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Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2021) | Viewed by 159642

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A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors

Research Institute of Sustainable Construction, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: operations research; optimization and decision analysis; multicriteria decision making; multiattribute decision making (MADM); decision support systems; civil engineering; energy; sustainable development; fuzzy sets theory; fuzzy multicriteria decision making; sustainability; management; game theory and economical computing knowledge management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Construction Management and Real Estate, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM); multiattribute decision making (MADM); operations research; decision support systems; multiple-criteria optimization in construction technology and management; decision making under uncertainty; fuzzy sets theory; civil engineering; sustainable development; sustainable construction; investments; knowledge management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University, Waterfront Campus, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong VIC 3220, Australia
Interests: sustainability; procurement; alliancing; infrastructure; capacity building; international construction; competitive strategy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainability is increasingly a requirement of building projects. Consequently, the fields of construction management, project management, and engineering are called on to recalibrate work practices and processes to align them with sustainability objectives. The scope of opportunities for engaging with sustainable practices is large, ranging all the way from mining and procurement, through design, materials, and components manufacture; transportation; assembly; commissioning; operations; maintenance; and refurbishing, to eventual demolition and disposal. In the midst of all this are smart technologies, and ever-sophisticated operational systems that potentially augment sustainable outcomes.

This Special Issue welcomes articles that speak to the challenges and opportunities for sustainable construction, in all its facets. Topics raised may be technical, focusing on specific operational or procedural solutions; they may be project-focused, encompassing more holistic approaches; or they may target the company or industry at a strategic level. Articles that explore social or economic considerations with respect to the built environment are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas
Prof. Dr. Jurgita Antuchevičienė
Dr. M. Reza Hosseini
Dr. Igor Martek
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Alliancing
  • Construction site selection
  • Building’s design
  • Building materials and structures
  • Construction processes
  • Construction economics
  • Supply chain management
  • Construction procurement
  • Contracting
  • Construction management
  • Industrial relations
  • Procurement
  • Building’s maintenance
  • Building life-cycle analysis
  • Information technologies
  • International construction
  • Multiple-criteria problem solution models
  • Project costing
  • Interval-valued fuzzy sets
  • Intuitionistic fuzzy sets
  • Neutrosophic sets
  • Grey systems
  • Rough sets
  • Risk management
  • Computer-aided problem solutions
  • Research and development
  • Demolition and disposal
  • Health and safety

Published Papers (34 papers)

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Editorial

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8 pages, 382 KiB  
Editorial
Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management
by Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas, Jurgita Antucheviciene, M. Reza Hosseini and Igor Martek
Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13028; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313028 - 25 Nov 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3183
Abstract
The Special Issue covers sustainability as an emerging requirement in the fields of construction management, project management and engineering. We invited authors to submit their theoretical or experimental research articles that address the challenges and opportunities for sustainable construction in all its facets, [...] Read more.
The Special Issue covers sustainability as an emerging requirement in the fields of construction management, project management and engineering. We invited authors to submit their theoretical or experimental research articles that address the challenges and opportunities for sustainable construction in all its facets, including technical topics and specific operational or procedural solutions, as well as strategic approaches aimed at the project, company or industry level. Central to developments are smart technologies and sophisticated decision-making mechanisms that augment sustainable outcomes. The Special Issue was received with great interest by the research community and attracted a high number of submissions. The selection process sought to balance the inclusion of a broad representative spread of topics against research quality, with editors and reviewers settling on thirty-three articles for publication. The Guest Editors invite all participating researchers and those interested in sustainable construction engineering and management to read this summary of the Special Issue and of course to access the full-text articles for deeper analyses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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Research

Jump to: Editorial

22 pages, 6019 KiB  
Article
Developing a Risk Management Process for Infrastructure Projects Using IDEF0
by Hui-Ping Tserng, I-Cheng Cho, Chun-Hung Chen and Yu-Fan Liu
Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6958; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126958 - 21 Jun 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3766
Abstract
The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project is a massive, large-scale construction venture with a complex interface. In order to reduce the risk of disasters and industrial accidents in the project and to save costs, a simple and flexible risk management system is necessary [...] Read more.
The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project is a massive, large-scale construction venture with a complex interface. In order to reduce the risk of disasters and industrial accidents in the project and to save costs, a simple and flexible risk management system is necessary for projects such as MRT. A set of risk management processes was identified through a literature review and data collection, and the Integration Definition for Function Modeling (IDEF0) process was used for logical analysis. The IDEF0 diagram clearly depicts the items to be delivered at each interface, and risk is reduced by facilitating the flow of data on various risk items. The results of this research will be applied to other practical projects, with special emphasis on the project planning and design stages. Future work will verify whether the implementation of the proposed risk management process does indeed effectively reduce risks in the completed project. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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33 pages, 682 KiB  
Article
Decision Tree and AHP Methods Application for Projects Assessment: A Case Study
by Augustinas Maceika, Andrej Bugajev, Olga Regina Šostak and Tatjana Vilutienė
Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5502; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105502 - 14 May 2021
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3653
Abstract
This research is dedicated to the modelling of decision process occurring during the implementation of construction projects. Recent studies generally do not assess the robustness of the decisions regarding the possible changes during the construction project implementation. However, such an assessment might increase [...] Read more.
This research is dedicated to the modelling of decision process occurring during the implementation of construction projects. Recent studies generally do not assess the robustness of the decisions regarding the possible changes during the construction project implementation. However, such an assessment might increase the reliability of the decision-making process. We addressed this gap through a new model that combines the decision-making process modelling with the AHP method and includes the analysis of model stability concerning stakeholders’ behaviour. We used the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Decision tree methods to model the decision-making process. The proposed model was validated on a case study of multiple construction projects. The assessment was performed from individual investor’s and independent expert’s perspectives. The criteria for the assessment were selected according to the principles of sustainability. We performed the sensitivity analysis, making it possible to assess the possible changes of the decisions depending on the potential patterns of the decision-makers’ behaviour. The results of the study show that, sometimes, small fluctuations in the project factors affect the project selection indicating the possible lack of the robustness of the project decisions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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12 pages, 1083 KiB  
Article
Digitalization as a Strategic Means of Achieving Sustainable Efficiencies in Construction Management: A Critical Review
by Bahareh Nikmehr, M. Reza Hosseini, Igor Martek, Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas and Jurgita Antucheviciene
Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 5040; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095040 - 30 Apr 2021
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 8251
Abstract
Construction is a complex activity, characterized by high levels of capital investment, relatively long delivery durations, multitudinous risks and uncertainties, as well as requiring the integration of multiple skills delivering a huge volume of tasks and processes. All of these must be coordinated [...] Read more.
Construction is a complex activity, characterized by high levels of capital investment, relatively long delivery durations, multitudinous risks and uncertainties, as well as requiring the integration of multiple skills delivering a huge volume of tasks and processes. All of these must be coordinated carefully if time, cost, and quality constraints are to be met. At the same time, construction is renowned for performing poorly regarding sustainability metrics. Construction activity generates high volumes of waste, requires vast amounts of resources and materials, while consuming a significant proportion of total energy generated. Digitalization of the construction workplace and construction activities has the potential of improving construction performance both in terms of business results as well as sustainability outcomes. This is because, to put it simply, reduced energy usage, for example, impacts economic and “green” performance, simultaneously. Firms tinkering with digitalization, however, do not always achieve the hoped-for outcomes. The challenge faced is that a digital transition of construction firms must be carried out at a strategic level—requiring a comprehensive change management protocol. What then does a digital strategy entail? This study puts forward an argument for the combined economic and sustainability dividends to be had from digitizing construction firm activities. It outlines the requirements for achieving digitalization. The elements of a comprehensive digitalization strategy are cataloged, while the various approaches to developing a digitalization strategy are discussed. This study offers practitioners a useful framework by which to consider their own firm-level efforts at digitalization transition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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18 pages, 1655 KiB  
Article
Environmental Performance of Residential Buildings: A Life Cycle Assessment Study in Saudi Arabia
by Hatem Alhazmi, Abdulilah K. Alduwais, Thamer Tabbakh, Saad Aljamlani, Bandar Alkahlan and Abdulaziz Kurdi
Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3542; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063542 - 23 Mar 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3606
Abstract
The building and construction sector has a huge impact on the environment because of the enormous amounts of natural resources and energy consumed during the life cycle of construction projects. In this study, we evaluated the potential environmental impact of the construction of [...] Read more.
The building and construction sector has a huge impact on the environment because of the enormous amounts of natural resources and energy consumed during the life cycle of construction projects. In this study, we evaluated the potential environmental impact of the construction of a villa, from cradle to grave, in the Saudi Arabian context. Centrum voor Milieukunde Leiden (CML) for Centre of Environmental Science of Leiden University-IA baseline v3.03 methods were used to obtain the environmental profile for the impact categories, and Cumulative Energy Demand v1.09 was used to measure the embodied energy of the villa life cycle. The analyzed midpoint impact categories include global warming (GWP100a), ozone layer depletion (ODP), acidification (AP), eutrophication (EP), photochemical oxidation (POCP), and indicator cumulative energy demand (CED). The operation use phase of the villa was found to have the highest global warming potential and acidification with 2.61 × 106 kg CO2-eq and 1.75 × 104 kg SO2-eq, respectively. Sensitivity analysis was performed on the Saudi Arabian plans to increase the share of renewable sources and reduce the amount of electricity generated from hydrocarbons, which currently represents 46% of the total installed power, by 2032. The results showed that compared with the current electricity environmental impact, the CO2 emission from electricity will decrease by 53%, which represents a significant reduction in environmental impact. The findings will help with the life cycle assessment of structures during future planning and for energy conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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10 pages, 466 KiB  
Article
Determination of Optimal MR&R Strategy and Inspection Intervals to Support Infrastructure Maintenance Decision Making
by Yingnan Yang and Hongming Xie
Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2664; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052664 - 02 Mar 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1511
Abstract
In the commonly used approach to maintenance scheduling for infrastructure facilities, maintenance decisions are made under the assumptions that inspection frequency is periodical and fixed, and that the true state of a facility is revealed through inspections. This research addresses these limitations by [...] Read more.
In the commonly used approach to maintenance scheduling for infrastructure facilities, maintenance decisions are made under the assumptions that inspection frequency is periodical and fixed, and that the true state of a facility is revealed through inspections. This research addresses these limitations by proposing a decision-making approach for determining optimal maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation (MR&R) strategy and inspection intervals for infrastructure facilities that can explicitly take into account non-periodical inspections as well as previously considered periodical inspections. Four transition probabilities are proposed to represent four different MR&R strategies. Then, an optimization program is suggested to minimize MR&R and inspection costs of a bridge element network over a given time period, while keeping the condition states of the element network above a predetermined level. A case study was applied to illustrate the proposed approach. The results show that the proposal approach can support decision making in situations where non-periodical inspections and MR&R actions are incorporated into the model development. If employed properly, this may allow agencies to maintain their infrastructure more effectively, resulting in cost savings and reducing unnecessary waste of resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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23 pages, 857 KiB  
Article
Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation of the Critical Success Factors for the Sustainability of Public Private Partnership Projects in China
by Binchao Deng, Dongjie Zhou, Jiachen Zhao, Yilin Yin and Xiaoyu Li
Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2551; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052551 - 26 Feb 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3204
Abstract
Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects have attracted wide attention from academia and industry over the past 20 years, however, they have been plagued by certain factors. This study identified, classified, and evaluated the success factors that may affect PPP projects for achieving sustainability. [...] Read more.
Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects have attracted wide attention from academia and industry over the past 20 years, however, they have been plagued by certain factors. This study identified, classified, and evaluated the success factors that may affect PPP projects for achieving sustainability. First, a list of 32 critical success factors were categorized into 3 groups, then a questionnaire survey was conducted, with 108 responses received from experts, researchers, and PPP project managers in China. Second, using a fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) method, stakeholder relationships (A1–A10), external environmental (B1–B8), and project management of a special purpose vehicle (C1–C14) collected data at three different factor group locations in PPP projects were used in this evaluation. The results obtained nine top factors: private sector financing capacity, government credit, government commitment or guarantee, completeness of legal framework, available financial markets, the feasibility study report and implementation, effectiveness of risk management, project investment, and cost control and revenue distribution. It was demonstrated that fuzzy synthetic evaluation techniques are quite appropriate techniques for PPP projects. The research findings should impact on policy development towards PPP and Private Finance Initiative (PFI) project governance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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16 pages, 4386 KiB  
Article
Cross-Organizational Learning Approach in the Sustainable Use of Fly Ash for Geopolymer in the Philippine Construction Industry
by Jason Maximino C. Ongpeng, Ernesto J. Guades and Michael Angelo B. Promentilla
Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2454; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052454 - 24 Feb 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3667
Abstract
The construction industry faces a challenging situation in attaining sustainable development goals. The carbon footprint of the production and use of construction materials such as the use of ordinary Portland cement in concrete products is still on the rise despite of many alternatives [...] Read more.
The construction industry faces a challenging situation in attaining sustainable development goals. The carbon footprint of the production and use of construction materials such as the use of ordinary Portland cement in concrete products is still on the rise despite of many alternatives and technologies. In this paper, the local cross-organizational learning approach (COLA) and a systematic review of academic and professional literatures were applied in analyzing the use of fly ash as a geopolymer in the Philippine construction industry. Three primary stakeholders were considered: academe, professional organizations, and industry. Documents from each stakeholder were collected, with keywords including sustainability, fly ash, and geopolymer. These documents included published materials, newsletters, department orders, codes, and policies. Text analytics throughout the documents were applied using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation model, which uses a hierarchal Bayesian-modelling process that groups set of items into topics to determine the maturity level of the organizational learning. An adoption framework is proposed aligning COLA with the awareness, interest, desire, and action (AIDA) funnel model. Results show that the organizational maturity until optimization of academe is sufficient towards interest and desire, while industry is highly encouraged to increase organizational maturity from managed to optimization towards desire and action. Factors such as organizational intelligence (OI) and organizational stupidity (OS) are to be considered in balancing critical thinking across organizations. Further studies are recommended by considering the use of COLA with ASEAN organizations in the development of sustainable construction materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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25 pages, 2521 KiB  
Article
Sustainability Indicator Selection by a Novel Triangular Intuitionistic Fuzzy Decision-Making Approach in Highway Construction Projects
by Hassan Hashemi, Parviz Ghoddousi and Farnad Nasirzadeh
Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1477; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031477 - 01 Feb 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2854
Abstract
The construction industry has been criticized as being a non-sustainable industry that requires effective tools to monitor and improve its sustainability performance. The multiplicity of indicators of the three pillars of sustainability—economic, social, and environmental—complicates construction sustainability assessments for project managers. Therefore, prioritizing [...] Read more.
The construction industry has been criticized as being a non-sustainable industry that requires effective tools to monitor and improve its sustainability performance. The multiplicity of indicators of the three pillars of sustainability—economic, social, and environmental—complicates construction sustainability assessments for project managers. Therefore, prioritizing and selecting appropriate sustainability indicators (SIs) is essential prior to conducting a construction sustainability assessment. The main purpose of this research is to select the most appropriate set of SIs to address all three pillars of highway sustainability by a new group decision-making approach. The proposed approach accounts for risk attitudes of experts and entropy measures under a triangular intuitionistic fuzzy (TIF) environment, to handle the inherent uncertainty and vagueness that is present throughout the evaluation process. Furthermore, new separation measures and ranking scores are introduced to distinguish the preference order of SIs. Eventually, the approach is implemented in a case study of highway construction projects and the applicability of the approach is examined. To investigate the stability and validity of computational results, a sensitivity analysis is carried out and a comparison is made between the obtained ranking outcomes and the traditional decision-making methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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21 pages, 470 KiB  
Article
A Systematic Literature Review of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methods for Sustainable Selection of Insulation Materials in Buildings
by Indre Siksnelyte-Butkiene, Dalia Streimikiene, Tomas Balezentis and Virgilijus Skulskis
Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020737 - 14 Jan 2021
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3633
Abstract
The European Commission has recently adopted the Renovation Wave Strategy, aiming at the improvement of the energy performance of buildings. The strategy aims to at least double renovation rates in the next ten years and make sure that renovations lead to higher energy [...] Read more.
The European Commission has recently adopted the Renovation Wave Strategy, aiming at the improvement of the energy performance of buildings. The strategy aims to at least double renovation rates in the next ten years and make sure that renovations lead to higher energy and resource efficiency. The choice of appropriate thermal insulation materials is one of the simplest and, at the same time, the most popular strategies that effectively reduce the energy demand of buildings. Today, the spectrum of insulation materials is quite wide, and each material has its own specific characteristics. It is recognized that the selection of materials is one of the most challenging and difficult steps of a building project. This paper aims to give an in-depth view of existing multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) applications for the selection of insulation materials and to provide major insights in order to simplify the process of methods and criteria selection for future research. A systematic literature review is performed based on the Search, Appraisal, Synthesis and Analysis (SALSA) framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. In order to determine which MCDM method is the most appropriate for different questions, the main advantages and disadvantages of different methods are provided. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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21 pages, 2720 KiB  
Article
ACS: Construction Data Auto-Correction System—Taiwan Public Construction Data Example
by Meng-Lin Yu and Meng-Han Tsai
Sustainability 2021, 13(1), 362; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010362 - 03 Jan 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2587
Abstract
This study aims to develop an automatic data correction system for correcting the public construction data. The unstructured nature of the construction data presents challenges for its management. The different user habits, time-consuming system operation, and long pretraining time all make the data [...] Read more.
This study aims to develop an automatic data correction system for correcting the public construction data. The unstructured nature of the construction data presents challenges for its management. The different user habits, time-consuming system operation, and long pretraining time all make the data management system full of data in an inconsistent format or even incorrect data. Processing the construction data into a machine-readable format is not only time-consuming but also labor-intensive. Therefore, this study used Taiwan’s public construction data as an example case to develop a natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning-based text classification system, coined as automatic correction system (ACS). The developed system is designed to automatically correct the public construction data, meanwhile improving the efficiency of manual data correction. The ACS has two main features: data correction that converts unstructured data into structured data; a recommendation function that provides users with a recommendation list for manual data correction. For implementation, the developed system was used to correct the data in the public construction cost estimation system (PCCES) in Taiwan. We expect that the ACS can improve the accuracy of the data in the public construction database to increase the efficiency of the practitioners in executing projects. The results show that the system can correct 18,511 data points with an accuracy of 76%. Additionally, the system was also validated to reduce the system operation time by 51.69%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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23 pages, 809 KiB  
Article
Influence Mechanism of Organizational Flexibility on Enterprise Competitiveness: The Mediating Role of Organizational Innovation
by Guodong Ni, Heng Xu, Qingbin Cui, Yaning Qiao, Ziyao Zhang, Huaikun Li and Paul J. Hickey
Sustainability 2021, 13(1), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010176 - 27 Dec 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6053
Abstract
Organizational success heavily relies on the competitiveness of products and services under rapidly changing market conditions. This enterprise competitiveness becomes more critical for project-based enterprises as modernization of the Chinese construction industry creates greater challenges and uncertainty in construction operations, which determines the [...] Read more.
Organizational success heavily relies on the competitiveness of products and services under rapidly changing market conditions. This enterprise competitiveness becomes more critical for project-based enterprises as modernization of the Chinese construction industry creates greater challenges and uncertainty in construction operations, which determines the sustainable advantages of enterprises to a certain degree. Traditional wisdom focuses on cost efficiency, asset differentiation, and service performance to gain competitive advantages. This paper explores the influence of organizational flexibility and organizational innovation on enterprise competitiveness for Chinese construction organizations. A designed structured questionnaire was developed and conducted targeting the project-based enterprises in China’s construction industry and is accompanied by a structural equation modeling analysis. Results indicate a positive impact of organizational flexibility on enterprise competitiveness along with a mediation role of organizational innovation. The study concludes that new organizational strategies are required for Chinese project-based enterprises to maintain enterprise competitiveness in order to realize the sustainable development of enterprises. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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18 pages, 2539 KiB  
Article
Multi-Criteria Ranking of Green Materials According to the Goals of Sustainable Development
by Amirhossein Balali, Alireza Valipour, Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas and Zenonas Turskis
Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9482; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229482 - 14 Nov 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3712
Abstract
Modern, well-educated and experienced policy-makers support and promote the use of environmentally friendly materials and resources. The use of green resources is an exceptional and inevitable strategy to meet the needs of a rapidly growing Earth population. The growing population raises the need [...] Read more.
Modern, well-educated and experienced policy-makers support and promote the use of environmentally friendly materials and resources. The use of green resources is an exceptional and inevitable strategy to meet the needs of a rapidly growing Earth population. The growing population raises the need for new housing construction and urban infrastructure development. Such substances in construction refer to green building materials (GBMs). The environmental impact is lower if GBMs replace non-GBMs. Here, ranking among GBMs can facilitate and support the selection process. This study aimed to contribute to the body of knowledge to introduce a method for identifying and prioritizing GBMs in the construction industry to use in green building. The required data were collected using existing literature, interviews and questionnaires. Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the first criteria for assessing GBM selection criteria. Critical weighted GBM selection criteria are the second criteria for prioritizing GBMs. The results show that “Natural, Plentiful and Renewable”, “Affordability from cradle to gate” and “Affordability during operation” are the top three GBM selection criteria. The real case study helped select “Stramit Strawboard”, “Aluminium Composite Panels (ACPs)” and “Solar Roof Tiles” as the most suitable GBMs for use in the context of the study. The model and results presented in this study will help actors of the construction industry to select and use GBMs more quickly and thus achieve a better level of construction sustainability, as well as environmental friendliness, than before. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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20 pages, 697 KiB  
Article
Identifying and Assessing Sustainable Value Management Implementation Activities in Developing Countries: The Case of Egypt
by Ahmed Farouk Kineber, Idris Othman, Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke, Nicholas Chileshe and Mohanad Kamil Buniya
Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 9143; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12219143 - 03 Nov 2020
Cited by 53 | Viewed by 3609
Abstract
Value management (VM) has become a useful tool for achieving sustainability in many countries. This paper aims to assess VM implementation and its activities towards achieving sustainable building projects in Egypt. Data were obtained from the literature, followed by a qualitative approach through [...] Read more.
Value management (VM) has become a useful tool for achieving sustainability in many countries. This paper aims to assess VM implementation and its activities towards achieving sustainable building projects in Egypt. Data were obtained from the literature, followed by a qualitative approach through a semi-structured interview and a quantitative approach via a questionnaire survey. In Cairo and Giza, data were collected from a sample of 200 building professionals using a questionnaire, while exploration of the country’s VM activities practice was completed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), including descriptive statistics such as “frequency analysis” and ”measures of central tendencies”. The results show that VM awareness was demonstrated by 64% of the sample, which means that they know about VM. On the other hand, most respondents, 85.3%, did not adopt VM and did not receive any VM training. The results also show, through EFA, that the correlations between these activities show five main components: an information phase, a function phase, a creativity phase, an evaluation phase, and a development/presentation phase. This study will help building professionals to eliminate unwanted costs and enhance project sustainability by adopting VM in building projects in developing countries. Finally, the results of this study will enhance building management through the implementation of VM elements, with a view to ensuring value for money and meeting sustainability goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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20 pages, 19043 KiB  
Article
Application of Hybrid SWARA–BIM in Reducing Reworks of Building Construction Projects from the Perspective of Time
by Hamidreza Khalesi, Amirhossein Balali, Alireza Valipour, Jurgita Antucheviciene, Darius Migilinskas and Viaceslav Zigmund
Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 8927; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12218927 - 27 Oct 2020
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5748
Abstract
One of the major issues of the construction industry has been the “reworks” that affect the time, quality, and cost of projects. Therefore, reworks and the ineffective use of site resources and materials will always result in significant losses on projects. The development [...] Read more.
One of the major issues of the construction industry has been the “reworks” that affect the time, quality, and cost of projects. Therefore, reworks and the ineffective use of site resources and materials will always result in significant losses on projects. The development of information technology has led to the widespread use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) to enhance the delivery of more sustainable building construction projects. The purpose of this study is to combine the Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) method and BIM technologies to identify and reduce time delays caused by reworks in construction projects. Firstly, 49 rework causes in residential buildings were identified and ranked. Then, BIM was generated and compared to the initial model. It was observed that working hours were reduced by 4.6%. Moreover, using an Earned Value Management (EVM) system, a 0.06 increase in Schedule Performance Index (SPI) factor was illustrated. Results obtained by this study provide an effective step in reducing a project’s time in the construction industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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19 pages, 2555 KiB  
Article
Generalized Resource-Constrained Critical Path Method to Improve Sustainability in Construction Project Scheduling
by Kyunghwan Kim
Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 8918; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12218918 - 27 Oct 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3841
Abstract
Delays by limited supply of resources are common in many construction projects and may cause serious monetary disputes between project participants. Since the dispute resolution may require unnecessary additional time and cost, preventing delays in advance is an important goal in sustainable construction [...] Read more.
Delays by limited supply of resources are common in many construction projects and may cause serious monetary disputes between project participants. Since the dispute resolution may require unnecessary additional time and cost, preventing delays in advance is an important goal in sustainable construction project management. To prevent delays, a feasible plan must be implemented, which reflects limited resources and provides reliable activity information. For this purpose, this study proposes a generalized resource-constrained critical path method (eRCPM). It consists of three steps to identify resource-dependent activity relationships (resource links) based on the result of resource-constrained scheduling (RCS) under multiple resource constraints. Compared to the existing resource-constrained critical path methods, the eRCPM has the advantage of identifying resource links irrespective of the applied RCS technique because it is based on the result rather than the RCS process. Further, this study presents a Microsoft (MS) Excel-based half-automated prototype system that is linked using file export and import functions to both P6 and MS Project software packages. The detailed process of the eRCPM algorithm and the operation process of the prototype system are described using an example schedule. Through a case study, it was demonstrated that eRCPM appropriately identifies the necessary resource links and provides reliable total floats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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29 pages, 2625 KiB  
Article
Key Indicators for Linguistic Action Perspective in the Last Planner® System
by Luis A. Salazar, Paz Arroyo and Luis F. Alarcón
Sustainability 2020, 12(20), 8728; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208728 - 21 Oct 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3202
Abstract
Since 2001, a link has been established between the Last Planner® System (LPS) and Linguistic Action Perspective (LAP). However, to date, it has not been studied in sufficient depth. This research developed a system of indicators to measure and control the management [...] Read more.
Since 2001, a link has been established between the Last Planner® System (LPS) and Linguistic Action Perspective (LAP). However, to date, it has not been studied in sufficient depth. This research developed a system of indicators to measure and control the management of commitments, through the Design Science Research (DSR) methodology, and thus contribute to the development of the social dimension of sustainability that is often neglected in construction management research. The main contributions of this paper are a proposal of five main activities to apply the DSR method, a checklist to analyze the engagement of meeting participants, a notebook for last planners, delve into the variations that can occur to the basic movements of LAP, and the creation of a system of indicators hence updating the Percent Plan Complete (PPC) with a reliability indicator. The main limitation of this research is that the system was only validated in two South American countries that implemented LPS. In future studies, we propose to apply case studies in weekly planning meetings in other industries worldwide and to determine the recommended values to improve communication and achieve the proper implementation of LAP with LPS and without LPS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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19 pages, 4263 KiB  
Article
Sensitivity Analysis in Probabilistic Structural Design: A Comparison of Selected Techniques
by Zdeněk Kala
Sustainability 2020, 12(11), 4788; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114788 - 11 Jun 2020
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 7873
Abstract
Although more and more reliability-oriented sensitivity analysis (ROSA) techniques are now available, review and comparison articles of ROSA are absent. In civil engineering, many of the latest indices have never been used to analyse structural reliability for very small failure probability. This article [...] Read more.
Although more and more reliability-oriented sensitivity analysis (ROSA) techniques are now available, review and comparison articles of ROSA are absent. In civil engineering, many of the latest indices have never been used to analyse structural reliability for very small failure probability. This article aims to analyse and compare different sensitivity analysis (SA) techniques and discusses their strengths and weaknesses. For this purpose, eight selected sensitivity indices are first described and then applied in two different test cases. Four ROSA type indices are directly oriented on the failure probability or reliability index beta, and four other indices (of a different type) are oriented on the output of the limit state function. The case study and results correspond to cases under common engineering assumptions, where only two independent input variables with Gaussian distribution of the load action and the resistance are applied in the ultimate limit state. The last section of the article is dedicated to the analysis of the different results. Large differences between first-order sensitivity indices and very strong interaction effects obtained from ROSA are observed for very low values of failure probability. The obtained numerical results show that ROSA methods lack a common platform that clearly interprets the relationship of indices to their information value. This paper can help orientate in the selection of which sensitivity measure to use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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15 pages, 800 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Risk Assessment through the Analysis of Financial Losses from Third-Party Damage in Bridge Construction
by Sungjin Ahn, Taehui Kim and Ji-Myong Kim
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3435; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083435 - 23 Apr 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3435
Abstract
Due to the recent introduction of innovative construction methods and technologies, construction projects increasingly require sustainability in their high degrees of specialization and complex work processes. This is due to a wide variety of new risk factors associated with construction projects that can [...] Read more.
Due to the recent introduction of innovative construction methods and technologies, construction projects increasingly require sustainability in their high degrees of specialization and complex work processes. This is due to a wide variety of new risk factors associated with construction projects that can lead to extensive and severe damage. When an accident occurs during a construction project, it can cause material, property, or bodily damage not only within the actual construction site but also outside, affecting third parties. This study analyzed the record of such third-party damage and the subsequent financial losses in bridge construction management, to identify the objective and quantified relationship of risk indicators related to the damage and losses. In order to assess the actual losses in construction projects, we adopted the loss claim payout data as recorded and provided by a major Korean insurance company, and conducted a multiple regression analysis to identify the loss indicators and to develop a loss estimation model. In this study, the analysis of the data indicated that the superstructure type, the foundation type, floods, and company ranking by the amount of the contract were the four statistically significant risk indicators that affected financial losses from third-party damage, among the nine variables used as independent variables, which included the superstructure type, foundation type, superstructure construction method, maximum span length, floods, typhoons, total construction cost, total construction period, and company ranking. As this study focused on identifying the risk factors and producing a loss assessment model quantified in numerical values, the results provide important references for assessing and minimizing the risks to third parties and the consequential financial losses in bridge construction, while promoting sustainability objectives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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14 pages, 1991 KiB  
Article
Prediction of Risk Delay in Construction Projects Using a Hybrid Artificial Intelligence Model
by Zaher Mundher Yaseen, Zainab Hasan Ali, Sinan Q. Salih and Nadhir Al-Ansari
Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1514; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041514 - 18 Feb 2020
Cited by 79 | Viewed by 11113
Abstract
Project delays are the major problems tackled by the construction sector owing to the associated complexity and uncertainty in the construction activities. Artificial Intelligence (AI) models have evidenced their capacity to solve dynamic, uncertain and complex tasks. The aim of this current study [...] Read more.
Project delays are the major problems tackled by the construction sector owing to the associated complexity and uncertainty in the construction activities. Artificial Intelligence (AI) models have evidenced their capacity to solve dynamic, uncertain and complex tasks. The aim of this current study is to develop a hybrid artificial intelligence model called integrative Random Forest classifier with Genetic Algorithm optimization (RF-GA) for delay problem prediction. At first, related sources and factors of delay problems are identified. A questionnaire is adopted to quantify the impact of delay sources on project performance. The developed hybrid model is trained using the collected data of the previous construction projects. The proposed RF-GA is validated against the classical version of an RF model using statistical performance measure indices. The achieved results of the developed hybrid RF-GA model revealed a good resultant performance in terms of accuracy, kappa and classification error. Based on the measured accuracy, kappa and classification error, RF-GA attained 91.67%, 87% and 8.33%, respectively. Overall, the proposed methodology indicated a robust and reliable technique for project delay prediction that is contributing to the construction project management monitoring and sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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15 pages, 728 KiB  
Article
A Comprehensive Analysis: Sustainable Trends and Awarded LEED 2009 Credits in Vietnam
by Duy Hoang Pham, Byeol Kim, Joosung Lee, Abraham Chiwon Ahn and Yonghan Ahn
Sustainability 2020, 12(3), 852; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12030852 - 23 Jan 2020
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 2839
Abstract
Established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) became a sustainable leader of green building rating systems in American and many other countries. In Vietnam, LEED is expected as a potential solution in improving the [...] Read more.
Established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) became a sustainable leader of green building rating systems in American and many other countries. In Vietnam, LEED is expected as a potential solution in improving the sustainable quality of buildings for residents and solving the housing/infrastructure demand with a limit in resource consumption and minimizing negative environmental impacts. The study analyzed the awarded LEED 2009 credits by investigating the data of 36 of the total 42 LEED BC+D 2009 certified projects in Vietnam. The results of the investigation indicated the awarded credits were significantly implemented in Vietnam. These results were converted based on the summary updated on LEED version 4 of the USGBC report, to become a useful guideline for green building cost-efficiency strategies. Additionally, it also served as reference data for the Vietnamese public agency to update their green regulations based on the specific characteristics of Vietnam. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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19 pages, 1659 KiB  
Article
Integrated Design Process for Modular Construction Projects to Reduce Rework
by Hosang Hyun, Hyunsoo Kim, Hyun-Soo Lee, Moonseo Park and Jeonghoon Lee
Sustainability 2020, 12(2), 530; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12020530 - 10 Jan 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6450
Abstract
In modular construction projects, unit production and onsite work are conducted concurrently, enabling shorter duration, lower cost, and improved quality. Because of the nature of the work, building design details should be determined early in the design phase, which requires information from participants. [...] Read more.
In modular construction projects, unit production and onsite work are conducted concurrently, enabling shorter duration, lower cost, and improved quality. Because of the nature of the work, building design details should be determined early in the design phase, which requires information from participants. However, the design process for stick-built construction does not include such information, which leads to errors in design, such as omissions and conflicts of information from participants, causing reworking in the design phase. To reduce errors, an information flow should be identified representing when/what/how the information should be shared, and with whom. This paper proposes an integrated design process based on the information flow. To identify the flow, a precedence relationship between activities is represented using a dependency structure matrix (DSM). Then, the order of activities is rearranged using a partitioning algorithm. In this manner, unnecessary feedback and reverse information flow, which are related to errors, are reduced. Finally, the rearranged activities are proposed as an integrated design process. To validate the impact of the proposed process and methodology, interviews with experts were conducted. The validation results suggest that the project delivery method should also be considered in the early project phase in practical application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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21 pages, 845 KiB  
Article
The Modelling of Roof Installation Projects Using Decision Trees and the AHP Method
by Augustinas Maceika, Andrej Bugajev and Olga R. Šostak
Sustainability 2020, 12(1), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010059 - 19 Dec 2019
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3074
Abstract
In this work, the process of roofing projects’ execution is considered. The proper analysis of this process is important to optimise the behaviour of a project’s participants and to perform risk evaluation. The main result of this work is methodology, which can be [...] Read more.
In this work, the process of roofing projects’ execution is considered. The proper analysis of this process is important to optimise the behaviour of a project’s participants and to perform risk evaluation. The main result of this work is methodology, which can be used to optimise a project owner’s decisions and potentially can be applied for risk control or integrated into expert systems. This methodology includes the application of a decision tree and AHP (analytic hierarchy process) method to perform the modelling for roof installation project selection. In the proposed approach, a decision tree describes the process with nodes representing the states of a project. The tree includes the decision on whether to sell the project results or not, which requires the estimation of the subjective opinion of the project owner. These subjective values are used in the decision tree leaves. We propose to perform this estimation with the AHP method and describe how to do it in this paper. A particular example was considered. The proposed methodology was applied to that case, and all details of the process and results are provided. Using the proposed methodology, the adapted version of a specific, current situation model of project participants’ behaviours can be formed, allowing one to make the most efficient decisions in the light of the existing constraints. The application of results can increase the investor protection and contribute to the general sustainability of investments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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16 pages, 2589 KiB  
Article
LDA-Based Model for Defect Management in Residential Buildings
by Byeol Kim, Yonghan Ahn and Sanghyo Lee
Sustainability 2019, 11(24), 7201; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11247201 - 16 Dec 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2743
Abstract
This study systematically analyzes various defect patterns that occur during the warranty period of residential buildings using the loss distribution approach (LDA). This paper examines 16,108 defects from 133 residential buildings where defect disputes occurred between 2008 and 2018 in South Korea. The [...] Read more.
This study systematically analyzes various defect patterns that occur during the warranty period of residential buildings using the loss distribution approach (LDA). This paper examines 16,108 defects from 133 residential buildings where defect disputes occurred between 2008 and 2018 in South Korea. The analysis results showed that the defect losses were relatively high in reinforcement concrete (RC) work (3/5/10 years), waterproof work (5 years), and finish work (2 years). It is shown that RC work has a high frequency of defects, such as cracks in concrete in public spaces affected by external factors. In addition, it was analyzed that the type of defect needed high repair cost because the area where the defect—such as incorrect installation and missing task—occurred, needed construction again. According to the level of frequency and severity, losses were divided within four zones to provide detailed strategies (by period). This will effectively contribute to minimizing unnecessary losses from defects as quantifying the losses of defects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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25 pages, 2619 KiB  
Article
A Methodology for a Performance Information Model to Support Facility Management
by Rossella Marmo, Maurizio Nicolella, Francesco Polverino and Andrej Tibaut
Sustainability 2019, 11(24), 7007; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11247007 - 08 Dec 2019
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 6845
Abstract
Current facility management practice relies on different systems which require new technologies to integrate and manage information more easily. Building information modeling offers a good opportunity to improve facility information management by providing a unified platform for various data sources rather than an [...] Read more.
Current facility management practice relies on different systems which require new technologies to integrate and manage information more easily. Building information modeling offers a good opportunity to improve facility information management by providing a unified platform for various data sources rather than an intuitive information interface. Although current research trends reveal that there is a continuously growing interest in facility management aided by building information modeling, an integrated model is still hard to obtain. This paper aims at developing a novel methodology based on building information modeling and facility management systems integration, underpinned by a performance information model. The implementation process of a performance information model is described, including information technologies involved, the data and process requirements, and the building performance assessment methods used. A first pilot case-study has been conducted with regards to surgery rooms in healthcare buildings. The proposal can support condition-based maintenance work schedule, as well as the achievement of organizational, environmental, and technical requirements. Among the practical implications found: Improved technological and environmental performances assessment; better visualization of building condition; improved decision-making process; facilitated maintenance tasks planning and maintenance records management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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16 pages, 517 KiB  
Article
Exploring On-Site Safety Knowledge Transfer in the Construction Industry
by Ying-Hua Huang and Tzung-Ru Yang
Sustainability 2019, 11(22), 6426; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11226426 - 15 Nov 2019
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3512
Abstract
A primary cause of occupational accidents is on-site workers not having proper or even adequate safety knowledge and awareness, leading to them failing to employ safety measures, equipment, or behavior to protect themselves. The complexity of construction projects and changes in organizational personnel [...] Read more.
A primary cause of occupational accidents is on-site workers not having proper or even adequate safety knowledge and awareness, leading to them failing to employ safety measures, equipment, or behavior to protect themselves. The complexity of construction projects and changes in organizational personnel complicate the safety knowledge transfer process. Therefore, to reduce occupational accidents in the construction industry, this study explored the on-site safety knowledge transfer process as well as its relationship with a safe working environment; it did this to understand the associations between various constructs in the process, which could be used as a reference for management personnel to promote on-site safety education and behaviors. This would allow safety knowledge to be learned and practiced by on-site workers, changing their unsafe behaviors and creating a safe on-site work environment. This study used structural equation modeling to empirically study the relationship between various constructs during safety knowledge transfer on a construction site. The results revealed that an excellent safety knowledge transfer environment can lead to favorable safety behavior as well as safety knowledge application and inspiration of on-site workers, which would affect their safety behaviors. More satisfactory safety behaviors of on-site workers could produce a safer working environment on the construction site. Moreover, although safety application and inspiration do not directly affect the safety of a work environment, they do so indirectly through safety behaviors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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16 pages, 775 KiB  
Article
Causes and Mitigation Strategies of Delay in Power Construction Projects: Gaps between Owners and Contractors in Successful and Unsuccessful Projects
by Edwin Thomas Banobi and Wooyong Jung
Sustainability 2019, 11(21), 5973; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11215973 - 27 Oct 2019
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 8941
Abstract
Few studies have verified the different causes of project delays between the owner and contractor perspectives. This article’s goal is to find what the causes of delay are and how to mitigate this delay depending on project performance. Thus, this study investigated 82 [...] Read more.
Few studies have verified the different causes of project delays between the owner and contractor perspectives. This article’s goal is to find what the causes of delay are and how to mitigate this delay depending on project performance. Thus, this study investigated 82 owner-side experts and 106 contractor-side experts in Tanzanian power construction projects. In successful projects (less than 10% time delay), the owners and contractors weighted similar causes such as vandalism and permits from authorities. They suggested similar mitigation strategies such as close project supervision, capacity building training, and proper logistics management. While in unsuccessful projects (more than 10% time delay), they exhibited many different responses. In particular, contractors weighted the causes incurred by changes in scope, owner’s poor supervision, delays in approval, failure in planning and designing risk more than contractors. Owners weighted the mitigation strategies such as top management support and timely procurement more than contractors. These findings will help project managers to understand owners’ and contactors’ different concerns and develop better solutions. This study mainly contributes to improving delay management in power construction projects in developing countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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17 pages, 830 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Construction Project Management (SCPM) Evaluation—A Case Study of the Guangzhou Metro Line-7, PR China
by Na Dong, Yanting Fu, Feng Xiong, Lujie Li, Yibin Ao and Igor Martek
Sustainability 2019, 11(20), 5731; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11205731 - 16 Oct 2019
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5687
Abstract
As a pillar industry of the Chinese national economy, the construction sector needs to improve its level of management to embrace sustainable development. Sustainable construction project management (SCPM) performance evaluation can help to raise the level of management. However, the existing evaluation system [...] Read more.
As a pillar industry of the Chinese national economy, the construction sector needs to improve its level of management to embrace sustainable development. Sustainable construction project management (SCPM) performance evaluation can help to raise the level of management. However, the existing evaluation system that takes into account both the sustainable development and the dimension of traditional project management is meager. In order to address this problem, this study sets out an integrated sustainable performance evaluation method for SCPM, along with a comprehensive analysis of both traditional and future management directions. Through literature review and enterprise data analysis of the relevant factors of finance, schedule, quality, and safety, etc., indicators are filtered and classified. In order to determine the strength of each indicator, a questionnaire is administered to construction professionals within a large construction enterprise (group). From the result of the weight with an improved Group-G1 (iG1) method (finance 0.206, schedule 0.206, quality 0.185, safety 0.134, informatization 0.134, and greenization 0.134), it indicates that finance, schedule and quality management are still top three important dimensions in SCPM. However, amazingly, the greenization and informatization management is as significant as safety management. Finally, based on set pair analysis, the Guangzhou Metro Line 7 project is used as a verifying case, affirming the validity of the sustainable performance evaluation model. The above SCPM evaluation model can not only provide a guideline for construction companies’ sustainable management in China, but also serve as reference cases for other countries/regions to carry out relevant research work. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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15 pages, 1257 KiB  
Article
Developing A Semi-Markov Process Model for Bridge Deterioration Prediction in Shanghai
by Yu Fang and Lijun Sun
Sustainability 2019, 11(19), 5524; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195524 - 07 Oct 2019
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3570
Abstract
The performance of urban bridges will deteriorate gradually throughout service life. Bridge deterioration prediction is essential for bridge management, especially for maintenance planning and decision-making. By considering the time-dependent reliability in the bridge deterioration process, a Weibull distribution based semi-Markov process model for [...] Read more.
The performance of urban bridges will deteriorate gradually throughout service life. Bridge deterioration prediction is essential for bridge management, especially for maintenance planning and decision-making. By considering the time-dependent reliability in the bridge deterioration process, a Weibull distribution based semi-Markov process model for urban bridge deterioration prediction was proposed in this paper. Historical inspection records stored in the Bridge Manage System (BMS) database in Shanghai since 2004 were investigated. The Weibull distribution was used to characterize the bridge deterioration behavior within each condition rating (CR), and the semi-Markov process was used to calculate the bridge transition probabilities between adjacent CRs. After that, the service life expectancy of urban bridges, the transition probabilities of the deck system and the substructure, and the future CR proportion change caused by deterioration was predicted. The prediction results indicate that the life expectancy of concrete beam bridges is about 77 years. The decay rate of the deck system is the fastest among three major parts, and the substructure has a much longer life expectancy. It suggests that the overall prediction accuracy of the semi-Markov model in network-level is better than the regression analysis method. Furthermore, the proportion of bridges in intact condition will gradually decrease in the next few decades, while the percentage of bridges in the qualified and bad state will increase rapidly. The prediction results show a good agreement with the actual deterioration trend of the urban bridges in Shanghai. In order to alleviate the pressure of bridge maintenance in the future, it is necessary to adopt a more targeted preventive maintenance strategy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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17 pages, 411 KiB  
Article
Implementing LEED v4 BD+C Projects in Vietnam: Contributions and Challenges for General Contractor
by Duy Hoang Pham, Joosung Lee and Yonghan Ahn
Sustainability 2019, 11(19), 5449; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195449 - 01 Oct 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3477
Abstract
Sustainable construction addresses both rising housing demand and the need to reduce energy consumption, but is not yet widespread in Vietnam, although the number of Green Building Certified projects has increased significantly since 2015, especially those with LEED certification. Certification adds value to [...] Read more.
Sustainable construction addresses both rising housing demand and the need to reduce energy consumption, but is not yet widespread in Vietnam, although the number of Green Building Certified projects has increased significantly since 2015, especially those with LEED certification. Certification adds value to the project but also incurs additional costs and implementation challenges for general contractors (GCs) and other stakeholders. The growing popularity of LEED buildings requires GCs to understand their role in fulfilling the LEED requirements. We therefore conducted a thorough review of the previous research on LEED v4 guidelines and their local equivalents to determine what is expected of GCs working on LEED v4 BD + C projects in Vietnam. A survey of 72 experts, engineers, and architects working in the construction sector identified the LEED tasks where Vietnamese GCs lack experience and suggested solutions to address this shortfall were developed. In particular, Vietnamese GCs lacked experience in implementing their sustainable roles. These results provide a useful foundation for Vietnamese GCs seeking to expand the scope of their LEED work and identified necessary training. Our findings will also guide future research to help GCs in Vietnam adapt to LEED’s sustainability requirements and support sustainable construction in Vietnam. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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18 pages, 4183 KiB  
Article
Smartphone-Based Data Collection System for Repetitive Concrete Temperature Monitoring in High-Rise Building Construction
by Hyunsu Lim and Taehoon Kim
Sustainability 2019, 11(19), 5211; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195211 - 23 Sep 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2625
Abstract
The systematic collection and management of on-site information in high-rise building construction are important factors in construction management. Recently, wireless sensor network (WSN) technology has been utilized to manage the various tasks involved in high-rise construction efficiently and in a timely manner. However, [...] Read more.
The systematic collection and management of on-site information in high-rise building construction are important factors in construction management. Recently, wireless sensor network (WSN) technology has been utilized to manage the various tasks involved in high-rise construction efficiently and in a timely manner. However, because of the repeated installation of sensors and repeaters along with the construction progress, the existing WSN technology is ineffective when applied to the temperature management of concrete in structural work. Here, we propose a new data collection method in which a worker uses a smartphone to repeatedly monitor concrete temperature. In field implementation, the proposed system enables concrete temperature management without a transmission gap for monitoring in 60-min intervals with smartphones provided to 20% of the structural workers. Next, a case study was performed on a high-rise building construction site to analyze the effectiveness of the proposed system in terms of cost savings by avoiding schedule delay. The results of the case study show that the proposed system can reduce the additional work costs resulting from delays in concrete curing and save up to $18,907 in labor costs. In addition, this system can reduce the temperature management time of the quality manager and enable more efficient management. It is also expected that this system will contribute to on-site waste management by reducing the number of embedded sensors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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31 pages, 1275 KiB  
Article
Identifying Significant Risks and Analyzing Risk Relationship for Construction PPP Projects in China Using Integrated FISM-MICMAC Approach
by Xiaoyan Jiang, Kun Lu, Bo Xia, Yong Liu and Caiyun Cui
Sustainability 2019, 11(19), 5206; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195206 - 23 Sep 2019
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 4582
Abstract
To meet the growing demand for public facilities and services, many developing countries, including China, have adopted the concept of public–private partnership (PPP). However, there are many risks in PPP projects. Furthermore, these risks affect each other, which may lead to project failure. [...] Read more.
To meet the growing demand for public facilities and services, many developing countries, including China, have adopted the concept of public–private partnership (PPP). However, there are many risks in PPP projects. Furthermore, these risks affect each other, which may lead to project failure. However, the existing research on the PPP risk relationship has not gone into sufficient detail. Therefore, in order to fill this literature gap, this study proposes a procedural method to analyze the correlation between PPP risks. Firstly, this study, identifies the risks of construction PPP projects in China by combining the literature review with a case study and interviews. Then, fuzzy interpretative structural modeling (FISM) is used to reflect the relationships between these risks and reveal the failure mechanisms of PPP projects. In addition, based on matrix impact cross-reference multiplication applied to a classification (MICMAC) analysis, the risk is divided into four clusters, according to the driving and dependence power, to show the relationship level of the risk. Finally, the paper compares and discusses the research results with other studies and puts forward some suggestions on PPP risks. The FISM-MICMAC method adopted in this study considers the fuzzy of the PPP risk relationship and improves upon previous studies. In addition, the method of FISM-MICMAC can provide a new risk assessment tool for risk management strategies in the field of construction engineering and management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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17 pages, 5748 KiB  
Article
Development of a Bridge Management System Based on the Building Information Modeling Technology
by Chunfeng Wan, Zhenwei Zhou, Siyuan Li, Youliang Ding, Zhao Xu, Zegang Yang, Yefei Xia and Fangzhou Yin
Sustainability 2019, 11(17), 4583; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11174583 - 23 Aug 2019
Cited by 56 | Viewed by 6464
Abstract
With the development of the Chinese transportation industry, the number of bridges has increased significantly, but this results in high pressure of structural maintenance and management. Bridge management system (BMS) is critical for efficient maintenance and ensured safety of bridge structures during long-term [...] Read more.
With the development of the Chinese transportation industry, the number of bridges has increased significantly, but this results in high pressure of structural maintenance and management. Bridge management system (BMS) is critical for efficient maintenance and ensured safety of bridge structures during long-term operation. Building information modeling (BIM) is an emerging technology with powerful visualization and informatization capability, making it an ideal tool for developing modern management systems. This paper introduces the development of a bridge management system based on the BIM technology. Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and International Framework for Dictionaries (IFD) standards are studied and extended, and coding rules are proposed for the Chinese bridge industry. Also, a standard structural modeling method is proposed to fast build the bridge BIM model. Web-BIM oriented bridge management is proposed, and portable devices are introduced into the system. Collaborative management is realized for different users. The BIM-based maintenance management system is designed. Finally, a practical BIM-based BMS is established for a long-span cable-stayed bridge in China. This system integrates the BIM with the geographic information system (GIS) and contains information management, inspection management, technical condition evaluation, and enables users to cooperate with each other. Such a BMS could help to improve the management efficiency and ensure its normal operation, providing a useful platform for the maintenance of massive bridges in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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18 pages, 818 KiB  
Article
Promoting Owners’ BIM Adoption Behaviors to Achieve Sustainable Project Management
by Hongping Yuan, Yu Yang and Xiaolong Xue
Sustainability 2019, 11(14), 3905; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11143905 - 18 Jul 2019
Cited by 50 | Viewed by 6344
Abstract
Although building information modeling (BIM) has a promising future in the architecture, engineering and construction industry, its wider adoption and implementation is desired. Grounded with a technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework and the theory of technology acceptance model (TAM), this study extracted “social influence”, “organizational [...] Read more.
Although building information modeling (BIM) has a promising future in the architecture, engineering and construction industry, its wider adoption and implementation is desired. Grounded with a technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework and the theory of technology acceptance model (TAM), this study extracted “social influence”, “organizational support”, “BIM technical features”, and “government BIM policies” as four key external antecedents—in reference to the particular BIM practices in China—and proposed a model to predict project owners’ BIM adoption behaviors. To test the proposed model, structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was applied for configuration analyses on a sample of 188 project owners from the Chinese construction industry. Results show that BIM technical features, and government BIM policies have positive effects on perceived usefulness, but social influence and organizational support have no significant influence on perceived usefulness. Furthermore, both social influence and BIM technical features have positive effects on perceived ease of use, while organizational support and government BIM policies have no significant influence on perceived ease of use. Attitude plays a significant intermediary role among perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and behavior intention. Additionally, attitude significantly affects behavior intention, and behavior intention can also affect BIM adoption behavior. This study is the first attempt to investigate project owners’ behaviors toward BIM adoption and the findings are expected to provide a better understanding of the essential elements of project owners’ BIM adoption behaviors and guide industry practitioners in developing proper strategies to achieve more effective BIM implementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)
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