RESEARCH DISSERTATION

What is research?

"Activity that can be undertaken at any time in an individual's life when reasoned thinking is possible. Seeking through methodical processes to add to one's own body of knowledge and hopefully, to that of others, by the discovery of non-trivial facts and insights." as defined by K. Howard and J. A. Sharp.

The subject explored numerous methods and techniques for doing a research. Methods and technique likes drafting a questionnaires, setting up the objectives of the research, quantitative and qualitative research and etc.

My topic title for my research is "A Study of Mega Project Impacts to Its Environment, Economy and Social Aspect in Sarawak". My topic mainly covers on a mega project can impacts on the local's surrounding environment, social aspect and economy.

The following are the main objectives of my topic study:

• To determine the pros and cons in the matter of environment and social issue of having a mega project in the Sarawak
• To determine in what ways the mega project can improve or increase economic growth

Used others case study to identify the key elements which related to my topic study area and seek the opinions from Kuching citizen from Sarawak whether they are agree on such findings.

I would like thank my two lecturer, Miss Theong and Puan Habizah who taught in this subject. I would like to thank them's patient and efforts for guiding me in this subject.

SUSTAINABLE HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT

The Sustainable Housing and Development is basically understanding the global environmental issues and the principles of ecologically sustainable development to a large scale housing.

Subject's main objective:

• To create an understanding of the implications of sustainability principles in construction project.
• To identify the principles of ecologically sustainable development to a hypothetical large-scale housing development.
• To identify and critically engage the links between housing and other forms of sustainable building and development (including integration with transport, services, infrastructure etc.)

The group assignment of this subject is to prepare a proposal for smart and sustainable house design for the future.

In this group work assignment, we are task as per below:

• Seek an suitable land for proposed development and together with supporting reasons
• Analyze surrounding environment of suggested land, in order to see the availability of existing development likes road/highways, public amenities, hospital, school and etc. This is intended to integrate the proposed development to these existing development.
• Sketch the master plan for the development and concept of every housing unit
• Create specialties of the proposed housing development which later used to compare with others housing scheme
• The house's design needs to fit into local climate weather system and culture, use innovative, recyclable or renewable construction materials, optimized water and energy efficiency and lastly promote the user's participation in home making

The group assignment also emphasis on the good team work efforts and creativity thinking, Our group went to Archidex exhibition for collecting and seeking green construction material to be integrate with proposed development.

Pictures of Archidex Exhibition:

Site visit picture:

Learning outcome of this subject as per below:

• Explain the evolving environment discussion as it applies to housing development.
• Explain the legislative requirements for undertaking sustainable housing development and to apply the implications of sustainability principles in construction projects.
• Understand the appropriate assessment that can be used in the planning and monitoring at different stages of sustainable housing development.

DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS

The Development Economics is about:

• The development, roles and contribution of the construction industry to national economy
• Process in a property development and factors that influence the development process
• Various techniques of development appraisal and source of finance available
• Importance of market research to the overall development process and its impact of research to the development.

This subject's group assignment is very challenging and required a good team work efforts. The group assignment is regarding of determining whether the development is feasible or not by using residue method of valuation. Aside of residue method of valuation, we also required to do cash flow of such development by adapting "Sell then Build" concept. While preparing the cash flow, the timing of each cash flow is critical for the development and it necessary to keep a good tracks on every cash flow (both inflow and outflow) associated.

The individual assignment of this assignment is closely connected to group assignment's work and the group assignment has to be done first before the individual assignment can be carry out. In the individual assignment, it requested to do a Net Present Value analysis calculation and give the comments on the viability of the project based analyzed result earlier. It also requested to perform an cash flow analysis where the development is based on "Build then Sell" concept and comment whether such development is viable or not.

The learning outcome of this subject as per following:

• ability to compile a developer's budget (total development cost and gross development value) during the initial development process.
• Execute the Cost Benefit Analysis in the early stage of investment proposal and valuation system to help on decision making during the feasibility stage.
• Classify various source of finance available in the construction industry and outline the requirement in a quality market research.

COST VALUE ENGINEERING

The Cost Value Engineering is all about the Value Management. Nowadays, the market globalization has forced the traditional oriented approached construction companies into this direction. Value Management is a rigorous systematic effort to improvement the value and optimize the cost of the project, facilities and systems. It generates cost improvement without sacrificing the required performance.

The benefits of Value Management are as per following:

• Identification and remove the unnecessary cost 
• Better quality and value building 
• Foster and improve relationships
• Improve the communication and common knowledge
• Enhance competitiveness
• Better focus on client or project's objective
• Offers a second look at key design decision
• Encourage creativity and innovation

The assignment of this subject is a group work assignment. Such group assignment required us to prepare a case study report which the project has implemented value management practices. From here, we can see that this group assignment do emphasis on good team work and creative thinking.

In this group assignment, we get to brainstorming together while performing works like seeking for alternative designs, functional analysis, cost analysis, drafting action plan and identify the project's problem.

CONSTRUCTION LAW

The Construction Law is basically a construction industry related law matters, for example the payment issue like non payment from Employer to the Contractor. The subject's group assignment is to prepare a Loss and Expense claim submitted by the Contractor. In this assignment we need to identify which one contract clauses are applicable to the Contractor's Loss and Expense claim.

When seeking for the applicable clauses, we have looked at both PAM Contract 2006 and Contract Act 1950. For example, the Contract Act 1950 Section 74 is applicable for Contractor's Loss of Profit claim.

Not only we have looked at the applicable clauses, we also need to justify how such clause is applicable for the Contractor's claim and make the adjustment on the payment based on our opinions. From this assignment, I learned that we have to be fair and reasonable to both Employer and Contractor when carry similar works like preparing an interim certificate. 

 

The following are learning outcomes from this subject:

1. Identify, explain and distinguish the various law related to the construction industry including land law and construction statutes by demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the principle in law, conditions of contract and the applicable statutes.
2. Analyze, interpret and apply this knowledge on the principles of law in administration of contracts and contractual claims including providing evidence of reasoned advice in relation oto contractual claims and interpretation of any discrepancies of various contract documents.
3. take appropriate methods of dispute resolution for different situations arising from construction contract.

Facilities Management

Before I took this elective subject, I was seldom thought about what is going to happen after a new building has been completed. From here I learnt that the building will be maintained and administrated by a Facilities Manager after the constructions of the building are completed. 

Other than that, the building's design performance and its building services are fairly important to a facilities managers. He has to know or foresee what problems and issues will be arise if the building services system are designed in this way. For example, it is not suitable to install gypsum board ceiling externally in a rise building, it is because it is very impractically and it will cost a lot to set up temporary scaffolding for carrying out the maintenance. 

From this subject's group assignment, we get to know that there are different types of building available in our surrounding area. Not only we learn the type of building which chose as case study, we also study what are their management system whether it is Management Community, Joint Management Board, or the Developer himself.

We also gets to see and study an actual swimming pool system in Suriamas Condominium, the technicians explained to us how is such system being operated and maintained. The equipments of the swimming pool system basically are sand filters, balancing tanks, water pumps, chemical tanks and its piping to designated area to equipments.

 Sand Filters

The swimming pool area.

The swimming pool and spa pump sets.

Conclusion, this elective subject has inspired me to look into building from different perspectives. Like how are the occupants of the building will be affected, or how the administration team going to solve the problems and etc.

Financial Management

This subject has taught all the formulas and how to analyse a company's status. The formulas in this subject are very useful in my future career, it will help me to see clearer picture of current situation. 

For example, the net present value is very useful too, it helped us to see how much this project will generate the profits and take in the time value of money into consideration. The time value of money concept is very interesting concept, it basically saying that the value of the money now may not worth the same in the future due to inflation or deflation.

The formula for Present Value

Where i = required rate of return, n = number of years


Then, we apply this formula

Net Preset Value = Present Value of Future Income - Initial Investment Cost 

If NPV > 0, then we should consider to accept this project. On the other hand, if NPV < 0, then we should not accept this project and start to look for other projects which are profitable.

The group assignment of this project is interesting and challenging, we were asked to choose a listed company in BURSA Malaysia. After we had chose Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad as our case study, we analysed their financial status, objectives, market target and share, forecast their following three years' financial status, and the problems which they might faced in the future.

From here, I learned that these process is very similar to evaluate tenderer's background and their financial status. It is very important process which we Quantity Surveyors would like to recommend the best performance tenderer instead of a poor one to our Client, this is to avoid causing our Client loss their profit due to a poor performance tenderer.