Vikneswaran Munikanan

In higher education, awareness and implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are crucial because universities serve as hubs of knowledge, innovation, and leadership development. Addressing key performance areas (KPAs) in a campus setting provides a structured framework to operationalize sustainability, strengthen institutional practices, and align education with global development priorities. This research was conducted to investigate the KPAs that address the SDGs in the campus, analyze the impact of the SDGs across KPAs, and propose improvements for better alignment. A survey questionnaire was designed to assess awareness of SDGs, the extent of their implementation at the National Defense University of Malaysia (UPNM), and the perceived impact of implementation. A total of 250 responses were collected across faculties, and the data was analyzed using SPSS Statistics Software. Results revealed that overall awareness of SDGs was low, with regression analysis showing that most SDGs achieved R-squared values of less than 50%. However, correlation analysis indicated a strong positive relationship between SDG implementation and its perceived impact, with correlation values ranging between 0.40 and 0.69. In conclusion, this research highlights the need to strengthen KPAs as drivers of sustainability within UPNM to enhance operations, sustainability, and position itself with global development goals.

Nowadays, the implementation of green practices has become one of the most favoured methods in road construction, given that these vital infrastructure assets have a significant impact on the environment and human well-being. These impacts include alterations to the physical landscape and a negative effect on the quality of life for the surrounding communities. In Malaysia, particularly in rural areas, the networks comprise the largest proportion of roads in the country, making efficient and sustainable rural road networks even more crucial. Therefore, this study aims to identify the elements of green rural road networks that should be considered in the development of rural roads. Moreover, the absence of a specific guideline for green road development in rural areas highlights the need to address this gap through a systematic approach. Through an intensive literature review, 32 elements for green rural road networks were identified based on common core attributes of green rating system and rural characteristics and issues in Malaysia.

The global warming incremental impacts such as temperature, precipitation, rise in sea level, and extreme weather events are indeed being observed globally. In recent decades, energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions have increased due to buildings being designed with active cooling and heating solutions, despite global attempts to reduce energy consumption. About 50 percent of all energy use is attributed to buildings. There has been a debate for Decades on building active and passive design, but very limited studies have been carried out to confirm the Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV) during the operation phase of the building. This paper highlights the analysis of OTTV in the Passive Design Strategies using several conditions of glazing facades. The passive design of glazing facade strategies includes the variation in opaque wall Colour with different values of the coefficient of solar absorption, change in glazing type (U-Value and Shading Coefficient), and the decrease in the size of the openings. Building parameters were collected and OTTV was determined using the equation in Malaysian Standard MS 1525 for Energy Efficiency. The OTTV was then compared to the recommended value for Malaysia’s tropical climate. Results showed that different paint Colours improved OTTV by up to 23.05%, changing glazing type reduced OTTV from 76.93 W/m² (Base case) to 64.12 W/m² (Double Low-E, e2=.1 Tint green), and reducing glass area by 10% lowered OTTV to 62.24 W/m².Whereas, by combining the Type of Glazing and White facade Colour the OTTV was reduced to 39.68%. It is concluded that this OTTV analysis enhances building energy efficiency and reduces cooling loads.

This study critically addresses the ongoing safety challenges within the construction industry which is known as a sector persistently affected by preventable accidents. The research underscores the importance of rigorous safety performance measurement as a key driver for the continuous improvement of Construction Safety Management (CSM). Utilizing a novel science mapping approach, this comprehensive review examines various research in safety performance measurement, delineating the evolution of Construction Safety Performance (CSP) studies. This paper emphasizes bibliometric analysis conducted for a paradigm shift in safety practices and management strategies. The analysis identifies significant contributors, explores research characteristics, and charts the future trajectory of CSP research. The study aims to bridge a critical knowledge gap in CSP literature, providing a holistic perspective anticipated to enhance safety practices across the construction industry. The findings highlight the crucial role of robust safety performance measurement methods in tracking and improving safety outcomes, evaluating policy impacts, and facilitating continuous improvement.

The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the economy of the world as well as the construction industry in Malaysia. Many projects were plagued with time and cost overruns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Site work progress came to an abrupt halt, and productivity stagnated. With that in mind, this study was conducted on the basis of first-hand experience in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has affected the construction industry. This study investigated the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on construction projects in Sarawak, Malaysia. The target respondents were the clients, consultants, and contractors involved in projects under the purview of the Public Works Department Sarawak. The purpose of the research was to obtain a better understanding of the current situation, in readiness for a similar situation in future. To achieve the objectives of the research, a questionnaire survey of current ongoing projects was used for this study’s data collection purpose. To analyse the data, SPSS version 26 and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method were used to achieve frequency analysis and to determine the priority importance of the effects of this pandemic on those construction projects. The findings of this study provide necessary information to construction stakeholders in Sarawak on how to deal with such pandemics in the future and to create awareness, foster resiliency, connote preventive measures, avert delays, and manage progress control.

Solid waste management in Malaysia was still in a backward stage. Population growth, urbanization and rapid industrialization led to an increase in the solid waste generated by society. Solid waste management is one of the main problems faced by the community, especially in the city. Solid waste management costs of the collection, collecting, transporting waste to the landfill, is very high. The quantity of solid waste should be reduced in order to reduce government spending. Moreover, improper solid waste management caused a negative impact on people and the environment. Method of recycling is one of the best alternatives to reduce the number of solid waste. Therefore, this study was to identify methods of recycling used tires to be used in civil engineering. This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness and properties of rubber from used tires to be add in the road kerb design.

The research is conducted to study the exact need of the signage at disaster prone area. The smart signage is needed to increase the safety, reduce the search and rescue time and finally will ease the help to arrive at the relieve center in any condition at any time without interruption. Signage implementation for disaster relief centers is still a foreign matter in Malaysia. The level of preparedness to the natural disaster mainly flood among our citizens is inadequate. Here the signage which usually used as a tool to help and protect the health and safety of the road users, employees and work place visitors. For many years, the signage has played its part miraculously to provide vivid information to the users in whatever condition. The signage also could be used as an indicator or information provider for the natural disaster victims to move to a safer place on time. Sometimes, the victims would not have sufficient time to safe themselves due to lack of information and time. Thus, it can be concluded that the signage at disaster prone area is vital.

Water is the most important resource in times of emergency and during military missions. In addition, if there is a war in a country, sources of clean water are essential for life. But, the safety and cleanliness of the river water for the campers and hikers still uncertain. Usually, polluted and contaminated river water is not safe to be directly consumed by human. However, this problem can be partly resolved by using water filter where the river water can be consumed directly after the filtration process. In respect of that, this study was conducted to design the filter media for personal water purification system. Hence, the objective of this work also is to develop a personal, portable dual purpose handy water filter to provide an easier way to get safe, clean and healthy drinking water for human wherever they go. The water quality of samples collected before and after filtration were analyzed. Water samples were taken from a waterfall near Lestari Block and Lake beside Marine Centre UPNM Campus. The experimental results were analyzed based on the assessment of water quality parameters. Overall, the analysis of the results showed that the water filter was designed with basic mix tabs aqua filter water purification tablets is showing a better result where it achieve the class I of water quality index (WQI). In details, the water sample taken from waterfall near Lestari Block shown the WQI around 93 which is higher than WQI of water sample from Lake near Marine Centre UPNM which is 86, class II A which can be used for external purpose only.