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Full-Text Articles in Architecture

Sustainability: Its Adaptation And Relevance In Remote Area Housing, Rosemary Rusch, Rick Best Jul 2014

Sustainability: Its Adaptation And Relevance In Remote Area Housing, Rosemary Rusch, Rick Best

Rick Best

Little consideration has been given to the context of housing in remote areas. It is important for the economic survival of many remote communities that appropriate and sustainable housing solutions are decided and implemented. This report examines housing at St Pauls, Moa Island in the Torres Strait, using site information, historical research and a review of cultural and geo-political factors to compare the current model with similar studies in self-build housing undertaken in the region between 1986 and 1992. It not only demonstrates tangible economic benefits, but also evaluates the environmental and social improvements which can be achieved with a …


The Productivity Puzzle: Is It Just About The Data?, Rick Best May 2014

The Productivity Puzzle: Is It Just About The Data?, Rick Best

Rick Best

Measuring construction industry productivity at any level above that of site activities such as bricklaying or plastering remains a vexed question. A variety of methods have been developed and tested but results are often far from consistent with different methods that appear equally valid in theory producing quite different results. A recent study conducted in Australia demonstrated the application of different methods that produced some similar results but with some care required in the analysis of the outcomes. Another example showed large variations in results following the application of a similar method to different yet apparently equally valid datasets. Analysis …


An Investigation Into Psychological Stress Detection And Management In Organisations Operating In Project And Construction Management, Alan Patching, Rick Best Dec 2013

An Investigation Into Psychological Stress Detection And Management In Organisations Operating In Project And Construction Management, Alan Patching, Rick Best

Rick Best

While psychologists remain divided whether ‘workplace stress’ is caused by workplace experiences or other factors, it’s commonly accepted that, regardless of cause, people experiencing stress can demonstrate decreased workplace performance. From a human performance and productivity perspective, from whence stress arises is somewhat irrelevant–the relevant fact is that it’s far more important to have systems and procedures in place to contribute to avoidance of undue work environment caused stress. It is also important to identify when an employee is exhibiting signs of stress than it is to focus only on remedial measures for when stress effects have already taken their …