ABSTRACT
The year 2020 has been an exceptional one worldwide;it has imposed new norms on the ways of living and business as usual practices. With the outbreak of COVID-19 in December 2019, a sudden shift was witnessed in many sectors such as education, transportation, tourism, construction, health and business. Health and safety measures enforced either the abandonment of some buildings such as schools, theaters, malls, and other public buildings, or the stay-at-home option in many nations. Residential buildings, therefore, became places to rest, study, work, and entertain, and public buildings witnessed alternating occupancy based on the health protocols. This research investigates how COVID-19 has altered and impacted the use of buildings in cases of crisis and lockdown. It then investigates the future of buildings post COVID-19, referring to sustainable and smart buildings as the way ahead. Features of sustainable and smart buildings are compared to the requirements of buildings post COVID-19 based on the literature review. Finally, this paper also provides an insight into Bahraini architects’ vision of public buildings post COVID-19. A survey was used to obtain how designers and architects in Bahrain envision buildings post COVID-19. The survey also measures if any changes have already been applied to buildings during this period. The survey results indicate that around 60% percent of architects believe that the future of the building stock in Bahrain will change to incorporate smart and sustainable buildings. © 2022 by authors. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Worldwide, COVID-19 has brought many countries/economies to a sudden halt, with impacts affecting various sectors, such as education, construction, businesses, tourism, health, and many more. The rapid spread of the virus called for immediate actions and protocols. Even though in some countries, including the Kingdom of Bahrain, construction restrictions were not applicable, project delays and finances are expected to be some of the long-term impacts of COVID-19. The disruption of supply chains, the economic status of enterprises, and the health conditions of the workers are just a few of the impacts of COVID-19 on the engineering and construction market. This research aims to shed light on the impacts of COVID-19 on the construction and engineering sector in Bahrain, investigating both the public and private sectors. To measure the impact of the pandemic and assess the progression of engineering projects in the country, exploratory research was conducted. The target population was licensed engineering offices in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and governmental bodies involved in the construction and engineering industry. The results indicated that the subsidies and support received from the government have indirectly ensured the stability of this sector. However, risks associated with the pandemic persist, as projects are bound to face challenges such as slowdown and delays and financial difficulties, along with the uncertainty of the market, which remains a concern for the future. © 2020 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
With the COVID-19 outbreak across the world, policymakers and authorities have realised that they cannot solve the emerging issues using conventional policies and practices. COVID-19 has severely affected many industries, including construction and demolition (C&D) waste management and C&D waste resource recovery sector. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and schemes alike are policy instruments that prevent waste generation and promote a circular economy in the construction industry. These schemes are long adopted in various countries for different waste streams. EPR policy development and implementation, particularly for C&D waste, is still at an early stage in Australia. This study aims to review the Australian regulatory environment and practice to identify barriers and enablers towards successful policy development and implementation of C&D waste-related EPR. This study is based on secondary data that are publicly available. The document analysis was conducted to identify the level of regulatory and other stakeholders support in Australia. Following three rounds of examination of sources and applying multiple selection criteria, 59 different sources were reviewed in total. The results showed that there is widespread support among different stakeholders to develop EPR and expand the existing regulation to other materials. The barriers were cost and time implications for EPR policy establishment and enforcement, diversity of stakeholders involved, construction product lifecycle, responsibility of manufacturers, complexity in implantation of EPR regulations, modification inbuilt facilities and health and safety issues. Recommendations are made to alleviate these challenges. The outcome of this study could serve as a guideline for designing effective EPR policies. © 2021 by the authors. Li-censee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.