by webmaster FAB | May 2, 2012 | event, Uncategorized
Lecture to MSc students and others
Date : Thursday, 10 May 2012
Time : 2.30 pm- 4.30 pm
Venue : Seminar Room 1, Faculty of Built Environment
The trend in managing construction disputes is to incorporate the most appropriate dispute resolution mechanism into the construction contract, thus avoiding disputes or quickly resolving them when they do arise. Many new, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms have been developed and most construction contracts have either one of the dispute resolution mechanisms, or a combination of them in the form of a multi-tiered dispute resolution (DR) mechanism, incorporated into their contracts, particularly for their large international construction projects. Such development has been acknowledged as the “disputology” in all construction activities. For disputes in international construction projects, there are more than just rights and interests of the parties to be considered. Professor Chan extends the consideration of “interests- rights” to consider other factors including politics, law and cultural compatibility in international construction projects. In arriving at the dispute Resolution pattern, he will examine the characteristics, limitations and legal implications of different dispute resolution mechanisms through a systematic analysis.
by webmaster FAB | May 2, 2012 | event, Uncategorized
Date : Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Time : 2.30 pm- 4.30 pm
Venue : Seminar Room 1, Faculty of Built Environment
Sustainable development concept for dense urban city such as Hong Kong poses many special challenges to planners/architects/surveyors and engineers. Professor Chan will present his idea and pose questions on the following issues: “Concept of ‘sustainable cities’ appear” “strategies for low-carbon cities in urban planning” “urban public space”, and “urban community”, “ development control framework available to achieve Sustainable urban development in Hong Kong” and “the regulations/incentives for designing green buildings”.
by webmaster FAB | Apr 30, 2012 | event, Uncategorized
Date : 7th May 2012
Time : 2:30pm to 4:00pm
Venue : Convention Hall, Block 12, Faculty of Built Environment
Synopsis of the talk
Makkah is the most holy city for the Muslim Ummah. Every year it attracts millions of pilgrims for haj and many more come to perform umrah throughout the year. The exponential increase in the number of pilgrims in recent years because of many factors, the most important of which is the ease of travelling fueled by the marked increase in the affluence of the Muslim societies the world over has turned what used to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip to a repeat trip on almost an annual basis for many has great strained the city and its infrastructure as well as services. In the implementation of his role as the Custodian of the Two Holy Places, the king has decreed that the Masjidal Haram Makkah al-Mukarramah be greatly extended to ensure that pilgrims be able to perform the haj and umrah in maximum comfort and safety.
As Masjidal Haram is the raison d’être for the city, its expansion is going to have profound effects on many parts of the urban fabrics: from the simple aspects of circumambulating the Kaabah to re-housing thousands of people who are displaced by the exercise, the demand on infrastructure as well as the solid waste management system. There is also the big question about environmental implications of such a mammoth project. These and many more questions and aspects need to be addressed by the planning and design teams in order that the new expanded mosque will not only accommodate more than double the number of people at any one time but also be the pre-cursor to a better way of dealing with the environment – true to the role of man as Allah’s khalifah on earth.
A variety of planning and design solutions were considered and only one was accepted. This final design reflects the integration of all the good aspects of the many that were considered. The talk will discuss the process and the factors considered in the design as well as the philosophies of each planning and design approach. The final design was not necessarily the best but the optimal one from those considered – fully aware that there is no finality in the design for the growing Ummah.
by webmaster FAB | Apr 30, 2012 | News, Uncategorized
On 21st April 2012, 60 landscape architectural undergraduates and Dr Ismail Said participated in a community service program, Mangrove Rehabilitation at Kampong Pengkalan Hulu, Serkat. The main purpose of the program was to collaborate with a non-governmental organization, JARING (Jaringan Kebajikan dan Pendidikan Nelaysan Pantai Malaysia) to collect mangrove seeds and to plant them in polyethylene bags as nursery stock.
The program began with a lecture from JARING on mangrove ecosystem at the information centre of mangrove rehabilitation in Kukup town. With the ecosystem knowledge, the students proceeded to Kukup Island with Encik Jamaluddin Mohammad as the guide. They were taught on the roles of mangrove and its intricate correlation with the coastal community of Kukup and Serkat. It was an interesting experience, traversing the forest on boardwalk and walking on hanging bridge in a rainy morning. Students were exposed to the elements of the ecosystem as well with its fauna; lizards, wild pigs, molluscs, crustaceans, monkeys, and snakes. They were taught on the characteristics of the mangrove species which was dominated by Rhizophoraceae. With the short experience, they were brought to Kampong Pengkalan Hulu, 7 km from Kukup town.
After completing Zohor prayer at the Serkat mosque, the students were served by the villagers with a lunch; rice, chicken fried with soya sauce, cabbage masak lemak, and chilly fried shrimp. It was a splendid meal. Then the rehabilitation program divided the students into two groups: (A) collecting Rhizophora seeds, and (B) filling polyethylene bag with silt. As the group A dispersed into the forest, they encountered the battle of getting their feet stuck into the soft, silty ground. Those who walked slowly were bound to struggle to pull their feet from the mud. Hence, to avoid getting stuck, some students ran fast on the mangrove forest floor. Each student was instructed by JARING to collect 10 seeds. And, all managed to get the required volume. On the other hand, group B ploughed the silty ground excavating mud and filling it into hundred of polyethylene bags. Beyond their expectation, the task was difficult but enjoyable because it was their first time experience doing it. After a short rest, the task for collecting the seeds was continued by group B. Likewise, group A sowed the elongated seeds into all the bags with lots of laughter seeing each one struggle to walk on the soft ground. Once both tasks completed, the students had another experience; washing the sticky mud from their shoes, feet and hands.
At 5:30pm, the community service program ended with presenting a sum of cash to Encik Jamaluddin Mohammad. The money was collected by the students for the Kampong Pengkalan Hulu community. The participatory event with the community taught a good lesson to all students on mangrove ecosystem as well as caring the environment for the future generation.
by webmaster FAB | Apr 30, 2012 | News, Uncategorized
On 25th April, 27 members from Green Innovation Research Group (GIRG) participated with 9 members from Centre of Advanced Studies for Architecture (CASA), National University of Singapore, in a colloquium. The gathering was held at CASA. GIRG was led by Dr Ismail Said and accompanied by Dr Remaz and Dr Hisyam whereas CASA was headed by Prof Johannes Widodo. The aim of the gathering to allow postgraduate students from UTM and NUS to present their research works, thus to gain feedback how to improve the research quality. All research focused on Asian centric studies on built environment and human behaviour.
Ten papers, five from each laboratory, were presented—view schedule of presentation. The papers were categorised into three themes: comfort and leisure, historic places, and urbanism.
The next colloquium is in September 2012 at UTM.
This photo was taken after the colloquium between GIRG and CASA at School of Design and Environment, National University Singapore on 25th April 2012
