Showing papers in "Structural Survey in 2001"
TL;DR: In this article, a case study of a small project that was affected by difficult economic circumstances is included to demonstrate the effectiveness of systematic risk management, and the allocation of risk and suggests that risk needs to be identified and managed early in the procurement process.
Abstract: Systematic risk management is expecting the unexpected – it is a tool which helps control risks in construction projects. Its objective is to introduce a simple, practical method of identifying, assessing, monitoring and managing risk in an informed and structured way. It provides guidance for implementing a risk control strategy that is appropriate to control construction projects at all levels. This paper will review systematic management approaches to risk. It discusses the allocation of risk and suggests that risk needs to be identified and managed early in the procurement process. In addition, a case study of a small project that was affected by difficult economic circumstances is included to demonstrate the effectiveness of systematic risk management.
275 citations
TL;DR: The results of a large questionnaire-based survey evaluating specialist design consultants' risk identification and management approaches are presented in this paper, which suggests that client education via briefing and wider use of confidence limits can help improve the management of risk.
Abstract: A literature review suggested that conservation refurbishment work was perceived by design professionals to be inherently more risky than new‐build projects. The objective assessment of risk items helps ameliorate its impact. The results of a large questionnaire‐based survey evaluating specialist design consultants’ risk identification and management approaches are presented. The risk management approaches of specialist design consultants are divergent, reflecting their professional philosophies, educational programmes and experience. Further differences emerge according to practice size and contract value. Particular attention is paid to the responses considering contingency pricing, project budget forecasts and extensions of time. Results suggest that client education via briefing and consultants’ wider use of confidence limits can help improve the management of risk.
68 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provided empirical evidence to support the positive relationships between buildability, structural quality and productivity in construction, by correlating these quantitative measures, they found that there is empirical evidence for the positive relationship between buildable design appraisal system in Singapore and productivity.
Abstract: Achieving high productivity and quality standards are two important issues in the construction industry. Buildability is an important concept adopted to help raise productivity and quality standards in the industry. While it is generally acknowledged that buildability is able to help raise productivity and quality standards in construction, no study has so far provided quantitative evidence to support the positive relationships between buildability, productivity and quality. Buildability is measured using the buildable design appraisal system in Singapore. Likewise, quality is measured using the construction quality assessment system. Productivity of building projects is measured by means of the floor area constructed per manday. By correlating these quantitative measures, there is empirical evidence to support the positive relationships between buildability, structural quality and productivity in construction.
51 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a conceptual model for assessing flood damage to UK domestic properties is presented, based on a critique of existing knowledge in the field and from discussions held with practitioners responsible for surveying and recommending strategies for repair of such properties.
Abstract: Presents a conceptual model for assessing flood damage to UK domestic properties. The model originates from a critique of existing knowledge in the field and from discussions held with practitioners responsible for surveying and recommending strategies for repair of such properties. Flood damage assessment is a complex task requiring consideration of many factors. Subsequently, the model takes into account building characteristics along with the characteristics of the flood. Presently, recommendations in the literature for repairing flood damaged properties are very general in nature so “convenient” and circumspect inferences tend to be made by surveyors. In turn, professional guidance in this respect exhibits substantial variance regarding, for example, their specific recommendations for repair work. Because of this variance, it is difficult to confirm whether any repair strategy implemented is optimal, in terms of, for example, cost expended or methods used. The model presented progresses knowledge towards standardising the assessment of flood damaged UK domestic properties.
47 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a soft system approach known as strategic needs analysis (SNA) to assist clients, stakeholders and their design teams in determining their strategic needs for a given project.
Abstract: The pre‐design stage of construction projects has become a focal point in design management research in the last decade, as it is primarily the source of problems such as rework, change orders, and contractual claims. In particular, it is widely acknowledged that client briefing is an intractable problem which many projects encounter. Primarily this is because little attention is given to assessing the needs of the client, stakeholders and those of the design team. With this in mind, this paper presents a soft system approach known as strategic needs analysis (SNA) to assist clients, stakeholders and their design teams in determining their strategic needs for a given project. The rationale for using a SNA approach during the early stages of the project development process and in relation to the strategic environment of the client organization is presented and discussed. The SNA process is described and applied to two case study projects. It is concluded that SNA can improve the strategic decision‐making process of a project, as clients are able to identify their strategic needs and thus improve the effectiveness of the briefing process.
44 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the embodied energy of rammed earth construction relative to brick veneer and cavity brick construction was evaluated. And the authors found that rammed Earth construction had significantly less embodied energy than cavity brick, but was approximately equivalent to brick-veneer construction.
Abstract: Present concerns for sustainable development have led to a revival of traditional building practices using natural or recycled resources. There is a perception that buildings constructed from such materials are environmentally benign. This perception is questionable, as often no evaluation is undertaken to assess the associated environmental impacts. Rammed earth is one such construction technology that has seen renewed interest in recent years. The energy required to manufacture materials (i.e. embodied energy) is a significant component of the life cycle energy associated with buildings. This paper assesses the embodied energy of rammed earth construction relative to brick veneer and cavity brick construction. Rammed earth was found to have significantly less embodied energy than cavity brick construction (to which it is closer in thermal performance), but was approximately equivalent to brick veneer construction. Topics of further research identified include thermal performance and strategies for reducing the embodied energy of cement used for earth stabilisation.
37 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a decision tool for selecting the optimum excavator type for given production scenarios is presented, where a mass excavation task is specified as the principal decision criterion and production output and machine hire costs are predicted using both multivariate and bivariate regression models.
Abstract: Previous methods have been developed to predict tracked hydraulic excavator output and associated costs of production, but these fail to provide a “complete” solution to the plant productivity problem. That is, when hiring or purchasing machines plant managers are not normally provided with sufficient detail to optimise the plant selection decision process. The crux of this problem is to choose an appropriate plant item from the vast range available. This paper contributes to resolving this selection process through the application of an optimisation technique, based on linear programming. Specifically, a decision tool for selecting the optimum excavator type for given production scenarios is presented. In achieving this aim, a mass excavation task was specified as the principal decision criterion. Production output and machine hire costs were predicted using both multivariate and bivariate regression models. The decision tool performed well during testing and therefore exhibits significant potential for use by practitioners. The paper concludes with direction for future research work; concentrating on development of a software package for accurately predicting productivity rates and assisting in the plant selection process.
21 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore the characteristics of the tenants of some LA housing estates and how they affect maintenance need and propose a bridge for the existing gap in knowledge by exploring the characteristics and characteristics of tenants.
Abstract: This paper sets out to develop a bridge for the existing gap in knowledge by exploring the characteristics of the tenants of some LA housing estates and how they affect maintenance need. Without the proper integration of information relating to property and the users of the dwelling, the phenomenon of housing maintenance need prediction will remain an intractable problem for housing managers. The paper therefore explores the hypothesis that dwellings within the same estate and having every conceivable architectural attribute in space and time in common will exhibit different maintenance need profiles as a result of differences in tenants’ characteristics.
20 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the format and scope of a database of predominantly technical information relating to subsidence and heave claims on shrinkable/expansible clay soils, including details of the property and its structure, the damage, ground and foundation conditions, vegetation, and monitoring and remedial measures.
Abstract: Describes the format and scope of a database of predominantly technical information relating to subsidence and heave claims on shrinkable/expansible clay soils. The database includes information on 484 individual subsidence claims, comprising details of the property and its structure, the damage, ground and foundation conditions, vegetation, and monitoring and remedial measures. The data are analysed and implications for the investigation of subsidence claims are examined. The analyses indicate that, among other results: detached properties have greater susceptibility to subsidence or heave claims than non‐detached properties; properties built prior to 1900 are less susceptible to damage than those built in the 1900‐1944 period; there are no reasons to be concerned over current minimum depth requirements for construction in shrinkable/expansible clays; and London clay is the most commonly encountered “problem” soil.
19 citations
TL;DR: Hong Kong Building Environmental Assessment Method (BEAM) as mentioned in this paper is a method for assessing the environmental performance of Hong Kong's buildings, which is a type of expert-based survey, either of the design of proposed buildings, or an evaluation of building performance for newly built or existing buildings.
Abstract: A method for assessing the environmental performance of Hong Kong’s buildings has been developed, known as the Hong Kong Building Environmental Assessment Method or HK‐BEAM. The assessment is a type of expert‐based survey, either of the design, in the case of proposed buildings, or an evaluation of building performance for newly built or existing buildings. The assessment essentially provides a benchmark of environmental performance against a series of qualitative and quantitative measures that earn “credits”. Buildings can be rated as “excellent”, “very good”, “good” or “fair”. The assessment covers global, local and indoor issues. The original assessment has been in use since 1996 and allowed appraisal of new and existing air‐conditioned offices. A new version has been recently produced for residential buildings. The latest version has addressed some of the criticisms of the earlier versions and covers a wider range of issues, taking a life‐cycle approach. Reviews the latest new residential version, making comparisons with the earlier new offices scheme.
17 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the role of contractors' personnel in enhancing the constructability of facilities design, construction, and assessment is discussed, and a set of obligations are defined to enhance the project constructability.
Abstract: Contractors’ personnel play a prominent role in enhancing the constructability of facilities design, construction and assessment. Looks at the constructability concepts identified by the Construction Industry Institute at Austin, Texas (CII) and represents and describes the constructability concepts in relation to contractors’ personnel. Discusses the role of each of them in enhancing constructability of facilities projects. Concludes that a set of obligations are the answer to the question of “How can the contractor’s personnel enhance the project constructability?”.
TL;DR: In this article, a large-scale house condition survey (LSHCS) of residential properties was conducted, where surveyors were asked to identify defects to building elements and their perceptions of lifetimes for building elements.
Abstract: Deals with surveyor variability, in terms of identifying defects, when undertaking surveys of residential properties. It is based on a sample of 38 surveyors who took part in a large‐scale house condition survey (LSHCS). Seeks to quantify the extent of the variability of surveyors in LSHCS, and proposes methods to try to reduce the incidence of variability. Discusses not only the variability of surveyors in identifying defects to building elements, but also their perceptions of lifetimes for building elements. Concludes that the accuracy of data collection (i.e. the process of surveying a dwelling) is paramount if the information derived from the data is to be of value to the parties described. Also concludes that a mechanism for assessing individual surveyor’s variable tendencies needs to be developed to try to reduce the impact of variability at the survey data analysis stage.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the approach adopted in the evaluation of a knowledge-based system for subsidence management, subsidence case management system (SCAMS), which introduces general principles in evaluation of knowledgebased systems, highlighting some of the various techniques available.
Abstract: This paper describes the approach adopted in the evaluation of a knowledge‐based system for subsidence management, subsidence case management system (SCAMS). It introduces general principles in the evaluation of knowledge‐based systems, highlighting some of the various techniques available. The criteria adopted for SCAMS’s evaluation are then established, followed by a description of the evaluation methodology. The paper concludes with an appraisal of the evaluation process and a discussion of its outcome.
Abstract: Presents an overview and discusses the applications of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets and plates in the strengthening of concrete structures. An insight may be obtained from the discussions made to enhance the use of these techniques for productive use. In addition, selected case studies have been furnished where FRP materials have been used for repairing/retrofitting, emphasizing the application of different types of FRP materials in strengthening concrete structures. Concludes that the use of FRP material is rapidly gaining pace and replacing the traditional steel or metal based materials due to its enhanced properties and cost effectiveness.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the nest and cave dwellings as well as the tools used in the primitive society (before 2100 BC) of China, and suggest that the more than 5,000 years of rich history of construction works in China should not be ignored.
Abstract: Construction works, which contributed to the built environment of the primitive, slave and feudal societies in ancient China, constitute an important component of Chinese history. This paper discusses the nest and cave dwellings as well as the tools used in the primitive society (before 2100 BC) of China. Construction works in the Slave Society (2100‐500 BC) encompassed the construction of city walls as well as wood and earth structures, covering roofs, wall and floor facing, and drainage facilities. The invention of new building materials and construction tools as well as standardization in working procedures and material consumption are discussed in “Feudal society” (221 BC‐AD 1840). The paper suggests that the more than 5,000 years of rich history of construction works in China should not be ignored.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors set out the energy efficiency standards which should be pursued over the next five to ten years and argued that with the establishment of very clear goals and implementation programmes, the Government together with the house building industry could achieve significantly higher standards than current regulations without major upheaval and, in the process, take a very large step towards the overall goal of creating a truly sustainable housing stock.
Abstract: In this final paper in the series we set out the energy efficiency standards which should be pursued over the next five to ten years. Compared with a business as usual scenario based on past improvements, our proposed standards could go a long way to nullify the increase in carbon dioxide emissions which would be expected from the projected increase in the size of the housing stock in the next 20 years (an increase of some 4 million by 2021). Such an approach would provide an important breathing space so as to allow the development of even higher new build standards and to allow improvements in the efficiency of the existing stock. In addition to establishing an improvement programme for 2000/1 and 2005/6 the paper also assesses a number of important implementation issues. It deals with the barriers of practicability, technical risk and cost and concludes that such barriers are largely perceptual. We argue that with the establishment of very clear goals and implementation programmes, the Government together with the house building industry could achieve significantly higher standards than current regulations without major upheaval and, in the process, take a very large step towards the overall goal of creating a truly sustainable housing stock.
TL;DR: The author concludes that the new methods are cumbersome to calculate by hand and that where there is only one bridged layer the difference between the old and new methods is negligible.
Abstract: Reviews the UK government’s proposals for amending the energy efficiency of new dwellings. With the aid of worked examples the alternative calculation methods for U‐values are demonstrated. The author concludes that the new methods are cumbersome to calculate by hand and that where there is only one bridged layer the difference between the old and new methods is negligible. It is envisaged that manufacturers and SAP providers will quickly provide new calculation suites to enable designers to undertake calculations effectively and easily.
TL;DR: In this article, the effectiveness of double glazing was determined for an Australian residential building in terms of the energy payback period and energy return on investment, and a wide range of building operation regimes was simulated.
Abstract: Energy used in buildings is a major contributor to Australia’s energy consumption and associated environmental impacts. The advent of complex glazing systems such as double glazing, particularly in northern America and Europe, has partially closed a weak thermal link in the building envelope. In milder climates, however, building envelope features may not be as effective in life cycle energy terms, i.e. including the embodied energy of their manufacture. A net energy analysis compares the savings in operational energy to the additional requirements for embodied energy, in terms of the energy payback period and energy return on investment. The effectiveness of double glazing is determined for an Australian residential building. A wide range of building operation regimes was simulated. These results support the principle of installing double glazing in residential buildings in Melbourne, Australia, at least in terms of net primary energy savings.
TL;DR: In this paper, the results of an RICS Research Foundation Education Trust funded project on the use of modern non-destructive test equipment during surveys are presented. But, the authors focus on the largest data set used for commercial and industrial surveys.
Abstract: Presents an early publication of the results of an RICS Research Foundation Education Trust funded project to investigate the use of modern non‐destructive test equipment during surveys. Discusses the data collection and analysis phases in detail followed by the presentation of the preliminary findings of a national postal questionnaire survey of 143 building surveying practices. Stays confined to a discussion on the largest data set – equipment used for commercial and industrial surveys. New technology has made some impact in that more surveyors are using digital cameras and electronic measurement aids but little use is being made of portable materials testing equipment. The results have indicated that there are increasing trends in the use of endoscopes, some environmental measuring aids, metal detectors and electrical installation testing by surveyors.
TL;DR: In this article, surveyors engaged in mortgage valuation inspections using questionnaire-style report forms supplied by lending institutions are subject to an increased risk of liability in respect of identifying the present and future threat of subsidence to domestic properties.
Abstract: Examines whether surveyors engaged in mortgage valuation inspections using questionnaire‐style report forms supplied by lending institutions are subject to an increased risk of liability in respect of identifying the present and future threat of subsidence to domestic properties. Analysis of the mortgage valuation report forms used by 34 different lending institutions showed that 20 per cent failed to ask any subsidence‐related questions, only 6 per cent asked about the geology or soil type of the site, and only 9 per cent asked about the location of trees relative to the building. Evaluation of the report forms showed that the type, quality and quantity of questioning were such that 24 out of the 34 were inadequate and unreliable, leaving the surveyor at an increased risk of litigation.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the time it takes to undertake a RICS/ISVA Homebuyer Survey and Valuation survey and found that over 650 surveyors completed datasheets on how long they spend on site, dictating and finally checking a Homebuyers' Report on four property types.
Abstract: The research examines the time it takes to undertake a RICS/ISVA Homebuyer Survey and Valuation survey. Over 650 surveyors (94 per cent response rate) completed datasheets on how long they spend on site, dictating and finally checking a Homebuyers’ Report on four property types. The sample for this research represents over 45 per cent of those professionals that carry out Homebuyers’ Reports. The sample was drawn from organisations varying in size from large corporates to sole practitioner firms. The results of this research are presented, analysed and compared to the earlier work of Hollis and Bright.
TL;DR: An investigation of the effects of site and environmental conditions on a historic building and its contents has been undertaken at Withcote Chapel, Leicestershire, with the intention of establishing a relationship between dampness and levels of material deterioration as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: An investigation of the effects of site and environmental conditions on a historic building and its contents has been undertaken at Withcote Chapel, Leicestershire, with the intention of establishing a relationship between dampness and levels of material deterioration. High and fluctuating levels of relative humidity within the building have been previously corrected using dehumidification, its demise leading to concerns for the long‐term welfare of important fixtures and fittings. Appropriate remedial action, including the proposed application of conservation heating, is put forward for discussion.
TL;DR: In this paper, the specification and repair of stone slate roofing within the Yorkshire Dales National Park is discussed and the methods of re-slating are discussed and specific techniques of details are considered and illustrated.
Abstract: Deals with the specification and repair of stone slate roofing within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Initially examines the importance of roofing works and then goes on to give advice on preliminary items of access and safety. The methods of re‐slating are then discussed and specific techniques of details are considered and illustrated. The surveying of stone slate roofs has been the subject of a previous paper.
TL;DR: In this paper, structural testing and subsequent calculations for caravan holiday homes to withstand snowloading criteria set out in EN BS 1647:1999 were discussed, as part of the requirements of a teaching company scheme.
Abstract: Discusses the structural testing and subsequent calculations for caravan holiday homes to withstand snow‐loading criteria set out in EN BS 1647:1999. The project was undertaken as part of the requirements of a teaching company scheme.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the development of a computer finite element method (FEM) model for simulating the temporary earthwork support technique, artificial ground freezing, with the use of the finite element software package ABAQUS.
Abstract: This paper describes the development of a computer finite element method (FEM) model for simulating the temporary earthwork support technique, artificial ground freezing. Specifically, ice‐wall thickness growth and ground movement (due to frost heave and thaw settlement) were evaluated with the use of the finite element software package ABAQUS. Other parameters modelled were obtained from a combination of a priori research and invaluable practitioner experience. Simulation results were then compared with measurements obtained from a live field project to assess model accuracy. Output results obtained from the FEM analyses provided demonstrable evidence of the model’s inherent ability to simulate “realistically” the effects of ground freezing analysis process.