Journal of Construction Engineering and Management

Abstract

A review of literature and practice indicates that there has been a lack of academic research and that there is a shortage of appropriate methods for construction planning and project scheduling for development of projects in northern and remote regions. This study proposes a new project planning method that features seamless integration of specific time-window constraints due to seasonal cycles and environmental regulations. In contrast with the established critical path method, with the proposed method there is no need to estimate each activity’s duration up front as schedule inputs. Instead, a project plan is devised analytically, satisfying all time-window constraints imposed by the environment and precedence relationships defined by construction method. The resulting allowable duration of each activity is further confirmed through activity-level planning. A case study was conducted to schedule the construction of a river-crossing bridge situated at a remote location in the northern region of Canada. Two construction methods (namely crane erection versus incremental launching) were contrasted in two application scenarios. A third application scenario investigated the effect of adjusting the time-window constraint for berm installation activities in implementing the incremental launching method.

Practical Applications

A novel project scheduling method is proposed herein to assist practitioners in planning construction activities in northern and remote regions subject to limited accessibility, seasonal cycles, and harsh environmental conditions. Current mainstream project planning methods and tools (e.g., critical path method and Primavera P6) do not adequately factor in environment-induced constraints in scheduling analysis. Therefore, the resulting project milestones, duration, and budget, which often serve as contractual commitments and baselines to assess project performance, are almost certain to be overly optimistic and unrealistic. In the proposed new method, a planner needs to specify time-window constraints due to seasonal conditions and environmental regulations. A project schedule is analytically devised, satisfying all the time-window constraints imposed by the environment and precedence relationships defined by the construction method. A case study was conducted to schedule the construction of a river-crossing bridge situated at a remote location in the northern region of Canada. The construction method of crane erection was contrasted with incremental launching while holding all activity time-window constraints identical.

Building information modeling (BIM) creates tremendous value for civil engineering through information integration. Not only does it make the formulation of data storage strategies more important at the beginning of a civil engineering project, but it also shows the potential value of further research into a unified BIM model that highly integrates all information in the project life cycle. However, it is not easy to store all the information in the project life cycle into a unified BIM model. To achieve this goal, this study proposed a shareable BIM back-end data system object-oriented database for BIM front-end applications (BIM-OODB), and established its complete system configuration. Based on the database design theory, three main aspects of BIM-OODB design are discussed, namely use case design, architecture design, and schema design. Then, four demonstration cases were selected to discuss the system implementation process of BIM-OODB in building and infrastructure projects. The results show that BIM-OODB has the potential to enable all participants to work around the unified shareable data system throughout the project life cycle. This study provides a reference for civil engineers to formulate data storage strategies in the early stage of a civil engineering projects and IT engineers to develop civil engineering data applications.

Contractual governance is considered sufficient to govern particular types of exchanges. In the presence of well-known transaction hazards, however, relational governance is increasingly viewed as a necessary complement to limit transaction hazard risks in many circumstances such as public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements. Consequently, PPPs should employ different governance mechanisms such as trilateral governance and shadow of the future to achieve this complementarity. Relational contracting, which aims to govern transactions through mutual relationships within a project’s overall contractual framework, offers a specific avenue for this purpose. In particular, relational practices such as partnering and regular meetings between the client and concessionaire can be included in a project contract to improve relational governance. Different researchers have previously performed in-depth reviews and syntheses of governance mechanisms, but a similar synthesis related to relational practices is missing from the literature. Also, in theory, relational practices specified in contracts can act as enablers of governance mechanisms in PPP projects, so this linkage needs further investigation. Consequently, a review of the literature was completed to synthesize relational practices for inclusion in PPP contracts, and these practices were also linked with well-established governance mechanisms. Six categories of contractual relational practices were identified: communicating/negotiating, partnering, resolving conflicts, monitoring, executing changes, and allocating risks which were further linked with governance mechanisms. For instance, the trilateral governance mechanism was linked to dispute review board, mediation, and arbitration practices. This research provides insights into effective contractual designs by identifying relational practices that can trigger governance mechanisms and promote contractual and relational governance complementarity in PPP projects.

Psychosocial job quality has been proven to be linked to workers’ mental health. Drawing on a life course perspective, this study sought to identify, compare, and contrast the psychosocial characteristics of job quality that are related to mental health in three age groups of manual/nonmanagerial construction workers, i.e., young workers, middle-aged workers, and older workers. Data were extracted from the national and longitudinal Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey data set. The study used 15 waves of data from the HILDA survey with 6,352 responses from 1,768 participants. Longitudinal random-intercept regression models were used to examine the association between each of five aspects of job quality (i.e., job demands and complexity, job control, perceived job security, effort-reward fairness, and job intensity) and mental health. Overall, the research results showed that construction workers’ mental health declined when experiencing adverse job conditions and the magnitude of decline increased as the number of job adversities increased. Specifically, workers of the midage group experienced more accelerated decline in mental health compared with the other two groups when experiencing two adverse job conditions. Age-related differences were also identified in the way that individual job quality aspects are related to mental health. Although low job security and perceived unfairness of effort and reward were significant predictors of mental ill-health in all age groups, job demand and complexity and high job intensity were predictors of mental ill-health in midage and older construction workers but were not significant contributors to mental ill-health among younger workers. The findings highlight the need to develop targeted approaches to protecting and promoting the mental health of construction workers in different age groups.

Abstract

Negotiation is the most frequently used and economical way of resolving construction disputes. However, negotiators are not always rational decision makers. It is not uncommon to find that negotiations fail despite the tabling of notable settlement options. Having the intention to settle is paramount in achieving an amicable settlement. To improve the success rate of construction dispute negotiations, this study posits exploring negotiators’ intention to settle from the perspective of how they perceive failure. Applying construal-level theory (CLT) and the concept of psychological distance (PD), it is hypothesized that construction dispute negotiators having the proximal psychological distance of negotiation failure would raise the respective concern that mediates intention to settle. With data collected from experienced construction dispute negotiators, the results of the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) supported the hypothesis. The findings of the study indicated that the negotiators’ distal perception of and low concern for failure can obscure their intention to settle. Furthermore, the results indicated that a reduced PD could enhance negotiators’ intention to settle. This finding explains why reality testing is effective in steering negotiators’ decisions along a rational course. In practice, a realistic assessment of the consequences of a negotiation failure by either the negotiation team or a neutral third party would raise attention to failure. The resulting proximal PD would lead to a stronger intention to settle. The study is novel in (1) offering a vital theoretical link between the perception of failure and the settlement intention; and (2) anchoring the functions of reality testing with the concept of PD.

Practical Applications

The resolution of construction disputes typically starts with negotiations. Negotiated settlements are the most economical outcome, as a high price can be paid if resource-laden resolution mechanisms are deployed. It is disappointing to see promising negotiations fail because the negotiators were not prepared for a settlement. This study addresses the practical issue of how to make the best use of construction dispute negotiations. Having the intention to settle is paramount should positive negotiation outcomes be envisaged. The concept of psychological distance explains that if one perceives failure not to be imminent, the concern for failure will be low, and thereby no pressing need to settle. This proposition was supported in this study. The practical application of the study could be the intervention strategy of reality testing, which has been proven instrumental in facilitating negotiations. Third-party neutrals, particularly mediators, have high regard for the effectiveness of reality testing. The function of realistic assessment in enhancing settlement is the result of reframing negotiators’ subjective cognition and raising the concern for failure. This study contributes to negotiation practice by offering a solid theoretical base to explain why and how reality testing is one of the most versatile tools to assist negotiations.

Abstract

A new method is presented for construction process planning. It is based on the concept of work density and called the Work Density Method (WDM), two terms coined for use in this context. Using the WDM, planners create one-piece workflow by dividing work space into zones while assigning each zone exclusively for each trade to complete their work, with trades working in consecutive process steps, each one taking up to the same fixed amount of time. The method supports development of a plan (using takt or not) for repetitive as well as nonrepetitive work thanks to work density serving as the common unit to describe workload. The WDM is an iterative method using work structuring to decide a sequence of process steps, zone the work space while lowering the peak of the cumulative work density (i.e., workload peak), determine a lower bound on the takt that can be met, and verify this meets customer requirements. The method was developed experimentally on a live project. This paper rationalizes the use of work density in planning, illustrates the WDM using examples, presents a paradox, and suggests method enhancements. The contribution to knowledge is the formulation of a new planning method that augments existing planning methods.

Practical Applications

On construction projects where speed is of the essence, activities must get scheduled in parallel and take place in multiple locations simultaneously. Those locations must be clearly demarcated in order to avoid the detrimental impact of trade stacking, and activity completion times must be strictly adhered to in order to avoid cascading delays. The WDM presented in this paper offers a systematic approach to determine such locations and to set a time limit within which activities must be completed. This new method is intended for use by superintendents together with their trade partners to develop an execution strategy so that they will be able to reliably hit milestones shown on their project master schedule. Some planners may already be familiar with the notion of work density and be using it intuitively when considering options to shorten a project’s duration. In this paper, a new, formal method is presented. It is illustrated by various examples. The use of computational support tools is suggested for practical implementation.

This study uses recycled plastic (RP) as a fine aggregate in an attempt to minimize the waste on our planet. The results of the study suggest that the use of plastic in the construction sector does not only help minimize the production cost but also helps to increase environmental sustainability. In this study, the performance of a concrete mixture is evaluated based on seven different factors, namely: compressive strength, density, thermal conductivity, R-value, U-value, production cost (material and transportation costs), and ${\mathrm{eCO}}_2$ (embodied carbon dioxide) emission value. In line with the purpose of this study, a cost assessment, environmental assessment, and performance assessment have been carried out. Results indicate that as the plastic ratio increases, the compressive strength of the concrete decreases up to 35.16% in RP mixes. In particular, when 50% RP content is used, the lowest strength is obtained as 24 MPa. On the other hand, 50% RP content decreases the density and thermal conductivity to $\mathrm{2,200}\mathrm{kg}/{\mathrm{m}}^3$ and $0.458\mathrm{W}/\mathrm{mK}$, respectively. The results also reveal that increasing the RP content in the concrete mix reduces the U-value by 19.88% whereas 50% RP content increases the R-value up to 54.61%. The lower U value of RP indicates the ability of the material to resist heat flow and provides a better insulative value. In this research, cost and environmental assessments were also carried out. Based on cost calculations, RP4 showed the lowest cost because 50% of it is was composed of recycled plastic. Therefore, based on the cost analysis, it is the most beneficial element for use in a concrete mix. On the other hand, the use of recycled plastic leads to an increase in the carbon dioxide emissions while decreasing the amount of plastic waste for sustainability.

Construction companies struggle with their hiring plans and react to economic shifts afterward, resulting in unnecessary layoffs and overhirings. A model that forecasts future construction hiring can help adjust hiring levels based on upcoming projections. This research proposes a framework for predicting the future sequence (upcoming 12 months) of hiring values instead of specific months, based on historical data between 1993 and 2022 for hiring and economic explanatory variables. Explanatory variables are categorized into the local, neighboring states, and national levels. Feature selection methods were used to filter out the initial data set to reduce data dimensionality—the output of each method trained by the recurrent neural network (RNN). Seq2seq models were evaluated based on their mean absolute error (MAE). The results of the best-performing model indicate that the multivariate seq2seq model can capture general trends and disruptions due to economic recession and natural disasters more accurately than the univariate statistical models, even though there was no feature inside the data set regarding hurricanes.

Green architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) projects are deemed more complicated compared with their traditional counterparts. They have been reported to have relatively more frequent delays and higher cost growth. The AEC literature has repeatedly highlighted the importance of leadership for sustainable design and construction and the need for team integration for optimal outcomes. However, studies exploring leadership in the context of green AEC projects are limited. Transformational leadership is a highly regarded theory that is known for its potential to effectively facilitate team integration. This empirical study tests the role of shared transformational leadership received by team members in improving team performance through team integration for green AEC project teams. We collected data from 103 individuals working in nine Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) projects in the US. We analyzed the data using structural equation modeling (SEM). Our findings suggest that transformational leadership received by team members is positively related with perceived team performance, and this relationship is mediated through perceived team integration. The study is a pioneer in examining leadership for sustainability and mediation effects of team integration in the AEC literature. The outcomes urge for a change in green AEC project teams to think beyond project delivery systems and practices and incorporate transformational leadership across organizational and communicational tiers of project teams through team procurement, project management, and skill development and training.

Due to the various dynamic conditions of construction sites, quality failures have become part and parcel of the industry. Many studies have identified the causal factors of construction site quality failures and their cost impacts. However, limited studies have been made evaluating the domino effects of these on one another and the correlation between the cost impact and frequency of each attribute. In this study, made in the context of ongoing research into related artificial intelligence (AI)–based predictive models, a total of 2,527 nonconformance reports (NCRs) collected from 59 construction projects within the scope of a previous study were analyzed using the Delphi method and logistic regression analysis. According to the Delphi results, 25 critical cost impact factors were refined and categorized into five main groups: Materials, Design, Installation, Operation, and Process. Then, five main hypotheses were developed to test each attribute’s cost impact and interaction by logistic regression. The results showed that although some attributes (from the Materials and Operation groups) have a significant impact on the cost of quality if observed in a failure report individually, others may become a critical cost-impact factor when interacting with other attributes. No significant correlation was observed between the frequency and cost impact of the attributes. Finally, a holistically based quality control system that considers the domino effects of causal factors from planning to operation was proposed for construction practitioners to reduce quality failures causing cost and time overruns.

A relevant problem in the construction sector is low productivity due to the high variability and uncertainty of projects, which makes it necessary to increase efficiency through better project planning and control. The last planner system (LPS) has proven to increase planning reliability; however, improving the management of commitments in weekly planning meetings is necessary. Therefore, the objective of this research is to develop a commitment management system (CMS) using the fundamental elements of the linguistic action perspective (LAP) in synergy with the LPS. Design science research (DSR) was used to develop the CMS through three iterations (artifacts) that were applied in construction projects in Chile and Colombia. To evaluate and validate the artifact, the following two approaches were used: (1) internal, conducted by the research team through reflections on each artifact and its consequences, and (2) external, through quantitative and qualitative results. The main results led to the development of a pioneering system of commitment management in construction projects, which proved to be a practical contribution when implemented, showing positive results in participants’ statements, CMS indicators, LPS indicators, and performance (time deviation). Additionally, in terms of theoretical contributions, the CMS allows reinforcing the LPS with the incorporation of specific LAP fundamentals in construction projects through a (1) system containing indicators to measure and control the management of commitments, (2) flowchart of specific commitments for construction projects, and (3) six-phase implementation plan to be replicated. The main conclusions regarding the CMS are that it allows to: (1) manage commitments by focusing on the foreman (or supervisor), (2) implement a plan that allows replication of this system, (3) improve trust and teamwork based on participants’ statements, and (4) improve performance in time deviation of construction projects.

Numerous automated compliance checking (ACC) approaches have been developed over the last half of the twentieth century. However, little is known as to how well the ACC technology has served the off-site manufacturing (OSM) industry from the end users’ perspective. This paper aims to measure the New Zealand (NZ) OSM industry’s awareness and readiness for ACC and explore a pathway toward wider ACC adoption. It first reports on a survey study in NZ with 44 valid survey responses. It then proposes a high-level roadmap with key actions that can facilitate wider ACC adoption through 16 interviews with international ACC experts and a focus group with nine local OSM stakeholders. The results show that although there is a high demand for automating compliance processes, the OSM industry, especially small and medium enterprises, are not ready to adopt the ACC technology. Suggestions to address this include (1) establish the foundation for broad ACC adoption; (2) boost the development of the ACC technology to expedite its maturity, (3) test the ACC technology under different scenarios and customize it for the NZ context; (4) encourage the government to provide funding and policy support; and (5) promote education and training of both building information modeling (BIM) and ACC to OSM stakeholders. The results can provide software vendors with valuable information about user expectations and requirements to develop ACC products that can better serve NZ OSM projects, and help OSM stakeholders in NZ and countries with similar economic and regulatory structures to understand the technological and nontechnological gaps to better prepare for the ACC technology adoption.

Abstract

In this study, a mountain tunnel of the Qianjiang–Zhangjiajie–Changde Railway, which passes through a giant karst cave at a high position, was investigated as a case study. The cave cavity height below the tunnel track is approximately 30–55 m, and the collapse accumulation thickness at the cave bottom is approximately 37–66 m. After solution comparison analysis, a superthick backfill subgrade solution was selected by filling the karst cave with a cave ballast backfill + upper grouting. In connection with railway operation, large vibrations and dynamic settlements may occur under train loads, and the safety of train operations can be compromised. To investigate the vibration response of a superthick backfill subgrade in a giant karst cave, 12 dynamically scaled model tests with a scale ratio of $1:5$ were performed with a high-speed railway subgrade dynamic test platform. The subgrade slab thickness and running speed of the train were investigated as the variable parameters. The working state of each part of the subgrade was studied while the train passed, and the time-history variation and long-term development trend of the dynamic properties were analyzed. The attenuation behaviors of vibration displacement, dynamic stress, and acceleration in the superthick backfill subgrade were analyzed using the three-dimensional finite element method. The results showed that as the thickness of the subgrade slab increased, the dynamic response of the train decreased rapidly. At a running speed of $200\mathrm{km}/\mathrm{h}$, the average acceleration decreased by 75.2% at the bottom of the subgrade slab when the thickness of the slab decreased from 60 to 20 cm at the initial passage. Under a long-term load, acceleration at the same depth below the subgrade slab of thickness 60 cm decreased by 69.5% compared to that of thickness 20 cm. The superthick backfill subgrade with a 3-m-thick RC subgrade slab avoided evident dynamic settlement induced by the running load. When the tunnel was opened to traffic, tunnel structure settlement was monitored. Furthermore, the settlement of the tunnel invert was $<1\mathrm{mm}$ within 1 year, which was consistent with the test results. The results proved that the design parameters and solution selection were reasonable and reliable and could serve as a reference for the development of similar projects and researches. The key contribution of this research is to propose an effective and low-budget treatment for the construction of railways that pass through giant caves. In addition, the findings from the study on superthick backfill subgrades provide industry practitioners with a comprehensive guide regarding the specific applications and mechanical performance of superthick backfill subgrades, which can serve as a stepping stone to facilitate the development of construction technology in the transportation industry.

Practical Applications

The fast-growing transportation industry faces various challenges to railway construction, including the surrounding environment, geological condition, and construction technology, for example. Railway tunnels constructed in karst areas often pass through karst caves with different dimensions. The ground under tunnels needs to be treated if the tunnels pass through the caves. Backfill subgrade is a fast and low-budget construction technology. Because the mechanical properties of the backfill subgrade are different from those of the in situ ground, the working performance of the backfill subgrade, particularly the superthick backfill subgrade, must meet strict requirements. Therefore, a new and reliable construction method for superthick backfill subgrade, a solution consisting of cave ballast backfill + upper grouting, is proposed and is used for filling karst caves. To investigate the vibration response of the superthick backfill subgrade in a giant karst cave, scaled model tests, numerical investigation, and in situ observations were conducted. The study determined that superthick backfill subgrade with 3-m-thick RC subgrade slab will avoid apparent dynamic settlement induced by a running load. In addition, the settlement of the tunnel invert was $<1\mathrm{mm}$ within 1 year, reflecting the good performance of the superthick backfill subgrade constructed in the case history. The findings obtained from the study provide guidance on construction technology in the transportation industry.

For large-span spatial structures, we have been committed to exploring new effective construction methods to avoid the drawbacks of traditional construction methods. This study proposes an efficient and cost-effective construction method for large-span arched latticed shell structures. The method relies on a progressive approach working from a rotating hinge at the initial end of the latticed frame. Further segments of the lattice are connected at ground level and progressively jacked into position until the span is complete. Once complete, the span is fixed at the opposite end to the hinge. During assembly stability is provided by cables to manage the dead load thrust. In this study, the application of the new construction method in a large-span structure for coal storage is described in detail, and the structural forces and deformations in various construction steps are analyzed and discussed. Compared with traditional methods, the method requires much less scaffolding and less working at height, which could save about 70% of the construction cost and shorten the construction period by 25%. This study enriches the types of construction methods for large-span arched latticed shells, provides a new option for high-efficiency, low-cost construction of this kind of structure, and also gives a reference for future research on the innovation of construction methods.