SUSTAINABILITY OF MECHANISATION IN THE NIGERIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

The study evaluates the level of mechanisation and its sustainability, the relationship between mechanisation and its sustainability and between mechanisation and project outcome. To achieve these, a field survey involving a sample of eighty projects was conducted with the aid of questionnaires. Data were collected on the production methods adopted in excavation and concreting, whether or not the use of plant for the operations were sustainable and the initial and actual delivery time and cost of the projects sampled. The data were analysed using ranking, mean, t-test and Spearman correlation test. The study reveals that the levels of mechanisation and sustainability of mechanisation in the two operations are slightly above average. It also reveals that the level of sustainability of mechanisation has significant influence the level of mechanisation while of mechanisation has significant influence on quality standards and productivity. The study concludes that there is a strong need for measures that will improve the level of mechanisation and its sustainability in the industry and recommend the introduction of plant mobilisation fund by clients, incentives on importation of construction plant and an effective and functional lease market for construction plant as some of the measures that will improve mechanised construction.