Journal of Construction Engineering and Management

Contract dispute resolution is an area in which design and construction professionals often require legal advice. Even though construction disputes are frequent and their resolution difficult, many times legal advice is not sought because it is not available or because it is expensive. This paper presents the first attempt at developing a construction contract legal analysis computer system. The system called the Differing Site Conditions Analysis System (DSCAS) is based on the techniques of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and is patterned after the Federal Government Standard Form General Conditions (23‐A, GP‐4). The DSCAS system is described, results of initial tests are presented and recommendations for future work are detailed. The initial testing of DSCAS quite adequately demonstrates that much potential exists for further application of AI to claims and contract management.

Injury data were analyzed to determine if any relationship existed between the dates of injury occurrences and the varying positions of the moon. Since the analysis of injury data from a single construction project yielded inconclusive results, a larger sample was sought. Data were obtained on all industrial injuries that were reported to the Missouri Division of Worker's Compensation in the years 1980 and 1981. The analysis of these injuries showed that there is no discernable pattern of injury occurrence relative to the lunar cycle.

The contribution of site management to the achievement of construction performance objectives is examined. Drawing upon existing empirical data and linking them with research findings in the social sciences, the writers argue that there is often insufficient attention paid towards the range of complex and interdependent variables that can influence construction site activity. As a consequence, the predictive capacity of such research is limited, and the recommendations often derived, particularly concerning appropriate managerial actions, often fail to account for significant variability in circumstances. The applicability of the concept of “leadership” to the construction site situation, and its relationship with key component variables are singled out for attention.

An approach is developed to determine an optimal activity compression policy when a project is required to be completed at a certain time with a prespecified probability. The approach is based on a probabilistic version of linear programming, called chance constrained linear programming (CCLP). In the CCLP formulation of the optimal network compression, each activity duration is not replaced by the mean duration. Instead each constraint is required to be satisfied by a prespecified probability. These chance constraints can be replaced by equivalent deterministic constraints when the mean and variance of each activity duration is known. The resulting CCLP formulation is solved for a numerical example. The solution has several managerial implications. Most significantly, the solution provides a quantitative means to assess the trade‐off between the cost and risk associated with the project duration. Moreover, computational efforts necessary to solve CCLP are no greater than those necessary to solve deterministic linear programming formulation of optimal network compression.

A method has been developed for classification of energy use associated with the delivery process for a construction project. A study has been conducted for a large civil works project to identify the areas of major consumption of energy. An energy estimating procedure has been developed for projects to identify the imbedded energy content of in‐place end products and in‐process components of the construction end products. The procedure has been applied to a sample project to identify major areas of energy use and opportunities for better energy utilization and conservation. The opportunities identified have been classified in a manner paralleling the classification scheme developed.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) System is a heavy rail, rapid transit system superimposed on the existing fabric of the Atlanta urban area. The MARTA program presented a unique opportunity to assess changes in the construction management process during a major project characterized by repetitive type contracts and a stable management group. A contract packaging approach was used to break the contract work into biddable packages, large enough to attract major national construction contractors, but small enough to provide real competition. A claims review board was established to process contractors' claims expeditiously. A list of practical management suggestions, compiled as a result of the experience gained from the MARTA construction management program, is included.

Precast concrete components can be used in building construction within a comprehensive “closed” system, or as separate elements in conjunction with any building method. The feasibility of this second possibility was examined within the framework of a conventional building system and the following alternatives of elements utilization: prestressed modular floor slabs, exterior walls, and a combination of slabs and exterior walls. Each of these alternatives was compared to the conventional system without precast elements. The following criteria were used as a basis for the comparison: the labor requirement, the direct building cost (labor and materials), the construction time, and other considerations of more subjective nature. The findings of the study indicated that the utilization of precast elements might considerably reduce the labor requirement on site, and the project construction time. The direct building costs were almost unaffected by the alternative solutions.

Construction education at the university level has advanced significantly in instruction during the past 15 years. However, the development of construction research has been minimal. Numerous studies have been conducted to define construction research and to categorize areas of needs, but poor links between researchers and users have been identified as a hindrance in development of R & D. This paper presents a mechanism that can be used to foster and develop an effective construction research effort by establishing regional centers for construction research. Implementation of centers can be achieved with the mutual cooperation between university faculty members and individuals in the construction industry.

How deep and how hard should a friction pile be driven to achieve the minimum unit cost of bearing capacity? The tradeoffs are modeled in terms of optimum depth of penetration limited by: (1) Available order length; and (2) allowable blow count on the last foot of penetration. Usually, it will prove cost effective to drive the longest pile available as deep and as hard as possible no matter how much time is required, as long as the pile is not damaged. There exists a narrow range of conditions where this approach is contraindicated. A suitable formula for finding the optimum depth of penetration within the range is derived. The increase in blow count with increased penetration is developed as gradient $r*\text{.}$ As a dimensionless factor, this parameter is a relative measure of the resistance of soil to penetration. Among other uses it is a measure of work. This factor can also be expressed in blows per foot (meter) per foot (meter). In this context, it is used with the formula for finding the optimum depth of penetration.

Quality control is a means by which project design engineers may help eliminate some construction-related problems and address the issue of an engineer's obligation to the general public. Ignoring quality control or relying on sporadic inspections are fundamentally inadequate approaches since they do not obtain basic construction data for the engineer, fully monitor the quality of materials and workmanship critical to structural integrity, or ensure that the owner gets what he has paid for. The project engineer has an obligation to treat quality control the same way he treats quality design. Project owners must be made aware of the risks involved and how quality control can address some of these risks. The main ingredient of a soundly engineered approach to quality control during construction is the assurance that the engineer's ``standard of care'' will not change after the design phase. A qualified resident inspector—an extension of the design engineer—will determine how effective quality control will be. Not only can expectations of design performance be met, but the construction phase can be become less demanding and the whole project more cost-effective if early attention is given to quality control.