Search results

1 – 10 of 52
Per page
102050
Citations:
Loading...
Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 5 February 2018

Raja R.A. Issa, Svetlana Olbina and Dino Zuppa

The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors found on US construction projects that are perceived by contractors to strengthen or weaken trust between contracting…

453

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors found on US construction projects that are perceived by contractors to strengthen or weaken trust between contracting stakeholders and to develop a framework for evaluating these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive framework containing a number of factors (54) that could impact trust on construction projects was first developed. A survey questionnaire was then developed and administered via phone to contractors selected from the Engineering News Record top 400 US construction companies. The survey findings were then used to develop a trust model and case studies were used to validate and revise the trust model.

Findings

A trust model is developed that helps large US contractors measure and improve trust with other stakeholders on their projects.

Practical implications

Large US contractors are now provided with a tool not previously available to help them measure and improve trust between the different contracting parties on construction projects which can help them decrease project time and costs, and improve project results.

Originality/value

The proposed trust model adds a number of different dimensions to the existing trust models found in the literature and as such improves the contractor’s ability to foster and enhance trust on a US construction project.

Details

Built Environment Project and Asset Management, vol. 8 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2044-124X

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 21 November 2016

Hamzah Shanbari, Nathan Blinn and Raja R.A. Issa

New methods to introduce topics in classrooms are needed to enhance the construction management educational experience. One of these new methods is showing real time videos that…

1042

Abstract

Purpose

New methods to introduce topics in classrooms are needed to enhance the construction management educational experience. One of these new methods is showing real time videos that highlight the various elements of concern in the classroom lecture. The purpose of this paper is to use augmented reality technology (ART) and a layer of artificial visualizations to simulate the environmental context and spatio-temporal constraints of various construction processes. The superimposition of images serves as an instructional mechanism to virtually incorporate jobsite experiences into classrooms. This enhancement of spatio-temporal constraints enables learners to visualize context and hidden processes otherwise unattainable through traditional classroom lectures.

Design/methodology/approach

A significantly improved perception of reality is created through the combination of the learners’ ability to understand the complexity of construction products (e.g. assemblies) and associated jobsite processes by viewing the real environment augmented with computer-generated information layers.

Findings

Testing the ART video in a classroom with undergraduate construction management students showed that students who were exposed to the ART video were able to remember and identify the highlighted elements in the corresponding assembly more effectively than those who were not.

Originality/value

ART is a valuable tool in enhancing classroom learning and gives educators a teaching advantage when they combine traditional classroom lectures with ART enabled media.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 23 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 25 February 2014

Rui Liu and Raja R.A. Issa

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the design for maintenance accessibility (DFMA) method, and the opportunities offered by the application of building information…

3698

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the design for maintenance accessibility (DFMA) method, and the opportunities offered by the application of building information modeling (BIM) software to accomplish this design.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper definitions of DFMA are investigated, different BIM tools including Solibri Model Checker (SMC) and Revit Add-in are explored for maintainability problems. Microsoft Visual Studio is used as a tool to develop Add-in applications in Revit for DFMA problem. A case study involving exhaust fan maintenance accessibility is used to validate the proposed solution.

Findings

Maintenance accessibility tends to be ignored in the design phase. The process of clash detection among building components does not ordinarily detect accessibility issues. SMC can help partially solve this problem if there is a corresponding SMC rule sets available. As a 3D modeling tool associated with a parametric database of components, Revit offers opportunities for designers to explore the background geometry and parametric database to add more functions in the form of Add-in applications which can help facilities managers anticipate and solve maintenance accessibility issues.

Research limitations/implications

The add-in tools developed for this paper and the rules used for SMC are specific for the case study. A more general and comprehensive tool or rule set will be the direction for a future study.

Practical implications

This study shows that maintainability checking is possible in the design phase. Comprehensive maintainability checking in the design phase would result in a big savings in maintenance cost during a facility's lifecycle.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates with a case study using two different tools the process of accessibility checking for maintenance in the design phase, which transforms the concept of “design for maintenance accessibility” into reality.

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 11 July 2008

Chimay J. Anumba, Raja R.A. Issa, Jiayi Pan and Ivan Mutis

There is an increasing recognition of the value of effective information and knowledge management (KM) in the construction project delivery process. Many architecture, engineering…

2238

Abstract

Purpose

There is an increasing recognition of the value of effective information and knowledge management (KM) in the construction project delivery process. Many architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) organisations have invested heavily in information technology and KM systems that help in this regard. While these have been largely successful in supporting intra‐organisational business processes, interoperability problems still persist at the project organisation level due to the heterogeneity of the systems used by the different organisations involved. Ontologies are seen as an important means of addressing these problems. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of ontologies in the construction project delivery process, particularly with respect to information and KM.

Design/methodology/approach

A detailed technical review of the fundamental concepts and related work has been undertaken, with examples and case studies of ontology‐based information and KM presented to illustrate the key concepts. The specific issues and technical difficulties in the design and construction context are highlighted, and the approaches adopted in two ontology‐based applications for the AEC sector are presented.

Findings

The paper concludes that there is considerable merit in ontology‐based approaches to information and KM, but that significant technical challenges remain. Middleware applications, such as semantic web‐based information management system, are contributing in this regard but more needs to be done particularly on integrating or merging ontologies.

Originality/value

The value of the paper lies in the detailed exploration of ontology‐based information and KM within a design and construction context, and the use of appropriate examples and applications to illustrate the key issues.

Details

Construction Innovation, vol. 8 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-4175

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 11 July 2008

Raja R.A. Issa and Josef Haddad

The purpose of this paper is to expand understanding of the factors that affect knowledge sharing in construction organizations. The outcome of this study will enable further…

3605

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to expand understanding of the factors that affect knowledge sharing in construction organizations. The outcome of this study will enable further understanding of knowledge sharing in construction and will therefore contribute towards successful implementation of knowledge sharing as part of organizational knowledge management (KM) initiatives in construction organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted of the 2005 Engineering News Record Top 400 US contractors to assess their perceptions of how factors such as organizational culture (OC), trust and information technology (IT) impact knowledge sharing in their construction organizations.

Findings

The survey respondents strongly agreed on the perception that a proper organizational culture will enhance mutual trust in the organization. The respondents also perceived that IT will assist but not motivate people in sharing their knowledge and that not all types of knowledge can be shared using IT.

Research limitations/implications

The results are limited to the respondents' perceptions of how knowledge is shared in large construction organizations. By encouraging the participation of a larger number of construction companies, a higher confidence level can be achieved for the responses.

Practical implications

Knowledge sharing is one of the key processes in KM and, as such, understanding the perceptions of how knowledge is shared in large construction organizations is very important in their implementation of KM.

Originality/value

Very few studies have been conducted in the USA on the perceptions of management level employees about knowledge sharing in large construction organizations. The study is an important first step in collecting such data.

Details

Construction Innovation, vol. 8 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-4175

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 9 October 2017

Patricia Rocha and Rui Calejo Rodrigues

The purpose of this paper is to review the status of knowledge on the subject of building maintenance from an integrated perspective that incorporates the building lifecycle, that…

1026

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the status of knowledge on the subject of building maintenance from an integrated perspective that incorporates the building lifecycle, that is, from the design stage to the end of life. This work considered the main aspects to be taken into account in determining and implementing maintenance strategies, which requires a cross-sectional view of the entire construction process. At the same time, this approach contributes to the organisation of building management.

Design/methodology/approach

Bibliometric review has been carried out to identify relevant subjects and topics about scientific production on building maintenance by analysing the contents of about 745 publications, over the last 15 years, between 2000 and 2016 (first quarter). The survey results were gradually organised into a database grouped into seven main themes which were found to be more discussed and others six emergent themes with topics on building maintenance research.

Findings

This research enabled a synthesis of the focal points in the literature on building maintenance, as well as debates among researchers and institutions in the field. The result is a view to the future regarding what issues merit further research and what content requires greater depth of understanding, allowing us to envision research directions that encompass topics and sub-topics for future development. To this end, this bibliometric study draws on knowledge developed over the last 15 years, using research studies published in refereed journals indexed in ISI/SCOPUS as its data source.

Originality/value

The novelty of this topic, and the aspect in which it differs from existing studies, is that the researchers analysed a single sub-topic: that is, content regarding maintenance. Thus, this bibliometric literature review allows us to achieve a comprehensive and integrated view of key issues developed in the field of building maintenance. The results show which topics have been more thoroughly developed and which still exhibit gaps and weaknesses. This review allows us to envision well thought out guidelines for future development that have the potential to be relevant to progress in building maintenance research. It also contributes to our understanding of the state of the art in this field of knowledge.

Details

Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, vol. 23 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2511

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 30 July 2024

Kaiyang Wang

In recent decades, interest in digital transformation (DX) within the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry has significantly increased. Despite the existence…

383

Abstract

Purpose

In recent decades, interest in digital transformation (DX) within the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry has significantly increased. Despite the existence of several literature reviews on DX research, there remains a notable lack of systematic quantitative and visual investigations into the structure and evolution of this field. This study aims to address this gap by uncovering the current state, key topics, keywords, and emerging areas in DX research specific to the AEC sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing a holistic review approach, this study undertook a thorough and systematic analysis of the literature concerning DX in the AEC industry. Utilizing a bibliometric analysis, 3,656 papers were retrieved from the Web of Science spanning the years 1990–2023. A scientometric analysis was then applied to these publications to discern patterns in publication years, geographical distribution, journals, authors, citations, and keywords.

Findings

The findings identify China, the USA, and England as the leading contributors in the field of DX in AEC sector. Prominent keywords include “building information modeling”, “design”, “system”, “framework”, “adoption”, “model”, “safety”, “internet of things”, and “innovation”. Emerging areas of interest are “deep learning”, “embodied energy”, and “machine learning”. A cluster analysis of keywords reveals key research themes such as “deep learning”, “smart buildings”, “virtual reality”, “augmented reality”, “smart contracts”, “sustainable development”, “building information modeling”, “big data”, and “3D printing”.

Originality/value

This study is among the earliest to provide a comprehensive scientometric mapping of the DX field. The findings presented here have significant implications for both industry practitioners and the scientific community, offering a thorough overview of the current state, prominent keywords, topics, and emerging areas within DX in the AEC industry. Additionally, this research serves as an invaluable reference and guideline for scholars interested in this subject.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 26 November 2021

Bryan Franz, Tong Wang and Raja Raymond Issa

Construction managers face many work-related stressors induced by unrealistic schedule expectations, tight budgets, and long hours. Over time, these stressors can result in both…

976

Abstract

Purpose

Construction managers face many work-related stressors induced by unrealistic schedule expectations, tight budgets, and long hours. Over time, these stressors can result in both mental and physical exhaustion, a condition referred to as burnout. Early-career managers are a key worker demographic, as they represent the near-term future of the construction industry, yet they have a high risk for burnout. The purpose of this study is to explore the prevalence of burnout in new construction managers, and to identify which individual or work-related factors are associated with feelings of burnout.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey (MBI-GS), data from 146 early-career professionals (less than 10 years of experience) with construction management degrees in the USA were collected and analyzed using correlational and best subset regression techniques.

Findings

The results show that the early-career demographic in the USA experiences both the Emotional Exhaustion and Cynicism dimensions of burnout at comparable levels to prior studies with more mid-to-late career respondents. However, the Professional Efficacy dimension was significantly higher in early-career professionals than any other sample. No individual factors, such as gender, marital status, or number of children, were predictive of any dimension of burnout. Instead, only work-related factors including co-worker friendliness, opportunities for personal development and promotion, and the ability to control the work pacing were strongly associated with one or more dimensions of burnout.

Originality/value

This study is the first to explore burnout in the key early-career demographic for construction managers in the United States construction industry. This work provides evidence that organizational policies and culture have a greater efficacy in alleviating burnout in this demographic, when compared to the work–life balance of the individual.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 30 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 19 August 2021

Gilles Albeaino, Ricardo Eiris, Masoud Gheisari and Raja Raymond Issa

This study aims to explore DroneSim, a virtual reality (VR)-based flight training simulator, as an alternative for real-world drone-mediated building inspection training.

834

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore DroneSim, a virtual reality (VR)-based flight training simulator, as an alternative for real-world drone-mediated building inspection training.

Design/methodology/approach

Construction, engineering and management students were asked to pilot drones in the VR-based DroneSim space and perform common flight operations and inspection tasks within the spatiotemporal context of a building construction project. Another student group was also recruited and asked to perform a similar building inspection task in real world. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)–Task Load Index (TLX) survey was used to assess students’ inflight workload demand under both Real and DroneSim conditions. Post-assessment questionnaires were also used to analyze students’ feedback regarding the usability and presence of DroneSim for drone building inspection training.

Findings

None of the NASA–TLX task load levels under Real and DroneSim conditions were highly rated by students, and both groups experienced comparable drone-building inspection training. Students perceived DroneSim positively and found the VR experience stimulating.

Originality/value

This study’s contribution is twofold: to better understand the development stages involved in the design of a VR-based drone flight training simulator, specifically for building inspection tasks; and to improve construction students’ drone operational and flight training skills by offering them the opportunity to enhance their drone navigation skills in a risk-free, repeatable yet realistic environment. Such contributions ultimately pave the way for better integration of drone-mediated building inspection training in construction education while meeting industry needs.

Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 23 January 2024

Luís Jacques de Sousa, João Poças Martins, Luís Sanhudo and João Santos Baptista

This study aims to review recent advances towards the implementation of ANN and NLP applications during the budgeting phase of the construction process. During this phase…

1277

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to review recent advances towards the implementation of ANN and NLP applications during the budgeting phase of the construction process. During this phase, construction companies must assess the scope of each task and map the client’s expectations to an internal database of tasks, resources and costs. Quantity surveyors carry out this assessment manually with little to no computer aid, within very austere time constraints, even though these results determine the company’s bid quality and are contractually binding.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper seeks to compile applications of machine learning (ML) and natural language processing in the architectural engineering and construction sector to find which methodologies can assist this assessment. The paper carries out a systematic literature review, following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines, to survey the main scientific contributions within the topic of text classification (TC) for budgeting in construction.

Findings

This work concludes that it is necessary to develop data sets that represent the variety of tasks in construction, achieve higher accuracy algorithms, widen the scope of their application and reduce the need for expert validation of the results. Although full automation is not within reach in the short term, TC algorithms can provide helpful support tools.

Originality/value

Given the increasing interest in ML for construction and recent developments, the findings disclosed in this paper contribute to the body of knowledge, provide a more automated perspective on budgeting in construction and break ground for further implementation of text-based ML in budgeting for construction.

Details

Construction Innovation , vol. 24 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-4175

Keywords

1 – 10 of 52
Per page
102050