Metropolitan Housing Development in Urban Fringe Areas-A Case Study of Three Metropolitan Cities of South Africa: Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane

Purpose:The metropolitan cities of Johannesburg,Ekurhuleni and Tshwane play an important role in the economy of the Gauteng province in South Africa.The region constitutes to 22.4 percent of the total population of South Africa and has a strong presence and contributes in areas of manufacturing sector,financial and business services,retail and wholesale trade,etc.The rapid urban population,increase in the informal settlements and socio-economic opportunities has resulted in considerable urban sprawl in and around the urban fringe areas of these metropolitan cities.The urban fringe areas of these metros often come under the influence of rapid urbanization process and pressures.Coupled with the economical and potential land dynamics and lack of priority of spatial development guidelines,these areas attract rapid and haphazard development from communities and developers.Research Design/Methodology:This research is based on a qualitative approach through a comprehensive literature review that included content analysis of key documents on housing sector such as IDPs(Integrated Development Plans),Municipal Annual Reports,Growth Development Strategies,and among other sectoral documents on housing sector.Some of the key priority issues considered in the housing sector included:eradication of housing backlogs,spatial restructuring of housing,provision of choice in terms of location,tenure and housing typology.Findings:The current paper discusses the approaches of metropolitan housing development processes in three metropolitan cities of South Africa from Gauteng region,namely:Johannesburg,Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.The paper discusses the existing housing sectoral scenario along with the fringe areas in three cities with focus on:formal and informal settlements,housing segregation and the backlogs,current institutional arrangements,role of public private participation,and scope for alternate mechanisms.The paper concludes in discussion on sustainable development options for housing development in urban fringe areas.

Energy-Saving Distributed Flexible Job Shop Scheduling Optimization with Dual Resource Constraints Based on Integrated Q-Learning Multi-Objective Grey Wolf Optimizer

The distributed flexible job shop scheduling problem(DFJSP)has attracted great attention with the growth of the global manufacturing industry.General DFJSP research only considers machine constraints and ignores worker constraints.As one critical factor of production,effective utilization of worker resources can increase productivity.Meanwhile,energy consumption is a growing concern due to the increasingly serious environmental issues.Therefore,the distributed flexible job shop scheduling problem with dual resource constraints(DFJSP-DRC)for minimizing makespan and total energy consumption is studied in this paper.To solve the problem,we present a multi-objective mathematical model for DFJSP-DRC and propose a Q-learning-based multi-objective grey wolf optimizer(Q-MOGWO).In Q-MOGWO,high-quality initial solutions are generated by a hybrid initialization strategy,and an improved active decoding strategy is designed to obtain the scheduling schemes.To further enhance the local search capability and expand the solution space,two wolf predation strategies and three critical factory neighborhood structures based on Q-learning are proposed.These strategies and structures enable Q-MOGWO to explore the solution space more efficiently and thus find better Pareto solutions.The effectiveness of Q-MOGWO in addressing DFJSP-DRC is verified through comparison with four algorithms using 45 instances.The results reveal that Q-MOGWO outperforms comparison algorithms in terms of solution quality.

Microstructure and properties of 35 kg large aluminum alloy flywheel housing components formed by squeeze casting with local pressure compensation

The squeeze casting method with local pressure compensation was proposed to form a flywheel housing component with a weight of 35 kg.The numerical simulation,microstructure observation and phase characterization were performed,and the influence of local pressure compensation on feeding of thick-wall position,microstructure and mechanical properties of the formed components were discussed.Results show that the molten metal keeps a good fluidity and the filling is complete during the filling process.Although the solidification at thick-wall positions of the mounting ports is slow,the local pressure compensation effectively realizes the local forced feeding,significantly eliminating the shrinkage cavity defects.In the microstructure of AlSi9Mg alloy,α-Al primarily consists of fragmented dendrites and rosette grains,while eutectic Si predominantly comprises needles and short rods.The impact of local pressure compensation on strength is relatively minimal,yet its influence on elongation is considerable.Following local pressure compensation,the average elongation at the compensated areas is 9.18%,which represents a 44.90%higher than that before compensation.The average tensile strength is 209.1 MPa,and the average yield strength is 100.6 MPa.The local pressure compensation can significantly reduce or even eliminate the internal defects in the 35 kg large-weight components formed by squeeze casting.

Operation optimization strategy of existing residential building energy-saving renovation market:From the perspective of subject behavior

The energy-saving renovation of existing residential buildings is a crucial measure to achieve the strategic goal of energy conservation and emission reduction in China and build ecologically livable cities.This article focuses on the perspective of subject behavior,starting from analyzing the current situation and difficulties of the operation of the energy-saving renovation market for existing residential buildings in China,drawing on the practical experience of the operation of the existing residential building energy-saving renovation market abroad.Based on principles such as systematicity,humanization,feasibility,and sustainability,the article constructs an operation optimization system of the existing residential building energy-saving renovation market from the perspective of subject behavior.In order to provide a reference for the healthy and orderly operation of the existing residential building energy-saving renovation market,this paper proposes implementation strategies for optimizing the operation of the existing residential building energy-saving renovation market.Suggestions are proposed from four aspects:optimizing the market environment,innovating the financing model,building the information sharing platform,and utilizing the synergies of the main subjects.

Industrialization,Efficiency and Social Housing:Sustainable Prefabrication for the Colombian Social and Cultural Context

This research aims to generate processes of industrialization and qualification of social housing in Colombia through prefabrication,low energy consumption and high environmental quality to reduce the current deficit and improve the quality of life in communities with fewer economic resources.Modular coordination and the use of materials with thermal behaviors,appropriate to the country’s climatic characteristics,reduce production costs,avoid waste and improve the architectural and environmental quality of social housing.Passive cooling strategies,such as controlling solar incursion and generating natural cross ventilation eliminate energy consumption and allow reaching desired standards of comfort.In a context in which traditional construction systems have still not resolved the social housing deficit in Colombia and which generate high costs for energy consumption in the search for thermal comfort,industrialized and efficient construction with high environmental quality provides solutions according to the economic,geographic,social and cultural context in Colombia.

Energy-Saving Construction Technologies for Buildings

The development of the construction industry is shifting towards low-carbon construction,so it is necessary to improve and optimize related construction concepts,methods,and processes.By improving resource and energy control efficiency in building projects,minimizing construction waste,and reducing environmental impact,a foundation for the sustainable development of the industry can be established.This paper mainly analyzes the significance of low-carbon energy-saving construction technology and the control factors of construction,summarizes the status quo of the development of building energy-saving construction,and puts forward strategies for applying building energy-saving construction technology.These strategies serve to achieve low-carbon and energy-saving goals to promote the healthy development of energy-saving construction.

Living in a Condominium Regime:Neighborhood Conflicts in Low-Income Housing,Tijuana,Baja California-A Secondary Publication

This paper analyzes neighborhood conflicts arising from the condominium property regime,under which social housing promoted by Mexican government institutions and private developers is acquired.This regime has facilitated access to housing for the salaried population,but it is far from contributing to the attainment of the right to housing.The research takes as case studies housing complexes located in the city of Tijuana,Baja California,Mexico.The analysis included a mixed methodology.Firstly,similar case studies were analyzed;secondly,a review of the Condominium Property Regime Law was carried out in order to understand its implications.In view of the pandemic situation,a virtual survey was applied to the inhabitants of these areas,as well as interviews with presidents of neighborhood committees of these complexes.From the above,it was found that this form of ownership generates conflicts,reflected in the dissatisfaction of the inhabitants with their housing,disagreements and controversies in their organization and coexistence.The inhabitants have to collectively solve the problems they face,related to the maintenance and use of common areas,insecurity,and cleanliness,among others.In addition,there is a lack of support from local authorities.With this,it is concluded that although the inhabitants have a space that solves their housing problem,it does not manage to be a space that adequately guarantees their right to housing.

Application of Energy-Saving Materials in Architectural Design

The conventional process of building construction is associated with issues such as the waste of construction materials and environmental pollution.Sustainable development highlights the importance of energy conservation and eco-friendly practices.It is essential to use energy-efficient and green materials in building designs to ensure the healthy growth of construction companies.This article discusses the advantages and principles of incorporating energy-saving materials in architectural design.It examines the strategies and critical control points for using energy-saving materials in architectural design,offering guidance for the sustainable development of the construction industry.

Exploration of Energy-Saving Technologies in Building Electrical System Design

Green energy conservation is the mainstream trend in the current development of the construction industry.The application of energy-saving technology in building electrical system design can effectively reduce energy consumption,avoid unnecessary energy consumption,and truly achieve energy conservation and environmental protection.Based on this,the article elaborates on the principles of energy-saving design in building electrical systems,and actively explores the application of energy-saving technologies from different perspectives such as optimizing power supply and distribution system design,adopting high-efficiency energy-saving lighting equipment,applying renewable energy,promoting smart home technology,and improving the efficiency of building electrical equipment.

A Triple Nexus Water-Energy-Housing (WEH) Framework Modelling towards Improved Decision-Making in Humanitarian Operations

Given the challenges facing most humanitarian operations worldwide, a change of approach is needed to ensure greater sustainability of humanitarian settlements right from the planning stage. Some studies attribute unsustainability to inadequate provision of basic resources and highlight the apparent bottlenecks that prevent access to the meaningful data needed to plan and remedy problems. Most operations have relied on an “ad hoc ism” approach, employing parallel and disconnected data processing methods, resulting in a wide range of data being collected without subsequent prioritization to optimize interconnections that could enhance performance. There have been little efforts to study the trade-offs potentially at stake. This work proposes a new framework enabling all subsystems to operate in a single system and focusing on data processing perspective. To achieve this, this paper proposes a Triple Nexus Framework as an attempt to integrate water, energy, and housing sector data derived from a specific sub-system within the overall system in the application of Model-Based Systems Engineering. Understanding the synergies between water, energy, and housing, Systems Engineering characterizes the triple nexus framework and identifies opportunities for improved decision-making in processing operational data from these sectors. Two scenarios illustrate how an integrated platform could be a gateway to access meaningful operational data in the system and a starting point for modeling integrated human settlement systems. Upon execution, the model is tested for nexus megadata processing, and the optimization simulation yielded 67% satisfactory results, demonstrating that an integrated system could improve sustainability, and that capacity building in service delivery is more than beneficial.

Design of Diversified Intelligent Control System for Energy-saving Optimization of Solar Greenhouse in North China

Intelligent greenhouse can promote the development of modern agriculture, realize the high quality and high yield of crops, and also bring greater economic benefits. In accordance with the climate conditions in northwest China, a set of intelligent control system for diversified environment of solar greenhouse was designed. The system divides the annual greenhouse control into six stages according to the optimal energy saving. It uses modern detection technology to collect the greenhouse environmental temperature, environmental humidity, soil humidity, CO_(2) concentration and illumination parameters under different working modes. It uses programmable logic control technology to realize the data processing of various parameters and the action control of rolling film, wet curtain fan and other actuators. It uses KingView monitoring software to realize the monitoring and manual control of greenhouse environment parameters. The operation results indicate that the control system runs stably and basically meets the control requirements.

Energy-saving performance investigation on sustainable architecture design of open-plan housing in temperate region

With the increasing requirement of a higher living quality and the growing awareness of energy saving, how to improve the indoor comfort level and to reduce the expenditure of energy and slow down the rate of natural resource consumption is becoming increasingly important. The theory of open-plan housing is able to provide a more flexible and adaptive space for the users and bring sustainable and economic benefit in the way of making full use of construction materials. Sustainable architecture design, as a method to respond the phenomenon, is able to low down the building＇ s energy consumption and has enormous potentials in creation of sustainable living environment and a high-quality dwelling condition. The primary aim of this research is to create a new sustainable architecture design method for occupancy by integrating openplan housing theory and application of sustainable technologies. Numerical simulation by computer program is applied in order to investigate and evaluate the possibility of this method in teruas of improving indoor comfort level and energy-saving capacity.

Green,Sustainable Architectural Bamboo with High Light Transmission and Excellent Electromagnetic Shielding as a Candidate for Energy-Saving Buildings

Currently,light-transmitting,energy-saving,and electromagnetic shielding materials are essential for reducing indoor energy consumption and improving the electromagnetic environment.Here,we developed a cellulose composite with excellent optical transmittance that retained the natural shape and fiber structure of bamboo.The modified whole bamboo possessed an impressive optical transmittance of approximately 60%at 6.23 mm,illuminance of 1000 luminance(lux),water absorption stability(mass change rate less than 4%),longitudinal tensile strength(46.40 MPa),and surface properties(80.2 HD).These were attributed to not only the retention of the natural circular hollow structure of the bamboo rod on the macro,but also the complete bamboo fiber skeleton template impregnated with UV resin on the micro.Moreover,a multilayered device consisting of translucent whole bamboo,transparent bamboo sheets,and electromagnetic shielding film exhibited remarkable heat insulation and heat preservation performance as well as an electromagnetic shielding performance of 46.3 dB.The impressive optical transmittance,mechanical properties,thermal performance,and electromagnetic shielding abilities combined with the renewable and sustainable nature,as well as the fast and efficient manufacturing process,make this bamboo composite material suitable for effective application in transparent,energy-saving,and electromagnetic shielding buildings.

E-house箱体及吊具的吊装过程受力数值计算

预装式变电站(E-house)作为电网重要的电能传输枢纽,已经被广泛应用。在安装施工过程中,箱体质量、吊具结构、吊装速度等因素均会引起箱体形变的发生,导致设备的损坏。为了解决该问题,对所设计的9.8 m×3.2 m尺寸的E-house箱体及吊具结构进行吊装受力分析,并利用有限元方法分析了吊装结构和箱体的应力变形,确定了吊具和箱体易变形损坏部位。计算结果表明,为减少轴向压力对吊具的影响,钢丝绳安全夹角应控制在60°以内,安全的吊装速度应控制在1 m/s以下。研究结果可以为后续的箱体结构设计与优化提供理论参考。

Low-content Pt-triggered the optimized d-band center of Rh metallene for energy-saving hydrogen production coupled with hydrazine degradation

Utilizing the hydrazine-assisted water electrolysis for energy-efficient hydrogen production shows a promising application, which relies on the development and design of efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts. Herein, we reported a low-content Pt-doped Rh metallene(Pt-Rhene) for hydrazine-assisted water electrolysis towards energy-saving hydrogen(H_(2)) production, where the ultrathin metallene is constructed to provide enough favorable active sites for catalysis and improve atom utilization.Additionally, the synergistic effect between Rh and Pt can optimize the electronic structure of Rh for improving the intrinsic activity. Therefore, the required overpotential of Pt-Rhene is only 37 mV to reach a current density of-10 mA cm^(-2) in the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER), and the Pt-Rhene exhibits a required overpotential of only 11 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm^(-2) in the hydrazine oxidation reaction(HzOR). With the constructed HER-HzOR two-electrode system, the Pt-Rhene electrodes exhibit an extremely low voltage(0.06/0.19/0.28 V) to achieve current densities of 10/50/100 mA cm^(-2) for energy-saving H_(2) production, which greatly reduces the electrolysis energy consumption. Moreover,DFT calculations further demonstrate that the introduction of Pt modulates the electronic structure of Rh and optimizes the d-band center, thus enhancing the adsorption and desorption of reactant/intermediates in the electrocatalytic reaction.

The Challenges in Providing Affordable Housing in Nigeria and the Adequate Sustainable Approaches for Addressing Them

Despite multiple schemes implemented by various governments around the country, affordable housing remains elusive to the average Nigerian. Because the situation is comparable to that of other developing nations, it remains a key concern in these countries’ socioeconomic development. Over 52% of Nigeria’s population has been claimed to live in shanties, squatter communities, and informal settlements. This article, therefore, reviews the challenges to the provision of affordable housing in Nigeria and the Sustainable approaches to address them. The article’s findings were based on a thorough examination of the literature. The article’s findings indicated that sustainable approaches for addressing Nigeria’s affordable housing barriers may best be examined through the economic, ecological, social, institutional, and technical factors. The paper urges the present regime, investors, lawmakers, and private developers in Nigeria to implement these approaches for affordable housing provision. The findings from this article will add to the current body of knowledge by providing important information on affordable housing provision and re-directing research interest towards affordable housing in Nigeria and other developing countries.

The Benefits of Solar Energy on the Provision of Sustainable Affordable Housing in Nigeria

Solar energy is the most abundant form of energy on Earth. Solar energy brings impactful benefits and products that are expected to make homes more reliable, sustainable, and affordable. Thanks to technological advancements like the solar cell, we can gather this energy and turn it into electricity. The construction industry has an exceptional chance of benefiting from this sustainable energy. Many recognised benefits have been spelled forth in the construction industry, such as providing homes with clean energy with no trace of ozone depleting material emission. There are many people in Nigeria who are not linked to the public electric grid, and the energy sector produces and generates less than 58% of the entire amount of energy required. As stated in the Nigeria’s National Energy General Plan, the Sustainable Energy programme aims to enhance the country’s use of solar electricity. This paper focuses on the role of solar energy in the provision of sustainable affordable housing in Nigeria. It considers the description, method, and utilisation of solar energy with a focus on residential and commercial buildings.

Behavior characteristics and market operation problems of existing building energy-saving renovation market

The long-term and effective implementation of the existing building energy efficiency renovation depends on the development of the existing building energy efficiency renovation market.The key to the development of the existing building energy efficiency renovation market is the joint role of the market players.Starting with the analysis of the externalities and information asymmetry of the existing building energy efficiency renovation market,this paper analyzes the behavioral characteristics and influencing factors of the existing building energy efficiency renovation market entities(central government,local government,owners,energy conservation service enterprises,third-party evaluation institutions,and other market entities),and reveals the problems of the existing building energy efficiency renovation market,such as the absence of government,the lack of main power,and the lack of financing channels,Thus,it lays a platform foundation for the research on the behavior strategy and security system of the existing building energy-s aving renovation market.

Multi-subject and multi-objective integrated optimization system and implementation strategy for energy-saving renovation of the existing residential buildings

The core of the healthy and orderly operation of the existing residential building energy-saving renovation market lies in the exploration of the implementation mechanism of multi-subject and multi-objective integrated optimization.The multi-agent and multi-objective integrated optimization system framework is a powerful tool to guide the scientific decision-making of the market core structural entities in the future market practice. This paper analyzes the practical dilemma of energy-saving renovation of theexisting residential buildings in China, summarizes the practical experience of multi-subject and multi-objective integrated optimization of energy-saving renovation of the existing residential buildings in foreign countries, and puts forward beneficial practical enlightenment on the basis of comparison at home and abroad;The design principles of the target integrated optimization system have established a multi-subject and multi-objective integrated optimization system framework for the energy-saving renovation of the existing residential buildings, from six aspects: government guidance, trust consensus, value co-creation, risk sharing, revenue sharing, and social responsibility sharing. This paper proposes a multi-subject and multi-objective integrated practice strategy, in order to promote the efficient and orderly development of China's existing residential building energy-saving renovation market.

Assessment of Compliance to Building Energy Efficiency Strategies in the Development of Housing Estates in FCC, Abuja Nigeria

Compliance to local energy efficiency strategies can significantly reduce energy consumption in buildings and promote sustainability. However, Nigeria Building Energy Efficiency Code (BEEC) seems to be just paper work without enforcement or compliance. Assessment of Compliance to Green Building Energy Efficiency Strategies in the Development of Housing Estates in FCC, Abuja Nigeria was carried out. The compliance of estate buildings to BEEC in the study area was assessed;and the aspects of the building energy efficiency strategies with more compliance were determined. Data were mainly from primary sources such as questionnaire survey, interview with key informants and observation. The study population included all estate developers and building construction professionals. Data were gathered from one hundred and fifty (150) building professionals through questionnaire administration. Data collected were analysed using Z score and ANOVA and presented in tables. Results show that only 18% of respondents agreed that building complied with BEEC, and the Z score for positive affirmation is below average score. There is a significant difference in the integration of different energy efficient management strategies in the estates’ construction at 95% confidence level. The integration of measures such as window to wall ratio and window shading’ were significantly higher than other BEEC strategies such as roof insulation and minimal air condition unit (≤EER/COP of 2.8). Thus, the development of estates in FCC Abuja did not achieve energy efficiency.