Search

This paper investigates the infrastructure projects undertaken for the event initially known as the Semaine des sports d'hiver, which took place in Chamonix, France, from 25 January to 4 February 1924 and was later recognized as the first Winter Olympics. Although the already famous resort town was able to use its existing hotels to accommodate visitors and athletes, it also made a considerable investment in the construction of new sports infrastructure. Following an agreement signed just 9 months before the Games, these facilities included a large ice rink, a bobsleigh run and a ski jump. The project was entrusted to the Ponts et Chaussées engineers, who encouraged local firms to help with the construction. Archival analysis will be used to examine the relationship between the project and the changing environment. Our aim is to show how the work in Chamonix modified the environment by exploiting certain natural elements (e.g. water, soil and forests) and, conversely, how the natural (in particular, the geological and climatic) and historical (notably land ownership) components of the environment affected the execution of these works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain, essentially a distributed and immutable database, has emerged as a potential solution to governance problems of accountability, transparency, and trust in the construction industry. In terms of construction quality management (CQM) applications, previous works mainly took a technical perspective, and little is known about the potential of blockchain-based governance for quality opportunism. Moreover, we have seen very few successful blockchain implementations in construction practices. Stakeholders meet the trade-off between potential benefits and risks in blockchain adoption decisions. Previous works mainly focused on barrier analysis, neglecting the dynamic interactions of stakeholders' strategic behaviors on adopting blockchains. Against this backdrop, this research aims to systematically analyze blockchain impacts on CQM from a governance perspective and then investigate the owner and the main contractors' strategic behaviors (e.g., adopting blockchains in CQM or not). The agency theory was used as the theoretical lens to examine how blockchain curbs contractors' quality opportunistic behaviors as a governance mechanism. An evolutionary game theory model was developed to simulate adoption decision interactions between the owner and the main contractor. Finally, policy suggestions were highlighted for policymakers. This research could be one of the first studies examining blockchain potential to CQM from an opportunism governance perspective. Such discussions could inspire more discussions on blockchain-based governance and broaden researchers' and practitioners' understandings of blockchain impacts. The proposed policy suggestions from the equilibrium analysis could facilitate blockchain diffusion in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problem of lack of appropriate tools in the lean construction of construction projects, a framework of digital lean construction is proposed as a whole, and its management platform is implemented for construction phase by integrating lean construction with digital technologies. The concept of digital lean construction is proposed, its management model is constructed and refined, and the corresponding management platform is implemented for the construction phase. The framework is verified by holding an expert workshop and applying the management platform to typical construction projects. The research contributes not only to the establishment of the theoretical foundation to upgrade lean construction, but also to accelerating the transition from lean construction to smart lean construction. Two directions of future research are expected, i.e., to enhance the integration of the lean tools and digital technologies and clarify the transition to smart lean construction. Due to the complexity of lean construction and the lack of tool support, its widespread application have not been found significantly up to now. The development of digital technologies provides a potential solution to address this issue. Based on the integration of lean construction and digital technologies, a framework that includes management models and a management platform for digital lean construction was established in this paper. Then, a management platform was developed and applied to verify the management framework. It facilitates not only the efficient collaboration of the participants, but also the easy application of lean principles in the projects. The framework is expected to enhance quality, reduce management costs, and improve management capabilities in the projects. It provides a theoretical foundation for lean management and digital transformation upgrades of enterprises to drive changes in construction industry production methods and the corresponding management practices, promoting the high-quality development of the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry consists of various sectors that have different needs and functions. Those sector-specific differences create different risks that construction professionals empirically know. However, there is no documented and unbiased assessment to validate the empirical knowledge. Identifying the varying spectrum of risks present in different construction sectors in a systematic manner can facilitate more effective and efficient sharing, learning, and adoption of proven construction project management methods across these sectors. Ultimately, this can lead to significant improvements in construction productivity as a whole. This research analyzed risks in different construction sectors, including the commercial building, industrial, and civil infrastructure sectors in a comparative and quantitative manner. Project risk registers from the three construction sectors were analyzed using fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis and coincidence analysis. The study identified various risk configurations in each sector, as well as their similarities and dissimilarities. Based on the findings, an ideal path to the utilization and dissemination of advanced construction management strategies and methods across the construction sectors was developed. These results are expected to assist project participants and stakeholders in adopting and implementing advanced project planning, delivery, and management strategies derived from other construction sectors while taking into account different risks. The construction industry possesses a wealth of effective and proven construction project management knowledge and know-how that holds the potential to enhance productivity. Despite these resources, the industry still faces productivity challenges. One contributing factor is the industry's isolated nature, which makes it difficult to share and disseminate knowledge and know-how across construction sectors and the industry as a whole. Identifying similarities and differences across the construction sectors is one prerequisite for promoting seamless knowledge sharing and dissemination. These factors influence the level of modifications and adjustments for successful implementation in different construction sectors. In this background, this study identified similarities and dissimilarities in project risk spectrums across construction sectors in a comparative manner. Ideal pathways for sharing and disseminating knowledge and know-how were proposed based on the observed risk spectrums. The findings aim to streamline the sharing and dissemination of construction management expertise by offering direction for evaluating and selecting appropriate project planning, delivery, and management strategies. Such insights, which take into account different project risk spectrums in different construction sectors, will contribute significantly to improving productivity throughout the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selecting the appropriate delivery method is of paramount importance, especially in sustainable construction projects that have unique characteristics that are different from their traditional counterparts. A new decision-support model is proposed to assist decision-makers in this selection process. Thirty-six key selection criteria were first identified, through literature review, and then divided into traditional and sustainability-specific categories. The relative weights of these selection criteria were then assessed using an analytic hierarchy process through a survey administered to construction professionals. The results indicated that the three most important groups of selection criteria were level of integration, technology, and innovation, in addition to scope-related criteria. Another questionnaire survey was administered to evaluate the effectiveness of the three common delivery methods––design–bid–build (DBB), design–build (DB) and construction management at risk (CMR)––in achieving the 36 identified selection criteria. The results revealed that the traditional DBB delivery method was outmatched by the heightened needs of sustainable construction projects for collaboration and integration that can only be achieved through alternative delivery methods, such as DB and CMR. The proposed model consists of four functions––strategic alignment, screening of the comprehensive selection criteria, evaluation of the three project delivery methods, and final selection. The proposed model provides a comprehensive list of selection criteria for helping decision-makers produce a defensible rationale for choosing the appropriate delivery method for their sustainable construction project. A case study is also presented to demonstrate the application of the proposed decision-support model. Sustainable construction is significant in mitigating environmental impacts and promoting better health and quality of life. But it has unique characteristics that are different from conventional construction. To address these characteristics, there is a need for updating project management practices to satisfy the demands of sustainable construction projects. Among the significant project management decisions is the selection of the appropriate project delivery method (PDM) for sustainable construction projects. The practical relevance of this study is the development of a comprehensive multicriterion decision-support model that incorporates both sustainability-specific and traditional selection criteria to help owners choose the most appropriate delivery method for their sustainable construction projects. The model offers owners an invaluable tool for producing a defensible rationale to justify choosing a specific PDM. The easy-to-follow model allows owners to readily use the model without needing expertise in performing arduous mathematical tasks. Once the required selection criteria are fed into the model, it automatically and instantaneously sorts and ranks the alternative delivery method options. The owner then selects the most appropriate PDM that strategically aligns with the sustainable project's goals. This model provides owners with a time- and resource-efficient technique for selecting the most appropriate delivery method. Selecting the appropriate PDM for sustainable construction projects enhances the chances of their successful completion and the achievement of the desired goals. This, in turn, encourages the execution of more sustainable construction projects, with their clear and established benefits to society, the economy, and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unsafe behavior among construction personnel poses significant risks in petroleum engineering construction projects. This study addresses this issue through the application of a multi-field coupled homogeneous analysis model. By conducting case analyses of petroleum engineering construction accidents and utilizing the WSR methodology, the influencing factors of unsafe behaviors among construction personnel are systematically categorized into organizational system factors, equipment management factors, and construction personnel factors. Subsequently, employing Risk coupling theory, the study delves into the analysis of these influencing factors, discussing their coupling mechanisms and classifications, and utilizing the N-K model to elucidate the coupling effect among them. Furthermore, a novel approach integrating coupling analysis and multi-agent modeling is employed to establish an evolutionary model of construction personnel's unsafe behavior. The findings reveal that a two-factor control method, concurrently reinforcing equipment and construction personnel management, significantly mitigates unsafe behavior. This study provides valuable insights into the evolution of unsafe behavior among construction personnel and offers a robust theoretical framework for targeted interventions. Significantly, it bears practical implications for guiding safety management practices within petroleum engineering construction enterprises. By effectively controlling unsafe behaviors and implementing targeted safety interventions, it contributes to fostering sustainable development within the petroleum engineering construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Significant pericardial effusion requires percutaneous drainage. Some patients experience recurrent pericardial effusion following index drainage, but its risk factors remain unknown. Such knowledge should further improve the clinical management of individuals presenting with pericardial effusion for risk stratification and the construction of therapeutic and management strategies beforehand. Methods: Patients who underwent percutaneous drainage for pericardial effusion between 2018 and 2023 were retrospectively included and were followed for 2 years or until November 2023. Baseline factors associated with recurrent pericardial effusion that required percutaneous drainage again were investigated to identify the high-risk cohort. Results: A total of 39 patients (83 years on median, 28 males) were included. During the 2-year observation period, 11 patients had the primary outcome. The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter at baseline was independently associated with the primary outcome with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.88 (95% confidence interval 0.80–0.97, p = 0.013) with a cutoff of 42 mm, which significantly stratified the cumulative incidence of the primary outcome (53% versus 10%, p = 0.011). Conclusions: Recurrent pericardial effusion after percutaneous drainage is not a rare phenomenon. A smaller left ventricular endo-diastolic diameter was an independent risk factor for recurrent pericardial effusion. The clinical implications of our findings in daily clinical practice should be validated in future prospective studies. Further studies are warranted to clarify the underlying causality between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The explicit safety knowledge contained in regulations in the form of texts and tables is crucial for construction safety management. However, the presence of rich semantic content within texts and the intricate layout of complex tables makes domain information extraction challenging. Therefore, this research proposed a hybrid approach to map safety knowledge graphs by automatically extracting information from both texts and tables in a scenario-oriented manner, combining rules and deep learning methods to achieve a balance between scene applicability and method flexibility. Furthermore, metrics from social network analysis (SNA) were applied to evaluate and verify the quality of the constructed knowledge graph. For extracting semantic information from text, the proposed approach supplemented the semantics information of the sentence and balanced the granularity of knowledge by combining the BERT-BiLSTM-CRF-based named entity recognition (NER) model and semantic role labeling (SRL)-based information extraction model. For irregular tables, a unified automatic extraction method was developed to process nested tables without preprocessing. The experiment constructed a comprehensive and scenario-oriented knowledge graph with 907 nodes, and showed high precision and recall for texts (89.37%, 85.42%) and tables (97.11%, 85.22%) on the test data. SNA results showed the proposed method ensured information richness and structural complexity. The construction safety knowledge graph constructed in this research offers three significant practical advantages. First, the proposed framework provides a solution for automatically integrating regulations into a knowledge graph with rich semantics and comprehensive information. Considering both sentence semantics and entity granularity enhances the application of Chinese regulatory clauses to specific construction scenarios. Second, the knowledge graph incorporated both textual semantics and tabular data, which assists managers in querying more accurate and comprehensive safety requirements. The comprehensive knowledge graph allows managers to quickly locate the necessary construction requirements on a larger scale and make more comprehensive and accurate construction decisions, effectively improving work efficiency and decision-making quality. Third, metrics from SNA suggested that the proposed method maintained the amount and diversity of regulatory information, while strengthening the compactness of the community structure and providing specific and clear requirements for the construction situation, operation procedures, and threshold definition. As a result, it is easier for managers to understand and process the safety information, perform construction operations in accordance with regulatory requirements, ensure the compliance of the operation, and further improve construction safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Training deep learning models for vision-based monitoring of construction sites usually requires a large amount of labeled data. Semisupervised learning methods can efficiently obtain unlabeled data with substantial cost savings. Thus, this paper proposes a semisupervised object detection method for construction site monitoring. Weather as well as strong and weak data augmentation are integrated to cope with the complex construction site conditions (weather changes, camera view shifts, and so on) by integrating semisupervised learning to leverage the valid information in unlabeled construction site images. To validate its effectiveness, the proposed method was tested on the Alberta Construction Image Data Set (ACID), a public data set for the construction research community. The experimental results revealed that the proposed method achieves an average accuracy [mean average precision (mAP)] of 81.1% when trained on only 3% of the labeled images. This study helps to significantly reduce the development cost of vision-based object detection models for construction sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased complexity of construction projects has caused various management challenges. To clarify the mechanism of construction system complexity and improve the ability to manage the complexity of construction projects, the Agent-based modeling (ABM) method has been introduced and used in the construction management field. Nevertheless, a systematic, holistic, and panoramic understanding of the use of the ABM model in the construction management field is still lacking. To address this research gap, this study reviewed 133 historical explorations retrieved from the database of Web of Science. By using the multiple objectives of construction management as the literature classification framework, the study described the research status of the agent-based modeling method in the field of construction management. On this basis, this paper suggested the improvement paths in the application of this method from three aspects. It is expected that this study will provide a theoretical basis for enhancing understanding of the use of the ABM method in construction management, and also provide insights for future explorations in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Component tests Oberesslingen – part 1 – conception of the client As part of the Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute's research and development project Repair under Operation (IuB), component tests are being carried out together with the Heidelberg Waterways Engineering and Construction Office, the Institute for Technology and Management in Construction Operations at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the Directorate‐General for Waterways and Shipping in order to identify suitable methods for the basic repair of a lock chamber under time‐ and space‐restricted boundary conditions with regard to working times and space conditions. The component tests are taking place at the Neckar lock Oberesslingen in the right‐hand chamber, which was previously used as a savings chamber for the left‐hand chamber. The scope ranges from partial demolition of the chamber wall for reprofiling by means of a facing concrete and partial drainage to a solution with a framework that could be used to carry out gate replacements within a short time in the future. The comprehensive design of the component tests includes the mandatory and technical requirements that must be considered. These include both generally valid requirements for the feasibility of the tested procedures on other locks as well as specific requirements that are decisive for the implementation in Oberesslingen. Characterizing for the component tests is the possible use of innovative processes and approaches and the resulting deviations from the regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geometric quality of precast concrete (PC) elements is critical in the construction and management of prefabricated construction. However, traditional manual inspection is time-consuming, inaccurate and costly. Therefore, an effective and low-cost non-contact inspection method is needed to support the geometric quality inspection of PC elements as a way to improve inspection efficiency and accuracy. In this study, an intuitive, effective and inexpensive geometric quality inspection method is proposed to evaluate the geometric quality of PC elements using 3D structural light scanning technology. The proposed method fits the point cloud data model of PC elements to the design model, visualizes the range of dimensional deviation of the whole element by the generated deviation chromatogram, and then evaluates the overall geometric quality of PC elements based on the local absolute deviation distance and the average deviation distance. The evaluation results classify PC elements into qualified products, partially unqualified products and severely defective products, which can be directly used to guide the treatment of unqualified products. The method is highly integrated with realistic construction and has a strong practical value. This study enriches the means of assessing the geometric quality of PC elements and shows potential for implementation in real practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crane-lift planning is critical but challenging to ensure construction safety and efficiency for the installation of heavy components. It engages a group decision-making process that involves various stakeholders to exchange knowledge of crane capabilities, site characteristics, and operational feasibility. However, conventional planning methods based on drawings, animations, and standalone virtual prototypes are inefficient in enabling collaborative decision-making due to rigid visualization and inflexible interactions among different stakeholders. This paper aims to develop a collaborative heavy lift planning (Co-HeLP) system that engages crane suppliers, site managers, and crane operators in an immersive and shared environment for crane layout optimization and lifting simulation. Specifically, the system incorporates a multiuser networking unit to enable stakeholders to design crane-lift layouts concurrently and synchronize changes in real time for facilitating information-sharing and collaborative planning. In addition, a cross-platform virtual reality (VR) unit is developed to provide stakeholders with role-tailored interactions of crane allocation and first-person operation. Automatic feasibility checking is also formulated to assist stakeholders in appraising jib reach limits and loading capacities more efficiently. The system is demonstrated using a real-life modular building project that involves the installation of multiple bulky modules. To evaluate the system, two groups of industry practitioners from crane suppliers and main contractors conducted heavy lift planning using Co-HeLP, where their responses were collected using questionnaire-based surveys and interviews. Results show that the system is rated highly on automatability (0.77/1), collectiveness (0.81/1), and applicability (0.85/1), with the advantages of full-scale visualization and multirole interactions. This paper opens up new possibilities for stakeholders to jointly manage crane-lift constraints and build consensus on layout plans through a mutually interactive and role-independent shared environment. More broadly, the paper derives a generic multiuser VR mechanism to address fragmented coordination and inefficient knowledge transfer, thereby facilitating collective planning and management in construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate project duration estimation is crucial for effective scheduling, budgeting, resource allocation, and overall construction management. Leveraging historical data from completed projects is an effective strategy to achieve this. In heavy industrial projects, where scaffolding activities can span from thousands to millions of hours, refining the estimation of scaffolding time is vital during the planning phase. This study undertook the analysis of data from a completed heavy industrial scaffolding project, aiming to propose a methodology and models for predicting future projects durations. The proposed methodology not only aids in improved duration but also contributes to cost estimation, scheduling, and project delivery of similar future endeavors. Commencing with data cleaning and categorizing the data based on activity types, the scatter plots of person-hours versus task weight within each category revealed a linear relationship. Consequently, linear models for each category were developed. Statistical factors such as data size, coefficient of determination, and mean absolute error were then utilized to calculate a score for each model, guiding the model selection process which substituted low score models with a parent category with a higher score. The data analysis and modeling were performed five times to ensure robustness and consistency in the results. On average, the initial models yielded a project duration estimate of only 0.36% higher than the actual duration, while the selected models increased this deviation to 4.14%. The scoring and selection process enhances estimation accuracy while maintaining proximity to actual project durations. This research makes three significant contributions: (1) introducing a categorical linear regression approach for scaffolding activity duration prediction, (2) presenting a novel normalization and scoring method that scores models based on statistical factors, and (3) implementing a practical model selection process to substitute weaker models with stronger ones, ultimately strengthening the reliability of activity and project duration predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction project management is typically adopted in modern civil landscapes. Owing to the significant global increase in infrastructure investments, it is crucial to analyze the success and timely completion of such public projects, among which the pavement construction project is a representative example. The aim of this study is to identify the critical success factors (CSFs) that enable the success of pavement construction. Additionally, a CSF framework is developed in this study that can be used by project management teams to monitor and control the progress of pavement construction projects effectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that acquires all pavement management-related factors to develop a framework. To ensure that all pavement management-related factors were identified and considered, the authors of this study conducted an exhaustive preliminary literature review until 2022. Based on an extensive literature review, 61 multidisciplinary factors are developed and validated in a Delphi study. A questionnaire is developed, and pilot tested through interviews. A total of 27 experts were recruited to participate in two rounds of the Delphi study, which included factors related to operations, contractor expertise, logistics, human resources, communication, finances, and bureaucracy. Reliability tests, correlations, and validations are performed, and weighted averages are obtained. The reliability and accuracy of the factors are successfully defined and tested. The findings of the study suggest focusing on the following functional areas to complete a pavement construction project successfully: (1) financial factors; (2) bureaucracy- and governance-related factors; and (3) communication-related factors. According to the experts interviewed in the Delphi study, these factors contribute the most significantly to the success of the project. This study focused on addressing the research gap in analyzing pavement construction projects from the angle of CSFs. These factors were first developed using literature, validated through a Delphi study of two rounds across panelists. The findings of the Delphi enabled the researchers to identify what factors are more relevant than others when compared to general construction and enabled the research to establish a preliminary framework on a pavement project's lifecycle and stages during the entire project tenure. The findings of this study can help project managers and engineers to uniquely approach a pavement construction project and give it its due importance. From an academic perspective, this study has opened the doors to further testing of the proposed framework and the CSF that it has developed with respect to pavement construction. The outcome of this paper would help pavement construction professionals and researchers in the areas of project planning, resource allocation, risk mitigation, project execution, quality assurance, stakeholder communication, and continuous improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the feasibility and comprehensiveness of the application of BIM lightweight technology in water conservancy projects, this paper analyzed and summarized the mainstream BIM lightweight technology. Taking Miyun reservoir reconstruction and elimination of hazards project as an example, it put forward the application route of water conservancy project BIM lightweight technology, and improved the application effects of BIM lightweight technology in different construction stages. In the design stage, the comprehensive use of model reduction optimization, rendering optimization and BIM lightweight collaborative design platform can greatly improve the efficiency of three-dimensional model design; By using the BIM lightweight engine to transmit the BIM design model to the construction stage and establishing a BIM lightweight construction management platform, the quality of construction management can be effectively improved, ensuring that the project is completed on time and with quality. For the current status of BIM lightweight technology, this paper puts forward suggestions for future development: BIM lightweight technology should be able to integrate a variety of water conservancy engineering industry characteristics of data, improve the BIM specifications and standards, so that the BIM lightweight application system is more standardized and scientific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethics in the construction industry has emerged as a critical topic of concern due to the industry's complex and multifaceted nature and susceptibility to corruption and unethical practices. However, there is more to ethics than corruption, and the existing literature lacks a state-of-the-art review of ethical discourse in construction. Due to this limitation, it could be challenging for construction management scholars to understand the advances made in the realm of construction ethics, grasp a holistic understanding, and chart future research. Therefore, our study aims to examine ethical discourse in construction comprehensively. This study uses a mixed-method literature review (MMLR), combining bibliometric analysis and a systematic literature review. We analyzed 328 articles published between 1990 and 2023. First, through a bibliometric analysis conducted on the data sets obtained from Scopus and Web of Science, we identified publication trends, influential authors, prolific journals, impactful institutions, and countries in the field of construction ethics. Second, through a systematic literature review of 125 journal articles, we mapped the qualitative aspects of ethical discourse in construction. The meticulous review process elucidated the critical theoretical paradigms (economics, institutional, strategic stakeholder management, psychology, sociology, and ethics), emerging research themes (culture, corruption, professional development, welfare, leadership, technology, compliance, environment, social and governance (ESG), practices, project procurement, and stakeholder), and prominent analytical approaches used to study ethics-related issues in construction. The present study also mapped the ethical discourse on a multilevel (macro, meso, and micro) ethical governance framework and explored the geographical contexts and spread of ethics and ethical discourse. Finally, we presented potential future research trajectories by employing the theory-characteristics-context-methods (TCCM) framework that could encourage scholarly investigation in this domain. This review study provides several implications for research scholars and practitioners in the construction sector. This study provides fertile grounds for construction management scholars to begin by exploring the theoretical paradigms that are the foundation for research. Researchers should carefully select research methodologies to explore the ethical issues. This research highlights the most influential articles, authors, countries, institutions, and journals, helping the researchers explore the opportunities to collaborate with these entities. The paper has significant implications for various stakeholders, including construction companies, regulatory bodies, workers, clients, and broader society. It has highlighted the key thematic areas that help shed light on the multidimensional nature of ethics in the construction sector and encourage construction companies to adopt responsible practices. This can enhance the industry's reputation and credibility, making it more attractive to investors and clients. We also discussed the ethical governance framework at the macro, meso, and micro levels that will help the stakeholders understand various aspects of ethical compliance across these levels within the construction industry. Further to chart the future research directions, we employed the TCCM (theory, context, characteristics, methods) framework with which the construction management practitioners and researchers may broaden their understanding of construction ethics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining whether to invest in a project is a complex and challenging decision. This project investment decision relies heavily on its promised strategic goals (i.e., target benefits) stated in its business case and which are expected to be realized following project completion. However, in many cases, the proposed project benefits are far greater than those that the project realistically can achieve, leading to the risk of projects being funded erroneously. The construction management literature has offered approaches such as reference class forecasting (RCF) to rectify unrealistic project estimates. This paper identifies weaknesses in the current approaches, exposes their inefficiency, and proposes a step-by-step stratified approach as an effective alternative to detect, measure, and rectify unrealistic estimates of project benefits, and utilizes the proposed approach on a light rail construction project. The contribution of this approach is that each project benefit target can be rectified differently, based on the measurable levels of deviation from more-realistic estimates. This paper advances the construction management literature by enabling managers to set realistic project goals in the project front end, increase the reliability of estimates in the project business case, and improve the quality of project investment decisions. The decision to fund a construction project is impacted by information included in business cases and proposals, such as the estimated project cost and expected goals. However, such information often is unrealistic or exaggerated (to make the project more attractive for funding), which negatively impacts investment decisions made by senior executives. As a result, projects can be funded erroneously, causing a waste of resources and potential failure to achieve its unrealistic expectations. Because the existing literature offers little guidance for how to ensure that project goals are realistic, this paper developed and illustrates a step-by-step process for measuring and rectifying the gap between proposed and realistic project goals to alert senior executives when a proposed project is unlikely to meet its proposed goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethics in the construction industry has emerged as a critical topic of concern due to the industry's complex and multifaceted nature and susceptibility to corruption and unethical practices. However, there is more to ethics than corruption, and the existing literature lacks a state-of-the-art review of ethical discourse in construction. Due to this limitation, it could be challenging for construction management scholars to understand the advances made in the realm of construction ethics, grasp a holistic understanding, and chart future research. Therefore, our study aims to examine ethical discourse in construction comprehensively. This study uses a mixed-method literature review (MMLR), combining bibliometric analysis and a systematic literature review. We analyzed 328 articles published between 1990 and 2023. First, through a bibliometric analysis conducted on the data sets obtained from Scopus and Web of Science, we identified publication trends, influential authors, prolific journals, impactful institutions, and countries in the field of construction ethics. Second, through a systematic literature review of 125 journal articles, we mapped the qualitative aspects of ethical discourse in construction. The meticulous review process elucidated the critical theoretical paradigms (economics, institutional, strategic stakeholder management, psychology, sociology, and ethics), emerging research themes (culture, corruption, professional development, welfare, leadership, technology, compliance, environment, social and governance (ESG), practices, project procurement, and stakeholder), and prominent analytical approaches used to study ethics-related issues in construction. The present study also mapped the ethical discourse on a multilevel (macro, meso, and micro) ethical governance framework and explored the geographical contexts and spread of ethics and ethical discourse. Finally, we presented potential future research trajectories by employing the theory-characteristics-context-methods (TCCM) framework that could encourage scholarly investigation in this domain. This review study provides several implications for research scholars and practitioners in the construction sector. This study provides fertile grounds for construction management scholars to begin by exploring the theoretical paradigms that are the foundation for research. Researchers should carefully select research methodologies to explore the ethical issues. This research highlights the most influential articles, authors, countries, institutions, and journals, helping the researchers explore the opportunities to collaborate with these entities. The paper has significant implications for various stakeholders, including construction companies, regulatory bodies, workers, clients, and broader society. It has highlighted the key thematic areas that help shed light on the multidimensional nature of ethics in the construction sector and encourage construction companies to adopt responsible practices. This can enhance the industry's reputation and credibility, making it more attractive to investors and clients. We also discussed the ethical governance framework at the macro, meso, and micro levels that will help the stakeholders understand various aspects of ethical compliance across these levels within the construction industry. Further to chart the future research directions, we employed the TCCM (theory, context, characteristics, methods) framework with which the construction management practitioners and researchers may broaden their understanding of construction ethics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining whether to invest in a project is a complex and challenging decision. This project investment decision relies heavily on its promised strategic goals (i.e., target benefits) stated in its business case and which are expected to be realized following project completion. However, in many cases, the proposed project benefits are far greater than those that the project realistically can achieve, leading to the risk of projects being funded erroneously. The construction management literature has offered approaches such as reference class forecasting (RCF) to rectify unrealistic project estimates. This paper identifies weaknesses in the current approaches, exposes their inefficiency, and proposes a step-by-step stratified approach as an effective alternative to detect, measure, and rectify unrealistic estimates of project benefits, and utilizes the proposed approach on a light rail construction project. The contribution of this approach is that each project benefit target can be rectified differently, based on the measurable levels of deviation from more-realistic estimates. This paper advances the construction management literature by enabling managers to set realistic project goals in the project front end, increase the reliability of estimates in the project business case, and improve the quality of project investment decisions. The decision to fund a construction project is impacted by information included in business cases and proposals, such as the estimated project cost and expected goals. However, such information often is unrealistic or exaggerated (to make the project more attractive for funding), which negatively impacts investment decisions made by senior executives. As a result, projects can be funded erroneously, causing a waste of resources and potential failure to achieve its unrealistic expectations. Because the existing literature offers little guidance for how to ensure that project goals are realistic, this paper developed and illustrates a step-by-step process for measuring and rectifying the gap between proposed and realistic project goals to alert senior executives when a proposed project is unlikely to meet its proposed goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document titled "Reviewers" acknowledges and expresses gratitude to individuals who reviewed manuscripts submitted to the Journal of Management in Engineering from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. The list includes a diverse range of reviewers from various institutions and universities around the world. The document serves as a recognition of their contributions to the journal and highlights the collaborative nature of the research community in the field of management in engineering. [Extracted from the article]

Repetitive projects are usually interfered by uncertainties, and the most important challenge for project managers is how to quickly repair the interfered plan to the baseline scheduling at minimum cost. The reactive scheduling model and algorithm for repetitive projects were studied. Firstly, a new model of repairing strategy was proposed to quickly repair the plan to the baseline schedule at a minimum cost. Then a hybrid algorithm combining Q-learning and genetic algorithm was designed to solve the optimization problem. Finally, a highway project and Monte Carlo simulation were used to illustrate the effectiveness of the model and algorithm. Results show that the repairing strategy proposed can reduce reactive scheduling costs, and increasing the extent of repairing can effectively reduce the reactive scheduling costs. Moreover, the proposed hybrid algorithm is superior to the genetic algorithm in terms of solution quality and efficiency for this problem. It can help project managers to deal with reactive scheduling problems of repetitive projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Crisis management strategies for worksite fatalities. • Discuss consequences of construction fatalities. • Identify stakeholders impacted by worksite fatalities. • Identify barriers to crisis management implementation in construction. • Two crisis communication models created for construction industry. Introduction : The construction industry is high risk and unpredictable, requiring extensive safety preparation, practices, and effectiveness on worksites. While preventative measures are important and well documented, the industry, in general, lacks effective crisis management strategies when safety measures fail. The focus of this study was to evaluate dominant crisis communication and management best practices and adopt those methods into models that could be used following a construction worksite fatality. Methods: Through literature review, this study acknowledged barriers to crisis management implementation within the construction industry, defined worksite fatalities as a preventable crisis type, identified major organizational implications of a crisis event, determined applicable response strategies following a worksite fatality, and identified major stakeholder groups impacted by fatality events. Prominent communication theories and models that have been used in multiple industries were identified and researched for this study. The literature review revealed general crisis communication theories and models that could be adapted specifically to the construction industry. Results: Two proactive communication models were created from the collected research. These models were designed to be adapted and utilized by construction organizations as a fundamental crisis communication tool and as a basis for individualized crisis management strategies following emergency events. Conclusions: This study concludes that worksite fatalities are considered a preventable crisis type, with the risk of legal, financial, and reputational damage to an organization. Appropriate response methods include ingratiation, mortification or corrective action strategies which are dependent on an organization's stakeholders, perceived responsibility, reputation, and crisis history. Practical Applications: Construction organizations could apply the models proposed in this study as foundational building blocks in alignment with strategic crisis management planning and safety failure preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reconciles the sociolinguistic concept of stance and stancetaking and Construction Grammar (CxG); it shows that overlapping allostructions may differ in terms of the stances they convey. Drawing on a corpus study of Wikipedia Talk pages, the paper presents a case study of German discourse management markers such as wo wir gerade dabei sind 'speaking of which' or wenn wir schon dabei sind 'while we're at it'. By statistically comparing the observed frequencies of the filler items with the expected ones (using Hierarchical Configural Frequency Analysis and Distinctive Collexeme Analysis), I will argue that there are two different collocational types, namely wo wir/ich gerade bei NP sind/bin 'as we are/I am just at NP' and wenn wir/du schon bei NP sind/bist 'as we/you are already at NP'. Both serve as discourse management markers, topic orientation markers in particular, whose purpose it is to shift the topic. They involve the same fixed pattern, combining the same categorical slots. However, they diverge in collocational preferences. I will argue that these collocational preferences are indicative of the stances the allostructions conventionally convey: While the allostruction wo wir/ich gerade PP sind/bin seems to be neutral in terms of stance (face-less stance), wenn wir/du schon PP sind/bist is often used to express negative evaluation of a previous utterance made by an interlocutor, thus marking disalignment. The expression of disalignment seems to be related to the construction's propensity to reference utterances made by an interlocutor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Model-based engineering (MBE) recognizes models as central in software construction with the possibility of their management in libraries and repositories with proper structuring of their spaces and operations. Due to this success, models (and metamodels) are becoming larger and larger and technics are needed in order to comprehend and exploit them, such as circumscribing sub(meta)models of interest, which is the subject of this paper. Following MBE, there are mainly two ways for circumscribing submodels: only at the model level (by selecting model elements of interest) or through the meta level (by selecting a submetamodeling dimension of interest). In a preceding paper, we deeply studied the first way. Here we concentrate on the second way. Model projection deeply relies on the concepts of submodels and submetamodels with their inclusion qualities for model space structuring and has to be systematically examined from this point of view. It is important to point out that model treatment has to deal with full models (as offered by "off the shelf" libraries) but also with not necessarily well-formed ones, such as unspecified model chunks, due, for example, to the storage in repositories of incomplete engineering choices or of intermediate results of operations. It is a difficulty to encompass all these forms of models, being well-formed or not, in a homogeneous manner through MBE operations. The operation for "Model projection relative to submetamodeling dimensions" presented here does take this difficulty into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of the degree of surface deformation can be a relevant aspect in the study of surface stability conditions, as it provides added value in the construction of risk management plans. This analysis provides the opportunity to establish the behaviors of the internal dynamics of the earth and its effects on the surface as a prediction tool for possible future effects. To this end, this study was approached through the analysis of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images using the Differential Interferometry (DInSAR) technique, which, in turn, is supported by the Small Baseline Subset (SBAS) technique to take advantage of the orbital separation of the Sentinel-1 satellite images in ascending and descending trajectory between the years 2014 and 2021. As a result, a time series was obtained in which there is a maximum uplift of 117.5 mm (LOS-ascending) or 49.3 mm (LOS-descending) and a maximum subsidence of −86.2 mm (LOS-ascending) or −71.5 mm (LOS-descending), with an oscillating behavior. These deformation conditions are largely associated with the kinematics of the Bucaramanga Fault, but a recurrent action of deep seismic activity from the Bucaramanga Seismic Nest was also observed, generating a surface deformation of ±20 mm for the period evaluated. These deformations have a certain degree of impact on the generation of mass movements, evaluated by the correlation with the LOS-descending images. However, their action is more focused as an inherent factor of great weight, which makes it possible to respond to early care and allows real-time follow-up, giving positive feedback to the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of transmission lines is complex, influenced by terrain and topography, making their maintenance and management challenging. With the advancement of global mechanization, various types of construction machinery and large‐scale mechanical equipment are continually increasing. Accidental contact of construction machinery near transmission lines poses a serious threat to the stability of the power system. Traditional drones and inspection robots face difficulties in achieving real‐time monitoring of construction machinery and equipment around transmission lines, quickly identifying potential risks. Conventional image processing techniques and convolutional neural networks struggle with effective handling of small targets and densely packed detection tasks involving multiple targets. To address these challenges, this paper proposes an intelligent detection algorithm Swin Transformer attention efficient algorithm‐you only look once (YOLO) (STAE‐YOLO). It is based on the Swin Transformer global self‐attention mechanism, cross‐channel fusion attention mechanism, enhanced small object detection framework, and a focused and efficient regression loss function. The experimental results show that the STAE‐YOLO algorithm model improved by 6.3% in mean average precision, 3.7% in precision, and 3.1% in recall compared to the baseline model. Meanwhile, deploying the window multi‐head self‐attention global self‐attention mechanism in the model can strengthen the global multi‐scale semantic information in detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vietnam, classified as a developing nation, encounters numerous challenges within its construction sector, including the scarcity of comprehensive and documented historical data regarding risks and a deficiency in embracing contemporary methodologies to mitigate the impact of risk factors on construction project objectives. This paper outlines initial findings from an ongoing research endeavor that centers on implementing Lean Construction (LC) techniques to enhance construction management practices specifically for marble floor finishing work within Vietnam. Therefore, this study aims to apply the construction lean principle combined with discrete-event simulation (DES) by using EZStrobe to simulate the marble floor finishing process in reality, from observing and collecting data of each activity in the actual process on the site. By building, running simulations, and resulting from real-world simulations, we'll understand the sources of waste, and then apply lean construction principles through methods such as just in time, reduce the batch size and resources priorities, and multi-skilled teams for the initial construction process. The study's lean modeling results has led to a 13% reduction in construction cycle time, a 141% improvement in process efficiency, a 268% enhancement in average productivity, and a 96% reduction in labor cost. The result has become the reference document resource for the managers and construction engineers to improve the performance of not only general finishing work but also marble floor finishing work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the contemporary landscape of construction project management, the strategic integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology has emerged as a fundamental avenue to improve operational efficiency. This study evaluates the feasibility and effectiveness of the implementation of the BIM methodology in improving the management of construction projects in construction companies in Peru. Using an applied approach underscored by a quantitative and correlational nonexperimental design, a comprehensive survey was administered to 415 workers. This survey focused on evaluating the dimensions of BIM (3D, 4D, and 5D), as well as the fundamental facets of project management that encompass planning and execution. The results reveal that 47% of respondents highlighted deficiencies within the 3D BIM dimension, indicating potential challenges in visualizing and understanding the design. Likewise, 49% of participants highlighted deficiencies within the 4D BIM dimension, shedding light on issues related to time coordination and strategic planning. Around 57% expressed reservations about the 5D BIM dimension, highlighting the complexities surrounding accurate cost estimation and financial management. The synthesis of these revelations underscores an urgent call for specific interventions to rectify these specific areas. This involves investing in cutting-edge BIM technology tools and the simultaneous provision of targeted training programs for stakeholders to increase their multi-dimensional view of BIM. Ultimately, the study results drive innovation, thus opening the prospect of a more sustainable and streamlined construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the country has made significant progress in tunnel construction, transforming from a "weak tunnel nation" to a "strong tunnel nation." As of 2022, China has undertaken more than 60 projects involving large-diameter shield tunnels. To promote the sustainable and high-quality development of large-diameter shield tunnels in China, this article systematically reviews the development history of large-diameter shield tunnels, summarizes the current projects in the country, and addresses various aspects such as construction technology management, design technology, ecological conservation, safety, and intelligence. The article also provides suggestions for the development of large-diameter shield tunnels in China, with the aim of playing a proactive role in promoting their advancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of lean principles in construction project management is paramount for achieving optimal efficiency and minimizing waste. This study provides a comprehensive exploration of the innovative Big Room concept, serving as a collaborative hub where project stakeholders converge to streamline design and construction processes. Through a detailed examination of a real-life case study, we meticulously analyze the effectiveness, advantages, and obstacles encountered during the implementation of the Big Room methodology throughout the project lifecycle. By offering profound insights and practical recommendations, this research aims to enlighten and empower lean construction practitioners striving for excellence in project management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information Management Systems are vital tools for businesses and organizations to manage their data effectively, make informed decisions, ensure data security and compliance, and enhance operational efficiency. This paper presents a robust app roach to information management through the utilization of the Optimized Probabilistic Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (OP_Bi-LSTM) model. The study developed into the architecture and application of Simulated Annealing (SA) for hyperparameter optimization, emphasizing the impact of fine-tuning on model performance. OP_Bi-LSTM, rooted in Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory, exhibits superior sequential data processing capabilities, making it well-suited for a variety of information management tasks. The proposed OP_BILSTM hierarchical architecture further enhances its pattern recognition capabilities in the information management system. Results from extensive experimentation demonstrate the model's versatility and adaptability in various applications, such as sentiment analysis, fraud detection, and time-series forecasting. The proposed OP_BI-LSTM model performance analysis is evaluated for the consideration of the different customers and product data. The propsoed OP_Bi-LSTM model achieves the classification accuracy of 0.98. It is stated that OP_Bi-LSTM emerges as a powerful tool for information management, offering exceptional performance and adaptability. As the field of deep learning and information management continues to evolve, this model holds great promise for addressing complex data chal lenges and facilitating data-driven decision-making in a variety of industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since current real-name management for construction workers is unreasonable, this study has divided the management levels of construction companies into five categories, based on their IT applications. Apart from adopting literature induction approach and the project management maturity model (PMMM), the study also considers the six modules of human resource management. It has solicited expert opinions and evaluated them with different indicators and the improved Delphi method. Moreover, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is employed to determine the algorithm of multiple indicators and the weights. This study has created a system to evaluate the maturity of real-name management of construction workers, offering reference fo enterprises' personnel information management. It can also be used for industrial and social supervision to promote real-name management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses construction waste and its management in the territory of Croatia. In order to better understand the concept of waste, the first part of this paper discusses its origin, characteristics, and categorisation. In addition, it mentions special categories of waste defined within Croatian borders. All members of the European Union are encouraged to adopt a circular economy approach to manage these various types of waste. Furthermore, the article emphasises the necessity to construct legal landfills in addition to building management centres, recycling yards, and transfer stations, in order to reduce the formation of wild landfills, which result from irresponsible waste disposal. The second part of the article provides a detailed description of construction and demolition waste. In addition to the types of occurrences and the associated degree of hazard, a categorisation system is used. This system includes records and key numbers, and allows finding the appropriate species in the database with the corresponding key number. Modern technology has made it possible to recycle all types of waste, including construction waste, into secondary raw materials. Proper management is essential to achieve this goal. The first step involves prevention, diversion or conversion of waste into a resource. When these options are not possible, one of the recovery processes should be employed. Managing Construction Waste also provides a comprehensive explanation of recycling, which is given significant attention. The article concludes with an overview of the Republic of Croatia’s system for managing construction waste, which lags behind more developed countries, as well as offers examples of best practices and possible improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Project management information systems (PMIS) are software tools that help managers track projects from design to execution. PMISs are primarily developed to assist project management, but it is important to consider how well they adopt project management methods, how much assistance they provide at different phases of the project life cycle, and whether their scope is sufficient. This study investigated different types of PMISs, including web-based and software applications. The implementation of PMISs, their factors, and their effects on different types of projects (construction, manufacturing, IT, R&D, and finance) were also examined. Finally, future research directions were discussed. The study highlights the importance of comprehensive PMIS training programs to promote workplace learning, professional success, and project success. It emphasizes the need for organizations to select suitable PMIS software based on project complexity and scope, considering the financial implications and knowledge requirements. Furthermore, the implementation of a structured change methodology that integrates both the hard and soft aspects of change is recommended to facilitate effective change management within project-based organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate to what extent the construction and demolition waste generated by households is managed by the principles of circularity and to identify the main influencing factors in the behavior of households regarding the circularity-based management of construction waste in Latvia. The current research presents principles of circularity of household-generated waste based on a systematic literature review, and the data obtained from a survey were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. This study clarifies the circular economy rationale for construction and demolition waste (CDW) management in Latvia and proposes further development to promote the achievement of sustainable development goals and increased energy efficiency. The results reveal that the observance of circular economy principles in construction and demolition waste management among Latvian households does not correspond to good circular economy practices due to attitudes toward environmental issues, expenses, and logistics; thus, compliance with these principles and legislation as well as closer cooperation between municipalities and households can promote significant economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]