- Massey University, School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Graduate Studentadd
Construction industry has a remarkable contribution to the development of the national economy by achieving some of the basic objectives of development including output and income generation and redistribution. Integration of Cambodia to... more
Construction industry has a remarkable contribution to the development of the national economy by achieving some of the basic objectives of development including output and income generation and redistribution. Integration of Cambodia to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community (AEC) at the end of 2015 is expected to bring challenges, several opportunities, as well as problems into overall economy. Considering the construction industry to be one of the main drivers of Cambodian economy, the influence of the integration is going to be highly pronounced. Therefore, this research seeks: to deconstruct construction sector figures in the economy of Cambodia and examine its role in the economic development through the in-depth literature review; to identify the constraints to the development of the sector; and thus to make future projections for the construction sector with regard to the AEC integration of Cambodia. Through the use of the Strength-Weakness-Opportunity-Threat (SWOT) analysis recommendations to minimize the challenges that are going to be faced by the construction players in Cambodia are provided. In the era of AEC integration, it is believed that the recommendations provided in this study will guide the host government agencies, investors, contractors and establish a research agenda for the construction industry of Cambodia.
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Purpose-Construction projects in Malaysia are often delayed and over budget due to heavy reliance on labor. Linear regression (LR) models have been used in most labor cost (LC) studies, which are less accurate than machine learning (ML)... more
Purpose-Construction projects in Malaysia are often delayed and over budget due to heavy reliance on labor. Linear regression (LR) models have been used in most labor cost (LC) studies, which are less accurate than machine learning (ML) tools. Construction management applications have increasingly used ML tools in recent years and have greatly impacted forecasting. The research aims to identify the most influential LC factors using statistical approaches, collect data and forecast LC models for improved forecasts of LC. Design/methodology/approach-A thorough literature review was completed to identify LC factors. Experienced project managers were administered to rank the factors based on importance and relevance. Then, data were collected for the six highest ranked factors, and five ML models were created. Finally, five categorical indices were used to analyze and measure the effectiveness of models in determining the performance category. Findings-Worker age, construction skills, worker origin, worker training/education, type of work and worker experience were identified as the most influencing factors on LC. SVM provided the best in comparison to other models. Originality/value-The findings support data-driven regulatory and practice improvements aimed at improving labor issues in Malaysia, with the possibility for replication in other countries facing comparable problems.
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PurposeVietnam's construction technology (CT) adoption is low when compared to other countries with similar gross domestic product (GDP) per capita resulting in lesser productivity. The research objectives are: (1) To undertake an... more
PurposeVietnam's construction technology (CT) adoption is low when compared to other countries with similar gross domestic product (GDP) per capita resulting in lesser productivity. The research objectives are: (1) To undertake an extensive literature review on CT adoption challenges; (2) To investigate CT adoption challenges unique to Vietnam's construction sector; and (3) To propose data-driven solutions for a greater rate of CT adoption.Design/methodology/approachA two-stage descriptive survey method was adopted in alignment with the research aim and objectives. Based on the literature review of 215 articles, a questionnaire was designed and administered to experienced construction managers (CM) to identify whether CT has been adopted, barriers to adoption, drivers, and the most popular CT tools. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the characteristics of interest in the empirical dataset and SPSS-based inferential statistics to estimate the means, frequency coun...
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Masonry material characteristics, such as compressive strength, and the relationship between brick, mortar, and masonry compressive strengths are required for the analysis and assessment of masonry structures. This paper aimed to... more
Masonry material characteristics, such as compressive strength, and the relationship between brick, mortar, and masonry compressive strengths are required for the analysis and assessment of masonry structures. This paper aimed to investigate the compressive strength relationship of Cambodian masonry. A total number of 42 prisms were constructed in the laboratory using six different brick/mortar combinations. Two brick types, solid and hollow, and three—1:3, 1:4, and 1:6—cement–sand mortar combinations were used. The effects of brick and mortar strengths were analysed. Using regression analysis, a simple empirical relationship was derived for masonry compressive strength as a function of brick and mortar strength in the Cambodian context.
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Tez (Yüksek Lisans) -- İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, 2010Thesis (M.Sc.) -- İstanbul Technical University, Institute of Science and Technology, 2010Dünya’daki nüfus artışı ve sanayinin gelişmesi ile birlikte enerji... more
Tez (Yüksek Lisans) -- İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, 2010Thesis (M.Sc.) -- İstanbul Technical University, Institute of Science and Technology, 2010Dünya’daki nüfus artışı ve sanayinin gelişmesi ile birlikte enerji ihtiyacı önemli bir faktör haline gelmiştir. Bu enerji ihtiyacı geçmiş yıllarda neredeyse tamamı fosillerden oluşan enerji kaynaklarından üretilip karşılanıyordu. Birkaç yıl içinde bu tür konvensiyonel enerji kaynaklarının tükenmeye başlaması ve Küresel Isınmaya neden olmaya başlaması ile insanlar çevre dostu, yenilenebilir ve güvenilir enerji kaynaklarına daha çok önem vermeye başladılar. Bu yenilenebilir enerji kaynaklarına örnek olarak rüzgar enerjisi, güneş enerjisi ve hidroelekrik santralleri verilebilir. Yenilenebilir enerji kaynaklarından en önemlisi ise rüzgar enerjisi. Bu çalışmamda Dünya’daki ve Türkiye’deki rüzgar enerjisinin son durumundan bahsettik. Daha sonra rüzgar enerjisi analizleri ve yöntemlerinden ve potansiyel hesaplama yönteme...
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PurposeReportedly, green roof (GR) makes a significant contribution towards a truly sustainable-built environment; however, its implementation is yet to hit a sufficient level in developing countries. Thus, this study assesses GR... more
PurposeReportedly, green roof (GR) makes a significant contribution towards a truly sustainable-built environment; however, its implementation is yet to hit a sufficient level in developing countries. Thus, this study assesses GR implementation strategies in developing countries by providing a comparative analysis through experts in Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Turkey.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts a four-step methodological approach to achieve the research aim: literature review, focus group discussion, fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) analysis and correlation analyses. First, a literature review followed by a focus group discussion is used to determine 18 (out of 25 initially) strategies for the selected context and these are classified into three categories: governmental and institutional support, knowledge and information and policy and regulation. Afterward, the identified GR strategies are evaluated using the FAHP with the data gathered from the experts in th...
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Pareto analysis of on-site productivity constraints and improvement techniques in New Zealand building industry : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Construction Management, School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, College of Sciences, ...more
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The construction sector has undergone several transformations to address adverse environmental, economic, and social impacts. The concept of the circular economy (CE) has transcended into this domain to solve the needs of construction... more
The construction sector has undergone several transformations to address adverse environmental, economic, and social impacts. The concept of the circular economy (CE) has transcended into this domain to solve the needs of construction amid resource constraints. Furthermore, advanced digital tools are being implemented across industries owing to the boost given by the fourth industrial revolution. This paper aims to develop a framework that investigates the effect of digital tools on CE implementation in the construction sector. The study is based on a three-step approach, where first, an initial framework design based on a systematic literature review was conducted. This is followed by framework optimization using semistructured interviews with experts and validation through a case study. This study resulted in the development of a new framework, which aims to investigate how advanced digital tools can be used in the construction sector to enhance CE implementation. The contribution...
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Managing stakeholders in construction projects is crucial since stakeholders are perceived as a significant source of uncertainty because of the various stakeholders involved, especially in mixed development projects. The preferred... more
Managing stakeholders in construction projects is crucial since stakeholders are perceived as a significant source of uncertainty because of the various stakeholders involved, especially in mixed development projects. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) method was used to analyse and select the most relevant publications from two identified databases: SCOPUS and Web of Science (WoS). Only 55 of 1600 publications were identified as relevant to stakeholder impact factors in the construction projects. Towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, 10 stakeholder impact factors affecting the success of mixed development project management during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified and arranged by frequency: stakeholder engagement, stakeholder relationship, stakeholder attribute, stakeholder influence, stakeholder interest, stakeholder needs, stakeholder satisfaction, stakeholder expectation, and stakeholder behaviour. The outco...
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Pareto analysis of on-site productivity constraints and improvement techniques in New Zealand building industry : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Construction Management, School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, College of Sciences, ...more
The steady decline in labour productivity in the New Zealand construction sector is a result of internal and external factors, which constrain the achievement of set project objectives. The main objective of this thesis is to identify the... more
The steady decline in labour productivity in the New Zealand construction sector is a result of internal and external factors, which constrain the achievement of set project objectives. The main objective of this thesis is to identify the key constraints to on-site construction labour productivity based on the views of project managers, contractors and subcontractors in the New Zealand building industry. Qualitative data collected through pilot interviews formed the basis for questionnaire surveys conducted among the target populations. Multi-attribute methods were used in the analysis of the empirical data while the Spearman’s rank correlation test was used for the tests of the research propositions/hypotheses. To test the robustness of the results of the questionnaire surveys, confirmatory interviews were conducted among members of target populations, who did not participate in the earlier surveys. Feedback from the pilot interviews revealed 56 onsite labour productivity constrain...
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Value management (VM) should be implemented in construction projects to achieve the best value-for-money for clients, irrespective of project size. However, its regular implementation in Malaysia appears mostly in large projects driven by... more
Value management (VM) should be implemented in construction projects to achieve the best value-for-money for clients, irrespective of project size. However, its regular implementation in Malaysia appears mostly in large projects driven by legislation. Negligence was therefore aroused towards implementing VM for smaller projects and the specific status remains ambiguous to date. This paper aims to investigate the current status of VM implementation in small and medium construction projects in Malaysia with a view to exploring the challenges and measures in improving the status. A total of 162 construction organizations directly involved in small and medium projects were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. The findings revealed that the execution of VM by organizations for smaller construction projects is relatively low and significantly subject to project size regardless of project type. Practitioners’ levels of frequency and awareness towards implementing VM in small and medi...
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PurposeIn the study, a five-dimensional-safety risk assessment model (5D-SRAM) is developed to improve the construction safety risk assessment approaches available in the literature. To that purpose, a hybrid multi-dimensional fuzzy-based... more
PurposeIn the study, a five-dimensional-safety risk assessment model (5D-SRAM) is developed to improve the construction safety risk assessment approaches available in the literature. To that purpose, a hybrid multi-dimensional fuzzy-based model is proposed, which provides a comprehensive ranking system for the safety risks existing in a project by considering the contextualization of the construction-related activities resulting in an accident.Design/methodology/approachThe developed 5D-SRAM is based on an amalgamation of different fuzzy-based techniques. Through the proposed fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method, the importance weights of essential risk dimensions playing role in defining the magnitude of the construction-related risks are obtained, while a precise prioritized ranking system for the identified safety risks is acquired using the proposed fuzzy technique of order preference similarity to the ideal solution (FTOPSIS).FindingsThrough the application of the prop...
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Implementing a safety program is an essential step toward improving safety performance. The research aims to develop OPS model for building projects through investigating the direct and indirect impact of safety critical success factors... more
Implementing a safety program is an essential step toward improving safety performance. The research aims to develop OPS model for building projects through investigating the direct and indirect impact of safety critical success factors on OPS mediated by safety program elements. To achieving the research aims, First, Interviews were carried out with experts in the Iraqi construction industry. Second, a questionnaire survey was utilized to obtain feedbacks from construction professionals. The study results revealed that there are 20 elements needed to confirm and improve the effectiveness. The elements categorized into four constructs, management commitment and employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard and prevention control, and health and safety training. The analysis confirms the relationship between safety critical success factors and OPS are mediated by safety program elements. These findings offer a glimmer of hope for implementing safety program in the Iraqi construction sector, it can also be used to enhance the safety performance.
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AbstractIt is well documented that the construction industry is perceived as an environment dominated by males, and as a result the industry has difficulty attracting qualified female employees. Th...
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The construction industries’ unsafe conditions require increased efforts to improve safety performance to prevent and reduce accident rates. Safety performance in the Iraqi construction industry is notoriously poor. Despite this... more
The construction industries’ unsafe conditions require increased efforts to improve safety performance to prevent and reduce accident rates. Safety performance in the Iraqi construction industry is notoriously poor. Despite this condition, safety research has so far been neglected. Implementing a safety program is a proven initial step to improve safety. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify the key elements of a safety program in the Iraqi construction industry. To verify and validate a list of safety program elements identified in the literature review, a mixed method approach was used by using interviews and questionnaire surveys. A final list of 25 elements were then analyzed using exploratory factor analysis. The analysis found that these elements can be grouped into four interrelated dimensions: management commitment and employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control systems, and safety and health training. This study contributes to the body o...
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Productivity is key to the survival and growth of any organisation, industry or nation. Some factors constrain the achievement of the set project objectives in the New Zealand building and construction industry and are responsible for the... more
Productivity is key to the survival and growth of any organisation, industry or nation. Some factors constrain the achievement of the set project objectives in the New Zealand building and construction industry and are responsible for the reported steady decline of productivity and performance. This study aims to identify the key constraints to on-site labour productivity and improvement measures. Using the descriptive survey method, views of some project managers, contractors and subcontractors in New Zealand were canvassed via pilot interviews and questionnaire surveys at the qualitative and quantity data gathering stages, respectively. Multi-attribute technique was used to analyse the quantitative data. Results showed that the key external constraints to on-site labour productivity comprise, in order of decreasing impact, statutory compliance, unforeseen events and wider external dynamics. The internal constraints, which contribute 67 percent of the onsite productivity issues, co...
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Lack of infrastructure capacity to the demand in mobility results in delays in traffic. U-turns restrict the movement of the opposing through-traffic during the maneuver, hence triggering delays. Significant delays can be observed,... more
Lack of infrastructure capacity to the demand in mobility results in delays in traffic. U-turns restrict the movement of the opposing through-traffic during the maneuver, hence triggering delays. Significant delays can be observed, especially in high volume traffic, where U-turning is not restricted. Hence, it is imperative to study the delays incurred by the U-turning vehicles to assess their impacts on traffic congestion. This study thus proposes a quantitative method to estimate the aggregate and average delay per vehicle caused by U-turns at uncontrolled medians of urban roads. Traffic data were collected at a corridor where vehicles were allowed to U-turn on a four-lane divided mixed traffic urban road in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The delay in the opposing lane of traffic was calculated by analyzing the data using a novel analytical method; a derivative of the Webster’s delay model. The results reveal that the suggested technique evaluates the caused delay with good accuracy. Exces...
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In recent years, many researchers across the world have addressed the implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the energy assessment of the built environment. However, several potential issues still need to be resolved in... more
In recent years, many researchers across the world have addressed the implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the energy assessment of the built environment. However, several potential issues still need to be resolved in order to utilise the benefits provided by BIM to a maximum degree. To fill this gap, a systematic literature review is conducted in this study to critically investigate the utilisation of BIM tools in energy assessment. To achieve the above-mentioned objective, after shortlisting the relevant papers published hitherto, using keyword searching, a systematic review was undertaken, including the application of BIM in the contexts of different countries, types of BIM tools, BIM and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) integration, energy affiliations, stakeholders’ involvement and their roles, uncertainty, and sensitivity analysis. The outcomes show the most widely used and effective BIM tools in different types of construction projects in various countries. Th...
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This study examined the chemical, mineralogical, physical, thermal, and technological characteristics of the Dostluk (DM), Halach (HM), and Sakar (HM) clay deposits located in the Amu-Darya basin of Turkmenistan. The potential suitability... more
This study examined the chemical, mineralogical, physical, thermal, and technological characteristics of the Dostluk (DM), Halach (HM), and Sakar (HM) clay deposits located in the Amu-Darya basin of Turkmenistan. The potential suitability of these deposits was evaluated for the local ceramic brick industry. The chemical and mineralogical features were identified by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), ion chromatography (IC), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The physical properties were characterized by granulometric analysis by sieving, particle size distribution, scanning electron microscopy/optic analysis, specific surface area, Pfefferkon’s plasticity index, reabsorption, shrinkage, water absorption, mechanical (compression and bending), and freeze–thaw durability tests. The thermal methods were performed using dilatometry and thermogravimetric/differential thermal analyzer (TG/DTA). The test samples for the different clay deposits were ex...
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Construction industry has a remarkable contribution to the development of the national economy by achieving some of the basic objectives of development including output and income generation and redistribution. Integration of Cambodia to... more
Construction industry has a remarkable contribution to the development of the national economy by achieving some of the basic objectives of development including output and income generation and redistribution. Integration of Cambodia to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community (AEC) at the end of 2015 is expected to bring challenges, several opportunities, as well as problems into overall economy. Considering the construction industry to be one of the main drivers of Cambodian economy, the influence of the integration is going to be highly pronounced. Therefore, this research seeks: to deconstruct construction sector figures in the economy of Cambodia and examine its role in the economic development through the in-depth literature review; to identify the constraints to the development of the sector; and thus to make future projections for the construction sector with regard to the AEC integration of Cambodia. Through the use of the Strength-Weakness-Op...
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With its contribution to the economic development and economic activities, construction sector has a significant affect in the development of any nation. Because the construction sector is large and responsive, as well as it has a strong... more
With its contribution to the economic development and economic activities, construction sector has a significant affect in the development of any nation. Because the construction sector is large and responsive, as well as it has a strong linkages with other industries, it is a key sector can affect economic development and, hence, it is important to know what is the role of the construction sector is in the economy. This paper sets out to see the importance and effect of the construction industry in the socio development of Turkmenistan by analyzing historic statistics, which are unfortunately limited. Significant factors, such as lack of skilled workforce, lack of privatization, bureaucracy, hard immigration regulations constraining to the construction industry in Turkmenistan was also mentioned, as well as improvement measures have been recommended.
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In the context of an ongoing crisis related to climate change resulting from human activities as well as global attempts to reverse or mitigate this process, the role of sustainable buildings is of utmost importance. Although this study... more
In the context of an ongoing crisis related to climate change resulting from human activities as well as global attempts to reverse or mitigate this process, the role of sustainable buildings is of utmost importance. Although this study is a part of the continuous effort to investigate the attitudes of potential clients toward green buildings (GB) from the drivers’ point of view. The proposed study developed a quantified model for assessing the drivers in the context of a developing country, thus filling the gap in the field. The methodology adopted in this study is of a mixed nature and is based on (a) an extensive literature review aimed to identify some of the most influential drivers in the international context, and (b) an analysis of primary data collected via a survey among the general population (potential clients) to understand their perceptions regarding the identified drivers (factors). Various factors that may trigger potential homebuyer’s purchase intention were combine...
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Marketing is an essential issue to the survival of any real estate company in Turkey. There are some factors which are constraining the achievements of the marketing and sales strategies in the Turkey real estate industry. This study aims... more
Marketing is an essential issue to the survival of any real estate company in Turkey. There are some factors which are constraining the achievements of the marketing and sales strategies in the Turkey real estate industry. This study aims to identify and prioritise the most significant constraints to marketing in real estate sector and new strategies based on those constraints. This study is based on survey method, where the respondents such as credit counsellors, real estate investors, consultants, academicians and marketing representatives in Turkey were asked to rank forty seven sub-factors according to their levels of impact. The results of Multiattribute analytical technique indicated that the main subcomponents having impact on marketing in real estate sector are interest rates, real estate credit availability, accessibility, company image and consumer real income, respectively. The identified constraints are expected to guide the marketing team in a sales-effective way. Keywo...
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In times of unprecedented climate change and energy scarcity, the design and delivery of energy-efficient and sustainable buildings are of utmost importance. This study aimed to design a hotel building for hot and dry climate conditions... more
In times of unprecedented climate change and energy scarcity, the design and delivery of energy-efficient and sustainable buildings are of utmost importance. This study aimed to design a hotel building for hot and dry climate conditions and perform its energy performance analysis using energy simulation tools. The model of the hotel building was constructed by a graphical tool OpenStudio and EnergyPlus following the ASHRAE Standard 90.1. To reduce the energy demand of the hotel, parametric analysis was conducted and building envelope parameters such as the thickness of insulation layer in the exterior wall and the roof, thermal conductivity of insulation layer, rate of infiltration, U-factor of windows, and thermal resistance of air gap in the interior walls (R-value), window-to-wall ratio, and orientation of the building were tested and the impact on the energy use of the building was analyzed. It was found that most of the design assumptions based on the ASHRAE standard were alrea...
PurposeThis research aims to study a broad range of sustainability aspects and develop a set of indicators with their subjective relevance to each of the sustainability dimensions that will help to improve the sustainability level of the... more
PurposeThis research aims to study a broad range of sustainability aspects and develop a set of indicators with their subjective relevance to each of the sustainability dimensions that will help to improve the sustainability level of the water system of Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan).Design/methodology/approachThe broader list of indicators (which were identified through a thorough review of the literature) was assessed by water-related industry professionals and experts who were asked to assess the compliance of suggested indicators to five criteria of sustainability using a Likert scale.FindingsIt was found that the highest-ranked indicators across all five categories were mainly related to the chemical and physical quality of water, followed by availability of individual water meters as well as water supply tariffs' adjustment to users' income, and issues of ageing infrastructure. The lowest-ranked indicators among all categories were mainly related to investments into research ...
Due to increase in the public and stakeholders’ awareness regarding economic, environmental, and social issues, the construction industry tends to follow the sustainability policies and practices in supply chain management. Hence, one of... more
Due to increase in the public and stakeholders’ awareness regarding economic, environmental, and social issues, the construction industry tends to follow the sustainability policies and practices in supply chain management. Hence, one of the most crucial aspects for a construction company in this regard is sustainable supplier selection, and, to this end, an accurate and reliable model is required. In this paper a hybrid fuzzy best-worst method and fuzzy inference system model is developed for sustainable supplier selection. In the first phase of this study, after determining 19 criteria in three main aspects, the final weight of each aspect and criterion is obtained using fuzzy best-worst method approach. In the second phase, the most sustainable supplier is selected by running the weighted fuzzy inference system both in aspect and criterion level, providing more accurate results compared to the use of other available models. Finally, two different tests are employed to validate th...
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PurposeThis study aims to investigate the impact of primary building information modelling (BIM)-related factors, extracted from the literature on the subject, on construction project performance.Design/methodology/approachBased on data... more
PurposeThis study aims to investigate the impact of primary building information modelling (BIM)-related factors, extracted from the literature on the subject, on construction project performance.Design/methodology/approachBased on data collected from 134 BIM users, this study used structural equation modelling to assess the impact of these factors in five main BIM-related factor clusters.FindingsThe results of the analysis confirmed the reliability and validity of the research design and outcomes. The findings indicated that the BIM-related external factors cluster is the most influential cluster affecting construction project performance. BIM-related project factors and BIM-related technological factors also had a significant impact on project performance. These were followed by the BIM-related management factors cluster, while the BIM-related human factors cluster had a low impact on project performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis study will contribute to fostering BIM ...
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Abstract This study focuses on the pullout behaviour of composite structures having closed shape geometry Perfobond Leiste (PBL) shear connectors wrapped with carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP). Eight test specimens having PBL... more
Abstract This study focuses on the pullout behaviour of composite structures having closed shape geometry Perfobond Leiste (PBL) shear connectors wrapped with carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP). Eight test specimens having PBL connectors with and without CFRP were used to perform the pullout tests. These tests were performed under static loading, and the concrete thickness and the embedment depth were the parameters used to evaluate the effects of CFRP jacketing on the pullout strength. The responses, that is, the initial cracking load, the ultimate pullout capacity and the displacement, were investigated. Failure modes were analysed, and a new model was proposed because of the unavailability of suitable models for PBL shear connectors with CFRP. The diagonally bonded CFRP jackets significantly delayed the onset of cracking and showed superior performance in terms of deformation capacity and ultimate pullout strength. A strength model was proposed to predict the ultimate pullout capacity of CFRP-confined PBL composite dowels. Overall, the study demonstrated that it is more efficient to use the proposed CFRP-confined PBL shear connectors than other connectors in practical engineering applications, given the improved deformation capacity and the ultimate shear strength.
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The property sector is revitalised to incorporate sustainability, specifically the biophilic design, to encourage human interaction with nature. Thus, there is an urgent need to communicate the biophilic design elements amongst... more
The property sector is revitalised to incorporate sustainability, specifically the biophilic design, to encourage human interaction with nature. Thus, there is an urgent need to communicate the biophilic design elements amongst stakeholders, especially the foreign workers, to ensure the project meets the requirement. However, standard project communications management is no longer practical, as the construction industry worldwide has been severely impacted by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Hence, this paper evaluates the biophilic design elements to be communicated and examines the project communications management breakdown relating to the biophilic design elements in the Malaysian construction industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a systematic literature review (SLR), focus group discussion (FGD) and questionnaire survey on 147 foreign workers, this paper found that from 33 biophilic design element items, only 1 item is categorised as highly critical, w...
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Critical issues surrounding the promotion and adoption of building information modeling (BIM) for construction projects are largely country-specific due to contextual socio-cultural, economic, and regulatory environments impacting... more
Critical issues surrounding the promotion and adoption of building information modeling (BIM) for construction projects are largely country-specific due to contextual socio-cultural, economic, and regulatory environments impacting construction operations and outcomes. There is little information on BIM adoption issues specific to the Cambodian construction industry (‘the industry’). This paper aims to narrow existing knowledge by investigating key drivers for, and barriers to the adoption of BIM in the industry. Using descriptive survey method, feedback was received from contractors and architects that were registered with their respective trade and professional associations in the industry. The multi-attribute method and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)-based Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (W) test were used to analyze the empirical datasets. Results showed that out of the 13 significant drivers identified in the study, the most influential comprised the...
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PurposeThis study reviews the extent of application of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the construction industry.Design/methodology/approachA thorough literature review (based on 165 articles) was conducted using Elsevier's... more
PurposeThis study reviews the extent of application of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the construction industry.Design/methodology/approachA thorough literature review (based on 165 articles) was conducted using Elsevier's Scopus due to its simplicity and as it encapsulates an extensive variety of databases to identify the literature related to the scope of the present study.FindingsThe following items were extracted: type of AI tools used, the major purpose of application, the geographical location where the study was conducted and the distribution of studies in terms of the journals they are published by. Based on the review results, the disciplines the AI tools have been used for were classified into eight major areas, such as geotechnical engineering, project management, energy, hydrology, environment and transportation, while construction materials and structural engineering. ANN has been a widely used tool, while the researchers have also used other AI tools, which ...
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PurposeHomebuyers' motivation to purchase the green building (GB) is vital for the widespread adoption of greener practices and for tackling the adverse impact of the built environment. In this regard, through the lenses of qualified... more
PurposeHomebuyers' motivation to purchase the green building (GB) is vital for the widespread adoption of greener practices and for tackling the adverse impact of the built environment. In this regard, through the lenses of qualified and competent GB developers (GBD) and real estate agents (REAs) using judgment sampling technique, this paper aims to evaluate the factors stimulating the purchase intention of Malaysian homebuyers.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses the interval-valued fuzzy Delphi method (IVFDM) to identify influential factors, while the cybernetic fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (CFAHP) for prioritizing the identified factors according to their significance in nationwide promotion of GBs is utilized.FindingsThe findings, which are consistent with those reported in the literature and validated by the focus group, uncover the most prominent factors that drive the purchase intention of GB homebuyers. The results indicate that the homebuyers are familiar with ...
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The widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) in civil engineering has provided civil engineers with various benefits and opportunities, including a rich data collection, sustainable assessment, and productivity. The trend of... more
The widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) in civil engineering has provided civil engineers with various benefits and opportunities, including a rich data collection, sustainable assessment, and productivity. The trend of construction is diverted toward sustainability with the aid of digital technologies. In this regard, this paper presents a systematic literature review (SLR) in order to explore the influence of AI in civil engineering toward sustainable development. In addition, SLR was carried out by using academic publications from Scopus (i.e., 3478 publications). Furthermore, screening is carried out, and eventually, 105 research publications in the field of AI were selected. Keywords were searched through Boolean operation “Artificial Intelligence” OR “Machine intelligence” OR “Machine Learning” OR “Computational intelligence” OR “Computer vision” OR “Expert systems” OR “Neural networks” AND “Civil Engineering” OR “Construction Engineering” OR “Sustainable Developmen...
The construction sector is recognized as one of the most dangerous industries in the world. The situation is worsening in Iraq, as a result of a lack of attention to safety in the building industry and the poor implementation of safety... more
The construction sector is recognized as one of the most dangerous industries in the world. The situation is worsening in Iraq, as a result of a lack of attention to safety in the building industry and the poor implementation of safety programs. This research aims to identify the critical safety factors (CSFs) of safety program implementation in the Iraqi construction industry. The CSFs were first identified from a review of literature before being verified by construction practitioners, using semi-structured interviews. A questionnaire, based on the verified CSFs, was distributed to construction practitioners in Iraq. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to analyze the quantitative data, and the results show that the CSFs can be categorized into four constructs: worker involvement, safety prevention and control system, safety arrangement, and management commitment. Following that, partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was executed to establish the conne...
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PurposeThe study investigates the causes of project cost overruns (COs) that have been reported in the construction-management-related articles since 1985.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve the aim and provide recommendations to avoid... more
PurposeThe study investigates the causes of project cost overruns (COs) that have been reported in the construction-management-related articles since 1985.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve the aim and provide recommendations to avoid project COs, 48 selected journal articles were reviewed and assessed with regard to the countries, institutions and researchers that have contributed to the subject.FindingsThe review of the articles shows that the subject has attracted a considerable attention from the researchers worldwide. However, the problem mainly occurred in developing countries and the researchers drew the attention on the resource-related, economic/financial as well as political problems. While 79 causes of COs were identified, the top ten causes of project COs, which have received the highest number of citations by the reviewed articles, were presented and discussed. These causes are: design problems and incomplete design, inaccurate estimation, poor planning, weather, poo...
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Risk decision matrix has widely been favoured by the researchers in the area of construction safety risk assessment. Although it provides the construction safety professionals with the final illustration of the risks magnitude, it suffers... more
Risk decision matrix has widely been favoured by the researchers in the area of construction safety risk assessment. Although it provides the construction safety professionals with the final illustration of the risks magnitude, it suffers from major shortcomings, including inability to considering the importance of probability and severity, impaired analysis resulting from the use of raw numbers for ratings, and the limited range of classifications for assessing the risks. All these shortages give an impaired insight to the concerned parties, deteriorating the involved workers’ safety. As such, this paper aims to develop a novel Risk Assessment Model (RAM) through the integration of the Fuzzy Best Worst Method (FBWM) with the Interval-Valued Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (IVFTOPSIS). Based on the application of RAM to a real-life case study, it was observed that the developed RAM contributes to the body of construction safety risk assessment...
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This study empirically investigates (for the period of 1983–2017) the relationships between the parameters (labour wage (LW), labour productivity (LP) and unemployment (UNM) rate) of the construction sector in New Zealand. This study... more
This study empirically investigates (for the period of 1983–2017) the relationships between the parameters (labour wage (LW), labour productivity (LP) and unemployment (UNM) rate) of the construction sector in New Zealand. This study employs the Johansen co-integration test to determine if the relationship in the long run does exist among the investigated variables as well as to assess the relationships. The results show that the LW has a positive effect on the LP, while the UNM affects negatively, which indicates that the higher salary, the more productive labour. In other words, increase in salary stimulates the belief of the workforce that they are substantially paid for their work, which ultimately increases their trust and loyalty to the employer; hence, productivity. Moreover, the results show adverse effect of UNM on LP, which indicates that labours may also lose his/her productivity due to fear of losing his/her job. The model stability is verified by Histogram Normality Tes...