A New Approach to the Ordered Classification of Critical Factors in the Degradation Processes of River Basins

The aim of this paper is to present through information collected via qualitative analysis in order to provide an alternative perspective to classify critical factors and their correlations in the processes of degradation of river basins in countries in development in an ordered way.This study was started with a bibliographical review for gathering relevant information about the main factors,which was submitted to specialists and related professionals via survey developed in a format of answers on Likert scale,with the analyses of data from the respondents as well as their contribution within sample assembly exploratory factorial analysis and the charge factor item from the questionnaire with usage of polychoric correlation matrix with which it is proposed to establish the ordering of the factors relevance as well as their correlations through parametric statistical analysis with the usage of a generalized model of partial credit which belongs to the family of the models for polyatomic gradual answers to the item response theory(IRT)and the applying of cluster analysis(ICLUST)with the usage of both alpha and omega coefficient for the estimation of the variables group,with the R tool.As a result,the present study aims to establish a comprehension of the main factors for the ordering of the actions and attention of public and private sectors towards the preservation of urban river basins.

Barriers and Challenges to the Sustainability Requirements Implementation in Public Procurement of Engineering Works and Services

The environmental damage arising from the construction and engineering services was responsible for the appearance of several norms and resolutions regulating and directing the sector’s performance. In this article, we research how professionals with experience in public bids assess the difficulty degree of the implementation of those requirements and how they assess the environmental legislation regarding the protection and conservation of the environment, impact on costs, deadlines and the solution to environmental problems. The results show that industry professionals consider as “high” the level of difficulty to implement the addressed sustainability requirements, and that the Brazilian environmental legislation does not comply with its environmental protection role, increases the possibility of delays and costs of projects and services and hampers the emergence of solutions that could solve environmental problems.

Leading for Sustainability in the Brazilian Construction Industry

This article analyzes the major stakeholders in the Brazilian construction industry from the viewpoint of the companies in this sector, as well as how these organizations relate to their stakeholders with regard to the topic of sustainability in the construction. The study was based on the principle that the relationship with stakeholders is one of the foundations for the inception and continuity of activities toward sustainability. The findings of which show that the construction companies start the sustainability implementation process without the involvement of external stakeholders. This survey points out the difficulty faced by Brazilian construction companies in relating to their stakeholders. There is the perception that the customers and other actors do not value sustainability-oriented activities, but, at the same time, the relationship of the companies with these stakeholders is limited to disclosure of information. This characteristic of the industry reveals a need for sustainability projects that take into consideration, since their formulation, the stakeholders’ perceptions. The importance of this article lies in the recognition that, although the topic of sustainability is discussed at all levels, studies that examine how specific construction industries have been dealing with it are still rare.