Occupational health and safety continues to be a major component of the built environment. The study investigates the effectiveness of occupational health and safety laws and regulations in the construction industry i...Occupational health and safety continues to be a major component of the built environment. The study investigates the effectiveness of occupational health and safety laws and regulations in the construction industry in Ghana and identifies the influencing factors. Face-to-face interviews were conducted among 49 stakeholders from four relevant groups—regulatory institutions, consultants, contractors, artisans and labourers. The findings of the study suggest that the existing occupational health and safety legal and regulatory framework is barely effective. Stakeholders were aware of the existence of some laws and regulations but mostly could not identify the specific laws and their relevant contents. Consequently, compliance is found to be irregular. The key recurring factors affecting effectiveness of occupational health and safety laws and regulations include: negligence and lack of priority for occupational health and safety, lack of training, lack of funds for occupational health and safety, lack of capacity of regulatory and supervisory institutions, and lack of occupational health and safety education within construction firms. The findings of the study are foundational in strategic interventions aimed at improving compliance with occupational health and safety laws and regulations in the construction industry of Ghana.展开更多
As BIM （building information modeling） became the gold standard of the architecture, construction, and engineering industry, lack of skilled BIM professionals is considered one of the major challenges. It is theref...As BIM （building information modeling） became the gold standard of the architecture, construction, and engineering industry, lack of skilled BIM professionals is considered one of the major challenges. It is therefore of significant importance that CM （construction management） programs train future construction professionals in the capabilities and advantages of BIM technology. This paper presents the findings of a comprehensive review of the implementation of BIM education in CM programs and summarizes the process of BIM adoption, existing educational approaches, and identified challenges in the implementation process. The information presented in this paper serves as a guide to CM programs that are new to and in the progress of implementing BIM education.展开更多
Health and Safety issues in the construction industry are of much concern to stakeholders, particularly because of their impact on the industry. This paper explored the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in en...Health and Safety issues in the construction industry are of much concern to stakeholders, particularly because of their impact on the industry. This paper explored the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in ensuring health and safety at the construction site. A well-structured interview guide was adopted for the qualitative study. Content analysis was adopted for the analysis of the results. The study revealed that the twelve roles identified by the stakeholders are only limited to the few laws and regulations they are aware of. Whereas the Contractors identified provision of welfare facilities, provision of health and safety policy, and health and safety plan as their key roles, the Consultants’ role was mainly limited to provision of competent site agent and provision of site layout. Abiding by the contractors’ instruction was identified by the Construction Workers as their key responsibilities. The local government officials also identified enforcement of CHS laws and regulations and reporting of incidents to the appropriate authorities, whereas the traditional authorities identified the enforcement of CHS laws and regulations including bye laws and enforcement of customs as their key roles. The findings further show that the stakeholders failed to appreciate some key roles and responsibilities enshrined in CHS laws and regulations in Ghana. The findings contribute to knowledge on stakeholders’ responsibilities in ensuring CHS, and provide valuable reference and insight to practitioners on the roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders. It is recommended to train and educate stakeholders on all the relevant laws and regulations on CHS in order to improve health and safety at the construction site. The government should also set up a body such as Construction Authority to educate, coordinate, monitor and audit the activities of stakeholders to improve CHS at construction sites.展开更多
The deep geological repository for radioactive waste in Switzerland will be embedded in an approximately 100 m thick layer of Opalinus Clay.The emplacement drifts for high-level waste(approximately 3.5 m diameter)are ...The deep geological repository for radioactive waste in Switzerland will be embedded in an approximately 100 m thick layer of Opalinus Clay.The emplacement drifts for high-level waste(approximately 3.5 m diameter)are planned to be excavated with a shielded tunnel boring machine(TBM)and supported by a segmental lining.At the repository depth of 900 m in the designated siting region Nordlich Lagern,squeezing conditions may be encountered due to the rock strength and the high hydrostatic pressure(90 bar).This paper presents a detailed assessment of the shield jamming and lining overstressing hazards,considering a stiff lining(resistance principle)and a deformable lining(yielding principle),and proposes conceptual design solutions.The assessment is based on three-dimensional transient hydromechanical simulations,which additionally consider the effects of ground anisotropy and the desaturation that may occur under negative pore pressures generated during the drift excavation.By addressing these design issues,the paper takes the opportunity to analyse some more fundamental aspects related to the influences of anisotropy and desaturation on the development of rock convergences and pressures over time,and their markedly different effects on the two lining systems.The results demonstrate that,regardless of these effects,shield jamming can be avoided with a moderate TBM overcut,however overstressing of a stiff lining may be critical depending on whether the ground desaturates.This uncertainty is eliminated using a deformable system with reasonable dimensions of yielding elements,which can also accommodate thermal strains generated due to the high temperature of the disposal canisters.展开更多
Primarily project procedure manuals are intended to enforce company polices or procedures. These manuals are important pieces for successful project management in the construction industry,because construction project...Primarily project procedure manuals are intended to enforce company polices or procedures. These manuals are important pieces for successful project management in the construction industry,because construction projects are operated virtually. Even though subcontractors are responsible for field works,a general contractor is still responsible for providing quality project management services for project owners. The more subcontractors involved,the harder it is to monitor and control them, due to the different management processes and procedures they use. More than 36 procedure manuals in the building and industrial construction were reviewed to create process maps of various management services. According to surveys, larger contractors have a broader use of procedure manuals than smaller contractors. The full-scale manuals cover project administration, schedule, cost, contract administration, quality, or safety to home office operations. The small-scale manuals cover from site mobilization, to startup and closeout. Small-scale operation manuals are often used by medium to small contractors. This paper presents suggestions for integrated procedure manuals for construction management firms based on studies of multiple construction procedure manuals. A framework for integrating procedure manuals is presented. The proposed framework can be used to keep uniformity across management procedures and phases. In addition, it can be used to implement a project management system. It can be used to forecast or evaluate management activities through replicability of the management responses.展开更多
The past decade has witnessed a rapid development of the international construction market. This research aims to investigate top Chinese contractors' developmental tracks and evaluate their strategic selection of...The past decade has witnessed a rapid development of the international construction market. This research aims to investigate top Chinese contractors' developmental tracks and evaluate their strategic selection of international construction markets over the period from 2001 to 2006,based on the modified Boston Consulting Group Matrix (BCG). Results from 2001 to 2005 indicate that Asia and Africa,which were "question marks" markets for top Chinese contractors (abbreviated as TCCs),have the most potential to become "stars" markets; other question marks markets such as the Middle East and Europe are found not to be of potential; "dogs" markets such as the U.S.,Canada and Latin America should be relinquished progressively unless there is renewed growth opportunity over the next two years. Compared to developmental tracks of top contractors from some advanced countries,TCCs' investment and development strategy in Africa seems to be sustainable and intensive; TCCs' exit strategy for the Middle East appears determined and swift,while their strategy in Asia seems to be lacking in persistence. Furthermore,the data of 2006 indicates that TCCs improve their performance in Asia and Africa,and Africa has become a "stars" market for TCCs.This research sheds important lights and insights into the prevailing process of internationalization of TCCs and provides a strategic direction for their selection of international construction market. What is more,this research is also valuable to other Chinese contractors who are seeking the opportunity to enter the international construction markets.展开更多
On the basis of the 12-year author’s practice of bank investment supervision developed methodology significant construction projects risks have been identified and measured: risks of the highest impact values and ris...On the basis of the 12-year author’s practice of bank investment supervision developed methodology significant construction projects risks have been identified and measured: risks of the highest impact values and risks of the biggest likelihood appearance. The research has been recorded in 400-450 reports of 42 investment projects in advanced manufacturing, commercial, residential, hotels and apartment housing sectors. At least one risk of the highest measured level of significance has been highlighted at each phase of investment process: design, construction and maintenance. A reasonable level of risks significance has been determined which stands for not more than 1/3 of possible significance in “risks monitoring” strategy. EPCM (engineering, project and construction management) approach to investment process and solid, consequent, regular construction projects monitoring executed by professional BSI (banking supervision inspector) makes possible to minimise any faults of inappropriate financing of construction projects.展开更多
This study investigated the practice and perceptions on waste management and the feasibility of establishing a site waste management plan in the Zambian Construction Industry (ZCI). In this research, Lusaka and the Co...This study investigated the practice and perceptions on waste management and the feasibility of establishing a site waste management plan in the Zambian Construction Industry (ZCI). In this research, Lusaka and the Copperbelt provinces were selected as study areas to represent the construction industry in Zambia. This was because the largest volume of construction work in the country is mainly concentrated in these two provinces. The research targeted contractors from Grades 1 to 3 as categorised and registered by the Zambian National Council for Construction (NCC). Consultancy firms and government institutions were also included in the target population as regulators. Data for this study were obtained through questionnaires, interviews and site surveys. The results from this research indicated that disposal was the most common method of waste management in the Zambian Construction industry as indicated by the highest ranking score with a mean index of 0.923. The research concluded that the construction industry in Zambia has poor practice of waste management through waste disposal which is not environmentally friendly. The results further indicated that it is feasible to adopt a Site Waste Management Plan in the Zambian Construction industry based on the respondents’ willingness mean score of 0.94 from all the categories. Finally, the research confirmed that a Site Waste Management Plan can be an effective tool to address waste management challenges in the Zambian Construction Industry based on the literature review and willingness measured from research respondents.展开更多
Accurate project progress measurement is critical for effective project management. Besides guarantying smooth work progress, it affords project managers the chance to identify early warning signs for peremptory remed...Accurate project progress measurement is critical for effective project management. Besides guarantying smooth work progress, it affords project managers the chance to identify early warning signs for peremptory remedial actions to keep the project on schedule and to budget. However, pertinent barriers can suppress the realization of the benefits of an accurate assessment of construction progress. This study aims to identify, examine and prioritize the critical barriers militating against accurate project progress measurement in the Ghanaian construction industry. Sixteen barriers identified from the literature were administered in a questionnaire survey to professionals with tier one construction firms and consultants. Sixty experienced construction professionals practising with tier-one construction firms and consultancy services took part in the survey. The relative importance index technique was used to rank the factors and correlation in responses of the two parties tested by the Mann-Whitney <em>U</em> statistics. The most critical barriers perceived by the professionals were 1) Reliance on Supervisor’s Judgement, 2) Generic and Non-Systematic Approach, 3) Variable Quality of Data and 4) Intricate Measurement Reports. Other highly ranked barriers include 5) Lack of Timely Information, 6) Laborious Data Gathering and 7) Quality Integration Constraint. The findings underpin the need to minimize dependence on subjective opinions and mere experiences of supervisors for assessment of project progress in this age of information technology. Incorporation of a level of automation into traditional progress methods will not only reduce human errors introduced into manually collected data but facilitate visualization of progress reports. Contiguous to a clear specification of the method of progress measurement in the contract document, a system that conveniently integrates cost, time and scope of work into progress measurement must be pursued. Addressing these identified critical barriers will consolidate current construction progress management practices.展开更多
Small hydropower plants for electricity generation were first built in Spain in the early 1880s. The Spanish peninsula is characterized by its rugged landscape, fast flowing rivers and steep gradients. A clear example...Small hydropower plants for electricity generation were first built in Spain in the early 1880s. The Spanish peninsula is characterized by its rugged landscape, fast flowing rivers and steep gradients. A clear example of this is the remarkable area of the upper Ebro river basin where powerful water flows are found that are ideal for electricity generation. Between 1900 and 1930, the river Ebro was a major source of energy for industrial areas such as Alava, Vizcaya, Vitoria, Miranda de Ebro, Burgos and La Rioja. Between 1951-1965, the use of these small hydropower plants declined due to the construction of alternatives by industrialists in the Basque Country, which in most cases led to their deterioration. They were rescued in the late twentieth century, thanks to private sector initiatives which funded their rehabilitation. This study examines two small-scale hydraulic power plants in the province of Burgos at Medina de Pomar and at Quintanilla Escalada; both buildings were used for generating electricity and had living quarters for the workers and now represent historic architectonic and industrial heritage. The study documents their architectonic features and the restoration processes that have permitted one of them to remain in operation up until the present day.展开更多
Time and cost are two of the most important factors to consider in each construction project. In order to maximize performance, both the client and the contractor will work to optimize both the duration of the project...Time and cost are two of the most important factors to consider in each construction project. In order to maximize performance, both the client and the contractor will work to optimize both the duration of the project and its cost. We show a model of linear entire mixed programming to solve the considered problem. The aim is to minimize the project total time, by means of the assignment of equipments of work to the different production lines of the activities to realizing. The fundamental beginning is to support the same production （rate of production in meters/day of the activity in view of the equipment of work） for tbe different equipments to achieve the maximum efficiency in each period of time. With the limited availability of resources, the work must be continuous and the period of time between operations and final must be kept. However, this paper also presents the bibliographical study on methodologies of the optimization of construction processes in response to the two objectives： time and cost. This will consider the use of recta-heuristic techniques, such as population based algorithms.展开更多
The primary objective of this study was to assess the use of the maturity method to determine the joint sawing window and the traffic opening time on whitetopping construction in Korea. To determine joint sawing time,...The primary objective of this study was to assess the use of the maturity method to determine the joint sawing window and the traffic opening time on whitetopping construction in Korea. To determine joint sawing time, it was necessary to find the minimum strength not to cause raveling and to identify the time to the occurrence of drying shrinkage. This study found that the minimum compressive strength for joint sawing was 4.41MPa （45kg/cm2） and drying shrinkage occurred just after the concrete temperature reached at the peak. To develop the relationship between compressive strength and maturity values, thermachron i-buttons were inserted into the top and mid-depth of the fresh concrete in the test slabs. The results of the laboratory tests indicated that the Arrhenius equation better fitted the relationship between the compressive strength and maturity values than did the Nurse-Saul equation. However, the Nurse-Saul function estimated in-place strength quite well in this study. Therefore, the Nurse-Saul equation was used to determine the joint sawing window and the traffic opening time for whitetopping construction.展开更多
Prices increase of building materials is a common trend in both developed and developing countries. The prices increase of building materials results in high cost of housing.The aim of this study is to identify the ma...Prices increase of building materials is a common trend in both developed and developing countries. The prices increase of building materials results in high cost of housing.The aim of this study is to identify the major determinants of prices increase of building materials on Ghanaian construction market, and also to assess the relationship between the independent variables of the prices increase. A five-point Likert scale was used for the study;from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). The variables in the questionnaire were ranked based on the response of the participants of the study using Mean Response Analysis (MRA) statistics. Spearman correlation matrix was used to determine the relationship between the variables of prices increase of building materials. Crude oil prices, energy cost, local taxes and charges, cost of fuel and power supply, high running cost, high prices of raw materials, cost of transportation and the high cost of labour were found to be the major determinants of prices increase of building materials on Ghanaian construction market. The study further found multicollinearity relationship among variables of prices increase of building materials, of which the highest correlation coefficient was found between fast-growing demand due to high global economic growth and over-dependence on imported building materials. The study recommends that further research should be carried out to determine the control measures of increase prices of building materials in Ghana.展开更多
After decades of civil war,Yemen is in a desperate situation,and the construction industry has been suffering from low productivity and poor performance.In order to improve the productivity for the Yemeni construction...After decades of civil war,Yemen is in a desperate situation,and the construction industry has been suffering from low productivity and poor performance.In order to improve the productivity for the Yemeni construction industry,Construction enterprises must adopt the best and new technologies,new management concepts and philosophies such as Total Quality Management(TQM)and concurrent engineering(CE)owing to achieve improvements in the process of product development.To ensure the successful implementation of CE in the Yemeni construction industry,it is necessary to assess the readiness of those companies to implement CE.In this paper,the BEACON model is used to assess the readiness of the Yemeni companies to implement the concept of CE,that assist in overcoming the construction industry's poor productivity and performance.A study assessing CE implementation readiness will help to promote successful CE implementation in the construction industry and enhance the efficiency of construction companies.The results show that most of the construction companies in the Yemen are not ready to implement CE.The main reason is that the enterprises rely heavily on traditional management methods,and need to improve the organization and management technology.The research results can provide theoretical support for construction companies,especially Yemen companies,to establish basis in implementing an appropriate CE approach for improving performance,and also help international construction companies entering the Yemen construction market to cooperate and implement CE.展开更多
This review provides a comprehensive overview of natural rubber(NR)composites,focusing on their properties,compounding aspects,and renewable practices involving natural fibre reinforcement.The properties of NR are inf...This review provides a comprehensive overview of natural rubber(NR)composites,focusing on their properties,compounding aspects,and renewable practices involving natural fibre reinforcement.The properties of NR are influenced by the compounding process,which incorporates ingredients such as elastomers,vulcanizing agents,accelerators,activators,and fillers like carbon black and silica.While effective in enhancing properties,these fillers lack biodegradability,prompting the exploration of sustainable alternatives.The potential of natural fibres as renewable reinforcements in NR composites is thoroughly covered in this review,highlighting both their advan-tages,such as improved sustainability,and the challenges they present,such as compatibility with the rubber matrix.Surface treatment methods,including alkali and silane treatments,are also discussed as solutions to improve fibre-matrix adhesion and mitigate these challenges.Additionally,the review highlights the potential of oil palm empty fruit bunch(EFB)fibres as a natural fibre reinforcement.The abundance of EFB fibres and their alignment with sustainable practices make them promising substitutes for conventional fillers,contributing to valuable knowledge and supporting the broader move towards renewable reinforcement to improve sustain-ability without compromising the key properties of rubber composites.展开更多
Due to high construction material cost in Ethiopia,it is difficult to afford a shelter for most people.The hydra form block(HFB)has been identified as low-cost building material with its potential and possibility to r...Due to high construction material cost in Ethiopia,it is difficult to afford a shelter for most people.The hydra form block(HFB)has been identified as low-cost building material with its potential and possibility to reverse the housing problem.Laboratory tests were conducted on Mettu,Nopa,Gore,and Hurumu areas soil.Using hydra form machine with average mold size of 29*14*10 cm,hydra form blocks were cast with the three percentages increment of cement.Compressive strength and water absorption tests were conducted at 28 day.The investigation has revealed that all the soil sample except Gore soil have significant characteristics that make it suitable for stabilization with recommended soil properties.From the experimental study,all the blocks except blocks produced with Gore soil have 28th day compressive strength values well above most of the recommended minimum values.Water absorption was less than the maximum limit of 15%.But,for control block and for stabilized with 3%cement,water absorption result is out of the recommended values(0-15)%.The cost comparison of hydra form blocks with hollow concrete block and fired clay brick shows that the hydra form block is cheapest walling material in terms of production cost and a typical hydra form block production center can create jobs for more than 50 people.展开更多
RFID technologies have advanced greatly and deployed successfully in many industry sectors in recent years.Construction industry could benefit from the applications of RFID technologies but as yet has not found suffic...RFID technologies have advanced greatly and deployed successfully in many industry sectors in recent years.Construction industry could benefit from the applications of RFID technologies but as yet has not found sufficient application areas.This project gives a comprehensive awareness of the RFID technologies,which focus on the investigation on the UK construction industry.The current status of RFID in construction and its potentials are specified in the analysis of questionnaires and case studies.Finally,basing on the investigations,some further tasks in developing RFID technologies are carried,including some recommendations,for the construction industry.展开更多
The construction industry, known for its low productivity, is increasingly utilising software and mobile apps to enhance efficiency. However, more comprehensive research is needed to understand the effectiveness of th...The construction industry, known for its low productivity, is increasingly utilising software and mobile apps to enhance efficiency. However, more comprehensive research is needed to understand the effectiveness of these technology applications. The PRISMA principles utilised a scoping review methodology to ascertain pertinent studies and extract significant findings. From 2013 onwards, articles containing data on mobile applications or software designed to enhance productivity in the construction sector were obtained from multiple databases, including Emerald Insight, Science Direct, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar. After evaluating 2604 articles, 30 were determined to be pertinent to the study and were subsequently analysed for the review. The review identified five key themes: effectiveness, benefits, successful implementation examples, obstacles and limitations, and a comprehensive list of software and mobile apps. In addition, 71 software and mobile apps have shown potentially how these technologies can improve communication, collaboration, project management, real-time collaboration, document management, and on-the-go project information and estimating processes in the construction industry, increasing efficiency and productivity. The findings highlight the potential of these technologies such as Automation, Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), Building Information Modeling (BIM), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Internet of Things (IoT) to improve efficiency and communication in the construction industry. Despite challenges such as cost, lack of awareness, resistance to change, compatibility concerns, human resources, technological and security concerns and licensing issues, the study identifies specific mobile applications and software with the potential to enhance efficiency significantly, improve productivity and streamline workflows. The broader societal impacts of construction software and mobile app development include increased efficiency, job creation, and sustainability.展开更多
The integration of Human-Robot Collaboration(HRC)into Virtual Reality(VR)technology is transforming industries by enhancing workforce skills,improving safety,and optimizing operational processes and efficiency through...The integration of Human-Robot Collaboration(HRC)into Virtual Reality(VR)technology is transforming industries by enhancing workforce skills,improving safety,and optimizing operational processes and efficiency through realistic simulations of industry-specific scenarios.Despite the growing adoption of VR integrated with HRC,comprehensive reviews of current research in HRC-VR within the construction and manufacturing fields are lacking.This review examines the latest advances in designing and implementing HRC using VR technology in these industries.The aim is to address the application domains of HRC-VR,types of robots used,VR setups,and software solutions used.To achieve this,a systematic literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses methodology was conducted on the Web of Science and Google Scholar databases,analyzing 383 articles and selecting 53 papers that met the established selection criteria.The findings emphasize a significant focus on enhancing human-robot interaction with a trend toward using immersive VR experiences and interactive 3D content creation tools.However,the integration of HRC with VR,especially in the dynamic construction environment,presents unique challenges and opportunities for future research,including developing more realistic simulations and adaptable robot systems.This paper offers insights for researchers,practitioners,educators,industry professionals,and policymakers interested in leveraging the integration of HRC with VR in construction and manufacturing industries.展开更多
The current work aims to numerically investigate the impact of using(50%ZnO and 50%Al_(2)O_(3))hybrid nanofluid(HNf)on the performance of convective heat transfer inside a horizontal wavy micro-channel.This issue repr...The current work aims to numerically investigate the impact of using(50%ZnO and 50%Al_(2)O_(3))hybrid nanofluid(HNf)on the performance of convective heat transfer inside a horizontal wavy micro-channel.This issue represents a novel approach that has not been extensively covered in previous research and provides more valuable insights into the performance of HNfs in complex flow geometries.The conjugate heat transfer approach is used to demonstrate the influence of adding hybrid nanoparticles(50%Al_(2)O_(3) and 50%ZnO)to pure water on the rate of heat transfer.The governing equations are numerically solved by using ANSYS FLUENT(2021 R2).The behaviors of convective heat transfer coefficient(HTC),Nusselt number(Nu)and pressure drop are presented under various volume concentrations of(1%,2%and 3%)and Reynolds numbers(Re=600,1200 and 1800).The numerical results are validated against the experimental one,where the validation test shows a good agreement between them.The findings display that the highest HTC enhancement is reached at 59.5%when using a volume concentration of 3%and Re=1800.TheNusselt number is increased with the rise in volume concentration of nanoparticles,where the value of the Nusselt number is improved by 42.25%at 3%volume concentration.The reduction in pressure is raised with an increase in volume concentration and Re.The results also show that the combination of dispersion characteristics,Brownian movement and nanoparticles leads to an improvement in the rate of heat transfer.It is concluded that Nu and the behavior of heat transfer are considerably enhanced when using a hybrid nanofluid inside a wavy micro-channel.展开更多
文摘Occupational health and safety continues to be a major component of the built environment. The study investigates the effectiveness of occupational health and safety laws and regulations in the construction industry in Ghana and identifies the influencing factors. Face-to-face interviews were conducted among 49 stakeholders from four relevant groups—regulatory institutions, consultants, contractors, artisans and labourers. The findings of the study suggest that the existing occupational health and safety legal and regulatory framework is barely effective. Stakeholders were aware of the existence of some laws and regulations but mostly could not identify the specific laws and their relevant contents. Consequently, compliance is found to be irregular. The key recurring factors affecting effectiveness of occupational health and safety laws and regulations include: negligence and lack of priority for occupational health and safety, lack of training, lack of funds for occupational health and safety, lack of capacity of regulatory and supervisory institutions, and lack of occupational health and safety education within construction firms. The findings of the study are foundational in strategic interventions aimed at improving compliance with occupational health and safety laws and regulations in the construction industry of Ghana.
文摘As BIM （building information modeling） became the gold standard of the architecture, construction, and engineering industry, lack of skilled BIM professionals is considered one of the major challenges. It is therefore of significant importance that CM （construction management） programs train future construction professionals in the capabilities and advantages of BIM technology. This paper presents the findings of a comprehensive review of the implementation of BIM education in CM programs and summarizes the process of BIM adoption, existing educational approaches, and identified challenges in the implementation process. The information presented in this paper serves as a guide to CM programs that are new to and in the progress of implementing BIM education.
文摘Health and Safety issues in the construction industry are of much concern to stakeholders, particularly because of their impact on the industry. This paper explored the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in ensuring health and safety at the construction site. A well-structured interview guide was adopted for the qualitative study. Content analysis was adopted for the analysis of the results. The study revealed that the twelve roles identified by the stakeholders are only limited to the few laws and regulations they are aware of. Whereas the Contractors identified provision of welfare facilities, provision of health and safety policy, and health and safety plan as their key roles, the Consultants’ role was mainly limited to provision of competent site agent and provision of site layout. Abiding by the contractors’ instruction was identified by the Construction Workers as their key responsibilities. The local government officials also identified enforcement of CHS laws and regulations and reporting of incidents to the appropriate authorities, whereas the traditional authorities identified the enforcement of CHS laws and regulations including bye laws and enforcement of customs as their key roles. The findings further show that the stakeholders failed to appreciate some key roles and responsibilities enshrined in CHS laws and regulations in Ghana. The findings contribute to knowledge on stakeholders’ responsibilities in ensuring CHS, and provide valuable reference and insight to practitioners on the roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders. It is recommended to train and educate stakeholders on all the relevant laws and regulations on CHS in order to improve health and safety at the construction site. The government should also set up a body such as Construction Authority to educate, coordinate, monitor and audit the activities of stakeholders to improve CHS at construction sites.
文摘The deep geological repository for radioactive waste in Switzerland will be embedded in an approximately 100 m thick layer of Opalinus Clay.The emplacement drifts for high-level waste(approximately 3.5 m diameter)are planned to be excavated with a shielded tunnel boring machine(TBM)and supported by a segmental lining.At the repository depth of 900 m in the designated siting region Nordlich Lagern,squeezing conditions may be encountered due to the rock strength and the high hydrostatic pressure(90 bar).This paper presents a detailed assessment of the shield jamming and lining overstressing hazards,considering a stiff lining(resistance principle)and a deformable lining(yielding principle),and proposes conceptual design solutions.The assessment is based on three-dimensional transient hydromechanical simulations,which additionally consider the effects of ground anisotropy and the desaturation that may occur under negative pore pressures generated during the drift excavation.By addressing these design issues,the paper takes the opportunity to analyse some more fundamental aspects related to the influences of anisotropy and desaturation on the development of rock convergences and pressures over time,and their markedly different effects on the two lining systems.The results demonstrate that,regardless of these effects,shield jamming can be avoided with a moderate TBM overcut,however overstressing of a stiff lining may be critical depending on whether the ground desaturates.This uncertainty is eliminated using a deformable system with reasonable dimensions of yielding elements,which can also accommodate thermal strains generated due to the high temperature of the disposal canisters.
文摘Primarily project procedure manuals are intended to enforce company polices or procedures. These manuals are important pieces for successful project management in the construction industry,because construction projects are operated virtually. Even though subcontractors are responsible for field works,a general contractor is still responsible for providing quality project management services for project owners. The more subcontractors involved,the harder it is to monitor and control them, due to the different management processes and procedures they use. More than 36 procedure manuals in the building and industrial construction were reviewed to create process maps of various management services. According to surveys, larger contractors have a broader use of procedure manuals than smaller contractors. The full-scale manuals cover project administration, schedule, cost, contract administration, quality, or safety to home office operations. The small-scale manuals cover from site mobilization, to startup and closeout. Small-scale operation manuals are often used by medium to small contractors. This paper presents suggestions for integrated procedure manuals for construction management firms based on studies of multiple construction procedure manuals. A framework for integrating procedure manuals is presented. The proposed framework can be used to keep uniformity across management procedures and phases. In addition, it can be used to implement a project management system. It can be used to forecast or evaluate management activities through replicability of the management responses.
文摘The past decade has witnessed a rapid development of the international construction market. This research aims to investigate top Chinese contractors' developmental tracks and evaluate their strategic selection of international construction markets over the period from 2001 to 2006,based on the modified Boston Consulting Group Matrix (BCG). Results from 2001 to 2005 indicate that Asia and Africa,which were "question marks" markets for top Chinese contractors (abbreviated as TCCs),have the most potential to become "stars" markets; other question marks markets such as the Middle East and Europe are found not to be of potential; "dogs" markets such as the U.S.,Canada and Latin America should be relinquished progressively unless there is renewed growth opportunity over the next two years. Compared to developmental tracks of top contractors from some advanced countries,TCCs' investment and development strategy in Africa seems to be sustainable and intensive; TCCs' exit strategy for the Middle East appears determined and swift,while their strategy in Asia seems to be lacking in persistence. Furthermore,the data of 2006 indicates that TCCs improve their performance in Asia and Africa,and Africa has become a "stars" market for TCCs.This research sheds important lights and insights into the prevailing process of internationalization of TCCs and provides a strategic direction for their selection of international construction market. What is more,this research is also valuable to other Chinese contractors who are seeking the opportunity to enter the international construction markets.
文摘On the basis of the 12-year author’s practice of bank investment supervision developed methodology significant construction projects risks have been identified and measured: risks of the highest impact values and risks of the biggest likelihood appearance. The research has been recorded in 400-450 reports of 42 investment projects in advanced manufacturing, commercial, residential, hotels and apartment housing sectors. At least one risk of the highest measured level of significance has been highlighted at each phase of investment process: design, construction and maintenance. A reasonable level of risks significance has been determined which stands for not more than 1/3 of possible significance in “risks monitoring” strategy. EPCM (engineering, project and construction management) approach to investment process and solid, consequent, regular construction projects monitoring executed by professional BSI (banking supervision inspector) makes possible to minimise any faults of inappropriate financing of construction projects.
文摘This study investigated the practice and perceptions on waste management and the feasibility of establishing a site waste management plan in the Zambian Construction Industry (ZCI). In this research, Lusaka and the Copperbelt provinces were selected as study areas to represent the construction industry in Zambia. This was because the largest volume of construction work in the country is mainly concentrated in these two provinces. The research targeted contractors from Grades 1 to 3 as categorised and registered by the Zambian National Council for Construction (NCC). Consultancy firms and government institutions were also included in the target population as regulators. Data for this study were obtained through questionnaires, interviews and site surveys. The results from this research indicated that disposal was the most common method of waste management in the Zambian Construction industry as indicated by the highest ranking score with a mean index of 0.923. The research concluded that the construction industry in Zambia has poor practice of waste management through waste disposal which is not environmentally friendly. The results further indicated that it is feasible to adopt a Site Waste Management Plan in the Zambian Construction industry based on the respondents’ willingness mean score of 0.94 from all the categories. Finally, the research confirmed that a Site Waste Management Plan can be an effective tool to address waste management challenges in the Zambian Construction Industry based on the literature review and willingness measured from research respondents.
文摘Accurate project progress measurement is critical for effective project management. Besides guarantying smooth work progress, it affords project managers the chance to identify early warning signs for peremptory remedial actions to keep the project on schedule and to budget. However, pertinent barriers can suppress the realization of the benefits of an accurate assessment of construction progress. This study aims to identify, examine and prioritize the critical barriers militating against accurate project progress measurement in the Ghanaian construction industry. Sixteen barriers identified from the literature were administered in a questionnaire survey to professionals with tier one construction firms and consultants. Sixty experienced construction professionals practising with tier-one construction firms and consultancy services took part in the survey. The relative importance index technique was used to rank the factors and correlation in responses of the two parties tested by the Mann-Whitney <em>U</em> statistics. The most critical barriers perceived by the professionals were 1) Reliance on Supervisor’s Judgement, 2) Generic and Non-Systematic Approach, 3) Variable Quality of Data and 4) Intricate Measurement Reports. Other highly ranked barriers include 5) Lack of Timely Information, 6) Laborious Data Gathering and 7) Quality Integration Constraint. The findings underpin the need to minimize dependence on subjective opinions and mere experiences of supervisors for assessment of project progress in this age of information technology. Incorporation of a level of automation into traditional progress methods will not only reduce human errors introduced into manually collected data but facilitate visualization of progress reports. Contiguous to a clear specification of the method of progress measurement in the contract document, a system that conveniently integrates cost, time and scope of work into progress measurement must be pursued. Addressing these identified critical barriers will consolidate current construction progress management practices.
文摘Small hydropower plants for electricity generation were first built in Spain in the early 1880s. The Spanish peninsula is characterized by its rugged landscape, fast flowing rivers and steep gradients. A clear example of this is the remarkable area of the upper Ebro river basin where powerful water flows are found that are ideal for electricity generation. Between 1900 and 1930, the river Ebro was a major source of energy for industrial areas such as Alava, Vizcaya, Vitoria, Miranda de Ebro, Burgos and La Rioja. Between 1951-1965, the use of these small hydropower plants declined due to the construction of alternatives by industrialists in the Basque Country, which in most cases led to their deterioration. They were rescued in the late twentieth century, thanks to private sector initiatives which funded their rehabilitation. This study examines two small-scale hydraulic power plants in the province of Burgos at Medina de Pomar and at Quintanilla Escalada; both buildings were used for generating electricity and had living quarters for the workers and now represent historic architectonic and industrial heritage. The study documents their architectonic features and the restoration processes that have permitted one of them to remain in operation up until the present day.
文摘Time and cost are two of the most important factors to consider in each construction project. In order to maximize performance, both the client and the contractor will work to optimize both the duration of the project and its cost. We show a model of linear entire mixed programming to solve the considered problem. The aim is to minimize the project total time, by means of the assignment of equipments of work to the different production lines of the activities to realizing. The fundamental beginning is to support the same production （rate of production in meters/day of the activity in view of the equipment of work） for tbe different equipments to achieve the maximum efficiency in each period of time. With the limited availability of resources, the work must be continuous and the period of time between operations and final must be kept. However, this paper also presents the bibliographical study on methodologies of the optimization of construction processes in response to the two objectives： time and cost. This will consider the use of recta-heuristic techniques, such as population based algorithms.
文摘The primary objective of this study was to assess the use of the maturity method to determine the joint sawing window and the traffic opening time on whitetopping construction in Korea. To determine joint sawing time, it was necessary to find the minimum strength not to cause raveling and to identify the time to the occurrence of drying shrinkage. This study found that the minimum compressive strength for joint sawing was 4.41MPa （45kg/cm2） and drying shrinkage occurred just after the concrete temperature reached at the peak. To develop the relationship between compressive strength and maturity values, thermachron i-buttons were inserted into the top and mid-depth of the fresh concrete in the test slabs. The results of the laboratory tests indicated that the Arrhenius equation better fitted the relationship between the compressive strength and maturity values than did the Nurse-Saul equation. However, the Nurse-Saul function estimated in-place strength quite well in this study. Therefore, the Nurse-Saul equation was used to determine the joint sawing window and the traffic opening time for whitetopping construction.
文摘Prices increase of building materials is a common trend in both developed and developing countries. The prices increase of building materials results in high cost of housing.The aim of this study is to identify the major determinants of prices increase of building materials on Ghanaian construction market, and also to assess the relationship between the independent variables of the prices increase. A five-point Likert scale was used for the study;from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). The variables in the questionnaire were ranked based on the response of the participants of the study using Mean Response Analysis (MRA) statistics. Spearman correlation matrix was used to determine the relationship between the variables of prices increase of building materials. Crude oil prices, energy cost, local taxes and charges, cost of fuel and power supply, high running cost, high prices of raw materials, cost of transportation and the high cost of labour were found to be the major determinants of prices increase of building materials on Ghanaian construction market. The study further found multicollinearity relationship among variables of prices increase of building materials, of which the highest correlation coefficient was found between fast-growing demand due to high global economic growth and over-dependence on imported building materials. The study recommends that further research should be carried out to determine the control measures of increase prices of building materials in Ghana.
基金This paper was part of a research work sponsored by the National Thirteenth-Five-year Research Program of China(Project No.:2018YFC0705901)The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewersfor their valuable comments and suggestions to improvethe quality of the paper. They also gratefully acknowledgethe Public Works Office in Yemen for facilitating duringthe data collection stage.
文摘After decades of civil war,Yemen is in a desperate situation,and the construction industry has been suffering from low productivity and poor performance.In order to improve the productivity for the Yemeni construction industry,Construction enterprises must adopt the best and new technologies,new management concepts and philosophies such as Total Quality Management(TQM)and concurrent engineering(CE)owing to achieve improvements in the process of product development.To ensure the successful implementation of CE in the Yemeni construction industry,it is necessary to assess the readiness of those companies to implement CE.In this paper,the BEACON model is used to assess the readiness of the Yemeni companies to implement the concept of CE,that assist in overcoming the construction industry's poor productivity and performance.A study assessing CE implementation readiness will help to promote successful CE implementation in the construction industry and enhance the efficiency of construction companies.The results show that most of the construction companies in the Yemen are not ready to implement CE.The main reason is that the enterprises rely heavily on traditional management methods,and need to improve the organization and management technology.The research results can provide theoretical support for construction companies,especially Yemen companies,to establish basis in implementing an appropriate CE approach for improving performance,and also help international construction companies entering the Yemen construction market to cooperate and implement CE.
基金funded under the Collaborative Research Initiative Grant Scheme(C-RIGS),grant number C-RIGS24-016-0022 from IIUM.
文摘This review provides a comprehensive overview of natural rubber(NR)composites,focusing on their properties,compounding aspects,and renewable practices involving natural fibre reinforcement.The properties of NR are influenced by the compounding process,which incorporates ingredients such as elastomers,vulcanizing agents,accelerators,activators,and fillers like carbon black and silica.While effective in enhancing properties,these fillers lack biodegradability,prompting the exploration of sustainable alternatives.The potential of natural fibres as renewable reinforcements in NR composites is thoroughly covered in this review,highlighting both their advan-tages,such as improved sustainability,and the challenges they present,such as compatibility with the rubber matrix.Surface treatment methods,including alkali and silane treatments,are also discussed as solutions to improve fibre-matrix adhesion and mitigate these challenges.Additionally,the review highlights the potential of oil palm empty fruit bunch(EFB)fibres as a natural fibre reinforcement.The abundance of EFB fibres and their alignment with sustainable practices make them promising substitutes for conventional fillers,contributing to valuable knowledge and supporting the broader move towards renewable reinforcement to improve sustain-ability without compromising the key properties of rubber composites.
文摘Due to high construction material cost in Ethiopia,it is difficult to afford a shelter for most people.The hydra form block(HFB)has been identified as low-cost building material with its potential and possibility to reverse the housing problem.Laboratory tests were conducted on Mettu,Nopa,Gore,and Hurumu areas soil.Using hydra form machine with average mold size of 29*14*10 cm,hydra form blocks were cast with the three percentages increment of cement.Compressive strength and water absorption tests were conducted at 28 day.The investigation has revealed that all the soil sample except Gore soil have significant characteristics that make it suitable for stabilization with recommended soil properties.From the experimental study,all the blocks except blocks produced with Gore soil have 28th day compressive strength values well above most of the recommended minimum values.Water absorption was less than the maximum limit of 15%.But,for control block and for stabilized with 3%cement,water absorption result is out of the recommended values(0-15)%.The cost comparison of hydra form blocks with hollow concrete block and fired clay brick shows that the hydra form block is cheapest walling material in terms of production cost and a typical hydra form block production center can create jobs for more than 50 people.
文摘RFID technologies have advanced greatly and deployed successfully in many industry sectors in recent years.Construction industry could benefit from the applications of RFID technologies but as yet has not found sufficient application areas.This project gives a comprehensive awareness of the RFID technologies,which focus on the investigation on the UK construction industry.The current status of RFID in construction and its potentials are specified in the analysis of questionnaires and case studies.Finally,basing on the investigations,some further tasks in developing RFID technologies are carried,including some recommendations,for the construction industry.
文摘The construction industry, known for its low productivity, is increasingly utilising software and mobile apps to enhance efficiency. However, more comprehensive research is needed to understand the effectiveness of these technology applications. The PRISMA principles utilised a scoping review methodology to ascertain pertinent studies and extract significant findings. From 2013 onwards, articles containing data on mobile applications or software designed to enhance productivity in the construction sector were obtained from multiple databases, including Emerald Insight, Science Direct, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar. After evaluating 2604 articles, 30 were determined to be pertinent to the study and were subsequently analysed for the review. The review identified five key themes: effectiveness, benefits, successful implementation examples, obstacles and limitations, and a comprehensive list of software and mobile apps. In addition, 71 software and mobile apps have shown potentially how these technologies can improve communication, collaboration, project management, real-time collaboration, document management, and on-the-go project information and estimating processes in the construction industry, increasing efficiency and productivity. The findings highlight the potential of these technologies such as Automation, Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), Building Information Modeling (BIM), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Internet of Things (IoT) to improve efficiency and communication in the construction industry. Despite challenges such as cost, lack of awareness, resistance to change, compatibility concerns, human resources, technological and security concerns and licensing issues, the study identifies specific mobile applications and software with the potential to enhance efficiency significantly, improve productivity and streamline workflows. The broader societal impacts of construction software and mobile app development include increased efficiency, job creation, and sustainability.
基金Supported by National Science Foundation under Grant No.2222881.
文摘The integration of Human-Robot Collaboration(HRC)into Virtual Reality(VR)technology is transforming industries by enhancing workforce skills,improving safety,and optimizing operational processes and efficiency through realistic simulations of industry-specific scenarios.Despite the growing adoption of VR integrated with HRC,comprehensive reviews of current research in HRC-VR within the construction and manufacturing fields are lacking.This review examines the latest advances in designing and implementing HRC using VR technology in these industries.The aim is to address the application domains of HRC-VR,types of robots used,VR setups,and software solutions used.To achieve this,a systematic literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses methodology was conducted on the Web of Science and Google Scholar databases,analyzing 383 articles and selecting 53 papers that met the established selection criteria.The findings emphasize a significant focus on enhancing human-robot interaction with a trend toward using immersive VR experiences and interactive 3D content creation tools.However,the integration of HRC with VR,especially in the dynamic construction environment,presents unique challenges and opportunities for future research,including developing more realistic simulations and adaptable robot systems.This paper offers insights for researchers,practitioners,educators,industry professionals,and policymakers interested in leveraging the integration of HRC with VR in construction and manufacturing industries.
文摘The current work aims to numerically investigate the impact of using(50%ZnO and 50%Al_(2)O_(3))hybrid nanofluid(HNf)on the performance of convective heat transfer inside a horizontal wavy micro-channel.This issue represents a novel approach that has not been extensively covered in previous research and provides more valuable insights into the performance of HNfs in complex flow geometries.The conjugate heat transfer approach is used to demonstrate the influence of adding hybrid nanoparticles(50%Al_(2)O_(3) and 50%ZnO)to pure water on the rate of heat transfer.The governing equations are numerically solved by using ANSYS FLUENT(2021 R2).The behaviors of convective heat transfer coefficient(HTC),Nusselt number(Nu)and pressure drop are presented under various volume concentrations of(1%,2%and 3%)and Reynolds numbers(Re=600,1200 and 1800).The numerical results are validated against the experimental one,where the validation test shows a good agreement between them.The findings display that the highest HTC enhancement is reached at 59.5%when using a volume concentration of 3%and Re=1800.TheNusselt number is increased with the rise in volume concentration of nanoparticles,where the value of the Nusselt number is improved by 42.25%at 3%volume concentration.The reduction in pressure is raised with an increase in volume concentration and Re.The results also show that the combination of dispersion characteristics,Brownian movement and nanoparticles leads to an improvement in the rate of heat transfer.It is concluded that Nu and the behavior of heat transfer are considerably enhanced when using a hybrid nanofluid inside a wavy micro-channel.
