Journal of Construction Engineering and Management

The way in which research and technology development is conducted in most industrialized countries is changing dramatically. Major changes include: the development of a partnership between the industry and the research community, internationalization, the stronger emphasis on integrated topics and approaches as opposed to the traditional emphasis on technical research, and the dominant role of electronic communication. On top of that in most industrialized countries there is a growing emphasis on building and construction research and development (R&D) programs on topics related to information technology (IT) and sustainable construction. With the exception of only a small number of research institutes, companies, and universities, it is only very recently that those U.S. organizations active in the field of building and construction R&D have started to strive for a more active role and a more innovative attitude concerning the development of a partnership between industry and the research community, and the development of international collaboration.

Simulation and modeling of construction systems have been actively researched over the past 20 years. This paper demonstrates how Petri nets, a powerful modeling tool previously used for modeling computer networks and automated manufacturing systems, can be used effectively for modeling construction systems. This paper describes the Petri net approach to modeling and shows how models of construction systems can be developed. Several common Petri net structures and features useful in construction system modeling are described. Time and color Petri nets and their application in modeling specific characteristics of construction systems are discussed. Two illustrative examples are presented and the advantages and disadvantages of Petri nets as tools for the modeling and simulation of construction operations are detailed.

Currently, building companies are focusing many development efforts on improving information transformation processes. However, daily-life practice is characterized by islands of information. Building information normally resides in diverse and distinct sources, such as the heads of experienced engineers, literature, building codes, computer applications, drawings, and databases. Connecting these islands, e.g., by automating communication, is a major challenge. This paper presents an approach to open, high-level, computer-interpretable communication between project participants. “Open” means independent of the participants and their computer systems, “high-level” means that no human interpretation is required for handling information and knowledge, and “computer-interpretable” means that no human interaction is needed for data transfer. The (STEP) product-modeling approach provides a basis for this kind of communication. The writers extended this approach to project modeling and more scope layers. They applied their approach to the integration of design and construction of precast concrete structures.

Construction accidents cause many human tragedies, demotivate construction workers, disrupt construction processes, delay progress, and adversely affect the cost, productivity, and reputation of the construction industry. Therefore, use of effective planning and control techniques to prevent them can have a significant human, social, and financial impact. This paper develops a framework for a computerized safety and health knowledge-intensive system that has been implemented and integrated with current critical path method (CPM) scheduling software. A discussion of current industry problems is initially presented to verify the need and approach taken. The purpose and rationale for a knowledge-intensive integrated system is presented to show how the development of such a system will improve on current industry practice. Next, the design and implementation of the system called IKIS-Safety—integrated knowledge-intensive prototype system for construction safety and health performance control—is described. Finally, the paper highlights the contributions and benefits of such a prototype system.

This paper summarizes a research project that was conducted on the development and use of international standards and the ISO 9000 series of quality standards in the construction industry. The research investigated all aspects of international standards and included an extensive survey of members of the construction industry and members of related industries. The methods used for the study are presented along with the results obtained and an analysis of the results. The topics covered include: involvement in the development of international standards, competitiveness issues related to international standards, awareness of standards, the importance of international standards, the regulation of standards, the use of standards, the ISO 9000 registration process, the importance of ISO 9000, and results from hypothesis tests.

This research examines the behavior of a large full-scale scaffold frame shoring subjected to pattern loads with various load paths. In this test program, sand bags were placed on the top of the scaffold frame shoring to simulate the weight of fresh concrete during construction. The routes of placing sand bags are based on the paths of placing fresh concrete in actual construction sites. The test results show that the axial tube forces of scaffolds just below the location of a newly placed sand bag increase sharply. In addition, the axial tube forces do not change significantly when sand bags are placed at other positions on formwork during the load path. It is shown that the effect of influence surfaces on the scaffold frame shoring is not apparent during the placing of sand bags. In addition, the maximum axial tube force of a scaffold subjected to different load paths is very close to the maximum axial tube force of this specific scaffold after the completion of the loading path. Thus, a typical uniform load as used for an applied concrete load in design can replace the actual fresh concrete pattern load during construction. Both lateral forces acted at the top of a scaffold frame shoring and the sidesway of scaffolds are small during tests. The regions of some larger axial forces in the scaffold frame shoring vary in different load paths.

As a result of increased globalization, characterized by freely accessible communications and transportation systems, the traditionally geographically dependent construction industry finds itself in the midst of industry changes in which the borders between competitors are being removed. As a result, construction industry organizations need to react to change and increased competition. One method for doing so is formation of construction alliances to provide for the resource, geography specific, and technological needs of project owners. The objective of this paper is to present the results of interviews with leaders in the Japanese construction industry, with a perspective on perceptions of change in the international and domestic market, and the use of alliances to react to those changes. The results indicate an increasing need to form alliances to remain competitive across and within traditional market borders. Additionally, the impact of the spread of the free market economy is noted as a significant factor in the rise of increasing competitiveness. The importance of alliance success is stressed, and the means to that success is careful integration of cultures and technology during alliance formation.

Pragmatic construction professionals, accustomed to intense price competition and focused on the bottom line, have difficulty justifying investments in advanced technology. Researchers and industry professionals need improved tools to analyze how technology affects the performance of the firm. This paper reports the results of research to begin answering the question, “does technology matter?” The researchers developed a set of five dimensions for technology strategy, collected information regarding these dimensions along with four measures of competitive performance in five bridge construction firms, and analyzed the information to identify relationships between technology strategy and competitive performance. Three technology strategy dimensions—competitive positioning, depth of technology strategy, and organizational fit—showed particularly strong correlations with the competitive performance indicators of absolute growth in contract awards and contract award value per technical employee. These findings indicate that technology does matter. The research also provides ways to analyze options for approaching technology and ways to relate technology to competitive performance for use by managers. It also provides a valuable set of research measures for technology strategy.

There is a commonly held perception that the United States is failing to adequately educate its young people, and some would suggest the construction industry is inordinately exposed to educational shortcomings. The validity of this notion of literacy skill deficiencies in the construction industry relative to the nation is addressed through a focused, exploratory assessment. This assessment involved administering standardized literacy tests to employees of participating construction companies at various job sites around Birmingham, Ala., and statistically analyzing the collected data. This analysis on the exploratory sample provides a comparison of literacy skills between the Birmingham construction workforce and the general population, an assessment of literacy skills by job categories, and observed differences in employee literacy skills between contractors.

This paper presents a space planning method for multistory building construction. Current formal space planning in practice is limited to site layout and logistics, where space is needed for activities for extended periods of time. The space planning needed to sequence activities inside a building under construction is often neglected. The proposed space planning method is a manual method that provides a logical order and priority for space planning decisions. This helps a construction planner to: (1) identify the specific spaces needed for activities; (2) define locations for these spaces on building floors; (3) develop a sequence of work that defines the order spaces are occupied; and (4) identify potential spatial conflicts. Detail is added to the plan as needed. Through evaluation of 74 activities on four case study projects, the proposed method was found to be an accurate representation of the planning needed in multistory building construction. Two applications of the planning method identified interference problems before they occurred in the field. This space planning method offers construction managers a useful technique to develop efficient interior sequences that minimize interference and work space congestion.

This paper describes a study of 121 weeks of labor productivity data from four industrial projects. The objective is to quantify the effects of scheduled overtime. First, it describes how the data were collected, processed, and analyzed. The results show losses of efficiency of 10–15% for 50and 60-h work weeks. The results compare favorably to other published data including the Business Roundtable (BRT) curves. Therefore, it was concluded that the BRT curve is a reasonable estimate of losses that may occur on average industrial projects. Second, this paper addresses the reasons for efficiency losses. For this analysis disruptions in three categories—resource deficiencies, rework, and management deficiencies—were analyzed. The analyses showed that the disruption frequency, which is the number of disruptions per 100 work hours, worsened as more days per week were worked. This led to the conclusion that losses of efficiency are caused by the inability to provide materials, tools, equipment, and information at an accelerated rate.

Planned schedule compression can be thought of as a reduction of the normal experienced time or optimal time for the type and size project being considered. In contrast to other forms of schedule compression, planned schedule compression is anticipated and provisions are made before the start of the construction phase of the project. This paper presents the development of the planned schedule compression concept file for electrical contractors. Each concept attempts to provide a significant, distinct, and executable objective for enhancing the construction process and minimizing the impacts of schedule compression. Twenty-nine different concepts are presented, categorically subdivided into seven sections including the organization, materials, equipment and tools, information, labor, support services, and construction methods. Each of these concepts can be effectively used during planned schedule compression situations. Seven concepts, one each involving employee incentives, material handling, vendor performance, equipment and tools, constructability, setup crews, and construction methods, have been selected from the concept file and are presented in their entirety.