The construction industry has been tasked to adapt to technological advancements that other industries have implemented to grow and remain relevant. One of these technological advancements is augmented reality technologies. ART combines real and virtual worlds without completely immersing the individual in a virtual simulation. The use of ART can significantly improve education and training, especially in the construction industry, by analysing real-world environments while training in a controlled setting. This study, therefore, sets out to identify the factors that hinder the use of ART in the built environment. To achieve this, a quantitative research approach was adopted, and questionnaires were distributed to professionals in the built environment using South Africa as the research location. Retrieved data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that investment cost is the major hindrance stakeholders face in implementing ART for education and training in the built environment. The exploratory factor analysis result clustered the identified barriers as internal organisation-related, culture-related, knowledge-related, and educator-related barriers. The study concluded that stakeholders in the built environment still have major responsibilities to ensure there is proper awareness of the benefits of adopting ART for education and training.

This study reports the influence of different climatic ambient temperatures on the thermal properties of fiber-reinforced lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC). Lightweight expanded clay aggregates (LECA) with steel (ST) and polypropylene fibers were used in the mix proportions. The steady-state thermal test was performed on concrete samples at the oven-dry state with the measurement taken at six different climatic ambient temperatures of 0 °C, 10 °C, 20 °C, 30 °C, 40 °C, and 50 °C. The results show a linear dependence of thermal conductivity, specific heat, thermal diffusivity and thermal effusivity of fiber-reinforced LWACs against the different ambient temperatures. These ambient temperature variations are discussed as a function of the thermal properties of fiber-reinforced LWAC. The thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity decrease linearly between 0 °C and 50 °C, whilst the specific heat and thermal effusivity increase linearly between 0 °C and 50 °C. Equations with strong correlations to predict thermal properties of fiber-reinforced LWAC were proposed based on the results of this study. The significance of this research is to propose the dynamic ambient temperature-dependent thermal properties equations that can be used in the energy analysis of the buildings.

Augmented Reality Technologies (ARTs) are increasingly pivotal in transforming various industries, with notable implications for the built environment sector. This article delves into the drivers of ART adoption for education and training within the built environment, focusing on its role in enhancing educational delivery and operational efficiency. Utilising a structured survey distributed among professionals in South Africa’s built environment, this study employs descriptive and inferential statistics to analyse the data, identifying key trends and correlations. Our results demonstrated that ART significantly enhances task accuracy, fosters better collaboration and mitigates misinformation, thereby improving training and education outcomes. Professionals particularly highlight ART’s capacity to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical site experience, underscoring its value in preparatory education and on-site training. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that the integration of ART into educational curricula and professional practices not only augments learning experiences but also propels safety and quality in construction projects. Given these findings, this study strongly recommends that stakeholders in the construction and educational sectors in South Africa prioritise the adoption of ART to fully leverage its benefits for innovation and competitive advantage in the built environment.

In this paper, we investigate the efficacy of an edX-based learning technology and learning environment augmented with artificial intelligence (AI) applications in fostering technological innovation skills among university students. A quasi-experimental design was employed, involving two groups of bachelor’s degree students (n = 57) from the College of Education at King Khalid University. The experimental group (n = 28) utilized the edX platform with integrated AI features, while the control group (n = 29) employed the traditional Blackboard platform. Both groups participated in the “Using Computers in Education” course. A pre-post assessment of technological innovation skills was conducted, and the data were analyzed using an independent sample t-test. Results revealed a statistically significant difference in skill development between the groups, favoring the edX platform with AI integration. These findings suggest that using blended learning environments may have the potential to enhance students’ technological innovation capabilities.

There is a need to investigate the flexural behavior and mechanical properties of super high-performance concrete (SHPC) for a better understanding of its response to compression, tension, and bending. Super-high-performance concrete (SHPC) lies between high-performance concrete (HPC) and ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) in strength, durability, and workability and is suitable for sustainable buildings. This paper presents an extensive experimental and analytical study to investigate the effect of the hybridization of micro-polypropylene and macro-steel fibers on the flexural behavior and mechanical properties of super-high-performance concrete (SHPC). The hybridization of both micro-PP fibers and macro-hooked-end ST fibers gathers the benefits of their advantages and offsets their disadvantages. Three types of fibers (micro polypropylene fibers (PP), macro hooked-end steel fiber (ST), and hybrid fiber (PP + ST)) with different fiber content up to 2% were tested to study their effect on the following: (a) the workability of fresh concrete, (b) concrete compressive strength, (c) splitting tensile strength, (d) flexural behavior, including flexural tensile strength and toughness, and (e) the optimum percentage of each of the two fibers, PP and ST, in the hybrid to get the maximum structural and economic benefits of hybridization. Based upon the experimental results and using a statistical program, formulae to calculate both the tensile splitting strength ($f_{sp}$) and the flexural tensile strength in the form of the modulus of rupture ($f_{ctr}$) were obtained. These formulae were able to predict accurately both the splitting tensile strength and modulus of rupture for SHPC with each of the three types of fibers used in this research. Also, they were in very good agreement with the values corresponding to different experimental results of other research, which means the ability to use these equations more generally. In addition, the prediction of the additional ultimate moment provided for all fibers was investigated. This research confirms the structural and the economical efficiency of hybridization in the behavior of SHPC. It was found that the optimum percentage of the fiber volume content for the hybrid of ST and PP is 1%; 0.5% for each of the two kinds.

This study explores the potential of a composite binder comprising cement bypass dust (CBD) and spent fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst for sustainable pavement base stabilization. Various CBD/FCC ratios (30:70, 50:50, 70:30) and binder contents (4%, 6%, 8%, 10%) were evaluated through laboratory testing. The 50:50 CBD/FCC mixture demonstrated optimal performance, achieving an unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of 15.6 MPa at 28 days with 10% binder content. The mix exhibited improved stiffness (E50 modulus up to 13,922 MPa) and resistance to degradation under wetting–drying cycles, attributable to synergistic cementitious and pozzolanic reactions. Microstructural analysis revealed a denser matrix, validating the enhanced performance. These findings suggest CBD and FCC, as promising materials for sustainable pavement construction, align with circular economy principles.