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Showing papers in "Journal of Management in Engineering in 2022"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Although smart technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution have the potential to improve the performance of industries by optimizing work processes and enhancing the work... as mentioned in this paper, they are not suitable for all industries.
Abstract: Although smart technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution have the potential to improve the performance of industries by optimizing work processes and enhancing the work ...

41 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Although smart technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution have the potential to improve the performance of industries by optimizing work processes and enhancing the work quality as mentioned in this paper , they are not suitable for all industries.
Abstract: AbstractAlthough smart technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution have the potential to improve the performance of industries by optimizing work processes and enhancing the work ...

36 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper explored the use of blockchain technology to improve information-sharing accuracy in the onsite assembly of modular construction (OAMC), and a prototype system was developed and validated in a mock-up OAMC.
Abstract: Onsite assembly is a critical stage for modular construction. Its success or failure depends on accurate information sharing among numerous stakeholders who, unfortunately, often possess unsynchronized information. Owing to its decentralized consensus mechanism, blockchain has the potential to improve information-sharing accuracy on construction sites. However, little research has documented how this can be done. Adopting a design science research (DSR) method, this study aimed to explore the use of blockchain technology to improve information-sharing accuracy in the onsite assembly of modular construction (OAMC). First, an OAMC business process analysis was conducted to understand the issues leading to information sharing, in particular its accuracy. Then, a blockchain-based conceptual model was developed. Its components, such as membership registration, information sharing-request, ordering service, consensus mechanism, and distributed storage, were described. Finally, a prototype system was developed and validated in a mock-up OAMC. The results show that the prototype system can improve the accuracy of information sharing in OAMC by allowing project participants to endorse information about the modules and their assembly through the blockchain’s consensus mechanism. This study explores and implements blockchain technology in a specific construction area. It can serve as a valuable reference for future endeavors in harnessing the power of blockchain technology, particularly for mobilizing information endorsement mechanisms for various value-added applications.

26 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the authors investigated how the overall interconnection performance of cross-border transport infrastructure is affected by the dynamic interactions of management measures and showed that the impacts of certain combination sets of policies would be larger when management measures are collectively considered.
Abstract: Cross-border transport infrastructure (CTI) has been regarded as critical for boosting and supporting the coordinated development of regions. However, so far, very limited studies have examined the interconnection performance of CTI with particular emphasis on the overall dynamics of the complicated CTI system and how the dynamic interactions of management measures would affect the system performance as a whole. Therefore, this paper takes on a dynamic and holistic view to investigate how the overall interconnection performance of CTI is affected by the dynamic interactions of management measures. First, four broad indicators for measuring CTI interconnection performance, transportation time reliability, transportation easy accessibility, transportation safety, and transportation operating service quality were identified and analyzed. Second, the causal interactions among main variables were analyzed through causal-loop diagrams. Third, a system dynamics (SD) approach was employed to develop a model for quantifying the effects of variables. Finally, the model was verified and applied with data of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge; policy analysis was conducted as well. The findings prove that the dynamic interactions among various management measures are critical in evaluating the interconnection performance of CTI. In particular, impacts of certain combination sets of policies would be larger when management measures are collectively considered. The proposed model can be used as a basis for simulating various management measures, so that the optimum policy combinations can be explored in advance to improve the interconnection performance of CTI.

25 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the authors proposed a framework to utilize digital twins and extend the existing level of details (LoDs) of building information modeling (BIM) for construction site management.
Abstract: The lack of integration between the digital and physical world results in a lower level of efficiency and collaboration in the construction industry. Digital twin technology, which creates a visual and digital model of a corresponding physical object for simulating, monitoring, analyzing, and other actions throughout the whole life cycle, is considered as an effective solution to address these problems. This research proposes a framework to utilize digital twins and extend the existing level of details (LoDs) of building information modeling (BIM) for construction site management. This study analyzes and improves the operation principle and mechanism of digital twins, including the digital representation based on BIM, Internet of Things (IoT), data storage, integration, and analytics, as well as interaction with the physical environment. Questionnaires and interview results verify that the proposed framework can support construction site monitoring and management, enhance quality and efficiency, and improve construction safety. It also acknowledges the contribution of LoDs’ extension to construction site management. The interviews underline the main challenges that BIM, IoT, and data processes face in practical applications.

21 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The digitalization framework is proposed, designed and developed by following a Design Science Research (DSR) methodology over a period of 18 months to help practitioners select an appropriate level of sophistication in a DT by weighing capabilities.
Abstract: Recent technological developments and advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have enabled sophisticated capabilities to be a part of Digital Twin (DT), virtually making it possible to introduce automation into all aspects of work processes. Given these possibilities that DT can offer, practitioners are facing increasingly difficult decisions regarding what capabilities to select while deploying a DT in practice. The lack of research in this field has not helped either. It has resulted in the rebranding and reuse of emerging technological capabilities like prediction, simulation, AI, and Machine Learning (ML) as necessary constituents of DT. Inappropriate selection of capabilities in a DT can result in missed opportunities, strategic misalignments, inflated expectations, and risk of it being rejected as just hype by the practitioners. To alleviate this challenge, this paper proposes the digitalization framework, designed and developed by following a Design Science Research (DSR) methodology over a period of 18 months. The framework can help practitioners select an appropriate level of sophistication in a DT by weighing

20 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Singapore's construction industry in terms of construction demand, output, prices and project performance by empirically quantifying project outcomes due to the pandemic and predicted tender price indexes for the next 5 years.
Abstract: This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Singapore's construction industry in terms of construction demand, output, prices and project performance. A three-pronged research approach was adopted: a survey, analyzing published statistical data, and conducting in-depth interviews with subject matter experts. The survey revealed that projects suffered significant delays and cost overruns and lower quality. It was found that construction demand and output decreased by 27.9% and 28.6%, respectively. Some project owners postponed awarding contracts or calling tenders because prices exceeded their budgets. While waiting for bid prices to decrease, they re-evaluated the feasibility, scope, design, budget, and timeline of their projects. Contraction of construction output was found to be due to a severe shortage of labor and to lower productivity as a consequence of complying with many safe management measures. The results of autoregressive time-series modeling predicted that tender prices will continue to rise in the short term before decreasing after mid-2022. Although manual labor may be replaced by productive technologies if technology is cheaper than labor, this was not found to be the case. The originality of this research is that it empirically quantified project outcomes due to the pandemic and predicted tender price indexes for the next 5 years. These predicted indexes are useful for estimating the risk and markup to be added to the base construction cost. The value of this research is that it informs policy makers that regulations need to be enacted to compel the adoption of productive technologies to reduce reliance on labor. Otherwise, the worker shortage problems faced in this pandemic may continue to surface in future pandemics. The implication of adopting productive technologies is that project owners must increase the project budget because these technologies cost more than manual labor. However, the cost might be passed to end users, who will end up paying more. © 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.

20 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , an integrated model of the investment savings-liquidity preference money supply (IS-LM) curve and the dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) analysis was developed to investigate the balance of supply and demand during deflation status in addition to the associated spending adjustment mechanisms.
Abstract: Considering the liquidity trap is critical as a primary step for a complete understanding of public investment’s impacts on the financial supply and demand within the construction industry during deflationary periods. However, minimal research has been conducted to formulate efficient models that can quantify optimal governmental investments. To bridge the gap, an integrated model of the investment savings-liquidity preference money supply (IS-LM) curve and the dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) analysis was developed to investigate the balance of supply and demand during deflation status in addition to the associated spending adjustment mechanisms. The most recent data were analyzed, and the deep parameters were obtained using Bayesian estimation via the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique. The analysis result showed that public investment within economies in a deflationary state, which is in a liquidity trap, are expected to crowd out private investment. Also, due to the issuance of government bonds during deflation, the effect of public investment in this situation is more significant than that during inflation. Therefore, decision makers can use the proposed model to manage and quantify the highway construction and maintenance sector’s governmental annual optimal investment.

16 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the authors identified the underlying factors and strategies related to organizational BIM capabilities and developed a structural equation model to establish their causal relationships and provided evidence for the development of strategies for implementing BIM.
Abstract: Building information modeling (BIM) is an emerging approach to managing the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of projects. However, the lack of organizational BIM capabilities prevents BIM from being generally adopted across the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Therefore, AEC organizations must develop strategic plans to support BIM implementation and ensure that the anticipated benefits of BIM are realized. This study identifies the underlying factors and strategies related to organizational BIM capabilities and develops a structural equation model to establish their causal relationships. A systematic literature review of 26 articles and semi-structured interviews with BIM practitioners provided 19 factors and 14 strategies. A total of 121 BIM practitioners evaluated the criticality of the factors and strategies through a survey. The collected data were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The factor analysis classified the factors into two groups (organizational BIM capabilities and organizational capabilities) and strategies into three groups (capability requirement, organizational culture, and organizational competitiveness). The structural equation model revealed that organizational culture positively affects both organizational and BIM capabilities. Moreover, organizational competitiveness is shown to positively influence organizational capabilities. These results provide evidence for the development of strategies for implementing BIM. Practitioners may use these strategies to develop strategic plans and prioritize efforts in a more effective manner. With the findings of this research, users will have a better understanding of the relationships between factors and strategies that are associated with organizational BIM capabilities.

15 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors examine why and how bidirectional work-family conflict (WFC) and family-to-work conflict (FWC) influences the safety behavior of construction workers.
Abstract: Despite the extensive literature on workplace safety, the effect of work–family conflict on safety behavior has received little attention. This study aims to examine why and how bidirectional work–family conflict—work-to-family conflict (WFC) and family-to-work conflict (FWC)—influences the safety behavior of construction workers. We propose hypotheses on the relationship between work–family conflict and safety behavior, the mediating effect of work engagement, and the moderating effect of family supportive supervisor behavior (FSSB). Data collected from 172 Chinese construction workers were analyzed using structural equation modeling. It was found that WFC had negative effects on safety compliance and safety participation, while FWC was only negatively related to safety participation. Meanwhile, work engagement was found to mediate the relationships between WFC and safety participation and between FWC and safety behavior. Finally, FSSB buffered the negative relationship between WFC and safety participation via work engagement. This study extends understandings of the influence mechanism and governance path of work–family conflict on safety behavior in the construction context and provides implications for improving safety behavior from the perspective of work–family balance.

14 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The exploitation of some advanced technologies in Fangcang shelter hospitals—emergency hospitals—are exploited, leading to a loss of trust in the health service systems.
Abstract: Epidemics and other public health emergencies significantly impact medical and health service systems. The exploitation of some advanced technologies in Fangcang shelter hospitals—emergency...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of work-family conflict on workplace safety behavior has been examined, and the authors aim to examine why and how bidirectional conflict affects safety behavior.
Abstract: Despite the extensive literature on workplace safety, the effect of work–family conflict on safety behavior has received little attention. This study aims to examine why and how bidirection...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors analyzed the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the US construction industry and predicted the future trend of the construction industry using the Purdue Index for Construction (Pi-C).
Abstract: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought unprecedented impacts (e.g., labor shortage, suspension and cancellation of projects, and disrupted supply and logistics) on the US construction industry. To address challenges caused by the pandemic, it is critical for the construction industry to develop a clear understanding of how the pandemic has affected the industry and how it will change in the future. However, assessing the impacts of COVID-19 on the construction industry is challenging due to the broad influence of the pandemic and the dynamic nature of the industry. The Purdue Index for Construction (Pi-C), which was developed as an indicator based on five dimensions and corresponding metrics to measure the health status of the construction industry, offers an opportunity to understand the impact of the pandemic. In this context, this paper presents a study to reveal the relationship between COVID-19 and the health status of the industry as measured through Pi-C and predict the future trend of the construction industry. This study achieves the objective via the three steps. First, the relationship between the pandemic and Pi-C metrics is identified using the Granger causality test and structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. Second, multivariable prediction models are developed based on a long short-term memory (LSTM) network—a deep learning algorithm—to predict Pi-C metrics in the future. Third, forecasted Pi-C metrics are integrated into the existing Pi-C structure to analyze the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and predict its trends in 2021–2022. The results revealed that the impacts of the pandemic were conspicuous in two Pi-C dimensions (economy and stability), whereas no significant impacts were observed in the remaining Pi-C dimension (social). In addition, the Pi-C forecasted that there would be no significant adverse impacts on the US construction industry caused by the pandemic until the end of 2022.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the influence of political factors, such as loan support and carbon taxation, on the strategic choices of the government and building owners was identified, and the results of this study showed that both government and owners are more likely to select a positive strategy when the maximum supporting interest rate of 4.45% is applied.
Abstract: The green loans program has continued to attract attention as an effective measure for promoting green retrofit to reduce energy consumption in old buildings. Various external factors negatively affect the decision-making process for the government and building owners. In particular, it is unclear how incentives and penalties take effect and to what extent they can influence the green loans program. Therefore, this study identified the influence of political factors, such as loan support and carbon taxation, on the strategic choices of the government and building owners. The results of this study showed that (1) as the supporting interest rate increases, both government and building owners are more likely to select a positive strategy; (2) as the carbon tax rate increases, both government and building owners are more likely to select a positive strategy; and (3) if the maximum supporting interest rate of 4.45% is applied, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction effect can be increased by about 3–5 times from the current level. It is not easy to achieve the national carbon emission reduction target for 2030 and 2050 only through green retrofitting of old buildings under the green loans program. Therefore, the government should develop an additional research and development budget and encourage developers to enhance the efficiency of green technologies.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought unprecedented impacts (e.g., labor shortage, suspension and cancellation of projects, and disrupted supply and logistics) on the...
Abstract: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought unprecedented impacts (e.g., labor shortage, suspension and cancellation of projects, and disrupted supply and logistics) on the...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , a joint contagion model, the crisis severity index, and Student t-tests were used to analyze the longitudinal daily stock prices and indices collected from 80 construction organizations and the Chinese and US stock markets, spanning both the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-2019 periods.
Abstract: The construction industry has been significantly impacted by the economic, financial, and operational consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because the pandemic continues to evolve, this study aimed to better understand its impact and propose a roadmap to support the survival and recovery of construction organizations through a two-stage research design. The first stage of this study built upon the economic contagion literature to empirically examine the magnitude and severity of the impacts of the pandemic on construction organizations globally. A joint contagion model, the crisis severity index, and Student t -tests were used to analyze the longitudinal daily stock prices and indices collected from 80 construction organizations and the Chinese and US stock markets, spanning both the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods (i.e., a total of 840 observations). The results showed the extent of the impact of the pandemic within the construction industry and its varying severity levels over time across regions in a pattern that is consistent with the spread of the pandemic itself. These findings urgently call for construction organizations to plan their response strategies for short-term and long-term performance. Accordingly, a systematic literature review was conducted in the second stage of this study to synthesize the best practices undertaken by construction organizations in the face of historical economic downturns. Specifically, the theoretical lenses of dynamic capabilities and organizational resilience were applied to synthesize the literature to develop an evidence-based roadmap. Construction organizations can use this roadmap to systematically scan their environments for threats or opportunities (i.e., sensing), formulate suitable responsive strategies (i.e., seizing), and build their resilience over time (i.e., reconfiguration). These insights can help them to survive, recover, and even thrive in the face of the pandemic and build resilience in the anticipation of future disturbances. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Management in Engineering is the property of American Society of Civil Engineers and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors proposed a blockchain-based solution to address authenticity and traceability concerns and facilitate e-inspection 2.0 to guarantee construction quality, compliance, and progress amid pandemic conditions.
Abstract: An inspection is a crucial construction process that ensures that building works and workers comply with prescribed codes, standards, and building progress. The traditional inspection is characterized by physical effort and onerous paperwork. The emergence of e-inspection 1.0 has meant the adoption of computerized means to ease the paperwork burden, although physical onsite presence has remained mandatory. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has made the dispatch of inspectors difficult and has prompted governments worldwide to explore alternative inspection approaches that harness the latest information antitamper and traceability technologies, such as blockchain. In this paper, we refer to these approaches as “e-inspection 2.0.” This research reports the urgent need for e-inspection 2.0 to guarantee construction quality, compliance, and progress amid pandemic conditions. Using the design science research method, it then proposes a blockchain-based solution to address authenticity and traceability concerns and facilitate e-inspection 2.0. The system is validated through a case study of a modular construction project in the Hong Kong–Pearl River Delta construction nexus. We find that rigorous technological solutions can render e-inspection 2.0 reliable. However, existing regulations are far from amenable to such inspections. Therefore, we call for an extension of the pandemic e-inspection 2.0 expediency to common practice in a post-pandemic era through the development of robust technological instruments and the amendment of inspection regulations.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the authors proposed a hybrid ARIMA-ANN model for forecasting construction costs and explored whether the hybrid model can provide more accurate forecasts than an individual ARAMA or ANN.
Abstract: Accurate cost forecasting in budget planning and contract bidding is crucial for the success of construction projects. Linear models such as the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and nonlinear models such as the artificial neural network (ANN) have been adopted in the literature for forecasting construction costs. However, both linear and nonlinear models are subject to some limitations derived from their modeling structure and assumptions. This study proposes a hybrid ARIMA-ANN model for forecasting construction costs and explores whether the hybrid ARIMA-ANN model can provide more accurate forecasts than an individual ARIMA or ANN. The national and city-level construction cost indices (CCIs) are forecasted for three forecasting horizons (short-term, mid-term, and long-term) using three forecasting models: (1) linear ARIMA, (2) nonlinear ANNs, and (3) the hybrid ARIMA-ANN model. Out-of-sample forecasting exercise reveals that the hybrid model combining the distinctive features of both ARIMA and ANNs performs better than individual models in most forecasting cases, especially for longer-term forecasting horizons. The findings can help project planners, cost engineers, and decision makers prepare for more accurate budgets and bids for diverse construction projects in different locations.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors explore recovery measures to address short and long-term road public-private partnership (PPP) related challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic by considering recuperation actions implemented during the 2008 global financial crisis (GFC).
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a global economic crisis and is leading multiple local, regional, and national governments to increase public debt to unprecedented levels. This situation endangers current and future road public-private partnership (PPP) programs, given their dependence on user fees and/or government availability payments. Accordingly, this study aims to explore recovery measures to address short- and long-term road PPP-related challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, by considering recuperation actions implemented during the 2008 global financial crisis (GFC). To do so, this research examines the PPP-crisis literature through the lens of social network analysis (SNA) and concepts linked to network modularity and community detection techniques. The analysis focuses on unraveling semantic relationships between PPP-related keywords in order to understand lessons learned from the GFC and to propose suitable remedies for overcoming the consequences of the global economic crisis derived from the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings show that the PPP-crisis literature forms a comprehensive self-contained interwoven network that can be organized into five semantic communities according to concepts related to risk, financing, governance, procurement, and institutional environment. Based on such communities, the analysis suggests five recovery measures and highlights two implementation challenges (i.e., global supply chain disruptions and quantitative easing policies). Future research is required to examine effective ways to apply the proposed PPP remedies in the long-term. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Management in Engineering is the property of American Society of Civil Engineers and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the interest in bringing robots onto construction sites, which will in turn bring robots and humans into closer working proximity, and discuss the benefits of bringing robots on construction sites.
Abstract: Recent advances in robotic technologies have stimulated interest in bringing robots onto construction sites, which will in turn bring robots and humans into closer working proximity. Introd...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the authors analyzed two toll road PPP programs in Chile and Colombia and identified three key challenges to social legitimacy: social involvement issues, distrust between impacted and responsible stakeholders, and lack of social criteria within toll tariff policy.
Abstract: Public–Private Partnership (PPP) programs have been developed widely for more than 30 years across the world. The continuity of these programs depends on an adequate balance of three-dimensional sustainability (i.e., economic, environmental, and social). Nevertheless, social sustainability has been demonstrated as being fragile because of the challenges to achieving the intended social legitimacy in PPP programs. This study aims to understand key challenges in achieving social legitimacy in road PPP programs by analyzing contractual clauses, legal frameworks, and stakeholders’ interviews of two toll road PPP programs in Chile and Colombia. Three key challenges to social legitimacy were found: social involvement issues, distrust between impacted and responsible stakeholders, and lack of social criteria within toll tariff policy. Findings reveal that it is required to move beyond current consultation mechanisms and thoroughly involve the impacted groups as a relevant stakeholder typology in order to maximize value creation in user-pay PPP programs. In line with that, this study exposes that the claim of previous research for developing relational governance between the public and the private sectors is not enough for overcoming governance limitations and addressing social legitimacy in user-pay PPPs. It is also necessary to enhance relational governance in a triadic approach. This study contributes to the PPP body of knowledge by redirecting the discussion from overall legitimacy to social legitimacy challenges and by including the impacted stakeholders in the analysis of PPP governance mechanisms.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Data analysis of the survey results showed that construction organizations have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of their operational capacity, productivity, and workforce practices, and many organizations expect to have higher percentages of employees working remotely postpandemic they did prepandemic.
Abstract: Construction organizations have been implementing different actions to control and mitigate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their workers and operations. Although some of these actions allowed construction organizations to remain productive during the pandemic, many organizations still struggle to cope with these effects. The construction industry has a need to identify the most effective actions that construction organizations can take to effectively control and mitigate the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper presents results of two surveys conducted with construction organizations, primarily in North America, and identifies the most effective mitigation actions to help construction organizations operate during this pandemic and develop evidence-based operational strategies to use during the current pandemic and any future pandemics. The contributions of this paper are (1) identifying an extensive list of possible actions to control and mitigate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on construction organizations, (2) providing a categorization and methodology for assessing and ranking these actions, (3) identifying the most effective mitigation actions for construction organizations during the current COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics, and (4) developing a comparative analysis of action prioritization for different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide insight into the management of the adverse effects of pandemics on construction organizations. Data analysis of the survey results showed that construction organizations have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of their operational capacity, productivity, and workforce practices, and many organizations expect to have higher percentages of employees working remotely postpandemic they did prepandemic. Comparative analysis also showed an increasing trend in the importance of using technology to control and mitigate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in construction organizations. © 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , a qualitative content analysis of interviews with 36 construction professionals to examine how different stakeholders present their perceptions and expectations of robots, depending on their organizational position and specialized trade work was conducted.
Abstract: Recent advances in robotic technologies have stimulated interest in bringing robots onto construction sites, which will in turn bring robots and humans into closer working proximity. Introducing robots requires significant redesign of construction processes, crew compositions, and task allocations, and understanding potential end users’ perceptions and expectations of these robots is the critical first step in designing and implementing effective collaborative work between humans and robots. To this end, this study examines trade workers’ and managers’ perceptions and expectations of construction robots. This study undertook a qualitative content analysis of interviews with 36 construction professionals to examine how different stakeholders present their perceptions and expectations of robots, depending on their organizational position and specialized trade work. The analysis results indicate that job complexity and the perceived safety risk associated with the trade most significantly influence workers’ desired capabilities for robots as well as their perceptions of robots’ usefulness. Based on these findings, this study establishes workers’ fundamental conceptions of construction robots with respect to job characteristics, establishing the groundwork and direction for future construction robot development.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a transparent corporate social responsibility (CSR) model for sustainable development, which aims to achieve transparent CSR by publishing their environmental and social responsibility policies.
Abstract: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a crucial issue for firms seeking to achieve sustainable development. To achieve transparent CSR, firms usually publish their environmental ...

Journal ArticleDOI
Ying Li, Hua Sun, Dakun Li, Jian Song, Rong Gui Ding 
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper investigated the impact of digital technology adoption on sustainability performance and proposed the mediating role of stakeholder collaboration based on organizational information processing theory (OIPT).
Abstract: Emerging digital technologies such as building information modeling (BIM) and the Internet of Things (IoT) have been widely adopted in construction projects and have attracted great attention from researchers and practitioners in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. To better understand the benefits of adopting digital technologies in construction projects from the sustainability perspective, this research investigated the impact of digital technology adoption on sustainability performance and proposed the mediating role of stakeholder collaboration based on organizational information processing theory (OIPT). Survey data were collected from managers and members of Chinese construction projects, and the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method was used to test the hypothesized relationships. The results show that digital technology adoption has direct effects on economic, environmental, and social performance and that stakeholder collaboration can directly influence only economic and environmental performance. Additionally, stakeholder collaboration partially mediates the relationship between digital technology adoption and economic and environmental performance. These findings enrich the current research on digital transformation and project sustainability management and provide managerial implications for how to realize the benefits of digital technology adoption in the AEC industry.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the authors proposed an approach for quantifying the risk level of fatal incidents in construction works based on frequency and probability analysis using estimation and clustering methods, and found that the average normalized ranking (ANR) ranged from 2.51 to 26.88.
Abstract: The construction industry involves a variety of construction works, all of which differ in terms of the frequency and probability of fatal incidents and types of accidents. Accordingly, the risk level of various construction works should be defined for effective safety management at the design and construction phases. This study proposes an approach for quantifying the risk level of fatal incidents in construction works based on frequency and probability analysis using estimation and clustering methods. The main study objective is accomplished in four steps. It was found that the average normalized ranking (ANR) ranged from 2.51 to 26.88, with the most dangerous construction works being scaffolding and demolition works (2.51). Based on the ANR, 27 construction works were categorized into five groups with risk levels ranked from 1 to 5. Risk level 5, the most dangerous group of construction works, was composed of scaffolding and demolition works and roofing and sheet metal construction works, both of which were higher than other construction works considering the frequency and probability of fatal incidents.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The construction industry involves a variety of construction works, all of which differ in terms of the frequency and probability of fatal incidents and types of accidents as discussed by the authors, and therefore, the...
Abstract: The construction industry involves a variety of construction works, all of which differ in terms of the frequency and probability of fatal incidents and types of accidents. Accordingly, the...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors investigated and analyzed the status of cloud computing adoption in the construction industry, and proposed feasible recommendations to enhance the CC adoption of the building and construction industry.
Abstract: Fragmented knowledge in the construction industry is impeding project operation and success. With useful information and communication technology, the industry can integrate such fragmented knowledge and increase its performance, leading to successful project execution. Strategic implementation of digital technologies such as cloud computing (CC) has provided organizations with enhanced collaboration and communication opportunities. However, limited research has attempted to understand the status quo of CC adoption from the perspectives of the drivers, challenges, and strategies, which would optimize the adoption process and facilitate its successful implementation in the construction industry. Therefore, this study aims to fill the gap with the following research objectives: (1) derive drivers, challenges, and strategies for CC adoption, (2) investigate and analyze the status of CC adoption in the construction industry, and (3) propose feasible recommendations to enhance the CC adoption in the construction industry. To achieve these goals, 9 drivers, 12 challenges, and 7 strategies relevant to the construction industry were identified through a comprehensive literature review, followed by a structured questionnaire survey administered to industry practitioners in the construction industry. Further analyses were conducted to determine if organization size, respondent’s experience, and respondent’s role influence the drivers, challenges, and strategies, followed by postinterviews conducted to echo the analysis results, and the outcomes could advocate the reliability of the findings from this study. The findings are worthy of note and contribute to the body of knowledge in the sense that this study made a novel effort to firstly examine the perceptions of practitioners on the drivers, challenges, and strategies for CC adoption, including the status quo of its implementation. The assessed CC adoption status serves as a starting point of sustainable development for the industry to reap the benefits throughout the project life cycle. Furthermore, this study provides a guide for construction companies in adopting CC technology, which has shown great potential in improving the building and construction industries’ performance and sustainability.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , a single case study method was adopted to analyze a real case in the Optics Valley Fangcang Shelter Hospital, and qualitative insights on how to implement an intelligent FangCang shelter hospital system, including the development process and challenges and identifying lessons learned through the utilization of intelligent Fangceng shelter hospital systems.
Abstract: Epidemics and other public health emergencies significantly impact medical and health service systems. The exploitation of some advanced technologies in Fangcang shelter hospitals—emergency medical service solutions adopted in China during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic—was found to successfully relieve the treatment pressures. However, the implementation of the intelligent Fangcang shelter hospital system remains in the exploratory stage. Herein, this paper aims to obtain experience in the development and utilization of an intelligent system in a Fangcang shelter hospital. To achieve this, a single case study method was adopted to analyze a real case in the Optics Valley Fangcang Shelter Hospital. There were two data collection methods in the case study: (1) interviews; and (2) investigation, including some documents, models, sensors, and the platform. The main contribution of this paper is that it provides qualitative insights on how to implement an intelligent Fangcang shelter hospital system, including the development process and challenges and identifying lessons learned through the utilization of intelligent Fangcang shelter hospital systems. This paper can give a solid reference for the operation of COVID-19 field hospitals and provide clear theoretical guidance for the implementation and development of intelligent Fangcang shelter hospitals. This will help better respond to COVID-19 and similar major public health emergencies in the future.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, public perspective has long been ignored in ex-post evaluation of large cross-regional projects (LCPs), and the emergence of online public participation affords the opportunity to obtain an...
Abstract: Public perspective has long been ignored in ex-post evaluation of large cross-regional projects (LCPs), and the emergence of online public participation affords the opportunity to obtain an...