Experimental Investigation on the Bearing Capacity of Selected Soils in Ayedaade Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria (Published)

As a result of the importance of foundation in engineering construction, it is important to investigate the bearing capacity of construction soils, this study therefore investigated the bearing capacity of soils in Ayedaade Local Government Area, southwest Nigeria. To achieve the aim of this study, soil samples were collected from selected 20 construction sites in the study area. Using standard procedures, preliminary and geotechnical tests such as natural moisture content, particle size analysis, specific gravity, Atterberg limits, compaction and triaxial tests were conducted on the soil samples. Subsequently, Terzaghi’s bearing capacity equations were employed, alongside already determined shear strength parameters, to estimate the bearing capacity of different footing geometry (circular, square and strip footing). Results showed that majority of the soil samples are well-graded and could also be classified as A-2-4. Results of triaxial tests also showed that the soils are all c-ϕ soils. For each of the soil samples, square footing had the highest bearing capacity while strip footing had the lowest. It was also concluded that the tested soils are all excellent to good foundation materials.

Citation: Adunoye G.O., Kareem S.P., Odetola H.M. (2023) Experimental Investigation on the Bearing Capacity of Selected Soils in Ayedaade Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria, International Journal of Civil Engineering, Construction and Estate Management, Vol.11, No.1, pp.45-57

Keywords: Bearing capacity, Building, Construction, Structure, foundation

Eco-Friendly Buildings: The Architect’s Perspectives (Published)

In today’s Architectural practice, there is a struggle to find the ways to balance or harmonize environmental technology, protection of resources and aesthetic content. And the world has witnessed some level of significant industrial and technological revolution. The revolution, despite its acclaimed benefits to humanity has resulted to a worrisome level of interaction with our environment. . One point of a great concern, with regard to the eco-system, is that as the global greenhouse gas level continue to rise, the planet’s temperature with corresponding rise, resulting in the melting of the ice caps and seriously altering global weather conditions. Current estimates calculate that the world built environment account for approximately one third of all global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions whilst consuming 40% of the world’s energy. However, the challenge facing environmental architecture is meting the increasing demand for revolutionary architectural solutions while mitigating its impact on the eco-system. The aim of this paper therefore, is to critically review current ecologic design concept/environmental technology using secondary and primary data. The effect of the built environment on the co-system which has resulted in consistent rise in global temperature in the past three decades was accessed.  The paper recommends adopting more eco-friendly design approach, passive design methods and use of renewable energy source amongst others as key for achieving eco-friendly building. Finally we conclude that moving from a sectional prism of viewing environmentalism largely driven by sectional issues involving pollution, resources and biodiversity to a more holistic view point that recognizes the inherent interdependence of all life systems is the right way forward and we therefore call on Architects to embrace it.

Keywords: Building, Eco-Friendly, Ecological Design, Green Architecture, Sustainable Development

Incessant Collapse of Buildings in Nigeria: The Implications for Religious/ Worship Centres (Published)

Building collapse is more common and devastating in developing world. In Nigeria, the trend is on the increase and religious houses/buildings are not left out. Buildings can be described as structural entities capable of securing self by transmitting load (dead load and live load) to the ground. A church building or religious buildings however are sacred places where believers interface with God.  Paradoxically, church/religious buildings and pilgrimage sites are also now becoming places where people lose their lives as a result of accident and structural collapse. A building collapse occurs when part or whole body of a structure fails and suddenly gives way, the structure as a result of this failure, could not meet the purpose for which it was meant for. Assembly buildings (Religious buildings) account for 12.7% of building collapse in Nigeria. Most church building collapse are not often reported or recorded, except where the casualties is much and cannot be hidden from the government agencies. The Synagogue Church Building and Reigners Bible Church building collapse are recent incidents in Nigeria. The aim of this paper is to review the causes of building collapse and suggest ways of prevention as it concerns religious buildings.

Keywords: Building, Collapse, Religion., Structure, foundation

The Residential Housing Problem in Anambra State (A Case Study of Onitsha Metropolis) (Published)

The research which is captioned “Residential Housing Problems in Anambra State (A Case Study of Onitsha Metropolis) was targeted at portraying the causes of housing deficit alongside its attendant effects on the populace with regards to habitable housing (Residential Properties). The roles of the public sector in housing development through its Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA) were also highlighted in cognizance to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. Owing to the fact that housing problems are over-whelming, ranging from over-crowding, shortage of housing supply etc. The researcher adopted both the primary and secondary methods of data collection. I found that the low income earners were the one’s mostly affected by housing problems and Onitsha being the commercial hub of Anambra State, it is pertinent that government should have synergy with the private developers and re-direct their motives towards arresting these housing problems that are highly prevalent within the area of study. The findings of the study shows that lack of or inadequate housing financial assistance, high cost of building materials, high interest rate and lack of interest by financial institutions to facilitate loans to investors, uncoordinated policies by the government, etc are responsible for the residential housing problems inherent in most of our urban areas. The study recommends that there should be an improvement on loan facilities for building projects and a downward review of interest rates by mortgage banks on loans to property developers.

Keywords: Building, Housing Problem, Loan, Nigeria, Property Developer