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New district energy projects facilitate to decentralize their energy supply, create efficiency in the production and distribution of energy, and enable the use of renewable fuels. Selection of an appropriate project delivery and contracting strategy is essential to achieve owner's key objectives over the lifecycle of a district energy facility. The goal of this paper is to identify objectives of the owners in Canadian district energy projects, and then align those with project delivery and contracting strategy (PDCS) alternatives. The paper also provides a practical tool to assist owners in the selection of an appropriate PDCS for their district energy projects. This research has identified and validated key PDCS selection factors for Canadian district energy projects using Delphi based research method. The paper contributes to the body of knowledge by identifying PDCS alternatives, specifically for Canadian district energy projects, and selecting PDCS alternatives in the context of the project lifecycle. Key words: district energy projects, project delivery methods, contract strategies. Les nouveaux projets energetiques de quartier facilitent la decentralisation de leur approvisionnement energetique, creent l'efficacite en matiere de production et de distribution de l'energie, et permettent l'utilisation de carburants renouvelables. La selection d'une realisation de projet et d'une strategie contractuelle (RPSC) appropriees est essentielle a l'atteinte des principaux objectifs du proprietaire au cours du cycle de vie de l'amenagement energetique de quartier. Le but de cette etude est de determiner les objectifs des proprietaires de projets energetiques de quartier au Canada, et ensuite de cadrer ces objectifs avec les alternatives en matiere de RPSC. Cet article fournit aussi un outil d'aide pratique aux proprietaries dans le choix d'une RPSC qui convient a leurs projets energetiques de quartier. Cette etude a determine et valide les facteurs cles de selection d'une RPSC pour des projets energetiques de quartier au Canada en utilisant la methode de recherche fondee sur Delphi. L'article contribue a l'ensemble des connaissances en determinant des alternatives en matiere de RPSC, specifiquement pour les projets energetiques de quartier au Canada, et en choisissant des alternatives de RPSC dans le contexte du cycle de vie du projet. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: projets energetiques de quartier, methodes de realisation de projet, strategies contractuelles., Introduction New energy systems are emerging as a viable way to supplement the traditional energy infrastructure in urban communities across North America. British Columbia has district energy projects located throughout [...]

A skill-measuring criterion or strategy can be used to optimize the scarce skilled labour force in the Canadian construction industry. The University of Calgary conducted an extensive study to assess the skill levels and team performance of field workers and managers in Alberta's building construction projects. Over 150 workers and field managers were interviewed, surveyed with questionnaires and observed, to identify team efficiencies, skill levels, team spirit, and team perceptions of supervision. The average construction worker had over 15 years of field experience. Most of the workers were high school educated. More than 70% of the workers wanted to improve their career skills; however, internal and external opportunities were limited and (or) not promoted by the respective construction companies. A very few foremen had certified skills in administration, computer handling, planning, job management and work records. The research clearly noted the urgent need for training programs, for workers and field managers, to improve their present skill levels. Key words: worker skills, supervisory skills, construction productivity, team spirit, worker education. Un critere / une strategie de mesure des competences peut etre utilise pour optimiser la main-d'oeuvre experimentee, rare dans l'industrie canadienne de la construction. L'Universite de Calgary a realise une vaste etude pour evaluer les niveaux de competences et le rendement des equipes de travailleurs et de chefs de chantier dans les projets de construction de batiments en Alberta. Plus de 150 travailleurs et chefs de chantier ont ete interviewes, ont rempli des questionnaires et ont ete observes afin d'identifier les efficacites des equipes, les niveaux de competences, l'esprit d'equipe ainsi que les perceptions que les equipes avaient de la supervision. Le travailleur de la construction moyen possede plus de 15 ans d'experience sur le terrain. La plupart des travailleurs detiennent un diplome d'etudes secondaires. Plus de 70 % des travailleurs veulent ameliorer leurs competences. Toutefois, les occasions a l'interne et a l'externe sont limitees et (ou) non publicisees par les compagnies de construction. Tres peu de contremaitres possedent des competences certifiees en administration, en informatique, en planification, ainsi qu'en gestion des travaux et de registres de travail. La recherche note clairement le besoin urgent d'avoir des programmes de formation pour les travailleurs et les chefs de chantier afin d'ameliorer leur niveau actuel de competences. Mots-cles : competences des travailleurs, competences de supervision, productivite en construction, esprit d'equipe, education des travailleurs. [Traduit par la Redaction], 1. Introduction Human skills are essential in achieving successful execution of a construction project with effective communication, motivation, leadership, teamwork, and mutual trust. These skills play a major role not [...]

A recent study on construction productivity improvement at the University of Calgary revealed the direct tool time (working time) of Alberta's commercial construction to be about 51%. This study exposed inadequate communication and unavailability of required information as the main causes for a relatively lower tool time. Use of information technology (IT) to overcome widely visible communication issues was extremely limited at the construction site level. Construction companies' hesitation to adopt new technologies was well noted whereas construction workers expressed their willingness and ability to use IT at the site level. The objective of this paper is to discuss the concept and the application of a novel communication tool (called an information booth) developed and pilot tested at a construction project. The concept and the technology presented in this paper have been tested at an actual construction project resulting in improvements in construction productivity, worker satisfaction, and efficiency. This paper also elaborates the rationale for a new technological framework (and the information booth), barriers for technology implementation, research objectives, methodology, and data analysis. Key words: information technology, construction productivity, worker satisfaction, human-technology interaction, on-site communication. Une recente etude sur 1'amelioration de la productivite dans le domaine de la construction menee a l'Universite de Calgary a revele le temps d'utilisation directe des outils (temps de travail) dans le domaine de la construction commerciale en Alberta; il etait d'environ 51 %. Cette etude a determine que les principales causes du temps de travail reel relativement faible sont une communication inadequate et la non-disponibilite de l'information requise. L'utilisation des technologies de l'information (TI) pour surmonter les problemes de communication bien evidents etait extremement limitee sur les sites de construction. L'hesitation des compagnies de construction a adopter les nouvelles technologies a ete bien notee alors que les travailleurs de la construction ont exprime leur volonte et leur capacite a utiliser les TI sur le site. Cet article discute du concept et de l'utilisation d'un nouvel outil de communication (appele << kiosque d'information >>) developpe et teste a l'echelle pilote sur un site de construction. Le concept et la technologie presentes dans cet article ont ete mis a l'epreuve sur un reel projet de construction; il en a decoule des ameliorations en productivite en construction, en satisfaction des travailleurs et en efficacite. Cet article traite egalement de la justification d'un nouveau cadre technologique (et du << kiosque d'information >>), des obstacles a l'implantation de la technologie, des objectifs de recherche, de la methodologie ainsi que de l'analyse des donnees. Mots-cles : technologies de l'information, productivite en construction, satisfaction des travailleurs, interaction humaintechnologie, communication sur le site. [Traduit par la Redaction], Background The construction industry faces many challenges at the beginning of the 21st century as it is forced to change and to incorporate new advanced technologies into the construction process [...]

Abstract: For decades, many researchers have reported the decline in construction productivity, but it is impossible to generalize the productivity problems due to issues such as geographical differences, weather changes, [...]

Abstract: In North America, thousands of construction workers get injured and dozens die, on a yearly basis, due to work related injuries and illnesses. This reality prevailed from year 2000 to 2012 without a significant decrease. It seems that advanced health and safety regulations failed to make a positive impact. However, the use of information and communication technologies to improve safety is limited in the construction industry. This paper describes a system that transmits safety related information of multiple construction projects into a centralized database, where real-time safety indicators are generated. The system provides safety indicators related to an individual project or industry-wide figures. On site managers can use such real-time information for informed decisions in work sites. The system can also be accessed by the general public, research institutions, and regulating bodies, to formulate industry-wide safety standards and policies. The proposed system was pilot tested with positive and encouraging results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]