The continued growth of emerging nations depends largely on the development of their built infrastructures and communities. Roads, dams, bridges, hospitals, schools, and housing are all examples of the built environment that impacts economic improvements in the developing world.

Decision Support for Construction Cost Control in Developing Countries explores how the construction industry contributes to a nation’s GDP and the related cost issues and proposed cost reduction solutions for construction projects and initiatives in developing regions. Emphasizing the role of decision support systems for reducing and managing the costs associated with construction projects, this title is an essential reference source for civil engineers, business and engineering managers, project managers, researchers, and professionals in the construction industry.

Coverage:

The many academic areas covered in this publication include, but are not limited to:

Construction Management
Cost Analysis
Cost Reduction Strategies
Decision Models
Economic Development
Emerging Nations
Small and Medium Enterprises

Reviews & Statements

Pettang, Manjia, and Abanda present readers with a comprehensive examination of the building practices and cost controls currently employed in developing countries around the world. The authors cover building construction practices in developing countries, challenges facing building construction in developing countries, modeling principles of decision support systems, construction management, cost analysis, and many other related subjects over the eleven chapters of their text.

– ProtoView Reviews

The content of the book is excellent and will contribute positively to the Engineering field and to the general public. The book has elaborated the challenges facing the Construction Industry and brought about the Decision Support Systems that can help in decision making in the Construction Industry and also how challenges can be avoided or dealt with. Highly Recommended.

– Bongnda Winifred Menyong, University of Bamenda, North West Region, Cameroon

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Editor/Author Biographies

Chrispin Pettang is a full Professor of the University of Yaoundé I since January 2008. He has been granted the knighthood of the Order of Valour for high services to the state of Cameroon. He is a member of some leading professional organisations. Some include the National Association of Architects (ONAC) (membership number 102), the Cameroon Society of Engineers, the National Association of Civil Engineers (membership number 423) and ADEPY (Association of Graduates of the Ecole Polytechnique Yaoundé). Pr. Pettang has got a very rich and solid academic background. He graduated from the Institute of the World Bank for the Municipal Development Program in 2001, where he studied Urban Management and Development Strategic development plans. In 2001, he defended and obtained an HDR (Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches) in Housing and urban development strategies in University Claude Bernard Lyon I and INSA Lyon (2001), which gives him the power to independently conduct research and supervise PhD students. In the same 2001, he undertook training in Total Quality Management in the School of Mines de Nantes, France. In 1993, he obtained a PhD in Engineering Sciences from the National Advanced School of Engineering of Yaoundé, Cameroon. His PhD research was about the development of a new model for housing production in Cameroon, and was highly commended by the examination jury who awarded him the grade “très honorable avec les félicitations du jury”, an equivalent of highest distinction. Also, he obtained a degree in architecture (Architect DPLG) with grade distinction from the “Unité Pédagogique d'Architecture de Saint-Etienne”, France, a degree accredited and warded by the French government. Lastly, he obtained a degree in Civil Engineering from the National Advanced School of Engineering of Yaoundé in 1981. Pr. Pettang has also supervised so many students at different levels. Firstly he has supervised out 5 PhD theses to completion and currently supervising 4 PhD candidates. Secondly, he has supervised 14 Diplôme d'études appliquées (DEA) (or Masters II) thesis in Engineering. Lastly, he has supervivsed 2 Masters (MEng) degrees in Computer Science, 100 in Civil Engineer, Industrial Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. From a research perspective, Pr. Pettang has published 3 books between 1998 and 1999, 2 book chapters in 2001 and 2005 and 50 peer-reviewed articles. He has also been awarded 3 prizes in 1986, 1987 and 1998. At a professional level, Dr Pettang is currently the Director of Physical Plant, Infrastructure, Planning and Development of the University of Bamenda since 2012. From July 2007 to August 2012, he was the technical coordinator of the Monitoring Operational Unit of the University of Yaoundé I, which practices in the context of the implementation of the Support Programme for the Technological and Professional Component of Higher Education (PRO -ACTP). These projects include: i) the work of extension of the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, ii) the work of extension of the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Yaoundé, and the Annex Bambili. Which become Bamenda University since 2011. From September 2003 to August 2012, he was the Director of Infrastructure, Planning and Development of the University of Yaounde I. He represented the Rector of the University of Yaoundé I as a client in the Commission of Procurement in 2007. Since 1995 he has been the Director of the Laboratory of Civil Engineering and Design Sciences at Ecole Nationale Superieure Polytechnique-Yaounde. In 2002, he managed the investment and construction of sanitation operations in the city of Yaounde on behalf of the Department of Cooperation and Cultural Action (SCAC) of the Embassy of France in Cameroon. He was the acting head of the Urban Observatory of OSCISCA (Observatory of Social Change and Innovation in Cameroon in 1999. He was the Engineer and Principal Architect of Project Health, Fertility and Nutrition (IDA Credit World Bank CM/411 No. 2684), charged to build and equip hospitals and 180 health centers in Cameroon in 1996. He was the moderator of the National Technical Committee on Housing through which he wrote the Cameroonian contribution to the Habitat II Conference in Istanbul in 1996. In 1994, he was UNIDO National Expert on local materials. As an Engineer Architect, Pr. Pettang was responsible for monitoring and coordinating the extension of the Faculty of the University of Yaounde funded by the Spanish government in 1995. From February 2, 1991 to 15 APRIL 1993, he was Head of Division of Infrastructure and Facilities at the University of Yaoundé. He had also been Head of the Department of Architecture and Housing of the University of Yaoundé in 1991. Lastly, Pr. Pettang has worked as Expert Consultant Engineer for many companies including the SHIMIZU Corporation-one of the leading construction firms in Japan. He is also a strong advocate of building construction using sustainable materials such as stabilised earth bricks.

Marcelline Manjia is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering and Urban Planning in the National Advanced School of Engineering, The University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon. She obtained a PhD in Civil Engineering option from the same institution in 2011. Prior to that, she had obtained a Masters in Civil Engineering from the same institution in 2003, a Diploma of Advanced Studies or Diplôme d'études appliquées (DEA) in Mathematical Analysis Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé in 1999, a diploma in teaching of Mathematics in High Schools (DIPES II) from the National Higher Trainig College Yaoundé in 1996, a Maitrise (Post-graduate diploma) and a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics from the Faculty of science at the University of Yaoundé I in 1995 and 1994 respectively. Dr. Manjia is very research active and has already published 6 peer-reviewed articles in reputable international journals, 4 peer-reviewed articles in international conferences. She has supervised to completion 5 Masters Theses in Civil Engineering. In addition to research, she has offered consulting services as expert in Civil Engineering to many construction companies in Cameroon. From a professional perspective, Dr. Manjia is a member of Civil Engineering Laboratory in the National Advanced School of Engineering since 2004. She is a member of some leading professional organisations. Some include the National Association of Civil Engineers (membership number 07-0952), ADEPY (Association of Graduates of the Ecole Polytechnique Yaoundé) and the association of researchers in construction management (ARCOM).

Henry Abanda is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Real Estate and Construction, Oxford Brookes University. Also, Henry is a Visiting Scholar in Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Tarbes, Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, France. Recently, he worked as a Chapter Science Assistant at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and contributed to the Fifth Assessment Report on climate change mitigation published in May 2014. His research interest is in Construction Informatics with focus on the use of Semantic Web technologies, Linked Open Data and Building Information Modelling in managing construction projects. Prior to joining academia, Henry worked with SHIMUZU Co-operation, CREBAT SARL and Bambuiy Engineering Services Ltd, all based in Cameroon.

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