Roope Nyqvist, Antti Peltokorpi and Olli Seppänen
The objective of this research is to investigate the capabilities of the ChatGPT GPT-4 model, a form of artificial intelligence (AI), in comparison to human experts in the context…
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this research is to investigate the capabilities of the ChatGPT GPT-4 model, a form of artificial intelligence (AI), in comparison to human experts in the context of construction project risk management.
Design/methodology/approach
Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study draws a qualitative and quantitative comparison between 16 human risk management experts from Finnish construction companies and the ChatGPT AI model utilizing anonymous peer reviews. It focuses primarily on the areas of risk identification, analysis, and control.
Findings
ChatGPT has demonstrated a superior ability to generate comprehensive risk management plans, with its quantitative scores significantly surpassing the human average. Nonetheless, the AI model's strategies are found to lack practicality and specificity, areas where human expertise excels.
Originality/value
This study marks a significant advancement in construction project risk management research by conducting a pioneering blind-review study that assesses the capabilities of the advanced AI model, GPT-4, against those of human experts. Emphasizing the evolution from earlier GPT models, this research not only underscores the innovative application of ChatGPT-4 but also the critical role of anonymized peer evaluations in enhancing the objectivity of findings. It illuminates the synergistic potential of AI and human expertise, advocating for a collaborative model where AI serves as an augmentative tool, thereby optimizing human performance in identifying and managing risks.
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Krishna Chauhan, Antti Peltokorpi, Rita Lavikka and Olli Seppänen
Prefabricated products are continually entering the building construction market; yet, the decision to use prefabricated products in a construction project is based mostly on…
Abstract
Purpose
Prefabricated products are continually entering the building construction market; yet, the decision to use prefabricated products in a construction project is based mostly on personal preferences and the evaluation of direct costs. Researchers and practitioners have debated appropriate measurement systems for evaluating the impacts of prefabricated products and for comparing them with conventional on-site construction practices. The more advanced, cost–benefit approach to evaluating prefabricated products often inspires controversy because it may generate inaccurate results when converting non-monetary effects into costs. As prefabrication may affect multiple organisations and product subsystems, the method used to decide on production methods should consider multiple direct and indirect impacts, including nonmonetary ones. Thus, this study aims to develop a multi-criteria method to evaluate both the monetary and non-monetary impacts of prefabrication solutions to facilitate decision-making on whether to use prefabricated products.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing upon a literature review, this research suggests a multi-criteria method that combines the choosing-by-advantage approach with a cost–benefit analysis. The method was presented for validation in focus group discussions and tested in a case involving a prefabricated bathroom.
Findings
The analysis indicates that the method helps a project’s stakeholders communicate about the relative merits of prefabrication and conventional construction while facilitating the final decision of whether to use prefabrication.
Originality/value
This research contributes a method of evaluating the monetary and non-monetary impacts of prefabricated products. The research underlines the need to evaluate the diverse benefits and sacrifices that stakeholder face when considering production methods in construction.
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Rita Lavikka, Krishna Chauhan, Antti Peltokorpi and Olli Seppänen
Systemic innovations emerge and create value in an inter-organisational context. However, innovation studies rarely investigate the role of value creation and value capture among…
Abstract
Purpose
Systemic innovations emerge and create value in an inter-organisational context. However, innovation studies rarely investigate the role of value creation and value capture among multiple organisations in successful innovation implementation. This paper aims to understand the role of value creation and value capture in the implementation of systemic innovations in construction which is by nature, an inter-organisational context.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical research focused on the barriers, enablers and opportunities for value creation and value capture of the Finnish construction project parties when trying to implement mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) prefabrication, which is a systemic innovation. Data were collected through interviews, observations and action workshops.
Findings
The empirical study identified interaction patterns on how social, political, technical and economic barriers lead to uneven value capturing, lack of value-based procurement and unclear value creation between MEP design and installation. They hinder the implementation of MEP prefabrication. The results point to enablers leading to fairly shared value to all parties, procurement of value and collaborative value creation, thus increasing the usage of MEP prefabrication, a systemic innovation.
Originality/value
The study adds new knowledge by demonstrating that the identification of barriers and their interaction with enablers and opportunities for value creation and capture lay a baseline for suggestions on how to implement a systemic innovation. This study stresses the importance of enabling value creation and capture for all construction project parties when implementing a systemic innovation.
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Rita Lavikka, Olli Seppänen, Antti Peltokorpi and Joonas Lehtovaara
University research efforts have not been effective in developing lasting impacts on operations management in construction because of inadequate coordination between academia and…
Abstract
Purpose
University research efforts have not been effective in developing lasting impacts on operations management in construction because of inadequate coordination between academia and industry. This study aims to describe the development of an industry–university (IU) relationship which has enabled the conduct of practically and scientifically relevant research.
Design/methodology/approach
Design science research was carried out between 2016 and 2019 to build a consortium between a university and 17 design, construction, technology and logistics companies for enabling process innovations in construction. The consortium conducted industry-funded research on various topics, such as takt production, lean design management, prefabrication, measurement of waste and business models supported by digitalisation. The academic and practical impacts of the consortium’s research projects were investigated through a survey and in-depth company interviews.
Findings
The paper presents a conceptual model for creating an IU relationship to support scientifically and practically relevant research. The model includes network architects who mobilised consortium development and a joint governance body that developed a shared long-term vision and selected research topics based on this vision. The results show that using the model’s approach, the consortium selected research topics that have led to both academic publications and process innovations in construction.
Originality/value
Using empirical data, this study describes how to create a win-win IU innovation relationship that enables the implementation of process innovations into the construction sector and, at the same time, the conduct of scientific research in construction management.
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Petteri Uusitalo, Olli Seppänen, Antti Peltokorpi and Hylton Olivieri
Although prior studies have noted the importance of trust for project performance, research remains scant on describing the role of trust when using lean design management (LDM…
Abstract
Purpose
Although prior studies have noted the importance of trust for project performance, research remains scant on describing the role of trust when using lean design management (LDM) in projects. The purpose of this paper is to explore the connection between LDM and interpersonal trust in solving construction projects’ design management problems.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative study was conducted that included 29 trust- and LDM-themed semi-structured interviews in the USA (California), Brazil and Finland; 11 focus group discussions were also organized to validate the interview findings.
Findings
The study reveals how LDM contributes to solving design management problems through two distinct but interconnected mechanisms: improved information flow; and improved trust among project team members. A conceptual framework was crafted to illustrate the mechanisms in building trust by means of the social domain of LDM concepts.
Research limitations/implications
The conceptual framework requires testing through an international survey or through multiple case studies.
Practical implications
The results indicate that design management would benefit from trustful environments and that trust may be the catalyst for actors’ engagement with LDM. Managers in charge of design within projects can use the conceptual framework when selecting the appropriate LDM tools, which should include both the social and technical domains.
Originality/value
The study emphasizes the importance of the social domain of LDM concepts. Previous studies have focussed on information flow aspects of LDM but have overlooked the value of interpersonal trust in solving design management problems.
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Eelon Mikael Lappalainen, Olli Seppänen, Antti Peltokorpi and Vishal Singh
With the ongoing digitalization of the construction industry (CI), situational awareness (SA) is becoming increasingly important in construction management. The purpose of this…
Abstract
Purpose
With the ongoing digitalization of the construction industry (CI), situational awareness (SA) is becoming increasingly important in construction management. The purpose of this article is to identify the requirements of SA system development in the CI and to provide recommendations for the future development of SA systems.
Design/methodology/approach
In this exploratory multi-case research study, a literature review and five Finnish cases were used to gather the evidence on how system developers have planned SA systems and what motives and objectives were behind their development efforts. An analysis of the cases, along with a review of SA models and concepts from other sectors, was used to identify requirements and deficiencies of the SA systems developed by CI actors.
Findings
This study reveals deficiencies in the recent SA systems. The systems seemed to be based on traditional project models, in which the role of the individual as the creator and interpreter of an SA system is still significant. Major requirements and future development of the systems are related to better SA levels of perception and projection and data quality.
Research limitations/implications
This study contributes to an understudied area of SA in the construction context and provides new insights into how construction companies develop their SA systems. The main study limitations are its geographically limited case selection and the limited generalizability of the results.
Practical implications
The research (1) shows what requirements and systemic weaknesses SA developers in the CI must consider in future development work and (2) shows developers the requirements to obtain holistic SA.
Originality/value
The study provides insights into the content of newly developed SA models and integrates developers' requirements into the SA theory.
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Petri Uusitalo, Antti Peltokorpi, Olli Seppänen and Otto Alhava
This study aims to investigate the strategies that successful companies in the construction industry use to achieve systemic transformation within their value chains and broader…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the strategies that successful companies in the construction industry use to achieve systemic transformation within their value chains and broader ecosystems. This study focuses on understanding how these companies navigate the challenges of a mature and slow-changing industry through innovative approaches.
Design/methodology/approach
A multiple case study design is used to analyze the systemic innovation dynamics across construction subsystems, through the lens of Complex Adaptive Systems theory. This research involves an empirical examination of nine case companies, selected based on their innovations in at least two construction subsystem areas and markers of success such as growth, profitability or invested capital. This methodology facilitates a detailed understanding of the company-level transformation.
Findings
This study identifies four distinct development paths toward systemic transformation within the construction industry: product-driven, product platform-driven, process integration-driven and business model-driven. These paths are characterized by unique strategies integrating technology, optimizing processes and innovating business models, demonstrating how companies can effectively adapt to and evolve within the construction ecosystem.
Originality/value
This research contributes original insights into company strategies and how they achieve systemic transformation. This study expands existing knowledge on systemic transformation in the construction industry by integrating empirical evidence with theoretical frameworks, offering a novel perspective on how successful companies innovate within a traditionally slow-changing sector.
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Risto Kärkkäinen, Rita Lavikka, Olli Seppänen and Antti Peltokorpi
Low productivity in construction is typically blamed on the seemingly complex and chaotic nature of construction, which emerges as the stakeholders do not have an adequate picture…
Abstract
Purpose
Low productivity in construction is typically blamed on the seemingly complex and chaotic nature of construction, which emerges as the stakeholders do not have an adequate picture of the evolving situation. The ever-increasing volume of situation data owing to the recent advances in IoT devices and reality capture platforms provide a unique opportunity to capture the actual situation data of construction projects accurately at a fraction of the cost compared to manual status tracking and reporting. This paper aims to investigate the concept of a situation picture, challenges in collecting situation data and its benefits.
Design/Methodology/Approach
Empirical data is collected through interviews in California and Finland, and by organizing workshops.
Findings
We contribute to literature on managing operational information by defining the concept of a situation picture in the context of construction, specifically from the blue-collar’s perspective during on-site activities. We present the key components of a conceptual information model that represents a situation picture in construction.
Research limitations/implications
The applicability of conceptual information model of situation picture is not tested in practice, but the model will provide a starting point for research to comprehensively integrate social and digital information exchange for improving workflow.
Practical implications
The paper claims that designing and building comprehensive information management infrastructure would contribute to solving the problems of low productivity, quality and safety in construction projects.
Originality/value
Research on situation picture and situation awareness is scarce in the context of construction. The study links various information management technologies and practices to actual construction productivity.
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Bjarne W. Olesen, Olli Seppanen and Atze Boerstra
To provide input data to design and energy performance calculations of buildings and ventilation, heating, cooling and lighting systems.
Abstract
Purpose
To provide input data to design and energy performance calculations of buildings and ventilation, heating, cooling and lighting systems.
Design/methodology/approach
European directive for energy performance of buildings was approved in the beginning of 2003. The transition period is 3‐6 years depending on the article. European Standardisation Organisation (CEN) has drafted several standards to help the member countries implementing the directive. One of these is the “Criteria for the indoor environment including thermal, indoor air quality (ventilation) light and noise.” The standard has been developed based on existing international standards and guidelines for the indoor environment taken into account the latest results from published research.
Findings
The standard specifies design values of indoor environment, values to be used in energy calculations, and methods how to verify the specified indoor environment in the buildings. The paper describes some of the principles used in standards, and gives examples presented in the standard. The standard covers all building types but the paper is focuses on the non‐residential buildings, numeric examples are given only for offices.
Research limitations/implications
The draft standard is under international review process during writing this paper, and subject to changes. The standard give default criteria for the indoor environmental parameters, which can be used if no national requirements are available.
Originality/value
This paper describes the indoor environmental parameters, which are important for people's health, comfort and energy consumption of buildings. This will help users to select more uniform input data for energy calculations.
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Abdullahi Babatunde Saka and Daniel W.M. Chan
This paper aims to review the status of development of building information modelling (BIM), its trends and themes across the six continents of the world.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review the status of development of building information modelling (BIM), its trends and themes across the six continents of the world.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 914 journal articles sought from the search engine of Web of Science (WOS) based on the country/region option of the WOS to group them into continents. A best-fit approach was then applied in selecting the suitable software programmes for the scientometric analysis and comparisons and deductions were made.
Findings
The findings revealed that there are differences in the development of BIM across the six continents of the world. South America and Africa are lagging in the BIM research and Australia and Asia are growing, whilst Europe and North America are ahead. In addition, there exist differences in the research themes and trends in these continents as against the single view presented in extant studies.
Originality/value
This study introduced a new approach to carry out a comparative and taxonomic review and has provided both academic researchers and industrial practitioners with a clear status of development of BIM research and the trend across the six continents of the world.