RESUMEN
To transform urban areas into smart cities, various technologies-including software, user interfaces, communication networks, and the Internet of Things (IoT)-must tackle complex sustainability and resilience issues. This study aims to investigate the challenges of rapid urban population growth and explore how Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can be utilized to foster the development of smart cities. Specifically, it seeks to understand how the integration of ICT can contribute to enhancing urban resilience, promoting urban sustainability, and improving citizens' quality of life. The study relied on a literature review, appraisals of fifteen (15) different Smart City software applications and their characteristics (spanning various domains, including data analytics, the Internet of Things (IoT), urban mobility, energy management, and citizen engagement platforms, all related to sustainability and resilience), and thirty (30) case studies cutting across sustainability and resilience. Furthermore, thematic analysis from the case studies was used to evaluate the benefits of smart city applications mapped to the six (6) action areas of Smart City. Based on the findings from case studies and smart city software analysis, rapid urbanisation presents multifaceted challenges like traffic congestion, disaster management, environmental degradation, community engagement, economic disparities, and so on. However, adopting Smart City software applications and aligning with various domains, including data analytics, the Internet of Things (IoT), urban mobility, energy management, and citizen engagement platforms, play pivotal roles in addressing these challenges. Further findings reveal that the benefits of smart city software align with the action areas of smart cities, including Governance, Mobility, Economy, Environment, Living, and People. The research offers practical application of smart city software for Urban designs and planners. It highlights the influence of contextual factors across countries on Smart City effectiveness. The study advances ICT-driven urban transformation, enhancing the quality of life in fast-growing cities.
RESUMEN
Sustainable procurement has emerged as a crucial strategy to address environmental and social challenges while promoting responsible sourcing and procurement practices. This research presents a comprehensive scientometric analysis and visualization of 1044 publications from 1997 to July 2023 through a co-author, co-word, and co-citation analysis on sustainable procurement from the Scopus core collection database using VOSviewer and Gephi software. Prominent research areas include green procurement, sustainable procurement, sustainability, procurement, and supply chain. Leading institutions are the University of Southern Denmark, European Business School (EBS) University, Germany and the University of Louvain, Belgium, with the United Kingdom, United States, and China as citation leaders. The Top sustainable procurement outlets are the Journal of Cleaner Production, the International Journal of Production Economics, the Journal of Business Ethics, Sustainability, and Supply Chain Management. By providing a holistic overview of the sustainable procurement research landscape, this study contributes to evidence-based decision-making and fosters a collaborative approach towards achieving a more sustainable and socially responsible world essential for facilitating sustainability efforts. The findings serve as a foundation for future research and policy development, facilitating knowledge exchange and driving positive change in procurement practices.
RESUMEN
Urbanization, technological advancements, and lifestyle changes result in varying use of energy consumption throughout a building's life cycle. Building materials play a significant role in determining the energy efficiency of a structure, making it crucial to assess its energy consumption. The goal of the study is to investigate the relationship between building materials and energy efficiency and to assess their impact on interior cooling in Nigerian residential buildings, to provide insights and recommendations for optimizing energy performance and enhancing thermal comfort. The study relied on literature reviews, a case study, simulation and energy performance analysis of a typical three-bedroom apartment in three main distinct climatic zones of Nigeria to investigate the impact of building materials on energy efficiency and indoor cooling. The psychometric chart emphasised the importance of sun shading, dehumidification, and cooling (with potential humidification) for achieving thermal comfort while the advanced simulation capabilities of the DesignBuilder software provided valuable insights revealing that in Maiduguri, Minna and Lagos, the use of insulations on the building fabric and shaders resulted in a remarkable 37.9%, 33.4%, 27.6% reduction in the annual cooling load, and leading to a decrease of 4549 kWh, 4122 kWh, 3280 kWh, electricity consumption annually respectively. The study findings emphasize the importance of selecting energy-efficient building materials and implementing effective design strategies to enhance thermal comfort and reduce energy consumption. By implementing the recommended strategies, substantial energy savings can be achieved, resulting in reduced electricity consumption, cost savings, improved comfort and contributing to the advancement of sustainable building practices in Nigeria and beyond.