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Article
Publication date: 1 December 2002

S. Chritamara, S.O. Ogunlana and N.L. Bach

Design and build (D/B) construction methods have gained more importance in recent years for their potential advantages in improving project performance. There are, however, a…

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Abstract

Design and build (D/B) construction methods have gained more importance in recent years for their potential advantages in improving project performance. There are, however, a number of problems that are commonplace in D/B procurement, which, when they interact with each other, can lead to project time and cost overrun problems. The most important among them are design changes, together with communication and coordination lapses among concerned parties. Past research has focused only on the characteristics of the traditional construction, or separate sub‐systems such as different phases or human resource input to projects. An attempt is made in this paper to improve D/B project time and cost performance. A generic system dynamics model is developed that incorporates major sub‐systems and their relationships inherent in D/B constructions projects. It is validated and calibrated for a typical large D/B infrastructure project using time and cost overrun problems experienced in Thailand. Extensive simulations with many policies, individually or in various combinations, show that improvement in time or cost can be made with proper policy combinations that reflect strong interactions between the whole design and build system and can be derived only if these interactions are accounted for. To achieve overall improvement in both time and cost, the combination of full overtime schedule, average material ordering, and fast track construction with moderate crashing of design is most appropriate. If cost is the focus, extending the construction schedule, combined with material ordering based on actual need, and design and build with traditional construction method is the best solution.

Details

Construction Innovation, vol. 2 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-4175

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Article
Publication date: 1 January 2006

S.K. Wong, A.K.C. Cheung, Y. Yau, D.C.W. Ho and K.W. Chau

The most fundamental requirement of a habitable building is that its occupants can live in it healthily and safely. However, given the proliferation of building‐related accidents…

1482

Abstract

Purpose

The most fundamental requirement of a habitable building is that its occupants can live in it healthily and safely. However, given the proliferation of building‐related accidents recently in Hong Kong, the extent to which our buildings have fulfilled this basic requirement is doubtful. For the benefit of the entire society, more public information on building quality is needed. Aims to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper extends the Ho et al. assessment model to evaluate the combined health and safety performance of residential buildings in Hong Kong. The model consists of a set of performance‐based objectives and can be translated into a hierarchy of parameters concerning the quality of building design, building management, and the surrounding environment. A total of 99 residential buildings in two urban areas, namely Mongkok and Tsimshatsui, were assessed with the help of a simple and user‐friendly performance indicator called the Building Quality Index (BQI).

Findings

The comparative analysis showed that the overall health and safety performance varied significantly with building age and development scale. Building location did not matter in overall performance, but became relevant in disaggregate performances regarding the external environment and building management approaches.

Research limitations/implications

In theory, building management and building location are not related. Further research is needed to disentangle the management effect from the location effect.

Practical implications

The assessment method is a simple and cost‐effective screening tool for mass building assessment at the city level. It can also be used for classifying buildings into different grades in respect of health and safety, providing incentives to building owners, developers, and government bodies to improve the living environment.

Originality/value

The study contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between building performance and its physical characteristics, including location, age, and development scale, in a densely populated high‐rise urban area.

Details

Structural Survey, vol. 24 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-080X

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Article
Publication date: 7 March 2016

Daniel C.W. Ho and Ervi Liusman

The complex nature of multi-ownership, multi-storey buildings requires the services of property management companies (PMCs). Naturally, homeowners favor PMCs with good…

1453

Abstract

Purpose

The complex nature of multi-ownership, multi-storey buildings requires the services of property management companies (PMCs). Naturally, homeowners favor PMCs with good performance. Yet, their performances vary. The purpose of this paper is to measure the performance of PMCs in managing high-rise flats using the logic model as the contextual framework with its indicators adapted from the building quality index (BQI) scheme.

Design/methodology/approach

For this pilot study, the research was based on visual inspection and interviews with building management staff for the information concerning the output and outcome indicators. The authors also tested the relationship between outcomes and outputs and other factors that affect the performance of PMCs.

Findings

Based on our pilot study of 41 high-rise residential buildings, the performance outcomes of the PMCs varied considerably. The same PMC was likely to yield different performance outcomes due to unique building characteristics. The outputs, building ages and rehabilitation statuses of the buildings were the contributing factors to the PMCs’ performance outcomes.

Practical implications

The performance outcomes of the logic model can help homeowners and PMCs understand current PMC performance, which can help trigger the development of a strategy to enhance the health and safety of residential buildings in the future.

Originality/value

Unlike traditional performance measurements that use financial figures or balanced scorecards to measure organizational performance, the authors used the logic model performance measurement system because the performance outcomes of the PMCs were explicitly reflected in the physical building conditions. This framework was relatively straightforward and could be applied to cities dominated by multi-ownership, multi-storey apartments.

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Article
Publication date: 1 December 2014

Mahdokht Ebrahimi, Hamzah Abdul Rahman, Faizul Azli Mohd-Rahim and Wang Chen

In Malaysia, there are a few numbers of frameworks and checklists in order to evaluate the sustainable performance of buildings. In addition, most of these assessment frameworks…

148

Abstract

In Malaysia, there are a few numbers of frameworks and checklists in order to evaluate the sustainable performance of buildings. In addition, most of these assessment frameworks or checklists focus on environmental sustainability disregarding social and economic pillars. The research in social and economic sustainability in the construction industry is pushing forward, albeit at a slow pace. In addition, the growing number of sustainable criteria in the literature highlights the importance of a systematic framework for construction initiatives. This research aims to propose a comprehensive framework based on three pillars of sustainability, and, additionally, to categorize them in a manner that is applicable for all relevant stakeholders based on their level of involvement and needs. Finally, it identifies the relation between each criterion and stage of the construction lifecycle with the assistance of an expert panel. This research produces a framework that is useful for Malaysian construction stakeholders to reinforce their approach towards sustainability through social and economic aspects that are currently underestimated in the construction industry.

Details

Open House International, vol. 39 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0168-2601

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Article
Publication date: 26 April 2022

Yizhong Chen, Taozhi Zhuang and Guiwen Liu

The aims of this paper is to establish an appropriate physical-change-based renewal (PCBR) projects selection mechanism capable of selecting the combination of the PCBR projects…

306

Abstract

Purpose

The aims of this paper is to establish an appropriate physical-change-based renewal (PCBR) projects selection mechanism capable of selecting the combination of the PCBR projects that can make up an integrated urban renewal program in high-density cities.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design follows a sequential integrated methodology that combines the calculation algorithms of Fuzzy Analytic Network Process (Fuzzy-ANP) with Zero-One Goal Programming (ZOGP) to support decisions for the selection of PCBR projects. In the first phase, general criteria for assessing the sustainability performance of PCBR projects were collected from relevant literature. In the second phase, the Fuzzy-ANP was used to identify the priority weights of the candidate projects through clarifying the interdependent degree between the criteria and candidate projects. Finally, ZOGP method was selected as a predetermined number of PCBR projects among candidate projects.

Findings

The feasibility and effectiveness of this hybrid approach is then verified in a case study of Yuzhong District, Chongqing in China. The results of this study indicate that the integrated method is capable of directing the decision maker toward the best compromising solution of PCBR program that can achieve the maximization of sustainable benefits and allocate limited resources most efficiently.

Originality/value

The novelty of this paper consists in combining the algorithms of the Fuzzy-ANP method with those of the ZOGP model that serves as an effective analysis tool to address practical decision problems. This is the first hybrid algorithms to make PCBR projects selection decision that reach the maximization of the sustainable benefits, both in economic and socio-environmental terms.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 30 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

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Article
Publication date: 1 March 1993

D.C.W. Ho

Identifies and discusses the problems involved in maintaining HongKong′s older buildings: deficiencies in existing legislation,organizational difficulties, lack of public…

419

Abstract

Identifies and discusses the problems involved in maintaining Hong Kong′s older buildings: deficiencies in existing legislation, organizational difficulties, lack of public awareness, and manpower shortages. Concludes that public education about maintenance is the best long‐term solution, while in the short term rationalization of manpower and changes to legislation are needed to ease the burden to the Government.

Details

Property Management, vol. 11 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-7472

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Article
Publication date: 25 February 2014

Long Thang Mai and Nan Yao Wang

The purpose of this paper is to improve the flexibility and tracking errors of the controllers-based neural networks (NNs) for mobile manipulator robot (MMR) in the presence of…

279

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve the flexibility and tracking errors of the controllers-based neural networks (NNs) for mobile manipulator robot (MMR) in the presence of time-varying uncertainties.

Design/methodology/approach

The conventional backstepping force/motion control is developed by the wavelet fuzzy CMAC neural networks (WFCNNs) (for mobile-manipulator robot). The proposed WFCNNs are applied in the tracking-position-backstepping controller to deal with the uncertain dynamics of the controlled system. In addition, an adaptive robust compensator is proposed to eliminate the inevitable approximation errors, uncertain disturbances, and relax the requirement for prior knowledge of the controlled system. Besides, the position tracking controller, an adaptive robust constraint-force is also considered. The online-learning algorithms of the control parameters (WFCNNs, robust term and constraint-force controller) are obtained by using the Lyapunov stability theorem.

Findings

The design of the proposed method is determined by the Lyapunov theorem such that the stability and robustness of the control-system are guaranteed.

Originality/value

The WFCNNs are more the generalized networks that can overcome the constant out-weight problem of the conventional fuzzy cerebellar model articulation controller (FCMAC), or can converge faster, give smaller approximation errors and size of networks in comparison with FNNs/NNs. In addition, an intelligent-control system by inheriting the advantage of the conventional backstepping-control-system is proposed to achieve the high-position tracking for the MMR control system in the presence of uncertainties variation.

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Book part
Publication date: 30 August 2019

Jennifer M. Brailsford, Jessica Eckhardt, Terrence D. Hill, Amy M. Burdette and Andrew K. Jorgenson

Although established theoretical models suggest that race differences in physical health are partially explained by exposures to environmental toxins, there is little empirical…

Abstract

Purpose

Although established theoretical models suggest that race differences in physical health are partially explained by exposures to environmental toxins, there is little empirical evidence to support these processes. We build on previous research by formally testing whether black–white differences in self-rated physical health are mediated by the embodiment of environmental toxins.

Methodology/Approach

Using cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2007–2008), we employ ordinary least squares regression to model environmental toxins (from urine specimens) and overall self-rated health as a function of race and ethnicity. We employ the Sobel test of indirect effects to formally assess mediation.

Findings

Our results show that non-Hispanic black respondents tend to exhibit higher levels of total toxins, lead, and cadmium in their urine and poorer physical health than non-Hispanic whites, even with adjustments for age, gender, and socioeconomic status (SES). Our mediation analyses suggest that blacks may exhibit poorer physical health than whites because they tend to embody higher levels of cadmium.

Research Limitations/Implications

Research limitations include cross-sectional data and restricted indicators of SES.

Originality/Value of Paper

This study contributes to previous work by bridging the fields of social epidemiology and environmental inequality and by formally testing established theoretical models.

Details

Underserved and Socially Disadvantaged Groups and Linkages with Health and Health Care Differentials
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83867-055-9

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Article
Publication date: 1 February 2004

D.C.W. Ho, H.F. Leung, S.K. Wong, A.K.C. Cheung, S.S.Y. Lau, W.S. Wong, D.P.Y. Lung and K.W. Chau

The recent global outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome has aroused public concern on environmental health and hygiene. Develops a practical assessment scheme for…

5441

Abstract

The recent global outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome has aroused public concern on environmental health and hygiene. Develops a practical assessment scheme for assessing the health and hygiene performance of apartment buildings in Hong Kong. The scheme involves assessing a hierarchy of building factors that have a bearing on environmental qualities, and thus occupants’ health. Proposes an index method to integrate the assessment outcomes into a simple and user‐ friendly performance indicator for public consumption. The index can inform the public of the health and hygiene risk of different buildings and facilitate building owners, developers, and government bodies to make more informed and socially responsible decisions on environmental health and hygiene improvement. Although the assessment scheme is tailored for the institutional and cultural settings of Hong Kong, the assessment framework for the development of the scheme is also applicable to other cities.

Details

Facilities, vol. 22 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-2772

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Article
Publication date: 1 May 2006

Eric C.K. Ho

The purpose of paper is to investigate the institutional features of the leasehold system of Hong Kong, which is predicated on the freedom of contract as an institutional…

1686

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of paper is to investigate the institutional features of the leasehold system of Hong Kong, which is predicated on the freedom of contract as an institutional arrangement for land management and planning that promotes sustainable development.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is analytical, using concepts of property rights informed by Coasian neo‐institutional economics and the ideas of Yu et al. on the Schumpeterian process in innovation.

Findings

It was demonstrated that the post‐contractual imposition of statutory planning control on the leasehold land management system in Hong Kong has adversely affected and adaptability of the leasehold system in achieving sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

This paper encourages a reinterpretation of statutory zoning in areas with a leasehold system and the reception of the land lease as a basis for innovations that help promote sustainable development.

Practical implications

This paper warns against legislative activism in planning controls as that can destroy or erode the basis for innovations that help promote sustainable development.

Originality/value

Using the idea of innovations of Yu et al. and Lai and Lorne, this paper further develops Lai theory of “planning by contract” as an alternative to “planning by edict”.

Details

Property Management, vol. 24 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-7472

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