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Alao, O O and Jagboro, G O (2017) Assessment of causative factors for project abandonment in Nigerian public tertiary educational institutions. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 35(01), 41–62.

Bendixen, M and Koch, C (2007) Negotiating visualizations in briefing and design. Building Research & Information, 35(01), 42–53.

Bresnen, M (2017) Being careful what we wish for? Challenges and opportunities afforded through engagement with business and management research. Construction Management and Economics, 35(01), 24-34.

Ewenstein, B and Whyte, J K (2007) Visual representations as ‘artefacts of knowing’. Building Research & Information, 35(01), 81–9.

Gerges, M, Mayouf, M, Rumley, P and Moore, D (2017) Human behaviour under fire situations in high-rise residential building. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 35(01), 90–106.

Hallowell, M R, Alexander, D and Gambatese, J A (2017) Energy-based safety risk assessment: Does magnitude and intensity of energy predict injury severity?. Construction Management and Economics, 35(01), 64-77.

Hartmann, T and Fischer, M (2007) Supporting the constructability review with 3D/4D models. Building Research & Information, 35(01), 70–80.

Henderson, K (2007) Achieving legitimacy: visual discourses in engineering design and green building code development. Building Research & Information, 35(01), 6–17.

Heylighen, A, Neuckermans, H, Casaer, M and Dewulf, G P M (2007) Building memories. Building Research & Information, 35(01), 90–100.

Kayan, B A (2017) Green maintenance for heritage buildings: paint repair appraisal. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 35(01), 63–89.

Koskela, L (2017) Why is management research irrelevant?. Construction Management and Economics, 35(01), 4-23.

Luck, R (2007) Using artefacts to mediate understanding in design conversations. Building Research & Information, 35(01), 28–41.

Sacks, R, Seppänen, O, Priven, V and Savosnick, J (2017) Construction flow index: A metric of production flow quality in construction. Construction Management and Economics, 35(01), 45-63.

Spennemann, D H, Pike, M and Watson, M J (2017) Effects of acid pigeon excreta on building conservation. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 35(01), 2–15.

  • Type: Journal Article
  • Keywords: Pollution; Biogenic decay; Structural decay; Urban environment;
  • ISBN/ISSN: 2398-4708
  • URL: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-09-2016-0023
  • Abstract:
    Birds are implicated in spoiling and decay of buildings, especially through their droppings. Pigeons are considered the main culprits, and several studies have examined the effects and chemistry of accumulations of droppings without evidence to the exact origins of the source of the excreta. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This study reviews and summarises the state of knowledge with regard to the impact of bird excreta on buildings. It experimentally assesses the acidity of fresh pigeon excreta with different diets and examines the development of the acidity of the excreta after voiding. Findings Feral pigeons in urban settings are known to be fed by a range of foods. Urban food scraps-derived diets produce more acidic excreta than more natural diets such as seeds. This is a first study of its kind to examine the impact of a bird’s diet on the pH and thus the resulting (potential) decay of masonry. Research limitations/implications This study showed that from a management’s perspective, pigeons that subsist entirely on human provided foods will be depositing more initially acidic faeces. If faecal accumulation occurs; then, mould and other bacteria quickly alter the chemistry from acidic towards basic, but the damage may already be done. Originality/value This paper is the first study of its kind to examine the effects of fresh pigeon droppings of known origin and age once voided from the intestine. This allows the authors to assess the impact during the first few days.

Styre, A (2017) Thinking about materiality: The value of a construction management and engineering view. Construction Management and Economics, 35(01), 35-44.

Traska, G (2007) Designing renovation: the building as planning material. Building Research & Information, 35(01), 54–69.

Unwin, S (2007) Analysing architecture through drawing. Building Research & Information, 35(01), 101–10.

Whyte, J K, Ewenstein, B, Hales, M and Tidd, J (2007) Visual practices and the objects used in design. Building Research & Information, 35(01), 18–27.

Zuhaib, S, Manton, R, Hajdukiewicz, M, Keane, M M and Goggins, J (2017) Attitudes and approaches of Irish retrofit industry professionals towards achieving nearly zero-energy buildings. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 35(01), 16–40.