expert opinions, and data analysis.
3. Fuzzy Logic Modeling: The Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation Method will be employed to
handle the inherent uncertainty and imprecision in risk assessments. Membership
functions and fuzzy rules will be defined based on the relationship between risk
factors and design errors/rework occurrences.
 4. Validation: The proposed model will be validated using real-world case studies.
Model performance will be evaluated against existing models and validated
against new project data.
SPECIAL SPSS Amos
EQUIPMENT/MATERIAL
PREREQUISITE none
RESEARCH AREA
□Materials □Highways/Transportation □Soils/ Ceramics/ Geology □Environmental
□Fluids □IT/Computer/Education □Coastal □Structures x□construction

SIGN OFF:

PROJECT PROPOSER SUBJECT LABORATOR SENIOR LABORATOR SIP COORDINATOR

COORDINATOR TECHNICIAN
Dr Aaron Chadee Dr Kailas Banerjee
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM

Special Investigative Project (SIP) CVNG 3015 and CVNG 3021

PROJECT TITLE Implementing a Kaizen approach to green construction and sustainability in Small
Island Developing States (SIDS)
TYPE Civil Engineering Management
PROJECT DESCRIPTION The purpose of this research is to identify and evaluate contemporary construction
(Background) practices in SIDS (Garud and Gehman 2012, Mycoo 2017, Roy and Kalidindi 2017, ECLAC
2020, Bakri et al. 2021) to determine perceived risk factors either adding value, or creating
shortfalls, in achieving sustainability. To address this research, the views of professionals in
the Caribbean will be solicited via a questionnaire survey. The objectives of this research
are:
1. To identify the issues hindering the implementation of green technologies and
practices in the Caribbean, SIDS.
2. To discuss the role of green and sustainable technologies and techniques in the
journey of achieving sustainable development in SIDS.
3. To propose recommendations that will focus on reducing the factors hindering the
implementation of green and sustainable initiatives in the SIDS of the Caribbean.
4. Recommending potential interventions to improve sustainable efficiency (Adabre
and Chan 2019, Adabre et al. 2020, Adabre et al. 2021).

Compulsory introductory Adabre, Michael Atafo, and Albert P. C. Chan. 2019. "Critical success factors (CSFs) for
reading: sustainable affordable housing." Building and Environment 156:203-214. doi:
[Link]
Adabre, Michael Atafo, Albert P. C. Chan, Amos Darko, Robert Osei-Kyei, Rotimi Abidoye,
and Theophilus Adjei-Kumi. 2020. "Critical barriers to sustainability attainment in
affordable housing: International construction professionals’ perspective." Journal
of Cleaner Production 253:119995. doi:
[Link]
Adabre, Michael Atafo, Albert P. C. Chan, David J. Edwards, and Emmanuel Adinyira. 2021.
"Assessing critical risk factors (CRFs) to sustainable housing: The perspective of a
sub-Saharan African country." Journal of Building Engineering 41:102385. doi:
[Link]
Bakri, Adnan, M. F. M. Alkbir, Nuha Awang, Fatihhi Januddi, M. A. Ismail, Ahmad Nur Aizat
Ahmad, and Izatul Husna Zakaria. 2021. "Addressing the Issues of Maintenance
Management in SMEs: Towards Sustainable and Lean Maintenance Approach."
Emerging Science Journal 5 (3):367-379. doi: 10.28991/esj-2021-01283.
ECLAC, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. 2020. The Caribbean
Outlook: Forging a people-centred approach to sustainable development post-
COVID-19 (LC/SES.38/12). Santiago.
Garud, Raghu, and Joel Gehman. 2012. "Metatheoretical perspectives on sustainability
journeys: Evolutionary, relational and durational." Research Policy 41 (6):980-995.
doi: [Link]
 Mycoo, Michelle A. 2017. "A Caribbean New Urban Agenda post-Habitat III: Closing the
gaps." Habitat International 69:68-77. doi:
[Link]
Roy, Debopam, and Satyanarayana N. Kalidindi. 2017. "Critical challenges in management of
heritage conservation projects in India." Journal of Cultural Heritage Management
and Sustainable Development 7 (3):290-307. doi: 10.1108/JCHMSD-03-2017-0012.

Robichaud, L. B. and V. S. Anantatmula (2011). "Greening Project Management Practices for

Sustainable Construction." Journal of Management in Engineering 27(1): 48-57.

Sharma, S. (2011). "Green Project Management Practices for Construction Industry."

International Transactions in Applied Sciences 3(4): 657-682.

Snook, J. (2017). "How Does Construction Impact the Environment?" Retrieved

10/10/2019, from [Link]
the-environment/.

METHODOLOGY Case study, Public sector project data, Surveys

SPECIAL SPSS statistical software

EQUIPMENT/MATERIAL
PREREQUISITE none
RESEARCH AREA
□Materials □Highways/Transportation □Soils/ Ceramics/ Geology □Environmental
□Fluids □IT/Computer/Education □Coastal □Structures x□Construction

SIGN OFF:

PROJECT PROPOSER SUBJECT LABORATOR SENIOR LABORATOR SIP COORDINATOR

COORDINATOR TECHNICIAN
Dr Aaron Chadee Dr Kailas Banerjee
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM

Special Investigative Project (SIP) CVNG 3015 and CVNG 3021

PROJECT TITLE Construction Variations and the Art of Strategic Mismanagement on Public Sector
Projects.
TYPE Civil Engineering/Construction Management
PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Commission of Inquiry into the construction sector of Trinidad and Tobago(Uff and
(Background) Thornhill 2010) evidenced areas where the pursuit of self-interest creates a breeding
ground for unethical, irregular and corrupt behaviour among its professionals and
participants. As an anti-corruption measure, the GORTT implemented the standardization
of construction contracts for the public sector. The FIDIC standard form contract has been
adopted as the main tool for construction contract management. However, this measure
as seen limited success in curbing self-interest behaviours.

The student is required to critically review various literature on causes of delays and
variations on public construction project to develop a database of factors from the 4 main
stakeholders’ perspective. The objectives are:
1. To understand factors influencing variations on construction projects.
2. To build on issues of ethics and Procurement irregularities.
3. To apply the concepts of Duty of Care as an ethical barrier for strategic
misrepresentation.
4. To conduct a quantitative survey to gather stakeholders’ perceptions and develop
framework or system to mitigate these critical factors for the Civil Engineer
5. To discuss the applicable laws, regulations, contractual provisions and codes of
conduct to curb strategic misrepresentation (Chadee, Ray, and Chadee 2021).
Compulsory introductory Lind, Hans, and Fredrik Brunes. 2015. "Explaining cost overruns in infrastructure projects: a
reading: new framework with applications to Sweden." Construction management and economics
33 (7):554-568.
Ling, Florence Yean Yng, and Vivian To Phuong Hoang. 2009. "Political, economic, and legal
risks faced in international projects: Case study of Vietnam." Journal of professional issues
in engineering education and practice 136 (3):156-164.
Locatelli, Giorgio, Giacomo Mariani, Tristano Sainati, and Marco Greco. 2017. "Corruption in
public projects and megaprojects: There is an elephant in the room!" International Journal
of Project Management 35 (3):252-268.
Chadee, Aaron A., Indrajit Ray, and Xsitaaz T. Chadee. 2021. "Systemic Issues Influencing
Technical Certainty in Social Housing Programmes in a Small Island Developing
State." Buildings 11 (2):65.
Uff, J, and D Thornhill. 2010. Report of the commission of enquiry into the construction
sector Trinidad and Tobago. Port of Spain, Trinidad: Ministry of Finance.
METHODOLOGY Case study, Public sector project data, Surveys

SPECIAL SPSS
EQUIPMENT/MATERIAL
PREREQUISITE none
RESEARCH AREA
□Materials □Highways/Transportation □Soils/ Ceramics/ Geology □Environmental
□Fluids □IT/Computer/Education □Coastal □Structures x□construction

SIGN OFF:

PROJECT PROPOSER SUBJECT LABORATOR SENIOR LABORATOR SIP COORDINATOR

COORDINATOR TECHNICIAN
Aaron Chadee Dr Kailas Banerjee
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM

Special Investigative Project (SIP)

PROJECT TITLE
Green Roof as a sustainable design strategy for the Civil Engineering Building at the
University of the West Indies

TYPE
Civil Engineering Management and Construction Management

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
(Background) Green roofs have the potential to retain stormwater on the roof surface reducing the
runoff effect by retaining part of the rainfall and distributing the runoff over a long-
time period. consequently reducing the pollution of urban rainwater from runoff by
absorbing and filtering pollutants and lowering the thermal loading on buildings.
Other factors may be added to this issue as the increase of air temperature, at micro-
and mesoclimatic scales; the increasingly visible role of urban heat islands and
water shortages in big cities, so green roofs can help buildings to keep cool in
summer; and also the reduction building’s energy consumption by direct shading,
evaporative cooling, and additional insulation
Green roofs are novel ecosystems created through the intervention of ecological
inputs in the design process in which many considerations are made for several key
aspects for better performance and achievement of desire outcomes.
Green roofs have been proposed as a possible solution for urban stressors that,
integrated with other remediation and mitigation actions, can lead the way to a more
sustainable society. Even when some aspects of green roof design are well
established and known (i.e. depth arrangements, materials, structural components,
etc.) there is a need for further development on ecological attributes.

The student is required to:

1. Review case studies of green roof designs in the Caribbean region

2. Analyze sustainability issues in the Civil Engineering Building at the University
of the West Indies
3. Propose a theoretical framework model of a design of a green roof system for
the Civil Engineering Building
4. Evaluate the sustainability issues addressed by the theoretical framework model
of the green roof
Compulsory introductory
reading: A. GhaffarianHoseini et [Link] energy performances of green buildings
(2013): A review of current theories, implementations and [Link]
and Sustainable Energy Reviews

S. Parizotto and R. Lamberts. Investigation of green roof thermal performance in

temperate climate: A case study of an experimental building in Florianópolis city,
Southern Brazil. Energy and Buildings. Energy and Buildings: Volume 33. Issue
7[Link]

Getter, Kristin L.; Rowe, D. Bradley; Robertson, G. Philip; Cregg, Bert M.; Andresen, Jeffrey A.
(October 2009). "Carbon Sequestration Potential of Extensive Green Roofs". Environmental
Science & Technology. 43 (19): 7564–
7570. Bibcode:2009EnST...43.7564G. doi:10.1021/es901539x. PMID 19848177

Saadatian, Omidreza; Sopian, K.; Salleh, E.; Lim, C.H.; Riffat, Safa; Saadatian, Elham;
Toudeshki, Arash; Sulaiman, M.Y. (July 2013). "A review of energy aspects of green
roofs". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 23: 155–
168. doi:10.1016/[Link].2013.02.022

METHODOLOGY
The student is expected to conduct a comprehensive literature review of case studies
done to analyze the effectiveness of green roofs in the Caribbean region. The
student is required to perform calculations to deduce the energy consumption in the
Civil Engineering Building and to estimate the quantity of water runoff from the
building. Using these values, the student should formulate a theoretical model of a
greenroof on the building to estimate the quantity of energy savings both in
consumption and cost and the quantity of water runoff that is expected to be
achieved.

SPECIAL
EQUIPMENT/MATERIAL SPSS statistical software
PREREQUISITE none
RESEARCH AREA
□Materials □Highways/Transportation □Soils/ Ceramics/ Geology □Environmental
□Fluids □IT/Computer/Education □Coastal □Structures x□construction

SIGN OFF:

PROJECT PROPOSER SUBJECT LABORATOR SENIOR LABORATOR SIP COORDINATOR

COORDINATOR TECHNICIAN
Dr. Aaron Chadee Dr. Festus Olutoge Mr Dr K. Banerjee
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM

Special Investigative Project (SIP)

PROJECT TITLE
CASE STUDY: Analysis of Ventilation Defects affecting Energy Efficiency in Building
Envelopes in the Caribbean Region
TYPE
Civil Engineering Management and Construction Management

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
(Background) The quest for energy efficiency in the built environment has driven substantial
research and technological advances to curb the ever-increasing energy demand
needed to service human needs. Developing countries and emerging market
economies, in particular through population and economic growth, increase the
demand for fossil fuel usage. The building industry accounts for the largest
percentage of the total energy use and carbon emissions globally and is further
exacerbated by extreme climatic conditions and late or inadequate implementation
of building energy efficiency measures. Nevertheless, the worldwide agenda of an
energy-efficient built environment has been embraced globally, yet with different
contextual challenges and variable accomplishments. Construction defects, in the
building envelope are recognized to affect its thermal integrity.
Ventilation refers to the ability of air to move freely through a building envelope.
The passage of air through a building envelope can occur due to natural ventilation
or mechanical ventilation systems. Mechanical ventilation systems require energy
and hence results in high energy consumption and fossil fuel usage.
Energy-efficient buildings use less energy to heat, cool, and run appliances,
electronics, and manufacturing facilities. The energy required to heat and cool is
affected by the degree of ventilation in a given building envelope. However, energy
inefficiencies caused by poor insulation or air leaks can result in increased energy
consumption, leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions and a larger carbon
footprint. Furthermore, the need for repairs and remediation of building defects
often involves the use of additional resources, further straining the environment.
Addressing building defects promptly is crucial to minimize environmental impact
and promote sustainable living

The student is required to:

1. Review studies conducted on poor ventilation systems in building envelopes in

the Caribbean region
2. Formulate a questionnaire to determine responses from stakeholders on the
extent of usage of natural ventilation systems in the local environment
3. Analyze sustainable practices which could be integrated to enforce energy
efficiency in ventilation in a building envelope
 4. Propose a model of a design of a building envelope which could utilize natural
ventilation systems to improve energy efficiency

Compulsory introductory
reading: • Berardi, U. A Cross-Country Comparison of the Building Energy Consumptions and
Their Trends. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 2017, 123.
• Bidwai, P. The Emerging Economies and Climate Change: A Case Study of the BASIC
Grouping. In Shifting Power—Critical Perspectives on Emerging Economies. 2014.
Available online:
[Link]
perspectives-on-emerging-economies-44/language/en (accessed on 30 October
2020)

METHODOLOGY
The student is expected to conduct a comprehensive literature review to evaluate studies
conducted on how the defects in the poor ventilation systems could affect the energy
efficiency in different types of building envelopes. Based on the defects identified in the
literature review, the student is required to formulate a questionnaire in order to collate
responses from stakeholders on the extent of the usage of natural ventilation systems
respective building envelopes. An analysis of sustainable practices that could be integrated
into the building envelopes to foster energy conservation in the Caribbean environment.

SPECIAL SPSS statistical software

EQUIPMENT/MATERIAL
PREREQUISITE none
RESEARCH AREA
□Materials □Highways/Transportation □Soils/ Ceramics/ Geology □Environmental
□Fluids □IT/Computer/Education □Coastal □Structures x□construction

SIGN OFF:

PROJECT PROPOSER SUBJECT LABORATOR SENIOR LABORATOR SIP COORDINATOR

COORDINATOR TECHNICIAN
Dr Aaron Chadee Dr. Festus Olutoge Mr Dr K. Banerjee
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM

Special Investigative Project (SIP)

PROJECT TITLE
Review of Rainwater Harvesting Systems utilized in different types of building envelopes

TYPE Civil Engineering Management and Construction Management

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
(Background) In recent times, the drastic impacts of climate change have significantly exacerbated
water security issues in the Caribbean region. These water security issues are
significantly linked to water scarcity, stormwater runoff and flooding. In order to
address these issues, one primary strategy which is considered is rainwater
harvesting.
Rainwater harvesting’ refers to the practice of collection of rainwater from a roof or
other surface and using it to augment freshwater supplies (Williams and Thomas,
2012) This practice has promoted sustainability of water through conserving
groundwater supplies, generating cost and energy savings associated with the
reduced use of treated municipal water and reducing the volume of stormwater
runoff, which helps to prevent flooding and channel erosion (Peters, 2017). In order
to evaluate the extent of proficiency these systems have on water security, certain
elements need to be considered in the design of these systems.

The student is required to:

1. Review studies conducted on rainwater harvesting projects in the Caribbean

region
2. Analyze studies on the effectiveness of rainwater harvesting systems in the
enforcement of sustainable practices
3. Collate factors from the literature to develop a closed ended questionnaire on
tacit construction knowledge to be administered to Caribbean construction
practitioners.
4. Analyze the utilization of rainwater harvesting systems in domestic and
municipal areas
5. Construct a model of a rainwater harvesting storage system that could be utilized
in the municipal areas for storm water runoff
Compulsory introductory
reading: • Peters, E 2017. Financing Domestic Rainwater Harvesting in the
Caribbean;Journal of Sustainable Development; Vol. 10, No. 5; 2017 ISSN
1913-9063 E-ISSN 1913-9071
• Nekesha B. Williams and Ken D. Thomas. [Link] Water Resources in
the Caribbean Prospects and Challenges. Water Resources IMPACT
[Link]
• Peters, E. J., & Mandeville, S. (2011). The viability of rooftop RWH for
Green Hill, St. Vincent. 20th Annual CWWA Conference and Exhibition,
Caribbean Cooperation: The Future of Water and Waste Management in the
Region. 2-7th October, 2011, Gosier, Guadeloupe.
• Peters, E. J., & Monrose, K. (2015). Water usage in rainwater harvesting
households in Trinidad. Proceedings of the ICE - Water Management

METHODOLOGY
By a comprehensive literature review, the student is expected to analyze the water
security issues and different types of rainwater harvesting systems that are utilized
in the Caribbean region. From the literature review, the student will be required to
formulate a questionnaire consisting of open and closed ended questions in order to
administer an interview to construction professionals. This interview is expected to
collate data on the present rainwater harvesting systems used Using the data
collected, the student is required to prepare construct a theoretical model of a design
of a rainwater harvesting system that could be implemented in different locations in
the city to address the water security issues.

SPECIAL SPSS statistical software

EQUIPMENT/MATERIAL
PREREQUISITE none
RESEARCH AREA
□Materials □Highways/Transportation □Soils/ Ceramics/ Geology □Environmental
□Fluids □IT/Computer/Education □Coastal □Structures x□construction

SIGN OFF:

PROJECT PROPOSER SUBJECT LABORATOR SENIOR LABORATOR SIP COORDINATOR

COORDINATOR TECHNICIAN
Dr Aaron Chadee Dr. Festus Olutoge Mr Dr K. Banerjee
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM
Special Investigative Project (SIP)

PROJECT TITLE
Feasibility study on the u�liza�on of recycled natural aggregates in concrete

TYPE
Civil Engineering Management and Construction Management

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
(Background) Concrete recycling has acquired significance because it protects natural
resources and eliminates the need for disposal, This is achieved through the
utilization of readily available concrete as an aggregate source for new concrete
or other applications. Concrete recycling involves breaking, removing, and
crushing existing concrete into a material with a specified size and quality.
Recycled aggregate concrete is concrete made with recycled aggregate derived
from construction and demolition waste which can be used as a partial or full
replacement for virgin aggregate (Guo et al., 2018).The utilization of recycled
aggregates could save up to 60% of limestone resources while reducing
greenhouse gas emissions by 15% to 20% .
Collivignarelli et al. 2020 analyzed the physical, mechanical, and environmental
performance of concrete by incorporating residues derived from construction
and demolition waste. It was deduced that the complete replacement of natural
aggregates could be achieved, but with side effects that must be managed
(Collivignarelli et al. 2020). These effects include a degradation of the concrete
workability and strength, mainly due to the internal porosity of the waste and the
poorer properties of artificial aggregates compared to natural ones.
Wang et al. (2020) discovered that the main problem associated with the use of
recycled aggregate in the production of recycled aggregate concrete is weak
adhered mortar on the which caused weak bonding between the cement paste
and consequently resulting to low strength and durability properties.
The objectives of the study are to:
1. Assess recent studies conducted on the use of recycled aggregate in concrete
production to identify the gaps
2. Deduce the grading properties of the recycled aggregates
3. Compare the slump heights of concrete made with natural aggregates and
recycled aggregates
[Link] compressive and tensile strengths of traditional concrete and concrete
made with recycled aggregates
Compulsory introductory
reading: • Collivignarelli MC, Cillari G, Ricciardi P, Miino MC, Torretta V, Rada EC,
Abbà A. (2020), The production of sustainable concrete with the use of
alternative aggregates: A review. Sustainability. Sep 24;12(19):7903.
• H. Guo et al., 2018. Durability of recycled aggregate concrete. A review.
Cement and Concrete Composites. Vol. 89, 251–259.
• R. Wang, N. Yu, Y. Li, 2020. Methods for improving the microstructure of
recycled concrete aggregate:A review. Construction and Building Materials.
Vol. 242, doi:10.1016/[Link].2020.118164

METHODOLOGY
By doing a comprehensive literature review, the student is required to evaluate the
studies conducted on the different types of recycled aggregates used in concrete
manufacturing.
By conducting tests in the laboratory, the student should formulate concrete
mixtures using different percentages of recycled natural aggregates. Using these
mixtures, the student is expected to deduce the physical and mechanical properties
of the concrete. The student should compare the findings from the tests conducted
with those done in the literature review. The student will be required to provide
recommendations for the gaps identified in the literature and the tests conducted.

SPECIAL
EQUIPMENT/MATERIAL Recycled natural aggregates
PREREQUISITE none
RESEARCH AREA
□Materials □Highways/Transportation □Soils/ Ceramics/ Geology □Environmental
□Fluids □IT/Computer/Education □Coastal □Structures x□construction

SIGN OFF:

PROJECT PROPOSER SUBJECT LABORATOR SENIOR LABORATOR SIP COORDINATOR

COORDINATOR TECHNICIAN
Aaron Chadee Dr. Festus Olutoge Mr Dr K. Banerjee
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM
Special Investigative Project (SIP)

PROJECT TITLE
Managing the Transi�on Towards Climate-Resilient Public Housing in the Caribbean

TYPE
Civil Engineering Management and Construction Management

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
(Background) Climate change poses significant challenges to the Caribbean region, including more
frequent and severe weather events, rising sea levels, and increased temperature
variability (IPCC, 2018). These changes threaten the livelihoods, safety, and housing
infrastructure of the Caribbean population (UNDP, 2020). As such, there is an urgent
need to manage the transition towards climate-resilient housing to ensure the region's
sustainability and the well-being of society. Also, Research by Chadee et al (2021, 2022)
have shown that public housing initiatives are unsustainable and overrun anticipated
contract sums. These cost overruns prevent other, much needed, public housing
projects being initiated, and the possibly of compromised quality in achieving climate-
resilient housing. This study investigates and provide critical factors and strategies to
propel the transition towards climate-resilient housing in the Caribbean. The research
aims to identify key challenges, assess current initiatives, and propose innovative
solutions to mitigate climate-related risks in housing infrastructure. The primary
objectives of this research proposal are as follows:

1. To assess the current state of housing infrastructure in the Caribbean and its
vulnerability to climate change.
2. To identify key challenges and barriers hindering the adoption of climate-
resilient housing practices in the region.
3. To evaluate existing climate-resilient housing initiatives and policies in the
Caribbean.
4. To propose effective strategies and recommendations for managing the
transition towards climate-resilient housing.
Compulsory introductory
reading: 1. Chadee, Aaron Anil, Xsitaaz Twinkle Chadee, Abrahams Mwasha, and
Hector Hugh Martin. 2021. "Implications of ‘Lock-in’ on Public Sector
Project Management in a Small Island Development State." Buildings 11
(5):198. doi: doi:10.3390/buildings11050198.
2. Chadee, Aaron, Hector Martin, Abrahams Mwasha, and Festus Otuloge.
2022. "Rationalizing Critical Cost Overrun Factors on Public Sector Housing
Programmes." Emerging Science Journal 6 (3):647-666. doi: 10.28991/esj-
2022-06-03-016.
3. IPCC (2018). Summary for Policymakers. In: Global Warming of 1.5°C. An
IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-
industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in
the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate
change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty.
4. UNDP (2020). Caribbean Human Development Report 2019: People at the
Centre of Development. United Nations Development Programme.

METHODOLOGY Case studies and analysis of survey data using SPSS

SPECIAL
EQUIPMENT/MATERIAL SPSS
PREREQUISITE none
RESEARCH AREA
□Materials □Highways/Transportation □Soils/ Ceramics/ Geology □Environmental
□Fluids □IT/Computer/Education □Coastal □Structures x□construction

SIGN OFF:

PROJECT PROPOSER SUBJECT LABORATOR SENIOR LABORATOR SIP COORDINATOR

COORDINATOR TECHNICIAN
Dr Aaron Chadee Mr Dr K. Banerjee