Showing papers on "Construction management published in 2015"
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the major factors inhibiting the adoption of off-site construction with reference to the Chinese construction market and identified 30 factors influencing the use of OSC through a literature review, questionnaire survey, and face-to-face interview with professionals in the construction industry.
Abstract: Off-site construction (OSC) has been regarded as an effective means of improving construction quality and efficiency. The adoption of OSC has been slower in developing countries such as China than in developed countries, and research on the barriers inhibiting the sector’s growth is inadequate. This paper aims to investigate the major factors inhibiting the adoption of OSC with reference to the Chinese construction market. Thirty factors influencing the use of OSC were identified through a literature review, questionnaire survey, and face-to-face interview with professionals in the construction industry. A questionnaire was sent out to developers in China, and 83 completed questionnaires were retrieved. Ranking analysis was used to identify 18 critical factors. The top three barriers are “absence of government regulations and incentives,” “high initial cost,” and “dependence on traditional construction methods.” Factor analysis enables grouping of the 18 critical factors into five categories, name...
289 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a new automated approach for recognition of physical progress based on two emerging sources of information: (1) unordered daily construction photo collections, which are currently collected at almost no cost on all construction sites; and (2) building information models (BIMs), which are increasingly turning into binding components of architecture/engineering/construction contracts.
Abstract: Accurate and efficient tracking, analysis and visualization of as-built (actual) status of buildings under construction are critical components of a successful project monitoring. Such information directly supports control decision-making and if automated, can significantly impact management of a project. This paper presents a new automated approach for recognition of physical progress based on two emerging sources of information: (1) unordered daily construction photo collections, which are currently collected at almost no cost on all construction sites; and (2) building information models (BIMs), which are increasingly turning into binding components of architecture/engineering/construction contracts. First, given a set of unordered and uncalibrated site photographs, an approach based on structure-from-motion, multiview stereo, and voxel coloring and labeling algorithms is presented that calibrates cameras, photorealistically reconstructs a dense as-built point cloud model in four dimensions (th...
283 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors proposed an extension of the Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) approach, proactive behavior-based safety (PBBS), to improve construction safety.
262 citations
TL;DR: Based on an ex post facto critical review of 75 papers of this kind published over the past decade, the authors proposes a conceptual framework for bridging BIM and building (BBB), which highlights the importance of synchronizing information between building information models and real-life building processes.
173 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the causes of delay in construction projects in oil and gas processing facilities in Oman and serves as a case study for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Abstract: Several studies investigating the causes of delay in projects in the construction industry have been conducted worldwide. This study investigates the causes of delay in construction projects in oil and gas processing facilities in Oman and serves as a case study for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Using a questionnaire, data were collected from 59 project managers employed in different organizations in the oil and gas industry in Oman. The survey results showed a high degree of agreement among the perceptions of project stakeholders, clients, contractors, and consultants on the causes of project delay, and there is no evidence to suggest that the causes of project delay differ significantly according to organization size or organizational ownership. Moreover, seven factors were identified as the major causes of project delay. Although six of these identified elements are general factors that can account for delay in any project in any industry, one of them—poor interaction with vendors in the engineering and procurement stages—is found to be unique to construction projects in the oil and gas industry. The findings of this study could be of value to organizations that are planning to conduct construction projects for oil and gas processing facilities in Oman and other nations with similar environments, such as the GCC countries.
131 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a multi-method research design was used in this study by combining both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including questionnaire surveys, review of documents, and semi-structured interviews, to review sustainable procurement practices in the Canadian construction industry.
127 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used mixed methods of qualitative and quantitative research approaches to determine effective approaches to eliminate and/or minimise waste generation in construction projects and found that both technologies and attitudinal approaches require improvement to eliminate or minimize waste generation.
Abstract: Construction waste generation has been identified as one of the major issues in the construction industry due to its direct impacts on the environment as well as the efficiency of the construction industry. As the industry cannot continue to practice if the environmental resources on which it depends are depleted, the significance of waste management needs to be understood in order to encourage stakeholders to achieve related goals. Therefore, this research aims to determine effective approaches to eliminate and/or minimise waste generation in construction projects. Mixed methods were adopted by combining qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Interviews and a questionnaire survey were conducted as the primary data collection methods. The findings reveal twenty six critical solutions for waste management. Five factors of solutions for waste management were extracted from the exploratory factor analysis. These factors were: team building and supervision; strategic guidelines in waste management; proper design and documentation; innovation in waste management decisions; and lifecycle management. The evidence from this study suggests that both technologies and attitudinal approaches require improvement to eliminate/minimise waste generation in construction projects. Similarly, attention should be paid to being mindful of the environmental effects of waste generation and avoiding waste generation as early as possible in construction projects.
122 citations
TL;DR: An in-depth review of mainstream studies of ICT-supported AEC organizations published in last 15 years (1998–2012) is presented and lessons learned from ICT practical implementation are learned.
Abstract: Information and communication technology (ICT) has had enormous effects on the development of architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) organizations in past decades. The effects have resonated in various disciplines, such as organizational efficiency, communication approach, and employee behavior. However, a comprehensive and in-depth review of the ICT applied in the AEC organization is missing from the current literature. To fill this gap, this paper presents an in-depth review of mainstream studies of ICT-supported AEC organizations published in last 15 years (1998–2012). A total of 145 articles from 12 construction and IT-related journals are identified and have been thoroughly reviewed. This review is divided into four parts: (1) synthesis and general trend of existing literature; (2) lessons learned from ICT practical implementation; (3) enabling technologies of ICT applications; and (4) ICT-induced organizational outcomes. Throughout this paper the authors summarize and categorize d...
115 citations
TL;DR: The Delphi Method is a systematic procedure that is normally employed to achieve a reliable consensus among a selected panel of experts as discussed by the authors, which can be utilized for different purposes, such as the study or definition of areas of considerable uncertainty and/or a lack of agreed knowledge.
Abstract: The Delphi Method is a systematic procedure that is normally employed to achieve a reliable consensus among a selected panel of experts. It can be utilized for different purposes, such as the study or definition of areas of considerable uncertainty and/or a lack of agreed knowledge. Although the method has been used in different fields, few studies have used Delphi in construction research. This could be attributed to the limited awareness of the method, the lack of clear guidance in relation to its operation and the variations in its application. This article, which draws on a review and synthesis of the relevant literature and the authors’ observation and experience of applying the method, critically reviews Delphi, provides guidance into its use, discusses such use in construction management research and demonstrates it through a case study. Furthermore, the article addresses the learning areas/benefits that could be obtained as a result of employing Delphi in students’ research projects through anothe...
107 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper investigated the causes of rework in construction projects and identified a total of 39 causes through a comprehensive literature review and semistructured interviews with 13 experienced construction professionals in China.
Abstract: Although rework is a common phenomenon in the Chinese construction industry and significantly affects project success, the reasons for rework remain largely unknown and most construction companies are unable to manage the issue effectively. To investigate the causes of rework in construction projects, a total of 39 causes were first identified through a comprehensive literature review and semistructured interviews with 13 experienced construction professionals in China. A questionnaire survey was further conducted to prioritize these causes, in which unclear project process management, poor quality of construction technology, and the use of poor construction materials rank the highest. Finally, a factor analysis revealed 11 major underlying dimensions of these causes, relating to design management, communication management, field management, project scope management, project process management, active rework, project plan changes, subcontractor management, contract management, owner capability, an...
102 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a systematic, empirically based methodology that employs the Fisher Exact test to identify the characteristics of power plant megaprojects (PPMs) that correlate with schedule and cost performance.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an in-depth literature review to examine the existing knowledge about production models and their characteristics in order to establish a foundation for dynamic production systems management in construction.
Abstract: The building construction industry faces challenges, such as increasing project complexity and scope requirements, but shorter deadlines. Additionally, economic uncertainty and rising business competition with a subsequent decrease in profit margins for the industry demands the development of new approaches to construction management. However, the building construction sector relies on practices based on intuition and experience, overlooking the dynamics of its production system. Furthermore, researchers maintain that the construction industry has no history of the application of mathematical approaches to model and manage production. Much work has been carried out on how manufacturing practices apply to construction projects, mostly lean principles. Nevertheless, there has been little research to understand the fundamental mechanisms of production in construction. This study develops an in-depth literature review to examine the existing knowledge about production models and their characteristics in order to establish a foundation for dynamic production systems management in construction. As a result, a theoretical framework is proposed, which will be instrumental in the future development of mathematical production models aimed at predicting the performance and behaviour of dynamic project-based systems in construction.
TL;DR: In this paper, the optimal number of additional skills was formulated as a constrained optimization problem, and the authors compared and contrasted cross-training strategies that are applicable to off-site construction in order to create multi-skilled resources.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the implementation of BIM through a sociotechnical systems (STS) perspective, with particular focus on multidisciplinary intraorganizational construction organization.
Abstract: The implementation of rapidly evolving building information modeling (BIM) technology is widely seen to increase the level of integration within the construction sector. However, even with the plethora of research and investment in the development and deployment of BIM, its use is not mainstream construction practice and the practicality of the implementation process is not well understood. The purpose of this paper is to explore the implementation of BIM through a sociotechnical systems (STS) perspective, with particular focus on multidisciplinary intraorganizational construction organization. The paper uses a case study approach to analyze the introduction of BIM in a multidisciplinary construction organization that has recently undergone a transition in its BIM implementation process. The STS approach demonstrates how technological implementation and its effects cannot be understood separately from the context of the implementing organization. The analysis shows that, due to the nature of the c...
TL;DR: A semi-automated method is proposed that accounts for and resolves the major problems in the streamlined manual process of 3D as-built model creation in BIM, limited to building interiors consisting of planar structures.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed a decision support tool for contractors before the bidding stage to quantify the probability of delay in construction projects in Turkey by using the relative importance index (RII) method incorporated into fuzzy logic.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to propose a decision support tool for contractors before the bidding stage to quantify the probability of delay in construction projects in Turkey by using the relative importance index (RII) method incorporated into fuzzy logic. For this purpose, 83 delay factors were identified, categorized into 9 major groups through a detailed literature review process as well as interviews with experts from the construction industry. The relative importance of these delay factors and groups was quantified by using the relative importance index method. The ranking of the factors and groups was demonstrated according to their level of effect on delay. A delay assessment model was proposed using the fuzzy set theory by taking into account the delay factors characterized in construction projects. The assessment model was developed using a commercial software product. The proposed methodology was tested in a real case study; and the probability of the delay of the project was evaluated by...
TL;DR: SimulEICon is an extension of BIM designed specifically to aid in the decision-making process during the design stage of a construction project, and it uses Microsoft Access for database-related operation...
Abstract: Sustainable construction is critical to the architecture-engineering-construction (AEC) industry. The consideration and selection of optimal building components is necessary in order to fulfill multiple objectives of sustainable construction, which are often conflicting. Today, information and communication technologies (ICT) such as building information modeling (BIM) are widely used in the construction industry for decision making during design and construction. However, due to the complexity of building and construction, supporting multiple-objective decision making is not trivial. Currently, BIM has limited capability to support such a process. This paper introduces Simulation of Environmental Impact of Construction (SimulEICon), which is an extension of BIM designed specifically to aid in the decision-making process during the design stage of a construction project. SimulEICon is an add-on to the Autodesk Revit Architecture software, and it uses Microsoft Access for database-related operation...
TL;DR: Eight archetypes of construction safety capture the interactions between a wide range of factors within various hierarchical levels and subsystems and provide systemic insights into dealing with the complexity.
TL;DR: A meta model for construction safety checking i.e. CSCOntology (Construction Safety Checking Ontology) has been developed in this paper and demonstrated in Protege 3.4 beta to show the proposed safety checking process.
TL;DR: A comprehensive review of traditional and emerging procurement practices in the construction industry can be found in this article, where the current procurement practices are analyzed by separating into three segments; processes, methods, and policies.
Abstract: Procurement is a key process in a construction project that creates and manages contacts. Procurement activities span from identification of requirements to project closeout, making it a perfect mode for integrating organizational strategic directions. Lately, the strategic importance of procurement has been widely acknowledged by academics as well as industry professionals. Construction procurement is a complex process with a large number of available options and directions. Ad hoc statistics show that modern initiatives such as sustainability, life-cycle costing, and standardization are getting integrated with procurement. However, there is no unified view in the construction industry on procurement as a project process. This paper presents a comprehensive review of traditional and emerging procurement practices in the construction industry. The current procurement practices are analyzed by separating into three segments; processes, methods, and policies. Furthermore, strengths and weaknesses of...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the difficulties of implementing risk management in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK construction industry, and highlight that the main difficulty experienced is how to scale RM process to meet their requirements.
Abstract: Purpose – The competition and challenges facing construction firms during the recent recession have brought risk management (RM) to the fore in people’s minds. Examination of the difficulties of implementing RM in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK construction industry has been relatively untouched. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – As part of on-going research to facilitate RM processing aimed at improving the competitiveness of SMEs, the difficulties in RM implementation were identified through a literature review of RM implementation in SMEs. Postal questionnaire were sent to SMEs who have experience of construction management. Findings – Of the 153 of SMEs responding, most highlighted that the main difficulty experienced is how to scale RM process to meet their requirements. None of the available standards explain the fundamental principle of applying RM to the situations that SMEs find themselves in. This difficulty is further exacerbated by a lack of m...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented an approach for safety cost estimation for the early stages of construction bidding phase using risk assessment activities and construction project scheduling by focusing on construction activities, and the results revealed that the percentage of safety cost to the total construction cost is 1.92%.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate the application of a cyber-physical systems (CPS) approach in enhancing bi-directional coordination between virtual models and the physical construction, and employ scenario development rapid prototyping to illustrate CPS integration in the construction industry.
Abstract: Purpose – In spite of the benefits of virtual models in the building and construction industry, the full potential of these models, especially in the construction and operation phases, remains largely unrealized. With the increasing developments in information and communication technology, a number of attempts have been made to extend the use of these models, through the development of integration approaches and technologies. However, the issue of integrating the virtual model and the physical construction such as to enable bi-directional coordination, has not been adequately addressed. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the application of a cyber-physical systems (CPS) approach in enhancing bi-directional coordination between virtual models and the physical construction. Design/methodology/approach – This research employs scenario development rapid prototyping to illustrate CPS integration in the construction industry, with a particular focus on facilitating bi-directional coordination. Th...
TL;DR: In this paper, the feasibility of measuring the operational efficiency of equipment using low-cost accelerometers was examined, and several classifiers using these features were tested to classify equipment operation into engine-off, idling, and working modes.
Abstract: Monitoring the operational efficiency of construction equipment offers great opportunities to enhance not only the productivity but also the environmental performance of construction operations However, existing enabling technologies still suffer from a lack of economic feasibility, as well as technological compatibility with equipment fleets that are outdated or that consist of diverse manufacturers’ models In this context, this paper examines the feasibility of measuring the operational efficiency of equipment using low-cost accelerometers Acceleration data in three axes were collected from a real-world operation of excavators that performed various duty cycles Multiple features were calculated from acceleration data, and several classifiers using these features were tested to classify equipment operation into engine-off, idling, and working modes An accuracy of over 93% was obtained in the classification of excavators’ operation This result has demonstrated that the application of low-cos
TL;DR: This article developed a conceptual framework of forming the psychological safety climate, and provided a preliminary validation The model suggests that management can create the desired psychological safetyclimate by efforts from structural, perceptual, interactive, and cultural perspectives.
16 Jun 2015
TL;DR: A framework for model-driven acquisition and analytics of progress images that guarantees completeness and accuracy for both as-built modeling and monitoring work-in-progress at the schedule task-level is suggested.
Abstract: Automated assessment of work-in-progress using large collections of site images and four-dimensional (4D) building information modelling (BIM) has potential to significantly improve the efficiency of construction project controls. Nevertheless, today’s manual procedures for taking site photos do not support the desired frequency or completeness for automated progress monitoring. While the usage of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for acquisition of site images has gained popularity, their application for addressing issues associated with image-based progress monitoring and particularly leveraging 4D BIM for steering the data collection process has not been investigated before. By presenting examples from two case studies conducted on real-world construction projects, this paper suggests a framework for model-driven acquisition and analytics of progress images. In particular, the potential of spatial (geometry, appearance, and interconnectivity) and temporal information in 4D BIM for autonomous data acquisition and analytics that guarantees completeness and accuracy for both as-built modeling and monitoring work-in-progress at the schedule task-level is discussed.
27 Mar 2015
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the ability of lean construction principles to reduce construction process waste through a case study (reinforcement process) and used computer simulation to reveal the results of lean principles application prior to construction process.
Abstract: Waste in the construction industry has been the subject of several research projects around the world in recent years. Researchers implement different methods to reduce the amount of waste in the construction industry. One of the effective methods for reducing waste is the application of lean approaches. Lean construction is a result of the introduction of a new form of production management. Although lean construction is still evolving, its generic principles, techniques and tools can already be applied. Waste reduction is one of the basic concepts of lean thinking. In general, project managers tend to conceptualise 'waste' as physical construction waste, but lean thinking believes that there are noticeable wastes hidden in construction processes (such as non-value-adding activities and waiting time). We aim at examining the ability of lean construction principles to reduce construction process waste through a case study (reinforcement process). Computer simulation is utilised to reveal the results of lean principles application prior to
TL;DR: The Proactive Construction Management System (PCMS) as mentioned in this paper uses Chirp-Spread Spectrum-based (CSS) real-time location technology and Unity3D-based data visualisation technology to track construction resources (people, equipment, materials, etc.).