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- ItemOPEN ACCESS PUBLISHING IN THE 21ST CENTURY: A PERISCOPE OF SCHOLARLY PUBLISHING STRUCTURE(Federal University Dustenma, 2022-07-01)In the recent time Internet has inspired multiple movements toward greater openness to scholarly content, the most prominent one among this movement is Open Access (OA) scholarly publishing. This paper was aimed at providing an insight on the existing publishing structure alongside with the transformation witnessed in scholarly publishing landscape as a result of information and communication technology and monopoly of commercial publishers as against open access. Furthermore, the paper stressed the need for Open Access in relieving access barriers, arguing that Open Access has the tendency to become unsustainable for research communities if high-cost options are allowed to continue to prevail in a widely unregulated scholarly publishing market. It is further argue that the badly damaged system of academic publishing will not be restored to full health by OA per se, but at most by the scientists themselves taking greater control over their publications. The paper concludes that the world of scholarly communication stands at a crossroads. On the one hand, there is much potential and actual innovation; on the other hand, cultural, commercial, and technological barriers are limiting this potential. A policy environment that is simply permissive of innovation has been insufficient. Instead, we need a policy environment that will shape a positive future for scholarly communications and so the research system itself.
- ItemA simulation-based binomial model for building development appraisal(2021-02-19)Purpose - Building developments are often capital intensive, have a long payback period and many associated risks and uncertainties. This makes investments in building projects to be a big challenge. This study aims to develop a computerized simulation-based binomial mode! (CSBBM) for building investment appraisal with a view to improving the economic sustainability of proposed building projects. Desigti/methodology/approach - Mathematical equations and algorithms were developed based on the binomial method (KM) of real options analysis and then implemented on a computer system. A hybrid algorithm that integrates Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) and BM was also developed. A real-life project was used to test the mode!. Sensitivity analysis was also conducted to explore the influence of input variables on development option value (IX)V). Findings - The test result shows that the model developed provides a better estimate of the value of an investment when compared with traditional net present value technique, which underestimate the value. Moreover, inflation rate (i) and rental value (Ri) are the must sensitive variables for DOV. An increase in i and Ri by just 5% causes a corresponding increase in DOV by 202% and 132%, respectively. While the least sensitive variable is the discount rate (r), as an increase in r by 5% causes a corresponding decrease in DOV by just 9%. The CSBBM is capable of determining the optimal time of development of buildings with an accuracy of 80.77%. Practical implications - The hybrid model produces higher DOV than that of only the BM because MCS considers randomness in uncontrollable variables. Thus, building investment decision-makers should always use MCS to complement the BM in an investment analysis. Originality/value - There is limited evidence on the use of this kind of hybrid model for determining DOV in practice. Keywords Sustainable construction, Construction management, Building investment, Binomial method, Development option, Monte Carlo simulation Paper type Research paper
- ItemIDENTIFYING BUILDING PRODUCTS THAT SUPPORT BIM-BASED QUANTITY TAKE-OFF USING THE NIGERIAN BESMM 4(2011)The Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) data schema developed by the BuildingSMART International has been the major and most widely used solution to interoperability challenges in Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. Despite its wide acceptance by software vendors and the industry in general, studies have reported the schema to be inadequate as it does not fully cater for local requirements/standards which vary from one country to the other and, therefore, researchers have developed schema extensions to capture local requirements of different countries across various domains. In Nigeria, the Building and Engineering Standard Method of Measurement (BESMM 4) is currently the standard of measurement of construction works and, to date, an assessment of how well the IFCs data schema supports the measurement of construction works using the BESMM 4 is not known. Therefore, this paper as part of a study proposing schema extensions for cash flow management identifies building products that support BIM-based quantity take-off with their corresponding IFC entities, classes and attributes based on the current IFC Data Schema (IFC4 Add I). Qualitative research approach based on desktop studies and document analysis was employed in identifying building products as contained in the BESMM 4, and then the corresponding IFC specifications that describe these building products were similarly identified in the most recent oflFC Data Schema (IFC4 Add 1). The study concludes that current BJM platforms and software application cannot adequately support quantity take-off of building works using BESMM 4
- ItemAPPLICATION OF ONLINE INFORMATION SEARCH SKILLS FOR RETRIEVAL OF ONLINE INFORMATION RESOURCES AMONG SELECTED ACADEMICS OF FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ZARIA(2023)This study investigated application of online information search skills for retrieval of online information resources among selected academics of federal college of education, Zaria. The objectives of the study was to find out types of online information search skills are possessed by selected academics for retrieval of online information resources, types of online information search strategies used for retrieval of online information resources among selected academics and examing^ the means by which the selected academics have access to online information for retrieval of online information resources in Federal College of Education Zaria. A quantitative research method was adopted, and a case study research design was employed in the conduct of this study. The population of this study consists of twenty-nine (29) academics in the Department of Arabic at the Federal College of Education, Zaria. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire. A total of twenty-nine (29) copies of the questionnaire were administered to Selected academics at the Federal College of Education, Zgria, with a total return rate of 28 (96.6%). The data collected for the study were presented and analyzed using descriptive statistics in the form of frequency count, simple percentage, and mean. The findings arising from the studies indicated that the types of online information search skills possessed by academics in Federal College of Education Zaria were the ability to think before searching, the ability to search a specific site, the ability to search by author, the ability to search by keyword, and the ability to keep it simple. The types of online information search strategies used for retrieval of online information resources^by academics were the use of a search engine, the use of a file search, and the use of phrase searching. Based on the findings of this study, it could be concluded that the majority of academics in FCE Zaria were not accessing and utilizing available online information resources due to a lack of online information search skills and search strategies. This could be necessitated due to the lack of information literacy skills and problems associated with the current trend in ICT. Therefore, the study recommended that there is a need for training on how to access and make use of the available online information resources with different search skills and search strategies. The Federal College of Education Zaria College library should take a leading role in creating more training programs among academics on online information search skills such as ability to narrow search, ability to use punctuation, ability to apply filters, ability to search by subject, ability to search by standard number, and ability to search by title. And the college library should organize workshops for academics on how to effectively search online information resources with different types of online information search strategies such as the use of Boolean operators, truncation, proximity search, parenthesis, and wildcards
- ItemRevitalizing School Libraries for Enhanced Service Delivery(2021)This paper set to look into Revitalization of School libraries for enhanced service delivery. It highlighted the roles of school libraries in this present era. It captures revitalization of school libraries for the future management of information resources and the the need to review the curricula of library school towards preparing the 21st Century Librarian, Libraries and students. It captures space management in the library and shows how access to information can be enhanced by changing the mind set of librarians. It concluded that school libraries need to revitalise their services by transforming the way information is provided to users for enhanced service delivery. It provided way forward that school libraries should be equipped with high class technology to provide and compete with others libraries globally and they should provide resources and equipment that would be user friend to all categories of students irrespective of their background.