A well-structured and validated questionnaire is necessary to guarantee the validity, reliability and relevancy of data gathered. Despite its importance, limited research was done on the methodical creation of survey instruments for public transport studies. This has led to inadequate or irrelevant findings towards bus user perceptions or expectations and probably overlooked the important factor that is governingthe service quality of public bus transport in Kuching. To fill the gap, this study adapted a three-phase questionnaire formulation process which entails the development of a survey questionnaire on service quality, validity and reliability of the public bus transport (SQPB), through a pilot testing. A thorough procedure was developed in this study to ensure that the survey questionnaire was truly relevant and represented the study area, particularly in Kuching, Sarawak. The objectives of this study were to develop a survey questionnaire that was aimed at assessing the service quality of public transport in Kuching, validity of the survey questionnaire through content validation and lastly evaluate reliability of the survey instrument by using the statistical package for the social science (SPSS) software. The findings were focussed on reliability, accessibility, comfort as well as safety and security dimensions in the SQPB questionnaire.For reliability testing, SPSS software was used to study the reliability of items. The result of Cronbach’s alpha value showed more than 0.7 for every domain, which was categorised as high internal consistency and reliability for the questionnaire. Specifically, the Cronbach’s alpha values obtained were 0.707 for reliability, 0.878 for accessibility and 0.770 for comfort dimension. These findings demonstrated that the SQPB questionnaire that was designed particularly in Kuching is a valid and reliable instrument for estimating the service quality factors that led to lower ridership issues in the city. Therefore, this study had strengthened the underlying factors affecting service quality by focussing the context of transport assessment, particularly in a developing urban public transport system.
Price uncertainties from inflation can lead to the risk of material price escalation, resulting in poor project cost performance. Risk management by the contractor during this time is essential in addressing price uncertainties and depends on their risk behavior. Risk behavior is the willingness of individuals or groups to take risks when making decisions. The research aims to establish the framework of contractor’s risk behavior on price uncertainties to enhance performance of construction project cost. This research examines the different contractors’ risk behaviors in price uncertainties, the factors influencing risk behavior, and their effect on project cost performance. Systematic literature review is the methodology used to commence the research. The research also comprises of a construction of a conceptual framework indicates three different risk behaviors, which are risk averse, risk-seeking and risk-neutral; internal factors indicated, such as organization culture, financial competency, and contractor experience in risk, and external factors comprise of economic environment, the competition level during the tender stage, tendering method, and government policies; and the impacts. The outcome shows the different impacts of risk behaviors during price uncertainties on project cost performance. The result promotes best practices by emphasizing risk behaviors that construction contractors should address in order to accomplish the objectives of the National Construction Policy 2030, which intends to enhance cost efficiency and quality in the construction project performance.
Green residential buildings offer long-term environmental, economic, and social benefits, yet the effectiveness of their energy efficiency systems heavily depends on proper implementation and maintenance. This study investigates the key factors contributing to ineffective maintenance of energy-efficient systems in certified green residential buildings in Klang Valley, Malaysia. A structured questionnaire was distributed to residents and maintenance staff across three certified Green Building Index (GBI) developments. Despite a smaller-than-ideal sample size (n = 60), respondent diversity was maintained. Descriptive analysis revealed that financial limitations, inadequate maintenance planning, and weak management were primary barriers to maintaining energy efficiency. Additionally, the study incorporated perception-based findings, showing that most respondents recognized energy-efficient systems’ health, environmental, and societal benefits. The results highlight the importance of proactive maintenance strategies and training, and the role of perception in shaping energy practices. These insights support the development of integrated, perception-informed maintenance models to improve system performance and sustainability in green housing.
Construction project management has traditionally relied on fragmented tools, linear workflows, and static documentation, often resulting in cost overruns, schedule delays, and suboptimal resource utilisation. The emergence of Digital Twin (DT) technology, coupled with advances in Building Information Modelling (BIM), the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI), presents a transformative opportunity to reimagine how civil engineering projects are planned, executed, monitored, and maintained throughout their lifecycle. This editorial scope examines the integration of DT technology into construction project management, highlighting its capacity to enable real-time visibility, predictive analytics, and data-driven decision-making. While the convergence of these technologies offers substantial benefits, including enhanced collaboration, risk mitigation, and lifecycle performance optimisation, significant challenges persist in areas such as interoperability, data security, workforce readiness, and implementation cost. This paper discusses the current state of adoption, identifies critical barriers, and proposes strategic pathways to accelerate the meaningful integration of DT-driven project management frameworks in the civil engineering sector
This study investigates the compressive strength of geopolymer concrete incorporating chicken eggshell powder as a partial replacement for fly ash. The objective is to evaluate the impact of eggshell powder on the properties of geopolymer concrete, specifically its slump value, specific gravity, and compressive strength. The experimental procedure utilized concrete designed for a 25 MPa strength, producing 45 cylindrical specimens measuring 10 cm in diameter and 20 cm in height. The specimens were cured in an oven at a constant temperature of 60°C for 4 hours. Thereafter, they were stored under ambient conditions for 1 day and then immersed in a water-curing tank until one day prior to the designated testing age. Compressive strength tests were conducted at curing ages of 7, 14, and 28 days. The findings indicate that a 10% substitution of chicken eggshell powder yields optimal results, achieving a compressive strength of 25.25 MPa—slightly above the target strength by 1%. As the substitution level increased, the slump value declined, ranging from 6 cm at 0% eggshell powder to 2 cm at 25%. The highest specific gravity was recorded at 10% substitution (2409.55 kg/m³), while the lowest was 2251.59 kg/m³. The maximum compressive strength was observed at 10% substitution after 28 days, showing a 12.77% improvement compared to the control sample. Conversely, increasing the substitution beyond 10% led to a significant reduction in compressive strength, with a 34.18% drop at 25% substitution. The findings demonstrate that chicken eggshell waste can be effectively utilized as a sustainable supplementary precursor in geopolymer concrete. The optimum substitution level of 10% not only improved compressive strength but also provides an environmentally beneficial pathway for reducing agricultural waste disposal and decreasing reliance on conventional industrial materials in sustainable construction.
