Abstract
The rationale for this publication emanated from the challenges facing the efficient delivery of construction projects in developing countries. Although, some aspects of the book focus on key applications in Cameroon, a holistic approach was adopted where an overview of challenges related to construction for developing countries was considered. To re-focus issues addressed in this book, this last Chapter provides a summary of what has been covered in each Chapter. Also, major achievements and challenges will be discussed. Nevertheless a construction matter can not be seriously handled today without taking into account environmental issues. For this reason, we will say just a few words about environment. Indeed, wherever infrastructures in general and buildings in particular through production and emission of toxic matters and gas have harmful consequences on the environment. They must be assessed and monitored to reduce the risk of pollution. Among many environmental assessment methods, life cycle assessment (LCA) seems to be the most suitable. Wherever, it involves a lot of data and must be handling with a lot of caution. The life cycle assessment tools used in developed countries is not suitable in developing countries context. It should be benefit for them to develop a simple and suitable methodology easy to manage, in order to propose an environmental impacts measurement of construction projects' and buildings. The High Environmental Quality, which a priori ensures minimized environmental impact and promotes the principles of sustainable development, is the solution that seems best suited for the design of many social infrastructures projected in developing countries. This is going to be for them the future challenge for the next decades.
TopOverview Of The Different Chapters
The book contains 11 chapters. To facilitate understanding a recap of each chapter will be examined in the ensuing paragraphs.
Chapter 1 signposted the whole book. It commenced by providing a summary background of the study as some sort of rationale. Specifically, the challenges posed by the rising population of developing countries were discussed especially with regards to meeting housing demands. To that end, inefficiencies and low productivity of the construction sector in the developing countries were noted. This served as a foundation for the introduction to decision support systems for use in construction and the core of this book.
In Chapter 2, to facilitate understanding, building practices were overviewed. A holistic approach was adopted where, practices in developing countries are discussed first before focusing on practices in Cameroon. This led to an understanding of the dynamics and complexities of practices in developing countries and Cameroon in particular. Specially, areas such as the construction procurement systems in Cameroon, the construction informal and formal sectors, the different professionals/trades and the role of SMEs in Cameroon were examined. Understanding such key areas in Chapter 2 eased the understanding of challenges facing the construction sector in developing countries in Chapter 3.