“Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.” –William Pollard

There is little doubt that the construction industry has experienced exponential change and development in recent years. The 15th Built Environment Conference will examine five of these cutting-edge concepts to determine their state of the art in the construction sector both in practice and academic research. This conference therefore seeks responses to questions related to current conversations, debates, and empirical research on:

• Deconstruction - the dismantling or ‘unbuilding’ of buildings to maximise reusing and preserving the demolished fragments and involves taking a building apart piece by piece, essentially reversing the order of its construction.

• Digitalization - the conversion and transformation of construction business processes to use digital technologies and embrace the ability of digital technology to collect data, establish trends and make better business decisions.

• Disruption – displacement of well-established construction technologies, techniques or products to disruptively affect the normal operation or function of the construction industry while potentially creating a new industry or market. Artificial intelligence, virtual/ augmented reality, internet of things, blockchain technology, and e-commerce are some of the disruptive technologies that are significantly influencing the future of the construction industry

• Disaster - an occurrence that disrupts the normal conditions of existence and operation causing a level of suffering and challenge that exceeds the capacity of adjustment of the affected community and the construction industry

• Development – in the context of construction refers to an industry that possesses the vision, leadership and capacity to bring about a positive transformation of itself within a condensed period of time

The conference invites papers within the context of its theme that address, inter alia, in both the public and private sectors

• Current trends and developments

• Innovation

• Opportunities and challenges

• Policies and procedures

• Legislation and regulations

• Practices

• Case studies

It is intended that these papers will contribute significantly to the existing body of knowledge relative to the science and practice of construction not only in South Africa but everywhere where the products of construction are produced even in these new challenging times of fear and uncertainty.

2021 Conference Fees

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

Prof. Theodore Haupt, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

Ms. Mariam Akinlolu, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

Dr. Fredrick Simpeh, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Dr. Christopher Amoah, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Mrs. Ferial Lombardo, Conference Secretariat

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

Prof Raymond Levitt, Stanford University, USA

Prof Sarvesh Chandra, Indian Institute of Technology, India

Prof. Francois Jacobs, University of Wyoming, USA

Prof. Kathy Michell, University of Cape Town, RSA

Prof. K. Kajimo-Shakantu, University of the Free State, RSA

Prof. David Edwards, Birmingham City University, UK

Prof. A Gibb, Loughborough University, UK

Prof. G Ofori, London South Bank University, UK

Prof. Theodore Haupt, Mangosuthu University of Technology, RSA

Prof. C Cloete, University of Pretoria, RSA

Prof. David Root, University of Witwatersrand, RSA

Prof. C Trois, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, RSA

Prof. PD Rwelamila, University of South Africa, RSA

Prof. John Obas Ebohon, London South Bank University, UK

Dr. S Zulu, Leeds University, UK

Dr. N Chileshe, University of South Australia, Australia

Dr. S Mohamed, Griffiths University, Australia

Dr. O.O. Ugwu, University of Nigeria, Nigeria

Dr. Geraldine Kikwasi, Ardhi University, Tanzania

Dr. Ephraim Zulu, Copperbelt University, Zambia