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Due to the increasing size and complexity of construction projects, construction engineering and management involves the coordination of many complex and dynamic processes and relies on the analysis of uncertain, imprecise and incomplete information, including subjective and linguistically expressed information. Various modelling and computing techniques have been used by construction researchers and applied to practical construction problems in order to overcome these challenges, including fuzzy hybrid techniques. Fuzzy hybrid techniques combine the human-like reasoning capabilities of fuzzy logic with the capabilities of other techniques, such as optimization, machine learning, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) and simulation, to capitalise on their strengths and overcome their limitations. Based on a review of construction literature, this chapter identifies the most common types of fuzzy hybrid techniques applied to construction problems and reviews selected papers in each category of fuzzy hybrid technique to illustrate their capabilities for addressing construction challenges. Finally, this chapter discusses areas for future development of fuzzy hybrid techniques that will increase their capabilities for solving construction-related problems. The contributions of this chapter are threefold: (1) the limitations of some standard techniques for solving construction problems are discussed, as are the ways that fuzzy methods have been hybridized with these techniques in order to address their limitations; (2) a review of existing applications of fuzzy hybrid techniques in construction is provided in order to illustrate the capabilities of these techniques for solving a variety of construction problems and (3) potential improvements in each category of fuzzy hybrid technique in construction are provided, as areas for future research.

The purpose of this paper is to develop an efficient and reliable spectral integral equation method for solving two-dimensional unsteady advection-diffusion equations.

In this study, the considered two-dimensional unsteady advection-diffusion equations are transformed into the equivalent partial integro-differential equations via integrating from the considered unsteady advection-diffusion equation. After this stage, by using Chebyshev polynomials of the first kind and the operational matrix of integration, the integral equation would be transformed into the system of linear algebraic equations. Robustness and efficiency of the proposed method were illustrated by six numerical simulations experimentally. The numerical results confirm that the method is efficient, highly accurate, fast and stable for solving two-dimensional unsteady advection-diffusion equations.

The proposed method can solve the equations with discontinuity near the boundaries, the advection-dominated equations and the equations in irregular domains. One of the numerical test problems designed specially to evaluate the performance of the proposed method for discontinuity near boundaries.

This study extends the intention of one dimensional Chebyshev approximate approaches (Yuksel and Sezer, 2013; Yuksel et al., 2015) for two-dimensional unsteady advection-diffusion problems and the basic intention of our suggested method is quite different from the approaches for hyperbolic problems (Bulbul and Sezer, 2011).

This chapter reviews recent developments in the density discontinuity approach. It is well known that agents having perfect control of the forcing variable will invalidate the popular regression discontinuity designs (RDDs). To detect the manipulation of the forcing variable, McCrary (2008) developed a test based on the discontinuity in the density around the threshold. Recent papers have noted that the sorting patterns around the threshold are often either the researcher’s object of interest or may relate to structural parameters such as tax elasticities through known functions. This, in turn, implies that the behavior of the distribution around the threshold is not only informative of the validity of a standard RDD; it can also be used to recover policy-relevant parameters and perform counterfactual exercises.

Fluctuations in the tender price index have an adverse effect on the construction sector and the economy at large. This is largely due to the positive relationship that exists between the construction industry and economic growth. The consequences of these variations include cost overruns and schedule delays, among others. An accurate forecast of the tender price index is good for controlling the uncertainty associated with its variation. In the present study, the efficacy of using an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) for tender price forecasting is investigated. In addition, the Box–Jenkins model, which is considered a benchmark technique, was used to evaluate the performance of the ANFIS model. The results demonstrate that the ANFIS model is superior to the Box–Jenkins model in terms of the accuracy and reliability of the forecast. The ANFIS could provide an accurate and reliable forecast of the tender price index in the medium term (i.e. over a three-year period). This chapter provides evidence of the advantages of applying nonlinear modelling techniques (such as the ANFIS) to tender price index forecasting. Although the proposed ANFIS model is applied to the tender price index in this study, it can also be applied to a wider range of problems in the field of construction engineering and management.

Large strain model can be formulated in terms of the Lagrangian or the Eulerian frame. In this paper, the Eulerian type large strain models are studied. Numerical examples on the Lagrangian and Eulerian types large strain models are investigated and compared. It is found that the differences in the choice of large strain model under large strain and rotation problems are noticeable but not significant if small load step is used for analysis. Furthermore, we have also found that unsymmetrical formulation instead of symmetrical formulation should be adopted for Eulerian type large strain models.

Citizens are substantial stakeholders in every e-government system, thus their willingness to use and ability to access the system are critical. Unequal access and information and communication technology usage, which is known as digital divide, however has been identified as one of the major obstacles to the implementation of e-government system. As digital divide inhibits citizen’s acceptance to e-government, it should be overcome despite the lack of deep theoretical understanding on this issue. This research aimed to investigate the digital divide and its direct impact on e-government system success of local governments in Indonesia as well as indirect impact through the mediation role of trust. In order to get a comprehensive understanding of digital divide, this study introduced a new type of digital divide, the innovativeness divide.

The research problems were approached by applying two-stage sequential mixed method research approach comprising of both qualitative and quantitative studies. In the first phase, an initial research model was proposed based on a literature review. Semi-structured interview with 12 users of e-government systems was then conducted to explore and enhance this initial research model. Data collected in this phase were analyzed with a two-stage content analysis approach and the initial model was then amended based on the findings. As a result, a comprehensive research model with 16 hypotheses was proposed for examination in the second phase.

In the second phase, quantitative method was applied. A questionnaire was developed based on findings in the first phase. A pilot study was conducted to refine the questionnaire, which was then distributed in a national survey resulting in 237 useable responses. Data collected in this phase were analyzed using Partial Least Square based Structural Equation Modeling.

The results of quantitative analysis confirmed 13 hypotheses. All direct influences of the variables of digital divide on e-government system success were supported. The mediating effects of trust in e-government in the relationship between capability divide and e-government system success as well as in the relationship between innovativeness divide and e-government system success were supported, but was rejected in the relationship between access divide and e-government system success. Furthermore, the results supported the moderating effects of demographic variables of age, residential place, and education.

This research has both theoretical and practical contributions. The study contributes to the developments of literature on digital divide and e-government by providing a more comprehensive framework, and also to the implementation of e-government by local governments and the improvement of e-government Readiness Index of Indonesia.

The purpose of this study is to propose the research model integrating the expectation-confirmation model with the views of learning engagement (LE) and extending DeLone and McLean information systems (IS) success model to examine whether quality determinants as antecedents to students' beliefs can influence students' continuance intention of massive open online courses (MOOCs).

Sample data for this study were collected from students enrolled in a comprehensive university in Taiwan. A total of 600 questionnaires were distributed, and 363 (60.5%) useable questionnaires were analyzed using structural equation modeling in this study.

This study proved that students' perceived knowledge quality, system quality, interface design quality, learner–instructor interaction quality, and collaboration quality all positively caused students' perceived usefulness, confirmation and LE in MOOCs, which jointly explained students' satisfaction with MOOCs and subsequently resulted in students' continuance intention of MOOCs.

This study fully evaluates IS-related and interaction-related quality determinants via an understanding of students' state of LE in explaining students' continuance intention of MOOCs that is difficult to expound with only their utilitarian perception of MOOCs. Hence, this study contributes to deep insights into an all-round quality evaluation in the field of MOOCs continuance intention and takes extrinsic and intrinsic motivators into account in the theoretical development of MOOCs continuance intention to acquire a more comprehensive and robust analysis.

This study aims to (1) develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based model to accurately forecast rebar prices and (2) propose procurement strategies to reduce the subjectivity involved in rebar price trend forecasting and minimize procurement costs for construction project general contractors.

Correlation analysis was used to identify the key factors influencing changes in rebar prices over time. An AI-based inference model, symbiotic bidirectional gated recurrent unit (SBiGRU), was developed for rebar price forecasting. The performance of SBiGRU was compared with other AI techniques, and procurement strategies based on the SBiGRU model were proposed.

The SBiGRU model outperformed the other AI techniques in terms of rebar price forecasting accuracy. The proposed rebar price forecasting model (RPFM) and procurement patterns, which integrate inventory management principles and rebar price forecasts, were demonstrated to effectively optimize procurement costs, realizing a remarkable 6.13% reduction in procurement expenses compared to the conventional monthly procurement approach.

The accuracy of AI models may be impacted by disparities in the data used for model training. Future research should explore approaches incorporating price predictions and order factors.

This study significantly extends the bounds of traditional rebar price prediction by integrating AI-driven forecasting with inventory management principles, highlighting the potential of AI-based models to improve construction industry procurement practices, reduce related risks and costs, optimize project operations and maximize project outcomes.

Presents a review on implementing finite element methods on supercomputers, workstations and PCs and gives main trends in hardware and software developments. An appendix included at the end of the paper presents a bibliography on the subjects retrospectively to 1985 and approximately 1,100 references are listed.