Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Review
Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) in Southeast Asian
Countries: Review of Effects and Challenges
Haitham Esam Rababah * , Azhar Ghazali * and Mohd Hafizal Mohd Isa
School of Housing Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, George Town 11800, Malaysia;
hafizal@usm.my
* Correspondence: haithamrababah@student.usm.my (H.E.R.); azhar.ghazali@usm.my (A.G.)
Abstract: Fossil fuel consumption for electricity generation in the building sector is at an all-time
high in line with the country’s economic growth. This scenario will increase the global CO2 emissions
and large carbon footprints, thus leading to global warming. In recent years, most of the research
related to the building sector has focused on the development of new techniques to reduce buildings’
energy consumption through energy conservation, energy efficiency, and the implementation of
renewable energy technologies. The introduction of photovoltaic (PV) technology has become the
most prominent renewable energy (RE) that can be integrated into building components. Even
though the Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) has been available for decades, but its implemen-
tation in Southeast Asian countries has not gained widespread acceptance compared to European
countries and other parts of Asia. This paper aims to investigate the effects and challenges of BIPV
implementation in Southeast Asian Countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore,
Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines), focusing on climate effects, the initial cost of PV technology,
government policies, and initiatives. An in-depth literature review from past research, policies, and
reports taken between 2016 to 2021 has been conducted and found that the environmental parameters
Citation: Rababah, H.E.; Ghazali, A.;
directly influence the performance of BIPV systems and affect efficiency. This study pointed at
Mohd Isa, M.H. Building Integrated
Feed-in Tariff (FiT), policies and initiatives offered by the government in Southeast Asian countries
Photovoltaic (BIPV) in Southeast
are not beneficial and discourage building owners to adopt the BIPV technology or any other RE
Asian Countries: Review of Effects
technology. Governments should revise the current policies to promote and attract more building
and Challenges. Sustainability 2021,
13, 12952. https://doi.org/10.3390/
owners to take part in the efforts to minimize CO2 emissions from the building industry.
su132312952
Keywords: building-integrated photovoltaics; renewable energy; energy efficiency
Academic Editor: Domenico Mazzeo
Moreover, this paper investigates and explores the potential of BIPV in Southeast Asian
countries and maximise the applications of BIPV not only on rooftops of the buildings but
also on the building’s façade [4].
A thorough review was conducted from past research articles and government reports
between 2016 to 2021 regarding the BIPV application in Southeast Asian countries. This
paper will focus on the current state of BIPV technologies, initial cost, the feed-in tariff
policy and government initiatives. The data collected in this paper will include data
from the members of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC), which
includes Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the
Philippines. Information from other Asian and European regions was used to compare and
evaluate the findings. Figure 1 shows the framework of this study [5–7].
The ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2016–2025 [10] includes
more strategic goals and sensitive plans for renewable energy, which is divided into two
phases: Phase 1: 2016–2020 and Phase 2: 2020–2025. The combined goal is to generate 23%
of the Southeast Asia region’s (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand,
Vietnam, and the Philippines) with renewable energy by the year 2025. In the Total Primary
Energy Supply (TPES), a million tonnes of oil equivalent (MTOE) value of 625 in 2017 is
projected to increase 2.5 times to 1589 in 2040. Furthermore, according to the 6th ASEAN
Energy Outlook [2], the MTOE value of 874 is targeted for 2025.
clear and partly cloudy sky conditions with relatively high average yearly solar radiation.
Table 1 summarize the climate condition for Southeast Asian countries.
Figure 4. The integration of PV module and cell (a) Motorized shading device panel [19]. (b) Semi-
transparent glazing panel [20].
Sustainability 2021, 13, 12952 6 of 20
The PV modules must consider the angle and direction of the inclination to increase
BIPV performance [21]. In addition, the climate status and location of buildings must be
analysed, to find the best performing BIPV integration strategy [5]. Building the surround-
ing environment and location play a significant role in BIPV integration. The main factor
is that the site needs a sufficient amount of solar radiation to generate power [22]. For
example, a fully glazed facade is not recommended for tropical climate countries unless
the shading is provided. The technology not only reduces solar thermal gain by shading
the building in façade-mounted BIPV applications but also absorbs the solar radiation and
converts it into electricity for the buildings’ use [23].
In terms of daylight and view, there is sometimes a conflict between architectural
goals and the energy performance of BIPV to achieve maximum power generation [24].
But according to architectural creativity, different approaches to the BIPV system can be
made based on climatic conditions. Ghazali [25] evaluated the cost and performance of
Photovoltaic (PV) façade on building envelope (facade) using System Advisor Model (SAM)
developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to estimate the potential
of PV that applied on a vertical facade in Malaysia. A Heterojunction Intrinsic Thin-film
module (HIT-Si) had been used with 15.6% of nominal efficiency. Moreover, the study
addressed that the PVs applied on the facade have the potential to generate energy from
400 MWh to 700 MWh annually, while the PVs on the roof generate energy about 240 MWh
annually. According to the results, the vertical façade of BIPV components facing east and
west collects a maximum solar incident compared to the other six directions. The south
and the north, however, are less irradiating. Although the roof of the building (horizontal
facade) received higher incident radiation than the skin of the building (vertical facade) due
to the wider area, it maximised the vertical facade to the east and west, employing a panel
system that could produce significantly higher energy per year, of around 800 MWh [25].
In addition, the integration of STPV with building facades helps improve the thermal
consumption of the building by changing thermal resistance and significantly affecting the
transmission of heat through the façade of the building. The primary issue was the heat
generated by the sun0 s solar rays since PVs replace a part of the building that is built into the
building. Over the years, numerous design approaches have been developed in line with
the study of the integration of PV modules into buildings. Allowing for an air gap behind
the PV panel, placing PV cells with clear glass between them, and changing the angle
of inclination to enhance solar receptivity were all used to improve solar receptivity [26].
Architectural techniques not only improve energy efficiency, but also promote indirect
daylight and, in some cases, natural ventilation.
no batteries attached [29]. However, this study proposed a BIPV system for each location
that is linked to one or more storage batteries, making the system independent of the
other generation of power in the building and referred to as the “Perma-Power Connection
Building” cladding feature (Figure 5). The proposed design is intended to be a standalone
device that will be extremely convenient for installation, maintenance, and operation [29].
Figure 5. (a) PV panel is part of the façade, and the battery is enclosed in the wall with power outlets available inside.
(b) Sample of the shelf battery suitable for a BPPL cladding panel system [29].
Corrao [30], performed mechanical tests new BIPV component, the proposed compo-
nent showed the potential to have insulation properties and structural functions in addition
to power generation in highrise buildings [30,31]. Green energy production, building pro-
tection, and energy conservation can all be ensured in harmony with the climate and the
needs of the users. The use of a support structure made from polypropylene materials
for the 3D glass sub-components integrated with transparent and coloured dye-sensitized
solar cells could increase the panel’s mechanical resistance to horizontal forces caused by
winds and earthquakes, thus ensuring that stable translucent and active building envelopes
are constructed [31].
Attoye [25] researched to determine the potential of BIPV in apartment construction in
North Cyprus. This study used BIM software to create a 3D model of an existing building
and analysed numerous cost considerations as well as the benefits of including BIPV
systems into apartment complexes during the design stage [25]. Furthermore, qualitative
methodologies were employed in the study, as well as an economic analysis, to determine
the practicality and feasibility of this technology and to assess willingness to pay.
Figure 6. The tested BIPV window was placed in the office building chosen for the experiment [32].
2.3.2. Daylighting and Shading, and The Performance of Building Integrated Photovoltaics
BIPV has recently become a component of environmentally friendly building design,
allowing for façades and the generation of renewable energy [3,38]. Additionally, dye-
sensitized solar cells, cadmium telluride, crystalline silicon, copper indium gallium selenide,
and amorphous silicon are now available as PV cells. Despite the low energy efficiency
of amorphous silicon solar cells, a-Si semi-transparent photovoltaic glazing will admit
some daylighting, providing better visual comfort than opaque crystalline silicon solar
cell-based PV glazing [3]. Furthermore, active and passive strategies have been tested
to maintain heating issues by using photovoltaics as a shading system, which aids in
improving the energy efficiency of the building [38]. It has been demonstrated that by
implementing these techniques, the energy consumption of a typical family house can be
reduced by half. PV cells can be used in more than just windows; they can also be used
in other types of house glazing, such as skylights. Fan [39] used the DAYS programme in
their research to create a static and dynamic analysis of the indoor light environment for
a specific skylight photovoltaic glass, which aids in determining the required area ratio
Sustainability 2021, 13, 12952 9 of 20
of PV materials, see Figure 8, which shows an enclosed atrium form that had been used.
The study also discovered that, depending on the environment and location, the optimal
area ratio ranges between 30% and 70%. Moreover, Mesloub [32,33] studied photovoltaic
integrated shading devices and semi-transparent photovoltaics in a hot environment to see
how they influenced energy efficiency and visual comfort, refer to Figure 9 that shows the
BIPV window that had been tested. An unfilled egg-crate photovoltaic integrated shading
device, a louvre photovoltaic integrated shading device with ten slats tilted 30 degrees
outward, a louvre photovoltaic integrated shading device with five slats tilted 30 degrees
outward, and an inclined single panel photovoltaic integrated shading device was also
investigated. This study also showed that using photovoltaic integrated shading devices
significantly improved the overall energy efficiency [32,39].
Figure 7. Annual total heat gain through PV window and clear glass window [36].
Figure 9. The different PVSDs configurations were used in the simulations [33].
Despite the fact that PV systems have been on the market for a long time, unfortunately,
Southeast Asian countries are still holding back in taking full advantage of PVs and
continue to rely on fossil fuels. Southeast Asia’s climate hosts significant environmental
support for PV systems to fully perform since there are no heating loads, for example.
Furthermore, applying BIPV technologies proved to rapidly decrease the glare index, which
can be a problem in tropical countries, and leads to relying on artificial lighting even during
the daytime. Moreover, Table 2 summarise past studies in non-tropical countries for BIPV
technologies, which can be applied to Southeast Asian countries [34,35,40].
Table 2. Summary of past studies shows the heating and cooling set-points for each study’s model and its effect on the
performance of BIPV.
Table 2. Cont.
Table 3. The current state of Renewable Energy and solar energy generation in Southeast Countries
in Megawatt (MW) [8].
without electricity, while electricity tariffs were high because of the country0 s heavy reliance
on imported fossil fuels for power generation, limiting economic competitiveness [51]. In
February 2016, when global solar PV prices had begun to fall, the government issued its
first large-scale tender for a 10 MW solar PV facility at Bavet in Svay Rieng Province. The
tender resulted in a competitive tariff of $0.091 kWh, which is slightly lower than Electricité
du Cambodge (EDC) average supply cost ($0.095 /kWh in 2015) [51].
In 2017, the national cost of production in Indonesia was $0.07/kWh, which indicates
that in areas like West Java, which is mostly powered by low-cost coal-fired power plants,
the government will not spend more than $0.07 /kWh to construct renewable energy
projects [52]. Meanwhile, the cost for solar technology was $0.10/kWh in 2017, making it
difficult for solar technology to compete with coal in Java at such prices Regional production
costs are greater in more distant places, such as Eastern Indonesia. Hence, the state-owned
electric provider Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) will pay more to expand renewables.
In East Nusa Tenggara, for example, the 2017 local production benchmark was around
$0.18/kWh, and the tariff for remote grids is limited to $0.20/kWh [52]. Certain projects
may be feasible at those rates. Renewables are unlikely to be financially viable in areas
where low-cost coal is prevalent, such as Sumatra and Java. Every year, the cost of
production benchmark will change, undermining one of the main benefits of FITs: long-
term and consistent pricing.
On the other hand, Laos announced a goal in 2011 to achieve 30% small-scale renew-
ables in the energy mix by 2025 as part of its renewable energy development strategy.
Laos now has a lot of promise in small-scale hydro and solar energy, which is a more
cost-effective and convenient alternative than large-scale deployment. Laos has not yet
implemented a feed-in tariff or auction policy for the year 2020 [53]. Laos has a limited re-
newable energy regulatory framework and has yet to announce any price rates. For Laos to
provide attractive tax and other fiscal incentives for investors, feed-in tariff mechanisms are
the favoured alternative [53]. For the time being, Laos lacks a separate authority to set elec-
tricity pricing and oversee the execution of power sector operations; each power purchase
agreement is negotiated on an individual basis between the ministry and power producers.
Moreover, Malaysia established a goal of generating roughly 1000 MW of renewable
energy between 2011 and 2015, accounting for 5.5% of the country’s total electricity genera-
tion mix [54]. However, the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) began to
promote sustainable energy as a viable option for the country to achieve energy security,
and to that end, SEDA implemented a FIT programme for holders of a guaranteed quota
generation of electricity from solar panels. The amount of electricity generated is usually
measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), which is based on the amount of sunlight insolated.
In addition, a PV panel with a peak power of 1 watt (1 Wp) can generate 1 to 2 kWh of
electricity per year [54]. Malaysia receives 4 kWh/m2 of daily solar radiation, as well as
more than 10 h of daily sunshine; all these factors make PV system applications more
suitable for generating electricity in Malaysia.
Recently, advanced BIPV system development has increased the life span of PV
systems to more than 30 years, and the estimated minimum payback period for a solar
PV system on Malaysia’s roof façade is six years, making investments in this sector very
profitable, particularly in tropical countries like Malaysia [54,55]. Surprisingly, Singapore’s
government has not implemented any subsidies, such as FIT, but has instead taken steps
to promote and facilitate the use of renewable energy when such technologies become
economically feasible. Another option is to create an R&D support and funding structure
for renewables to create capabilities within the industry [56]. In addition, the Energy
Market Authority (EMA) continues to reduce its regulations to foster corporate innovation.
Thailand’s average daily solar radiation is 5.6–6.7 kWh/m2 , indicating that the country
can use solar radiation as an alternative energy source across the country, potentially
strengthening energy security in the future [57]. Couture and Gagnon’s classification
of FIT remuneration includes four payment elements: technology or fuel, project size,
resource quality at a specific site, and location. Rooftop and ground-mounted PV systems
Sustainability 2021, 13, 12952 14 of 20
are now eligible for a fixed-price FIT of $0.17/kWh for ground-mounted PV systems
beginning in 2014.
As it is known, FIT are the feed laws, minimum price payments, energy payments, and
standard offer contracts. Furthermore, advanced renewable tariffs, have been demonstrated
to be more effective in stimulating the development of renewable energy resources than
other policies [58]. Currently, a Ministry of Energy does not yet exist in Vietnam. As a
result, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) and the government are responsible for
all energy-related policies. In Vietnam, the Electricity Corporation of Vietnam (EVN) has
announced that it will purchase solar power from partners at a rate of $0.0935 kWh, but
this decision only applies to solar photovoltaic technology, unfortunately, not for other
types of solar power generation such as solar concentrators [59]. Furthermore, FIT was
implemented logically and straightforwardly as part of a comprehensive and long-term
programme that included financial incentives. Since its start, the sole modification to the
programme has been a reduction in the rate provided for solar in response to higher-than-
expected demand from developers [52]. In 2016, the Philippines’ FIT policies were deemed
to have one of the highest retail prices in Southeast Asia, which were approximately
$0.17 kWh. Furthermore, the high cost of electricity in the Philippines led to an immediate
increase in renewable energy from 2012 to 2017 [52].
Despite the lack of a national renewable energy policy, research institutes and aca-
demics continue to investigate and conduct research on renewable energy’s potential [68];
the Thai government enacted legislation to promote energy conservation (ENCON) through
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), to achieve a 3–5% renewable energy use target for
all new power generation capacity developments [8,64,66]. The Alternative Energy Devel-
opment Planning Commission has designated geothermal energy and electricity generated
by the sea’s tidal wave as renewable energy sources (AEDP). The combined use of wave
energy and tidal current is expected to generate 2 MW of electricity. However, until recently,
it could not be used to generate electricity.
The Electricity Corporation of Vietnam (EVN) is the sole provider of electricity and the
wholesaler of electricity in Vietnam most of the time. Furthermore, Vietnam must establish
strong policies to encourage the private sector to engage in renewable energy, which will
be backed by energy policy, which may include international treaties, legislation, and
investment incentives. Furthermore, feed-in tariffs are the most appropriate mechanism
because it provides a stable environment for renewable energy investors by offering
either a long-term fixed-price or the electricity market price [59]. Previously, the energy
market in the Philippines was an integrated monopoly controlled by the National Power
Corporation, which oversaw generating, transmitting, and distributing power across the
country. However, since the passage of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, most of the
power generation in the Philippines has been managed by Independent Power Producers
(IPPs) [52]. Furthermore, the state-owned National Transmission Corporation was created
to take over many of the tasks of the National Power Corporation, which is also in charge of
the FIT Allowance fund, which oversees disbursing money to qualified renewable energy
companies. Tariffs collected on consumers support a large portion of the FIT Allowance
budget [52]. The Philippines established and authored the Renewable Energy Act, which
resulted in the formation of a National Renewable Energy Board to address renewable
energy policy, with the primary objective of enhancing the Philippines’ energy security.
In addition, the National Renewable Energy Board recommended FIT rates, which were
ultimately authorised in 2011 [52]. Table 4, summarizing Southeast Asia countries’ targets
for renewable energy generation, policies related to renewable energy, the initial rate of the
feed-in tariff, and initial PV cost for 4 kW PV.
Table 4. Summarise the solar renewable energy situation in Southeast Asia in terms of targets, policies, FIT rates, and the
initial cost of PVs.
Initial PV
Targets for Renewable Policies Related to Initial Rate of Feed-in
Country Cost for 4 kW
Energy Generation Renewable Energy Tariff (USD)
PV (USD)
Increase capacity of
Renewable Energy
Cambodia [51,60,61] hydropower to 2.241 MW $0.091 kWh -
Development Program
by 2020.
Increase share of new and
Energy Law (law no.30)
Indonesia (Java/East renewable energy in
National Energy
Nusa Tenggara) primary energy supply to $0.07/kWh/$0.20/kWh $4800
Implementation
[8,52,62–64,69] reach 23% by 2025
Program 2005–2025
and 31% by 2050.
Achieve 30% share of
Rural Electrification Master
Laos [53,65] renewables in primary - -
Plan (REMP) (2010–2020)
energy supply by 2025.
Renewable Energy Law
Increase the capacity of (2011)
Malaysia [8,48,54,55,66] renewables to 2.080 MW by SEDA Law (2011) $0.26/kWh $3500
2020 and 4.000 MW by 2030. Feed-in Tariff Scheme
(2011)
Sustainability 2021, 13, 12952 16 of 20
Table 4. Cont.
Initial PV
Targets for Renewable Policies Related to Initial Rate of Feed-in
Country Cost for 4 kW
Energy Generation Renewable Energy Tariff (USD)
PV (USD)
Increase solar photovoltaic
Singapore [56,67,69] capacity to 350 MW - - $13,317 (8 kW)
by 2020.
Rise in the growth of
Power Development Plan
renewable energy
2010–2013
consumption to 30% by 2036;
Renewable and Alternative
This includes
Energy
increasing the share of
Development Plan (AEDP
Thailand [56,58,68] renewables-based $0.12/kWh -
2012–2021)
power generation capacity to
Feed-in Premium (Adder):
20.11% and share
Feed-in tariff (2007)
of renewables in transport
amended (2009) review
fuel consumption to
rate (2013)
25.04% by 2036.
Increase the share of
non-hydro Government’s Decision No.
renewables-based power 37/2011/QD-TTg,
Vietnam [59] $0.0935/kWh -
generation capacity Renewable Energy Act
to 12.5% by 2025 and 21% by (2008)
2030.
Clean Metering,
Triple the installed capacity
Renewable Energy
of renewables-based power
Philippines [52,69] Representative $0.17/kWh $7200 (5 kW)
generation from 2010 level to
Funds, FITs, and Options
15 GW by 2030.
for Green Energy
ratepayers [71]. However, the price of FIT as offered by the government can also be
unattractive to building owners to adopt the use of BIPV in Southeast Asian countries.
Cambodia was classed as a lower-middle-income country in 2015. Between 1998 and
2018, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose at an annual pace of 8%. Furthermore, this
tender resulted in a competitive rate of $0.091 kWh in 2016, which is slightly lower than
EDC’s average supply cost ($0.095/kWh in 2015). Furthermore, Renewables in Indonesia
are unlikely to be financially feasible in places where low-cost coal is prevalent, such as
Sumatra and Java. The cost of production baseline will change every year, undermining
one of the major benefits of FITs: long-term and stable pricing. However, the feed-in
tariff rates in Malaysia for individual solar PV 4 kW, can reach up to almost $0.26/kWh,
which is almost more than double Solar’s global rate of $0.10/kWh [52,54]. In addition, in
2017, the National Energy Policy Council (NEPC) in Thailand announced that government
agencies would receive a $0.12/kWh incentive (a 30% decrease from the $0.17/kWh rate)
(NEPC, 2017), which is still within range of the global solar rate of $0.1/kWh. Following
its implementation in 2006, the FIT policy increased the total accumulative capacity of
grid-connected New England Power Company projects from 6662 to 3024 MW between
2006 and 2017 [52,57].
Vietnam implemented FIT for solar-generated power in 2017, but the policy is unstable,
which may be linked to the unreasonable price at which electricity would be acquired from
the Electricity Corporation of Vietnam (EVN). As a result, Vietnam’s FIT policy does not
attract investors to invest in the renewable energy industry [59]. On the other hand, in
2016, the Philippines’ FIT regulations were regarded to have one of the highest retail costs
in Southeast Asia, at around $0.17 per kWh. Furthermore, from 2012 to 2017, the high cost
of power in the Philippines resulted in immediate growth in renewable energy.
4. Conclusions
BIPV has proven to be one of the most powerful systems for reducing thermal and
cooling energy consumption while also providing renewable energy. BIPV or energy-
efficient systems, on the other hand, necessitate a significant upfront investment, which
includes labour, delivery, design, and the cost of the modules themselves. However, overall,
it would benefit both consumers and the environment. Energy-saving technologies can be
viewed as a long-term investment toward a better future. Furthermore, the efficiency of
BIPV is affected by several factors such as environment, location, daylighting, and shading,
among others. Moreover, the weather is considered a huge challenge to the efficacy of
BIPV. The primary environmental parameters influencing BIPV efficiency are temperature,
humidity, and solar radiation. As the temperature of the surrounding air rises, so does
the temperature of the BIPV module, reducing the module’s performance. Furthermore,
the consistent sun brightness ensures that the BIPV module or panel functions optimally.
Electricity generation is lowered when the BIPV is shaded because of the sun’s brightness.
In recent years, several techniques as well as innovative technology/products, have
been introduced to improve the architectural integration of PVs in buildings, which im-
proves building comfort by integrating PVs into shading elements. Furthermore, because
user comfort varies from one area to the next, such as the differences between tropical and
moderate climates, the climate has a significant impact on cooling and heating energy use.
The high installing cost of BIPV is another challenge that Southeast Asian countries
face. The most significant impediment is the cost of implementing BIPV technology, which
can be broken down into labour costs, distribution costs, initial costs, and module costs.
Despite the government’s efforts to assist building owners in installing this equipment,
prices remain high. Aside from that, people are satisfied with existing electricity generation
methods such as geothermal and fossil fuel, which are significantly less expensive than
BIPV technology. Furthermore, the governments need to keep updating their feed-in tariff
policies in a way that grabs the householders attention, for example, Malaysia and the
Philippines feed-in tariff is considered successful and profitable, despite the high initial
cost of the PV ($3500–$9500), compared to its neighbouring countries. The basic FIT rate
Sustainability 2021, 13, 12952 18 of 20
in Malaysia and the Philippines is $0.17 /kWh, and the FIT policy in Malaysia provides
an extra bounce up to $0.9 /kWh when having one or more of the following criteria: use
as an installation in buildings or building structures, use as building materials, use of
locally manufactured or assembled solar PV modules, and use of locally manufactured or
assembled solar inverters. These types of policies give householders the motivation to start
to invest in BIPV, and all Southeast Asian countries should provide and adopt policies such
as these.
Author Contributions: Conceptualization, H.E.R. and A.G.; methodology, H.E.R., A.G. and M.H.M.I.;
validation, H.E.R., A.G. and M.H.M.I.; formal analysis, H.E.R.; investigation, H.E.R.; resources, H.E.R.;
data curation, A.G.; writing—original draft preparation, H.E.R. and A.G.; writing—review and
editing, H.E.R., A.G. and M.H.M.I.; visualization, H.E.R.; supervision, A.G.; project administration,
H.E.R. and A.G.; funding acquisition, A.G. All authors have read and agreed to the published version
of the manuscript.
Funding: This research received funding from Universiti Sains Malaysia Short-Term Research Grant
(304/PPBGN/6315430).
Institutional Review Board Statement: Not applicable.
Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement: Not applicable.
Acknowledgments: The authors would like to thank the School of Housing, Building, and Planning
and also Division of Research and Innovation, Universiti Sains Malaysia for providing financial support.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interests.
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