A Planning for the Areas on both Sides of Tiananmen Square in Beijing to Greet the 50th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China

This article analyses the relations between the“style and features of ancient capital”and the“newlooks of the capital”,and expounds the guiding ideasand the planning layout for the area between ChanganStreet and the Qiansanmen Street.The core idea of this Planning is to set up a charac-teristic axis from east to west,with Tiananmen Squareat its centre,in the area between the Changan Streetand the Qiansanmen Street;which may fully embodythe capital’s position being the political and cultural cen-tre and cater to the needs of modernization.     

A Study on Trafic Congestion in Metropolises of China from the Perspective of People’s Livelihood

The traffic congestion is not only a social problem but also an issue about livelihood.To solve this problem,the key is to change the traffic model from automobile-based to people-oriented with focus on fair road rights and equalization of public service resources.Based on the understanding above,this paper puts forward some policy recommendations such as prior road right of public transport,limiting the use of private cars by economic levers,development of multi-level public transport system,improving slow traffic system,advocating green travel and friendly driving,achieving equalization of public resources,and so on.     

The discourse of ‘Respect for People’ in UK construction

A competency‐based review of professional quantity surveying is important for service excellence and has continuing relevance in the built environment of the 21^st century. A survey of quantity surveyors in professional practice in South Africa has provided a new perspective on the relative importance of competencies required for current and future quantity surveying services, and revealed notable gaps between the important competencies and current proficiency levels among practitioners. The survey was based on a structured questionnaire reflecting 23 defined competencies, which were derived from the literature and from in‐depth interviews with selected practitioners. The results indicated that technically orientated competencies were rated of highest importance for current services, while management orientated competencies were rated of higher importance for future services. The profession was rated as deploying below average proficiency levels in marketing, advanced financial management, leadership and general management, and project management, although these received high current and future importance ratings. The findings suggest that initial and continuing education and training of professional quantity surveyors should emphasize the development of management‐orientated competencies.     

Market structure of China’s construction industry based on the Panzar–Rosse model

The structure–conduct–performance (SCP) paradigm posits that market structure determines market performance, and the generally low productivity of China’s construction industry is a reflection of the irrationality of its market structure. Currently, the main approaches for measuring market structure can be classified as either structural approaches or non-structural approaches. Because the statistical data on structural approaches is one-sided, the indicators for the Panzar–Rosse model (a non-structural approach) for the construction industry can be selected by examining the Panzar–Rosse model and comparing the characteristics of the construction industry with those of the banking industry. The Panzar–Rosse model is employed to assess the market structure of 21 listed companies in China’s construction industry during the period from 2009 to 2011. The analysis revealed that China’s construction industry operates under conditions of monopolistic competition with free-entry equilibrium. The methods and results of the research are expected to contribute to the advancement of theories related to and methods of analysing the market structure of industries other than the banking industry.     

Exploring the drivers of firm‐level innovation in the construction industry

A survey of 335 businesses in the Australian road industry has been carried out to ascertain those factors that make firms innovate. ‘Innovative’ is measured by adoption rates of advanced technologies and practices, and the range of innovation drivers reviewed encompasses business strategy and environment. The findings indicate that business strategies are more important than business conditions, and that the following three strategies are significant in differentiating between firms with high and low adoption rates: (1) hiring new graduates; (2) introducing new technologies; and (3) enhancing technical capabilities. The findings also highlight the importance of undertaking R&D and encouraging employee ideas for improvement. The public policy implications are that the quality of university graduates should be protected and advanced, as should technical skills within public sector client agencies.     

Accommodation of China’s Industrial Heritage in Urban Conservation Practices (I)

In recent years, the conservation of industrial heritage in China has gained increasing attention within the broader context of urban conservation practices. For both policy-makers and scholars, accommodating this industrial heritage will emerge as a pertinent issue for consideration as a growing number of industrial architectural legacies dating from the Republican and Maoist eras come under (re)development pressures. This paper thus traces the development of industrial heritage conservation practices in China and discusses several dilemmas intrinsic to this type of conservation, including issues of authenticity, representativeness, and distinction. Based on comparative case studies from China and other international precedents, this paper also seeks to illustrate the different approaches that could be pursued while still attaining a balance between competing interests and claims.     

Accommodation of China’s Industrial Heritage in Urban Conservation Practices (Ⅱ)

In recent years, the conservation of industrial heritage in China has gained increasing attention within the broader context of urban conservation practices. For both policy-makers and scholars, accommodating this industrial heritage will emerge as a pertinent issue for consideration as a growing number of industrial architectural legacies dating from the Republican and Maoist eras come under (re)development pressures. This paper thus traces the development of industrial heritage conservation practices in China and discusses several dilemmas intrinsic to this type of conservation, including issues of authenticity, representativeness, and distinction. Based on comparative case studies from China and other international precedents, this paper also seeks to illustrate the different approaches that could be pursued while still attaining a balance between competing interests and claims.     

What role does the real estate–construction sector play in China’s regional economy?

Urbanization, industrialization and real estate reform have led to a vast growth of the real estate–construction sector in China. Using the 2002 and 2007 provincial input–output tables, this paper examines the importance of the real estate–construction sector in the Chinese economy by applying the hypothetical extraction method. The results show that for the 30 studied provinces, the weighted average impact of the real estate–construction sector accounts for 21 % of total output and for approximately 14 % of all jobs in 2002. For 2007, these figures are 23 and 22 %, respectively. The impact of the real estate–construction sector on total output and employment varies across regions. In 2007, the direct and indirect output and employment of real estate–construction sector accounted for around 15 % of total regional output and employment in Shandong and Henan, and for 40 % in Tianjin, Jilin, Shaanxi, Ningxia and Xinjiang. Our results also indicate that the real estate–construction sector is strongly own final demand oriented and regional economies which highly rely on it are particularly vulnerable to a fall in its demand.     

The construction labour market skills crisis: the perspective of small–medium‐sized firms

Reports abound of the detrimental effect of the construction skills crisis on the performance and future development of the UK construction industry. The industry's continued growth in output, coupled with its unpopularity as a career choice, has led to extreme pressure on its labour market capacity. There remains, however, a paucity of empirical research into the nature of its highly complex labour market. In particular, very little attention has been paid to the impacts being felt by the smaller firms who account for the vast majority of the industry's economic output and employment. This paper reports on research that has explored the perspectives of smaller employers with respect to the skills crisis. Using an inductive methodology, this research canvassed the opinions of representatives of small‐ and medium‐sized (SME) firms in order to establish the impact of skills shortages on the operational efficiency of the industry. The paper reveals the complex interplay of factors which have combined to shape the industry's skills crisis in recent years and uncovers the practical implications for firms attempting to operate in increasingly tight labour market conditions.     

Housing and Urban Development in the People''''s Republic of China(A Selected Bibliography 1980—1987)

INTRODUCTIN:This bibliography is the companionvolume to an earlier bibliography preparedfor HUD by Laurence J.C.Ma.That compi-lation,Cities and City Planning in the Peo-ple's Republic of China:An Annotated Bib-liography(1980),covered sources in Englishup to and including part of 1980.The pres-ent work begins with sources from 1980 andcontinues through the end of 1987.Empha-sis is on sources concerning post-liberationChina;however,some sources do include in-formation on conditions prior to 1949.Thebiblography is divided into three main sec-tions:(1)Housing,(2)Urban Planning andDesign,and(3)Urban Economic Develop-ment Trends and Policies.Altogether it con-tains 340 items.In a number of ways,this is a very per-     

Housing and Urban Development in the People''''s Republic of China(A Selected Bibliography 1980-1987)

(Continued from volume 6 Number 2 June 1990)74.“Architecture and Environment”Shixing BaoChina City Planning Reviewvol.3,no.2December 1986,pp.56-63Uses Beijing as an example to discusspreservation problems generally.Two usefulmaps with height control areas for inner cityand city as a whole.75.“Awaiting That Bus”Beijing Reviewvol.29,no.3January 20,1986,p.7     

Housing and Urban Development in the People''''s Republic of China(A Selected Bibliography 1980—1987)

(Continued from Volume 6 Number 3 September1990)169.“The 6th Five-Year Plan(1981-85) of the People's Republic of Chinafor Economic and Social Development”Beijing Reviewvol.26,no.22May 30,1983,pp.Ⅰ-ⅩⅥChapter ⅩⅩⅩⅡ contains sections onurban and rural construction,urban resi-dents housing,and urban public utilities.     

Housing and Urban Development in the People''''s Republic of China (A Selected Bibliography 1980-1987)

226.“Modernization and China's UrbanDevelopment”Sen-dou ChangAnnals of the Association of AmericanGeographersVol.71,No.21981,pp.202-219227.“Urbanization and economicReadjustment in China”Sen-dou ChangIn Chi-Keung Leung and Ssteve S.K.     

Housing and Urban Development in the People''''s Republic of China(A Selected Bibliography 1980—1987)

(Continued from Volume 6 Number 1 March 1990)Film review.Provides excellent infor-mal introduction to the urban housing prob-lem.Discusses room trading,allocation ofbuilding materials,problems created by lackof kitchens,use of“back door”to obtainhousing,etc.Film revolves around six fami-lies living on a hallway of housing providedby a construction institute for its faculty andstaff.If you can't get to China,seeing thefilm itself would be an excellent way tovicariously experience urban life.     

Impact of pre‐construction planning and project characteristics on performance in the US electrical construction industry

The mild recession experienced in the early part of this decade forced many US electrical contractors to reduce their profit margins as a way to win jobs and survive economically. However, to make up for lower profit margins, contractors turned to ‘better planning’ as a method for improving their efficiency and increasing their profitability. In general, contractors believe that better planning contributes to better project performance, but the evidence has been mostly anecdotal. A study was conducted recently that transformed anecdotal evidence about the impact of pre‐construction planning on performance into quantitative evidence. The research resulted in the development of a model pre‐construction planning process that was based on outstanding projects that were well planned and performed well. The study quantified the relationship between pre‐construction planning activities, project characteristics and performance, and a separate validation study found that those projects that performed a comprehensive planning process similar to the model planning process were more likely to achieve their estimated work hours, profit, budget and completion goals.     

A Review of Urban Planning in China in the 1980s

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Human sources of landscape stewardship: the re‐emergence of private farming in the Czech Republic

Historically, an important role informing the Czech cultural landscape was played by the strong middle class of farmers. The period of collectivization which occurred progressively between 1950 and 1989 meant liquidation of the rural community. Whereas in 1950 there were 1,404,225 private farmers, this number had decreased to only 2,000 in 1988. This paper focuses on the problems of stewardship and responsibility towards landscape associated with this social group, which recently has started a new period of growth. The research uses a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods. Dialogues with interviewees have enabled us to interpret stewardship and responsibility into a coherent story about the relationship between people and landscape. Similarities and differences have been related to variables such as farmer's age and length of time in farming. The results show that patterns of stewardship and responsibility are not related to economic variables, but rather to common features of ‘timeless’ rural culture.     

A Review of Urban Planning in China in the 1980s

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Exploring the ‘middle ground’ between state and market: the example of China

Studies of housing systems lying in the ‘middle ground’ between state and market are subject to three important shortcomings. First, the widely used Esping-Andersen (EA) approach assesses only a subset of the key housing outcomes and may be less helpful for describing changes in housing policy regimes. Second, there is too much emphasis on tenure transitions, and an assumed close correspondence between tenure labels and effective system functioning may not be valid. Third, due attention has not been given to the spatial dimensions in which housing systems operate, in particular when housing policies have a significant devolved or localised emphasis. Updating EA’s framework, we suggest a preliminary list of housing system indicators in order to capture the nature of the housing systems being developed and devolved. We verified the applicability of this indicator system with the case of China. This illustrates clearly the need for a more nuanced and systematic basis for categorising differences and changes in welfare and housing policies.     

Analysis of the causality links between the growth of the construction industry and the growth of the macro‐economy in Ghana

A vibrant construction industry in a developing country, that mobilizes human and local material resources in the development and maintenance of buildings, housing and physical infrastructure, is an important means to promote increased local employment and accelerate economic growth. Ghana, a country of about 22 million people, currently has one of the fastest growing economies in West Africa. The Government of Ghana (GOG) has recently set a target of annual economic growth rate of 8% and above, up from annual growth rates of 5–6% in the past five years (2001–05). It intends to use the agricultural sector as the major vehicle for achieving such high growth rates in order for the country to reach the status of a middle income country by 2015. Surprisingly, the construction industry was left out from the list of major growth drivers of the economy. We contend that with the construction industry currently making up the third largest sector of the economy, special attention should be given to this industry as one of the main drivers of economic growth in Ghana. Therefore we conducted a study to analyse the causality links between the growth in the construction industry and the growth in the macro‐economy of Ghana, measured by the gross domestic product (GDP), to ascertain whether the construction industry can be used to lead the entire economy on a growth path. The analysis was based on a simple Granger causality test using time series data from 1968 to 2004. We showed that growth in the construction industry Granger‐caused growth in GDP, with a three‐year lag. The construction industry needs to be considered as one of the major drivers of economic growth in Ghana.