Published Article

ABSTRACT

This study explored the roles of natural surveillance in buildings, focusing on how architectural design strategies can be used to maximize visibility, improve safety, and enhance user experience. Descriptive survey design was adopted for this study. The study was carried out in Delta State. The target population comprised all architects, civil engineers, quantity surveyors, and builders in Delta State, Nigeria. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 75 respondents from each of the four professional groups—architects, civil engineers, quantity surveyors, and builders in Delta State, Nigeria, giving a total sample size of 300 respondents. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled “Natural Surveillance in Buildings Questionnaire” (NSBQ). Face and content validation of the instrument were carried out by an expert in each of Test, Measurement, and Evaluation as well the architecture, civil engineering, quantity surveying, and building to ensure its accuracy, appropriateness, and completeness for the study. The reliability coefficient obtained was 0.92, which was considered sufficiently high to justify the use of the instrument. The data generated for this study were analyzed using appropriate statistical techniques, including descriptive statistics to answer the research questions. It concludes that as modern architecture continues to evolve, embracing natural surveillance remains a practical and human-focused strategy for creating environments that are not only secure but also welcoming and responsive to the needs of their occupants. It also recommends that architects should incorporate large windows and transparent or semi-transparent materials to enhance both internal and external visibility while allowing natural light into buildings.