Constructability should be an important objective in all phases of a construction project, and designers play an important role in achieving superior constructability. Most projects, however, do not receive constructability input though prior research has demonstrated the benefits of such input. One reason for this lack of constructability input, we argue, is the lack of formal, explicit constructability knowledge bases that link constructability issues to design decisions and that can be made available on-line to interested parties. This paper describes research that compiled and formalized constructability knowledge related to reinforced concrete structures. To ensure appropriate and specific constructability input, we classified the knowledge by construction methods and structural elements. To make this specific knowledge available to designers at the right time during design development, we further divided it into the five groups: application heuristics, layout knowledge, dimensioning knowledge, detai...

Characteristics of Design-Relevant Constructability Knowledge

This paper describes a model for use in predicting potential cost overruns on engineering design projects. The output of the model is useful in assessing the amount of possible risk on a project and the likelihood of making a profit on the job. The model is intended for use by engineering consultants, i.e., structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers, in the building design industry. This research uses fuzzy logic to model the relationships between the characteristics of a project and the potential risk events that may occur, and the associated cost overruns caused by combinations of the project characteristics and risk events. This paper discusses the topic of scope creep and scope definition, which are significant causes of cost overruns on design projects; identifies the project characteristics and risk events used in the model; explains the structure of the model and the use of fuzzy logic; and provides recommendations for future research.

Use of fuzzy logic for predicting design cost overruns on building projects

Contributions of designers to improving buildability and constructability

This paper uses the quantitative decision-making technique, the analytical hierarchy process, to derive prioritized scales for (1) the constructability factors; and (2) the relative contribution of common construction systems in a building superstructure comprising structural frames, slabs, envelopes, roof, and internal walls toward constructability. The identified constructability factors show that to enhance constructability design requirements should be easily visualized and coordinated by site staff, while designs should allow economic use of contractors’ resources and enable contractors to develop and adopt alternative construction details. The precast method is rated as the most constructible construction method, indicating its better performance in facilitating efficient and safe construction in the busy urban environment in Hong Kong. However, the methodology adopted in this study should be of international interest, especially for those desirous of improving constructability of designs with diffe...

Constructability rankings of construction systems based on the analytical hierarchy process

The capability to represent design solutions with product models has increased significantly in recent years. Correspondingly the formalization of design methods has progressed for several traditional design disciplines, making the multi-disciplinary design process increasingly performance and computer-based. A similar formalization of construction concepts is needed so that construction professionals can participate as a discipline contributing to the model-based design of a facility and its development processes and organization. This paper presents research that aims at formalizing construction concepts to make them self-aware in the context of virtual computer models of facilities and their construction schedules and organizations. It also describes a research method that has been developed at the Center for Integrated Facility Engineering at Stanford University to address the challenge of carrying out scientifically sound research in a project-based industry like construction.

Formalizing construction knowledge for concurrent performance-based design

The timely execution of a construction project is very important to the owner, who makes commitments and plans based on the project's anticipated completion data. Failure of a design professional t...

Thomas E. Glavinich

Papers

Improving Constructability during Design Phase