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Blockchain as an emerging technology has increased the interests within various industries because of its salient features. A potential application of blockchain for embodied carbon (EC) estimating is being explored. Though there are several databases/tools to estimate EC, the accuracy of estimates prepared using them is affected due to several limitations. As a solution, a prototype blockchain-based EC (BEC) Estimator for distributed supply chain-based EC estimating has been introduced. The data models and user flow diagram that lead to development of a BEC Estimator are developed and evaluated in this study.

A case study approach assisted in developing the data models and user flow diagram for the BEC Estimator. A Delphi-based expert forum was used to evaluate and produce the refined data models and user flow diagram.

The BEC Estimator adopts a waterfall model, a system development lifecycle model, in developing the application. The phases, system analysis and system design, consisting the development of the data models and user flow diagram for the BEC Estimator are discussed.

Estimating EC accurately plays an important role in construction. The BEC Estimator uses the supply chain based embodied carbon estimating method to estimate EC accurately. This paper demonstrates the data models and user flow diagram developed for the BEC Estimator.

The current research environment lacks a thorough examination of project success in specific domains, particularly in the context of dam project performance. Although there is a significant amount of study and a wide range of project management subjects, there is a clear absence of empirical research on dams. The purpose of this study is to fill in the knowledge gap on how to improve the performance of dam construction projects by focusing on the planning phase.

The study utilized a survey to gather the perspectives of professionals involved in dam projects regarding critical success factors and success criteria during the project planning phase. The collected data were then analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling.

Four dimensions were identified for critical success factors: “project team,” “project readiness,” “engagement” and “long-term impact.” For project success criteria, “fulfill identified needs,” “functionality,” “quality performance” and “sustainability” were identified as having significance in measuring project success.

The article provides suggestions on how the dam engineering industry can include the identified project elements that are associated with project success. The study's significance stems from its substantial contribution to the limited literature on dam projects.

This study aims to undertake a review of how carbon trading contributes to a reduction in emission of greenhouse gases (CHGs).

A narrative literature review approach was adopted to identify and synthesise existing literature using the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Articles were limited to the past 10 years to obtain the most current literature. The various ways in which carbon trading leads to reductions in emissions were identified and discussed.

The results showed that the main ways in which carbon trading contributes to reductions in emissions are through innovation in low-carbon technologies, restoration of ecosystems through offset money, development of renewable and clean energy and providing information on investment related to emissions.

The value of this study is to contribute to the built environment’s climate change mitigation agenda by identifying the role of carbon trading.

The output of this research identifies and contextualises the role carbon trading plays in the reduction of CHG emissions.

Dam industry projects have significant economic, social and environmental impacts. However, very little has been carried out to improve their lifecycle performance. The purpose of this study is to identify success criteria applicable to different stages of such projects.

This study adopted a quantitative research design where the potential success criteria for dam engineering projects were evaluated. The applicable success criteria were determined for the four phases of project lifecycle by three rounds of Delphi technique with the participation of experts from dams industry in Australia.

The findings of this research suggest that project success is a multidimensional notion and varies over lifecycle of projects. This study on project success criteria shows that certain criteria can be applied to measure success in different phases over lifecycle of Australian dam industry projects.

The results of this research present the first exclusive quantitative assessment of success criteria for dams industry. The success criteria presented in this study enable project practitioners to measure success at various stages of dam industry projects. This can serve as a tool to put more management efforts into achieving success on those criteria.

Due to the complicated nature of houses, the driving factors of the residential construction output can be investigated from different perspectives of interests. However, little research has provided an insight of the trend of the residential construction output from a cross-disciplinary perspective. The purpose of this paper is to identify the long-run equilibrium types of residential construction output, including external equilibrium, solo-market equilibrium and dual-market equilibrium.

A vector error correction model is applied into longitudinal data in the eight Australian states and territories to overview the regional variations of the residential construction output.

The empirical results show that the equilibrium of regional residential construction outputs in New South Wales and Victoria are determined by the external factors; the equilibrium in Western Australia is dominated by the construction market; and the equilibriums in the other five states and territories are influenced by both construction and house markets.

The simplified approach may overlook the detailed explanation of the external factors, such as regional population, economy, policy and so forth. Given this limitation, future studies can introduce the correspondingly variables as per research interests.

Implementing the existing research into residential construction output and house supply, this research provides a simplified approach that demonstrates the linkage between construction and real estate sectors to identify the long-run equilibriums across regions. The underlying research sheds light in delivering inter-disciplinary research into the residential construction output.

Stressors emanated from construction projects are causative factors for occupational stress inherent in the construction industry. Concomitant implications of stressors ignite a burst of empirical evidence, which necessitates a systematic review to capture the state of art of the extant literature. Therefore, this paper addresses this significant gap by conducting a systematic review of mental stressors.

A three-stage screening and data extraction method were employed to retrieve 38 papers that met the inclusion criteria for the study.

The annual publication trends and contributions of selected journals were elucidated. Moreover, this review identified 49 stressors from 38 selected peer-reviewed journals between 1997 and 2020. The most frequently reported mental stressors include work overload, home-work conflict, poor working environment, role ambiguity and poor working relationships. The 49 stressors could be classified into five main categories, namely; organizational stressors, task stressors, personal stressors, physical stressors and gender-related stressors.

The findings of the study broaden the understanding of the practitioners and policymakers on the dynamics of stressors for the development of stress interventions. Future research should focus on exploration of mental stressors specific to construction projects and different occupational trades.

Various factors may influence project finance when a multi-sourced debt financing strategy is used for financing capital investments, in general, and public infrastructure investments, in particular. Traditional indicators lack comprehensive consideration of the influences of many internal and external factors, such as investment structure, financing mode and credit guarantee structure, which exist in the financing decision making of BOT projects. An effective approach is, thus, desired. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

This paper develops a financial model that uses an interval number to represent the uncertain factors and, subsequently, conducts a standardization of the interval number. Decision makers determine the weight of each objective through the analytic hierarchy process. Through the optimization procedure, project investors and sponsors are provided with a strategy regarding the optimal amount of debt to be raised and the insight on the risk level based on the net present value, as well as the probability of bankruptcy for each different period of debt service.

By using an example infrastructure project in China and based on the comprehensive evaluation, comparison and ranking of the capital structures of urban public infrastructure projects using the interval number method, the final ranking can help investors to choose the optimal capital structure for investment. The calculation using the interval number method shows that X2 is the optimal capital structure plan for the BOT project of the first stage of Tianjin Binhai Rail Transit Z4 line. Therefore, investors should give priority to selecting a capital contribution ratio of 45 per cent for this investment.

In this paper, some parameters, such as depreciation life, construction period and concession period, are assumed to be deterministic parameters, although the interval number model has been introduced to analyze the uncertainty indicators, such as total investment and passenger flow, of BOT rail transport projects. Therefore, more of the above deterministic parameters can be taken as uncertainty parameters in future research so that calculation results fit actual projects more closely.

This model can be used to make the optimal investment decision for a project by determining the impact of uncertainty factors on the profitability of the project in its lifecycle during the project financial feasibility analysis. Project sponsors can determine the optimal capital structure of a project through an analysis of the irregular fluctuation of the unpredictable factors in project construction such as construction investment, operating cost and passenger flow. The model can also be used to examine the effects of different capital investment ratios on indicators so that appropriate measures can be taken to reduce risks and maximize profit.

Public-private partnership (PPP) projects for construction waste recycling have become the main approach to construction waste treatment in China. Risk sharing and income distribution of PPP projects play a vital role in achieving project success. This paper is aimed at building a practical and effective risk sharing and income distribution model to achieve win–win situation among different stakeholders, thereby providing a systematic framework for governments to promote construction waste recycling.

Stakeholders of construction waste recycling PPP projects were reclassified according to the stakeholder theory. Best-worst multi–criteria decision-making method and comprehensive fuzzy evaluation method (BWM–FCE) risk assessment model was constructed to optimize the risk assessment of core stakeholders in construction waste recycling PPP projects. Based on the proposed risk evaluation model for construction waste recycling PPP projects, the Shapley value income distribution model was modified in combination with capital investment, contribution and project participation to obtain a more equitable and reasonable income distribution system.

The income distribution model showed that PPP Project Companies gained more transaction benefits, which proved that PPP Project Companies played an important role in the actual operation of PPP projects. The policy change risk, investment and financing risk and income risk were the most important risks and key factors for project success. Therefore, it is of great significance to strengthen the management of PPP Project Companies, and in the process of PPP implementation, the government should focus on preventing the risk of policy changes, investment and financing risks and income risks.

The findings from this study have advanced the application methods of risk sharing and income distribution for PPP projects and further improved PPP project-related theories. It helps to promote and rationalize fairness in construction waste recycling PPP projects and to achieve mutual benefits and win–win situation in risk sharing. It has also provided a reference for resource management of construction waste and laid a solid foundation for long-term development of construction waste resources.

PPP mode is an effective tool for construction waste recycling. How to allocate risks and distribute benefits has become the most important issue of waste recycling PPP projects, and also the key to project success. The originality of this study resides in its provision of a holistic approach of risk allocation and benefit distribution on construction waste PPP projects in China as a developing country. Accordingly, this study adds its value by promoting resource development of construction waste, extending an innovative risk allocation and benefit distribution method in PPP projects, and providing a valuable reference for policymakers and private investors who are planning to invest in PPP projects in China.

Carbon emissions trading is an effective instrument in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. There is a notable scarcity of comprehensive reviews on the modelling techniques within carbon trading research in construction.

This paper reviews 68 relevant articles published in 19 peer-reviewed journals using systematic search. Scientometric analysis and content analysis are undertaken.

Generally, China was the largest contributor to carbon trading research using quantitative models (representing 36% of the total articles). From the results, the modelling techniques identified were multi-objective grasshopper optimisation algorithm; system dynamics; interpretive structural modelling; multi-agent-based model; decision-support model; multi-objective chaotic sine cosine algorithm; optimised backpropagation neural network; sequential panel selection method; Granger causality test; and impulse response analysis. Moreover, the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques were identified. System dynamics was recommended as the most suitable modelling technique for carbon trading in construction.

This study is significant, and through this review paper, practitioners can easily be more familiar with the significant modelling techniques, and this will motivate them to better understand their uses.

This conceptual paper aims to develop a theoretical framework for carbon trading in the built environment through theories to expand current knowledge on components of carbon trading systems.

This theoretical framework was developed and supported with existing theories and past empirical literature from built environment, economics and finance. Underlying theories used in the framework were selected due to their significance and applicability to carbon trading projects. Hypotheses set in the study summarise the propositions developed from the theories and past empirical literature.

The framework reveals four major components of carbon trading for the built environment. Six hypotheses were further proposed to unravel the resultant influence of their interactions on each component in the trading system.

This paper sought to undertake a theoretical review of classical theories and past studies on carbon trading. Even though a systematic review was undertaken, the constructs in the theoretical framework may not be exhaustive.

This study contributes and advances the body of knowledge on the components that comprise the mechanism of how carbon trading operates in the built environment. Theoretically, the framework developed serves as a multi-dimensional guide on the operations of carbon trading in the built environment.

The theoretical framework developed endeavours to consolidate multi-faceted theories from varying disciplines on the components that comprise carbon trading in the built environment.