article · Frontiers in Built Environment
A survey of one hundred architecture, engineering, and construction professionals in Nigeria examined the adoption of twelve sustainability practices across the building lifecycle. The assessment evaluated both active construction and post-construction stages. The findings reveal moderate to high levels of adoption in both phases, with post-construction performance marginally exceeding construction-phase practices. However, several critical gaps persist across both stages. In particular, behavioural engagement, the deployment of internet-of-things monitoring technologies, and structured sustainability reporting remain inconsistently implemented. Addressing these deficiencies requires targeted institutional reforms, structured workforce capacity building, the adoption of smart technologies, and formal post-occupancy performance monitoring systems to support integrated lifecycle sustainability.
The building industry significantly affects resource consumption and long-term environmental sustainability. Understanding where sustainability measures succeed or fail during construction and occupancy helps industry leaders and policymakers target critical gaps. Identifying specific shortfalls in technology adoption and reporting ensures interventions focus on real-world deficiencies rather than broad assumptions about building lifecycle performance.
This assessment provides baseline data for developers of smart building technologies, compliance software, and post-occupancy monitoring tools targeting the built environment in developing economies. Built environment firms and facility managers could use these insights to target gaps in structured reporting and internet-of-things monitoring. As survey-based empirical research, the work itself is early-stage diagnostic intelligence rather than a ready-to-deploy commercial product.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Purpose This study evaluates the implementation of sustainability practices during and after the construction phases of building projects within Nigeria’s Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector. It aims to compare phase-based sustainability performance and identify implementation gaps that hinder lifecycle integration. Design/methodology/approach A structured cross-sectional survey was administered to 100 AEC professionals, including architects, engineers, builders, and sustainability consultants. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to assess twelve sustainability practices in both the construction and post-construction phases using mean scores and standard deviation measures. Findings Results indicate moderate to high implementation levels across both phases, with post-construction practices marginally outperforming construction-stage practices (construction: M = 3.68/5, 73.6%; post-construction: M = 3.72/5, 74.4%; both p < 0.001). Despite this progress, behavioural engagement, IoT-enabled monitoring, and structured sustainability reporting remain inconsistently implemented across both phases. Originality This study advances sustainability discourse in developing economies by providing a comparative, phase-based quantitative assessment of construction lifecycle practices, highlighting implementation disparities rarely examined within Nigeria’s AEC sector. Practical implications The findings underscore the need for institutional reforms, structured capacity building, smart technology integration, and post-occupancy performance monitoring systems to strengthen lifecycle-based sustainability implementation.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.3389/fbuil.2026.1864359
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
