Public perceptions on urban outdoor constructions and their materials

Abstract

Human perceptions on their environment are an important aspect that has to be considered in the development construction works to meet the common final goal of a sustainable and satisfactory project. Of the perceptions, those on construction materials are important as it directly links to present day important concerns such as global warming, heat island effects etc. Though extensive research has been carried out on construction materials, the studies are limited on public perceptions on outdoor construction materials. This paper presents the detailed analysis of data collected through a sample of public on their perceptions on the paving materials of outdoor constructions; viz. pedestrian walkways and recreational areas. The methodology included a literature survey to identify the current research status, an on-line questionnaire survey carried out on a sample of public to identify their perceptions and a statistical analysis performed on the collected data. The sample consisted of 149 respondents. Additionally, temperatures were measured on the top surface of selected pavements throughout the day. The outcome of the study indicates clay brick is preferred over concrete and asphalt as the paving material for pedestrian walkways and recreational areas.