ABSTRACT
The purpose of this research was to investigate the feasibility and benefits of integrating nature-based solutions (NBS) into stealth construction practices across different geographical locations, aiming to address environmental challenges, promote sustainability, and enhance resilience in the built environment through an interdisciplinary examination of relevant literature and thematic clustering analysis. The research methodology involved a bibliometric analysis. Data was acquired from the Scopus database to categorise keywords and identify key thematic areas within sustainability research. It provided a co-occurrence map using VOSviewer to understand the interdisciplinary nature of NBS integration and its implications for environmental management and sustainable development in the built environment. The findings of the research revealed that integrating nature-based solutions (NBS) into stealth construction practices offers significant environmental, social, economic, and regulatory benefits, including carbon emissions reduction, improved air and water quality, enhanced community well-being, and alignment with sustainability goals for both high-income and low-income regions. The originality of this research lies in its comprehensive examination of the feasibility and benefits of NBS integration in stealth construction practices, thus informing policymakers, urban planners, and developers in designing more effective strategies for promoting environmental sustainability and resilience in the built environment.
Acknowledgements
With gratitude, we acknowledge the indefatigable contributions from all the authors throughout this study. Additionally, we acknowledge the support and guidance provided from each of the affiliations such as Faculty of Earth and Mineral Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria; Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Engineering, Malawi University of Business and Applied Science, Blantyre Malawi, Malawi; and the Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Declaration of interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Data availability statement
The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article or its supplementary materials.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Jummai Bello
Jummai Bello is a graduate of Marine Science and Technology. She seamlessly blended collaborative and independent experiences in sustainable oceanographic research. Her passion revolves around pioneering sustainability and integrating Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) advancements across diverse sectors. With a keen eye on the future, she set sail into the landscape of sustainable construction, where her academic prowess converges with a commitment to innovation.
Pelumi Adetoro
Pelumi Adetoro is a postgraduate student at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Science through the prestigious African Sustainable Infrastructure Mobility (ASIM) Scholarship. He specialises in academic consultancy, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and general construction.
Iseoluwa Mogaji
Iseoluwa Mogaji is an academic at the Durban University of Technology in South Africa. Her work focuses on sustainable and eco-friendly materials, a sustainable built environment, and carbon neutrality. She has researched the adoption of IBM for sustainable construction in the Nigerian construction industry. She has explored significant barriers to IBM adoption, such as lack of awareness, knowledge, learning/training period, and cost.
Seyi Stephen
Seyi Stephen is an author and a key figure in the Research Group on Sustainable Infrastructure Management Plus (RG-SIM+), where he serves as one of the team leaders. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Johannesburg. He has over 80 publications, including research books and journals, focusing on sustainable infrastructure management (SIM) and stealth construction. His research encompasses various aspects such as sustainable construction, value and risk management, and smart construction within the context of the digital era.