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Construction crew productivity is affected by the motivation of the crew performing given activities and by situational/contextual factors forming the dynamic construction environment. The literature lacks a comprehensive analysis of causal relationships between crew motivation and situational/contextual factors for dynamic modelling of crew productivity. The contributions of this paper are (1) identifying a set of criteria for performing expert weight assignment for heterogenous group experts in productivity research, (2) proposing an integrated fuzzy analytic hierarchy process-fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory approach that provides a systematic, structured method for determining causal relationship mapping between factors affecting crew productivity, and (3) proposing an approach for identifying cause-and-effect groups among the situational/contextual factors and crew motivation, which can further be used to formulate strategic productivity improvement solutions. The proposed methodology is demonstrated using a case study on an actual industrial construction project in Alberta, Canada. Key words: construction crew productivity, construction crew motivation, fuzzy AHP, fuzzy DEMATEL, qualitative modelling, Aminah Robinson Fayek^orcid.org/0000-0002-3744-273X 1. Introduction Construction productivity plays a significant role in determining a construction project's success; therefore, it is a major research area. Construction productivity problems include assessing factors [...]

Construction labour productivity (CLP) is affected by numerous variables made up of subjective and objective factors. Thus, CLP modelling and prediction are a complex task, leading to high computational cost and the risk of overfitting of data. This paper proposes a predictive model for CLP by integrating hybrid feature selection (HFS), as a combination of filter and wrapper methods, with principal component analysis (PCA). This developed HFS-PCA method reduces the dimensionality and complexity of CLP data and obtains better prediction performance by identifying the most predictive factors. Identified factors are utilized as inputs for various classification methods to predict CLP. Finally, prediction errors of the classification methods with and without using the proposed HFS-PCA method are compared, and the most accurate classification method is selected to develop the CLP predictive model. Experimental results show that using HFS-PCA for CLP prediction leads to better performances compared with past studies. Key words: construction labour productivity prediction, hybrid feature selection, principal component analysis, genetic algorithm, support vector machine, ReliefF algorithm La productivite du travail dans la construction (PTC) repose sur de nombreuses variables constituees de facteurs subjectifs et objectifs. Ainsi, la modelisation et la prediction de la PTC est une tache complexe, occasionnant un cout de calcul eleve et un risque de surapprentissage des donnees. Le present document propose un modele predictif pour la PTC en integrant la selection des caracteristiques hybrides (SCH), en tant que combinaison de methodes de filtrage et d'enveloppeur, avec l'analyse des composantes principales (ACP). Cette methode SCH-ACP developpee reduit la dimensionnalite et la complexite des donnees PTC et obtient une meilleure performance de prediction en identifiant les facteurs les plus predictifs. Les facteurs identifies sont utilises comme intrants pour diverses methodes de classification afin de predire la PTC. Enfin, on compare l'erreur de prediction des methodes de classification avec et sans l'utilisation de la methode SCH-ACP proposee, et on choisit la methode de classification la plus precise pour elaborer le modele predictif de PTC. Les resultats experimentaux montrent que l'utilisation de la SCH-ACP pour la prediction de la PTC conduit a de meilleures performances par rapport aux etudes anterieures. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : prediction de la productivite du travail de construction, selection de caracteristiques hybrides (SCH), analyse des composantes principales (ACP), algorithme genetique, machine a vecteurs de support, algorithme ReliefF, 1. Introduction As the construction industry accounts for the highest share of employment and labour costs comprise the majority of overall project costs in many countries (Heravi and Eslamdoost 2015), [...]

Predicting and optimizing performance in earthmoving operations is critical, because they are essential to many construction projects. The complexity of modeling earthmoving operations remains challenging, even with several modeling techniques available, including simulation. This paper advances the state-of-the-art of modeling earthmoving operations by introducing a hybrid fuzzy system dynamics-discrete event simulation framework with the capacity to: capture the dynamism of performance in earthmoving operations; capture subjective uncertainty of several factors affecting them; model their sequential nature and resource constraints; and determine actual travel time, in real time, using online navigation systems. Findings from this research confirm the proposed framework (i) extends the application of simulation techniques for modeling construction processes involving dynamic input variables and subjective uncertainty, through its ability to capture the non-probabilistic uncertainty of construction systems, and (ii) when combined with the use of online navigation systems to assess trucks' travel time, improves the accuracy of earthmoving operation models. Key words: construction modeling, hybrid simulation, system dynamics, discrete event simulation, fuzzy logic. Il est essentiel de prevoir et d'optimiser le rendement des operations de terrassement, car elles sont essentielles a de nombreux projets de construction. La complexite de la modelisation des operations de terrassement constitue un defi, meme avec plusieurs techniques de modelisation disponibles, y compris la simulation. Cet article fait progresser l'etat de la technique de modelisation des operations de terrassement en introduisant un cadre de simulation a evenements discrets et de dynamique de systeme flou hybride avec la capacite de : capter le dynamisme du rendement dans les operations de terrassement; saisir l'incertitude subjective de plusieurs facteurs qui les touchent; modeliser leur nature sequentielle et leurs contraintes en matiere de ressources; et determiner le temps de deplacement, en temps reel, a l'aide des systemes de navigation en ligne. Les resultats de cette recherche confirment que le cadre propose (i) etend l'application des techniques de simulation pour la modelisation des processus de construction impliquant des variables d'entree dynamiques et de l'incertitude subjective, grace a sa capacite a saisir l'incertitude non probabiliste des systemes de construction et (ii) lorsqu'il est combine a l'utilisation de systemes de navigation en ligne pour evaluer le temps de deplacement des camions, ameliore la precision des modeles d'operations de terrassement. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : modelisation de la construction, simulation hybride, dynamique de systeme, simulation d'evenements discrets, logique floue., 1. Introduction Due to the increasing complexity of construction systems (e.g., construction activities, operations, and projects), numerous managerial techniques have been developed or adapted from other engineering disciplines to model [...]

The construction industry is entering the digital age, which offers innovative digitalization opportunities (DOs) regarding cost efficiency, project management, and improved client experience. In their early efforts to implement DOs, construction organizations have had varying degrees of success, and the results prompted organizations to question whether they have the appropriate digital strategy and capabilities. Hence, construction organizations need a framework to systematically evaluate the potential benefits of implementing DOs and factors influencing their successful implementation. This paper presents a framework that supports decision makers in construction organizations to assess DOs based on experts' judgement of the factors influencing their successful implementation. The framework incorporates fuzzy arithmetic and linguistic evaluation to capture experts' subjective assessments and is implemented in the Digitalization Opportunities Road Mapping Tool (DORMT[C]). DORMT[C], which allows organizations to evaluate individual DOs, rank multiple DOs, and identify the best options for implementing digitalization within their organization. Key words: fuzzy logic, fuzzy arithmetic, construction, linguistic evaluation, digitalization. L'industrie de la construction entre dans l'ere numerique, offrant des possibility de numerisation (PN) innovatrices en matiere de rentabilite, de gestion de projet et d'amelioration de l'experience client. Dans leurs premiers efforts visant a mettre en reuvre les PN, les organismes de construction ont connu divers degres de succes, et les resultats ont amene les organismes a se demander si elles ont la strategie et les capacites numeriques appropriees. Par consequent, les organismes de construction ont besoin d'un cadre pour evaluer systematiquement les avantages potentiels de la mise en reuvre des PN et les facteurs qui influent sur une mise en reuvre reussie. Ce document presente un cadre qui aide les decideurs des organismes de construction a evaluer les PN en fonction du jugement des experts sur les facteurs influant sur leur mise en reuvre reussie. Le cadre integre une evaluation arithmetique et linguistique floue pour saisir les evaluations subjectives des experts et il est mis en reuvre dans l'outil de modelisation des possibilites de numerisation (<< Digitalization Opportunities Road Mapping Tool, DORMT[C] >>). DORMT[C] permet aux organismes d'evaluer chaque PN, de classer plusieurs PN et de determiner les meilleures options pour la mise en reuvre de la numerisation au sein de leur organisme. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: logique floue, arithmetique floue, construction, evaluation linguistique, numerisation., 1. Introduction The digital age has ushered in the proliferation and democratization of data (Wong et al. 2018), and over the past two decades, the use and availability of digital [...]

Traditional risk analysis techniques are ineffective for capturing the dynamic causal interactions and subjective uncertainties involved in assessing risk and opportunity events since they treat risks independently and rely on the availability of sufficient historical data. In this paper, a hybrid fuzzy system dynamics (FSD) model is developed to analyze the impacts of interrelated and interacting risk and opportunity events on work package cost to determine work package and project contingencies using expert judgement and subjective assessment. A fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method is employed to structure and analyze the causal interactions among risk and opportunity events. This paper provides the following contributions: (1) a systematic risk assessment and prioritization procedure; (2) a structured method for defining the dynamic causal relationships among risk and opportunity events and quantifying their impact on work package and project contingencies using FSD; and (3) a method for representing linguistic variables and applying fuzzy arithmetic in FSD. Key words: construction, risk analysis, contingency, system dynamics, fuzzy logic, DEMATEL. Les techniques traditionnelles d'analyse des risques sont inefficaces pour saisir les interactions dynamiques causales et les incertitudes subjectives liees a l'evaluation des evenements lies aux risques et aux opportunites, car elles traitent les risques de facon independante et misent sur la disponibilite de donnees historiques suffisantes. Dans le present document, un modele hybride de dynamique de systeme floue (DSF) est elabore afin d'analyser les repercussions des evenements de risque et d'opportunite interrelies et en interaction sur le cout des lots de travaux afin de determiner les imponderables des lots de travaux et du projet a l'aide du jugement d'experts et d'une evaluation subjective. Une methode de laboratoire d'essai et d'evaluation de la prise de decisions (<< DEMATEL >>) floue est utilisee pour structurer et analyser les interactions causales entre les evenements de risque et d'opportunite. Le present document fournit les contributions suivantes : (i) une procedure systematique d'evaluation et de priorisation des risques; (ii) une methode structuree pour definir les relations dynamiques de causalite entre les evenements de risque et d'opportunite et quantifier leur repercussion sur les imponderables de lot de travaux et du projet a l'aide de la DSF; et (iii) une methode pour representer les variables linguistiques et appliquer l'arithmetique floue a la DSF. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : construction, analyse des risques, imponderable, dynamique du systeme, logique floue, laboratoire d'essai et d'evaluation de la prise de decisions (<< DEMATEL >>)., Introduction Contingency estimation, allocation, and management are vital for mitigating the risks associated with construction projects to deliver successful outcomes (Salah and Moselhi 2015). However, most traditional quantitative risk analysis [...]

Organizations operating in the construction industry seek to understand how to successfully identify and manage competencies, given the significant influence they have on performance. Thus, organizations need to explore new approaches for assessing and enhancing their competencies to improve their performance. This paper presents a review of past studies and identifies the most common organizational competency and performance measures. A focus group was conducted to evaluate and verify the list of identified competency and performance measures. The contributions of this paper are threefold. First, this paper addresses the lack of studies on organizational-level competencies specifically for the construction domain. Second, this paper identifies, categorizes, and ranks organizational competency and performance measures. Third, the categorization of competency and performance measures, verified by the focus group, provides organizations with a systematic method to evaluate their competencies and improve their performance. Key words: construction performance, competency, organizational competency, organizational issues, organizational performance. Les organisations oeuvrant dans le secteur de la construction cherchent a comprendre comment cerner et gerer avec succes les competences, compte tenu de leur influence importante sur le rendement. Ainsi, les organisations doivent explorer de nouvelles approches pour evaluer et optimiser leurs competences afin d'ameliorer leur rendement. Ce document presente un examen des etudes anterieures et identifie les competences et les mesures de rendement organisationnelles les plus courantes. Un groupe de discussion a ete mis sur pied pour evaluer et verifier la liste des competences et des mesures de rendement etablies. Les contributions de cette etude comportent trois volets. Tout d'abord, cet article traite du manque d'etudes sur les competences au niveau organisationnel specifiquement pour le domaine de la construction. Deuxiemement, dans cette etude, on identifie, categorise et classe les competences et les mesures de rendement organisationnelles. Troisiemement, la categorisation des competences et des mesures du rendement, verifiee par le groupe de discussion, fournit aux organisations une methode systematique pour evaluer leurs competences et ameliorer leur rendement. Mots-cles : rendement en construction, competence, competence organisationnelle, enjeux organisationnels, rendement organisationnel., Introduction The construction industry is dynamic, complex, and demands continuous quality, productivity, and performance improvement, due to the emergence of new procurement methods, contracts, and project delivery methods (Kwak et [...]

The term advanced work packaging (AWP), coined by the Construction Industry Institute (CII), refers to a disciplined process for project planning and execution; it was developed to address challenges such as cost and schedule overruns in the industrial construction sector. Case studies conducted on AWP report a number of benefits in the areas of productivity, cost, safety, and schedule. However, since there is no clear method to assess the costs and benefits of AWP implementation, a significant challenge in AWP adoption is the lack of quantitative evidence to support these reported benefits. This paper presents a structured framework to assess multiple aspects of AWP implementation, which will enable the quantification of both its costs and benefits. The framework will enable the future comparison of AWP and non-AWP projects. This paper contributes to the industrial construction sector by providing a framework to assess AWP implementation in practice. Key words: advanced work packaging, workface planning, best practice, industrial construction, project planning, project control. Le terme lots de travaux avances (LTA, <>), invente par la <> (CII), designe un processus rigoureux pour la planification et la realisation de projet; il a ete developpe pour relever des defis comme les depassements de couts et les retards dans le secteur de la construction industrielle. Les etudes de cas realisees sur les LTA font etat d'un certain nombre d'avantages dans les domaines de la productivite, des couts, de la securite et de l'echeancier. Cependant, puisqu'il n'y a aucune methode claire pour evaluer les couts et les avantages de la mise en oeuvre des LTA, un defi important dans l'adoption des LTA est le manque de preuve quantitative pour appuyer ces avantages cites. Cette etude presente un cadre structure pour evaluer les multiples aspects de la mise en oeuvre des LTA, qui permettra la quantification tant de ses couts que de ses avantages. Le cadre permettra la comparaison future des projets LTA et non LTA. Ce document contribue au secteur de la construction industrielle en fournissant un cadre pour evaluer la mise en oeuvre des LTA en pratique. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: lots de travaux avances, planification du site de travail, meilleure pratique, construction industrielle, planification de projet, controle de projet., 1. Introduction Completing the project on time and within the allocated budget are two primary objectives for an industrial construction project. To achieve these two objectives, a planning and control [...]

Productivity measurement is a concern for both construction practitioners and researchers. In construction, productivity can be measured at three levels: activity, project, and industry. At the project level, previous studies focused on measuring the productivity of specific activities. In addition, existing project-level productivity metrics do not consider the effect of all resources used in a project. To effectively assess overall project performance, the productivity of all project activities and resources used must be taken into account. This study presents a framework that takes into consideration all resources used in a project and proposes a metric for measuring the total productivity of construction projects. A focus group session with experts, followed by questionnaire surveys, were used to assess the applicability of the framework. This paper makes a contribution by providing researchers and practitioners with a framework and tools for data collection and analysis of total construction project productivity. Key words: construction productivity, productivity measurement framework, total productivity metric, focus group, industrial construction. La mesure de productivite constitue une preoccupation tant pour les praticiens en construction que pour les chercheurs. Dans le domaine de la construction, la productivite peut etre mesuree a trois niveaux: soit au niveau de l'activite, du projet et de l'industrie. Au niveau du projet, les etudes anterieures ont porte sur la mesure de la productivite d'activites precises. De plus, les parametres existants de productivite au niveau de projet ne considerent pas l'effet de toutes les ressources utilisees pour un projet. Afin d'evaluer de maniere efficace le rendement global d'un projet, la productivite de toutes les activites et les ressources utilisees dans le cadre du projet doit etre prise en compte. Cette etude presente un cadre qui prend en consideration toutes les ressources utilisees dans un projet et propose un parametre pour mesurer la productivite totale de projets de construction. Une seance de discussion avec des experts et ensuite des enquetes par questionnaire ont ete employees pour evaluer l'applicabilite du cadre. Cet ouvrage apporte une contribution en fournissant aux chercheurs et aux praticiens un cadre et des outils pour la collecte de donnees et une analyse de la productivite totale de projet de construction. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: productivite sur le plan de la construction, cadre de mesure de productivite, parametre de productivite totale, groupe de discussion, construction industrielle., 1. Introduction The construction industry is responsible for a significant portion of the gross domestic product in any industrialized nation (Huang et al. 2009; Vogl and Abdel-Wahab 2015). In 2016, [...]

Research and development (R&D) partnerships involve investigative activities that may result in new discoveries and innovations that are critical for the technological advancement of the engineering domain. While demonstrating the value of these partnerships is essential for encouraging investment, the engineering domain lacks a formal evaluation framework. In this paper, a methodology and framework for evaluating R&D partnerships is introduced. The effectiveness of the developed framework is tested using a case study that focuses on the role of the university within the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Chair program. Using correlation analysis, the activities and investment areas that lead to the desired outcomes for the university research are identified. By using the developed framework over time and applying it to different research programs and industries, key activities and investment areas can be established and improved R&D policies and implementation plans developed. Key words: construction industry, construction companies, engineering, research and development, strategic planning. Les partenariats de recherche et developpement (R et D) supposent des activites d'enquete qui peuvent engendrer de nouvelles decouvertes et innovations qui sont critiques pour l'avancement technologique du domaine de l'ingenierie. Bien que demontrer la valeur de ces partenariats soit essentiel pour encourager l'investissement, le domaine de l'ingenierie n'a pas un cadre d'evaluation officiel necessaire. Dans cet article, on presente une methodologie et un cadre pour evaluer les partenariats de R et D. L'efficacite du cadre developpe est verifiee en utilisant une etude de cas qui porte sur le role de l'universite dans le Programme de professeurs-chercheurs industriels du Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en genie du Canada. En utilisant l'analyse de correlation, on determine les activites et les secteurs d'investissement qui menent aux resultats desires lies a la recherche universitaire. En utilisant le cadre developpe au fil du temps et en l'appliquant aux differents programmes de recherche et aux differentes industries, des activites cles et des secteurs d'investissement peuvent etre determines et des politiques de R et D ameliorees et des plans de mise en oeuvre peuvent etre developpes. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : industrie de la construction, entreprises de construction, ingenierie, recherche et developpement, planification strategique., Introduction and background According to Hagedoorn et al. (2000), research and development (R&D) partnerships can be defined as 'cooperative arrangements engaging universities, industries, and government agencies and laboratories in various [...]

In construction, workers are frequently exposed to ergonomic risks that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders. To prevent ergonomic injuries, proper assessment of ergonomic risk is a key to identifying risk factors and modifying work practice in a timely manner. In field observation, however, difficulties in visually estimating human postures (e.g., body joint angles) required for ergonomic analysis have led to inconsistent results due to the subjectiveness of observers. This study thus proposes a fuzzy logic approach to posture-based ergonomic evaluation tools. Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) is selected as a case study to describe the fuzzy logic modelling of RULA scoring systems and discuss the application to modular construction shops. The results of validation comparing correlations with biomechanical analysis--used as a ground truth--reveal that the proposed system produces more accurate results than traditional methods and hence helps minimize human errors in observation for reliable on-site ergonomic assessment. Key words: ergonomic assessment, fuzzy logic, RULA, worker safety, work-related musculoskeletal disorder. Dans le domaine de la construction, les travailleurs s'exposent frequemment a des risques ergonomiques qui peuvent causer des troubles musculosquelettiques. Afin de prevenir les blessures ergonomiques, il est essentiel d'evaluer le risque ergonomique convenablement afin de determiner les facteurs de risques et de modifier la pratique de travail en temps opportun. En observation sur le terrain, cependant, des difficultes a estimer les postures humaines visuellement (p. ex., les angles d'articulation du corps) necessaires a l'analyse ergonomique ont entraine des resultats contradictoires a cause de la subjectivite des observateurs. Or donc, dans le cadre de cette etude, on propose une approche a logique floue en ce qui a trait aux outils d'evaluation ergonomique en fonction de la posture. On a choisi comme etude de cas l'evaluation rapide des membres superieurs ou << rapid upper limb assessment >> (RULA) pour decrire la modelisation a logique floue des systemes de grille de cotation RULA et pour discuter de son application dans le contexte des ateliers de construction modulaires. Les resultats de validation comparant des correlations a des analyses biomecaniques--employees comme realite de terrain--revelent que le systeme propose donne des resultats plus exacts que les methodes traditionnelles et ainsi aident a minimiser les erreurs humaines en observation permettant une evaluation ergonomique plus fiable sur le terrain. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : evaluation ergonomique, logique floue, evaluation rapide des membres superieurs ou << rapid upper limb assessment >> (RULA), securite des travailleurs, troubles musculosquelettiques lies au travail., Introduction Construction activities are labour-intensive, with workers repeatedly exposed to physically challenging manual tasks involving forceful exertion and awkward postures. Such ergonomic risk factors (e.g., worker posture and motions, frequency [...]

Skilled labour shortages have been projected for Alberta's construction industry. As the career paths tradespeople follow significantly affect future supplies of skilled labour, this study explored the career paths of tradespeople in the provincial construction industry. Three major characteristics of the career paths of tradespeople were analyzed: first industry career stage, number of years spent in each stage, and number of projects worked on during each stage. Sector-based comparisons discovered that tradespeople in the industrial/pipeline sector progressed more quickly through some career stages. Analysis also revealed that in general, switching industry sectors during a career stage lengthens the duration of that stage. We also explored which factors affect construction tradespeople's career paths using a chi-square correlation test. Intergenerational differences were observed; a correlation between educational level and highest industry career stage was detected. Study findings will support the development of labour projections, educational programming, and human resources strategies. Key words: construction industry, career paths, labour supply, human resource management, industry sectors, Alberta, chisquare, statistical correlation. Il est prevu que l'industrie de la construction en Alberta subira une penurie de main-d'reuvre qualifiee. Puisque le cheminement de carriere des gens de metier a un impact sur la disponibilite future de la main-d'reuvre qualifiee, la presente etude explore les cheminements de carriere des gens de metier dans l'industrie de la construction provinciale. Trois caracteristiques principales des cheminements de carriere des gens de metier ont ete analysees : la premiere etape de carriere dans l'industrie, le nombre d'annees passees a chaque etape et le nombre de projets auxquels ils ont travaille durant chaque etape. Les comparaisons basees sur les secteurs ont permis de decouvrir que les gens de metier dans le secteur industriel/ des pipelines ont progresse plus rapidement a travers certaines etapes de carriere. L'analyse a egalement revele qu'en general, changer de secteur d'industrie durant une etape de carriere prolonge la duree de cette etape. Nous avons egalement etudie les facteurs qui affectaient les cheminements de carriere des gens de metier dans la construction en utilisant un test de correlation [chi square]. Des differences ont ete observees entre les generations; une correlation a ete decelee entre le niveau d'education et l'etape de carriere la plus haute atteinte dans l'industrie. Les conclusions de l'etude supporteront le developpement des projections en maind'reuvre, la mise sur pied de programmes educationnels et des strategies en ressources humaines. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-des : industrie de la construction, cheminements de carriere, disponibilite de la main-d'reuvre, gestion des ressources humaines, secteurs de l'industrie, Alberta, test [chi square], correlation statistique., 1. Introduction Skilled labour is in high demand in the construction industry, and this is particularly the case in Alberta, Canada. Despite a slowdown in construction following the global economic [...]

The application of fuzzy hybrid methods has significantly increased in recent years across various sectors. However, the application of fuzzy hybrid methods for modeling systems or processes, such as fuzzy machine learning, fuzzy simulation, and fuzzy decision-making, has been relatively limited in the energy sector. Moreover, compared to standard methods, the benefits of fuzzy-hybrid methods for capturing complex problems are not adequately explored for the solar energy sector, which is one of the most important renewable energy sources in electric grids. This paper investigates the application of fuzzy hybrid systems in the solar energy sector compared to other sectors through a systematic review of journal articles published from 2012 to 2022. Selection criteria for choosing an appropriate method in each investigated fuzzy hybrid method are also presented and discussed. This study contributes to the existing literature in the solar energy domain by providing a state-of-the-art review of existing fuzzy hybrid techniques to (1) demonstrate their capability for capturing complex problems while overcoming limitations inherent in standard modeling methods, (2) recommend criteria for selecting an appropriate fuzzy hybrid technique for applications in solar energy research, and (3) assess the applicability of fuzzy hybrid techniques for solving practical problems in the solar energy sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parameters (factors and practices) influencing construction labour productivity are multi-faceted and project dependent. A proven measurement scheme and modeling approach to investigate the effect of parameters on construction labour productivity has not yet been developed. This study identifies key parameters influencing labour productivity using context-sensitive surveys that reveal contextual differences between key parameters. The study relies on data collected through 141 surveys administered to project management and trade respondents from six Canadian projects in either of two contexts: building and industrial. Analysis revealed the top parameters influencing labour productivity on building and industrial projects. Consensus between project management and trade level respondents regarding parameters' effects within and between contexts was evaluated using statistical analysis; results indicated some differences in perception. The methodology and findings from this paper are useful for identifying enablers of and barriers to better productivity, developing context-sensitive labour productivity models for use in analysis, and developing productivity improvement strategies. Key words: construction labour productivity, parameters, practices, factors, surveys, context analysis. Les parametres (facteurs et pratiques) influencant la productivite de la main d'oeuvre dans le domaine de la construction ont plusieurs volets et sont fonction du type de projet. Aucune mesure eprouvee ni approche de modelisation n'ont ete developpees pour examiner l'effet de ces parametres sur la productivite de la main d'oeuvre dans le domaine de la construction. La presente etude identifie des parametres cles influencant la productivite de la main d'oeuvre en utilisant des sondages sensibles au contexte qui revelent les differences contextuelles entre les parametres cles. L'etude se base sur des donnees colligees dans 141 sondages envoyes a des repondants en gestion de projet et des metiers dans six projets canadiens dans l'un ou l'autre des contextes suivants : construction en batiments et industrielle. L'analyse a revele les principaux parametres influencant la productivite de la main d'oeuvre dans les projets industriels et de batiments. Le consensus entre les repondants en gestion de projet et des metiers sur les effets des parametres dans chaque contexte et entre eux a ete evalue par analyse statistique. Les resultats montrent certaines differences dans la perception. La methode et les conclusions du present article seront utiles pour identifier les catalyseurs et les barrieres a une meilleure productivite, developper des modeles de productivite de la main d'oeuvre sensibles au contexte qui seront utilises dans les analyses et pour developper des strategies d'amelioration de la productivite. [Traduit par le Redaction] Mots-cles: productivite de la main d'oeuvre dans le domaine de la construction, parametres, pratiques, facteurs, sondages, analyse contextuelle., Introduction and problem statement The Canadian construction industry is vitally important to the nation's economy. Construction labour productivity (CLP) deals with the efficiency of crews in the complex process of [...]

WorkFace Planning (WFP) is a construction industry best practice aimed at improving productivity on industrial construction projects. It is now a common requirement in the construction contracts of industrial projects in Alberta. Since its debut, the implementation of WFP in different project contexts has not been formally studied. Construction project contexts differ greatly and have an impact on the effectiveness of implementation of any industry standard procedure. The purpose of this paper is to present a framework for identifying the context variables that warrant changes to the industry standard WFP procedures and to illustrate how these variables require the adaptation of WFP within an organization and on a project. The framework is illustrated with a case study of an organization and a project, which found that modifications to the standard WFP procedures were made at both the organization and project levels during implementation, based on certain organization and project characteristics. These modifications to the standard WFP procedures, coupled with the organization and project characteristics identified, are of value to the future implementation of WFP in specific contexts. Furthermore, the methodology used in this study to investigate the adaptation of WFP is useful in studying the adaptation of other industry best practices for different construction contexts. Key words: industrial construction, mega projects, WorkFace Planning, best practice, lean construction, work packaging. La planification du site de travail (WFP--WorkFace Planning) est une meilleure pratique de l'industrie de la construction visant a ameliorer la productivity des projets de construction industriels. Elle est maintenant souvent exigee sur les contrats de construction de projets industriels en Alberta. Depuis le lancement de la WFP, sa mise en ceuvre dans differents contextes de projets n'a jamais ete etudiee officiellement. Les contextes des projets de construction different grandement d'un a l'autre et ils ont un impact sur l'efficacite de mise en ceuvre d'une procedure normalisee dans l'industrie. Le but du present article est de presenter un cadre permettant d'identifier les variables de contextes qui justifient des changements aux procedures WFP normalisees de l'industrie et d'illustrer comment ces variables demandent l'adaptation de la WFP dans l'organisation et sur les projets. Une etude de cas d'une organisation et d'un projet sert a illustrer ce cadre; il s'est avere que des modifications aux procedures WFP normalisees ont ete realisees au niveau de l'organisation et du projet durant l'implantation, basees sur certaines caracteristiques de l'organisation et du projet. Ces modifications aux procedures WFP normalisees, jumelees aux caracteristiques identifiees de l'organisation et du projet, sont importantes pour l'implantation future des WFP dans des contextes specifiques. De plus, la methode utilisee dans la presente etude pour examiner l'adaptation des WFP pourra servir a l'adaptation d'autres meilleures pratiques de l'industrie pour differentes contextes de construction. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: construction industrielle megaprojets, planification du site de travail, meilleure pratique, construction a valeur ajoutee, lots de travaux., 1. Introduction Effective planning is a critical component in the success of all construction projects, especially complex mega-scale industrial projects. To ensure and improve the quality of construction planning on [...]