Architecture, Building and Planning - Research Publications
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ItemPhysical environment as a factor in schools’ performance and efficiency: A review of previous research(Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA), 2022-12-02)The physical environment can considerably influence the efficiency and functionalities of facilities and spaces. Some recent studies examining schools’ efficiency consider several factors such as human capital, parents' socioeconomic background, perceptions of teachers and parents towards schools, and financial status. However, very few studies have investigated the influences of schools' physical environment and facilities on their efficiency and students’ academic performance. This research aims to review the recent studies on factors influencing schools’ efficiency and student academic performance, and the importance accorded to physical environment. The research database, Scopus, is searched using combinations of relevant keywords and various studies that identify the influencing factors. A preliminary analysis of most of these studies indicates that the physical environment's influence on school performance appears peripheral. However, it was identified that physical environment, facilities, and services influence students’ academic performance directly and indirectly. One of the limitations highlighted was that many of the studies, which include the physical environment factors in examining schools’ efficiency, were based on a single country. The studies were mainly focused on the USA, and only a handful was based on Australia and the rest of the world. This paper identifies the need for more such studies that can contribute to bridging the knowledge on the efficiency drivers of the schools. A better understanding of the drivers for better school performance is needed to lead to an efficient allocation of funding, particularly for public schools in Australia.
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ItemNo Preview AvailablePost-Disaster Reconstruction, Well-being and Sustainable Development Goals: A Conceptual Framework(SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD, 2022-09)Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of disasters. Low-income households living in low- and middle-income countries are most vulnerable to the effects of disasters. While efforts have increased for better disaster management since the adoption of the Sendai framework adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan in 2015 by 187 countries, the success rate of post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation has been debatable for disaster affected persons. The purpose of this article (which is the first part of our research on approach to post disaster reconstruction) is to propose a framework based on capability approach to understand the determinants of well-being that need to be restored for disaster affected persons. The second part will present results from application of this framework to examine the post-disaster reconstruction of affected persons in Chennai (India). Resettlement is a complex issue, and it requires a balance between protecting lives and livelihoods of those affected, as these are tied to a location, and protecting them from future disasters, the occurrence of which is also tied to a location. The article argues that a capabilities-based approach that aligns with sustainable development goals could provide a framework to identify components of a post-disaster management plan to satisfactorily rebuild the well-being of affected persons.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableApproaches to strengthening fisheries financing and institutional mechanisms: a cross-country comparison of Cambodia, India and Indonesia(Asian Development Bank Institute, 2022-07-18)
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ItemNo Preview AvailableImproving material selection in shopping centres through a parametric life cycle embodied flow and material cost analysis model(PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, 2022-09)Shopping centres are significant built assets and part of the urban fabric in most developed economies. Yet very few studies have conducted a life cycle assessment of shopping centres, despite them using significant amounts of energy and resources throughout their life cycle. This paper presents a parametric model that quantifies the life cycle embodied flow (LCEF) and material cost (LCMC) of Australian shopping centres to inform material selection. Different combinations of building materials and assemblies are identified with minimum LCEF and LCMC for 13 different shop categories typical in shopping centres. The parametric model is used to simulate a case study centre which tests and analyses over 8820 scenarios and delivers benchmark values for the LCEF and LCMC of shopping centres. It shows that a typical centre using concrete and steel, average embodied flow intensities are 14.2 GJ/m2 and 830 kgCO2e/m2. It further demonstrates recurrent embodied flow, which is currently disregarded, is significant and represents up to 56% of the LCEF of a shopping centre over a period of 50 years. Results show that specific assembly combinations could achieve up to 32% LCEF reductions while saving up to 17% on material costs. Foundations and roof structure are identified as the most crucial of building elements for reducing embodied flow in the centre structure. This paper contributes to the embodied environmental impact assessment efforts and the energy-cost nexus by facilitating the appraisal and demonstrating broader societal impacts in making the built environment more economically and environmentally sustainable.
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ItemMeasuring Inadequacy in Compensation for the Compulsory Acquisition of Land: Evidence from Bengaluru, India(MDPI, 2022-05)Taking inspiration from the longstanding problem of inadequate compensation for the compulsory acquisition of private land for a public purpose, this research estimates the economic value of (i) future development potential of land or ‘hope value’; and (ii) depreciation in property value due to acquisition notification or ‘blight’. Using empirical data on property transactions conducted in the Bengaluru Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project area and registered with sub-registrar offices in Bengaluru India during 2007–14, this research innovatively combines the duration model and hedonic price model to estimate the above. Results indicate that the current mechanisms for compensation are inadequately compensating for the land. The loss of the hope value ranges between 2.39 to 8.35 times the market value of agricultural land in 2006 and loss due to blight is approximately 31 percent. Compensating for these losses ex-ante should induce fairness in the compulsory acquisition process and reduce arbitrariness in the valuation of essential components of a compensation package, thus unburdening the valuation responsibilities of the legal institutions. These findings empirically support the argument of payment of additional monetary compensation to the market value of land and provide a rational measure of the same.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableHousehold choices of sanitation infrastructure and impact on disease in India(SAGE Publications, 2022)In the recent past, there has been a substantial push to increase the sanitation infrastructure in India to end open defecation and improve level of hygiene. The choice of the type of sanitation, however, depends on demographic, socio-economic, tenurial, cultural and sanitation surroundings, which not only impacts sanitation practices but also incidences of diseases. This paper empirically analyses the determinants of households’ choice of toilet facility and the relation between incidence of diseases and sanitation using National Sample Survey Office’s 76th round of the survey for 2018-19. The results indicate that the social, economic and cultural factors have significant impact on the households’ choices of a toilet. There is a preference for flush type toilets connected to a sewer among households with better socio-economic status. This research finds that the quality of microenvironment within which a household lives has a significant impact on the incidence of disease. The results imply that the interventions for improved sanitation need to be holistic, emphasising microenvironment improvement and providing better access to sanitation infrastructure and inculcating more hygienic behavioural practices.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableInformation and volatility linkages between real estate, equity, bond and money markets in Australia(Emerald, 2022-03-29)Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine information and volatility linkages among real estate, equity, bond and money markets in Australia. Design/methodology/approach: A novel rational expectations framework of financial contagion (Kodres and Pritsker, 2002), along with a combination of robust statistical methods including simple and dynamic correlations and generalized impulse response (Fereidouni et al., 2014) have been employed using data covering three dynamic pre-pandemic economic cycles, namely, global financial crisis (GFC) period, pre-pandemic housing boom and pre-pandemic housing downturn from 2008 (February) to 2019 (December). Findings: Results reveal information linkages across real estate, equity, bond and money markets through correlations in return and volatilities of these series. Finding indicates that the three financial markets (equity, bond and money markets) are interdependent and integrated through information and volatility linkages during the GFC period and pre-pandemic housing downturn period. Financial markets have stronger associations with real estate market during pre-pandemic housing boom. The findings contribute to the general notion that the performances of three financial markets are closely related to the “boom” phase of the real estate cycle. Originality/value: This research provides an extension of existing literature regarding the information and volatility contagion of the expanded set of core investment markets in Australia. The findings could assist household buyers and investors in designing strategic investment portfolios/hedging strategies and minimizing asset specific risks through diversification over short-term and long-term. In addition, results could support the maintenance, growth and development of a combination of competitive balanced investment markets including real estate, equity, bond and money markets in post-pandemic economy.
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ItemAn analysis of land and property development models, and stakeholders: A case of National Capital Region, India(Elsevier, 2022-06)With urbanization, successful land development has become critical for the growth of the cities. Land administration plays an important role in the outcome of land and property development models. Land and property development requires close coordination between public and private sectors and has impact on various stakeholders including public authority, private developers, landowners, home-buyers and society. In addition to land development, which has it's characteristic and price mechanism separate from property development, this paper looks at property development to provide a holistic approach to urban development. We examine three cases of land and property development models across different cities within a single regional planning area called the National Capital Region (NCR) in India. Firstly, we look at the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Delhi) that has for years adopted public sector model of land development, however, with limited success. Delhi has recently experimented with land pooling to unlock large peri-urban areas in the fringe. Secondly, Gurugram (Haryana) hailed as ‘Millennium City’ has been able to achieve high decadal real estate growth with Public-Private land development, but there is a cost to this fast growth to the society that results in severe planning and infrastructure bottlenecks. Lastly, we look at the Public land development model of Noida (Uttar Pradesh), which is distinct from Delhi and Gurugram, and has been able to provide one of the best infrastructures in NCR. But due to its pro-developer land allotment policy, it has created a city with several stalled projects that have resulted in the loss of home equity for home-buyers. These contrasting land development models when studied with property development models within the same geographical region provide key insights for policymakers, planners, city governments and academic fraternity.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableHousehold expenditure and accessibility of water in urban India(SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD, 2022-10)Accessibility and affordability are critical challenges for household water consumption in urban India. While the previous research on affordability and water tariff setting is substantial, the interplay of water access equity and its impact on household water expenditure is less understood due to the absence of granular household level data in India. This research draws upon the NSSO’s 76th round of data collected across the country to explore the differences in water access and expenditure amongst various income categories. Using regression analysis, this paper investigates the association between the socio-economic, tenurial status, sources of water, sufficiency, and access related factors and the household expenditure on water. Results show that water is a scarce commodity for lower sections of society and that they are incurring higher costs, making the water relatively unaffordable. The research findings indicate that the policymakers and project proponents need to develop more targeted metrics for measuring the disparities and configure interventions that mitigate the inequalities in urban water provision.
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ItemImportance of Land in SDG Policy Instruments: A Study of ASEAN Developing Countries(MDPI, 2022-02)Allocating land-related social, economic, and legal benefits to people is crucial for meeting the commitments made by various countries for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). Economic growth in developing countries in the Southeast Asian region is very rapid, requiring primary resources such as land, which poses challenges for implementing nationally determined commitments towards SDGs. This paper quantitatively compares the relevant policy instruments issued by the key ASEAN countries to analyze the importance of land provision in achieving the specific SDGs. Using content analysis to formulate a framework for comparing the various policy instruments and strategic plans, the article identifies the importance of land use in various policy instruments focused on achieving SDGs. Most countries use authoritative instruments to incorporate land-related aspects. The use of the symbolic, capacity-building, and incentive instruments is relatively lesser. Many countries give prominence to land for providing shelter or as an economic resource, while land use for managing gender equality is negligible. Policy makers could incorporate a more balanced mix of instruments and those addressing different dimensions of land use while redesigning their policy or strategy documents to implement SDGs.