Search Results (26)

The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry faces ongoing challenges in enhancing safety performance. Despite the availability of advanced technologies for enhancing safety, there is limited understanding of the inter-relationships among safety factors and advanced technologies for enhancing safety performance. This study aims to investigate the inter-relationships among factors affecting safety performance and advanced technologies. A questionnaire survey was disseminated to construction professionals to assess the criticality of factors and strategies. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The findings indicate that 16 factors and eight advanced technologies are critical for enhancing safety. The EFA grouped 11 critical factors into four underlying groupings: safety planning and hazard prevention, workplace environment and supervision, employee safety support, and medical readiness and site protection. Moreover, the EFA grouped the eight critical advanced technologies into two underlying groupings: advanced digital technologies and personal and site monitoring technologies. The correlation analysis demonstrates measurable but weak associations between the factors and advanced technologies, indicating the need for future research to explore additional variables that may impact these relationships. The findings help construction professionals prioritize resources to address the specific groupings of critical factors and advanced technologies. Full article

The role of technology in education is becoming increasingly important, and the introduction of advanced technology and AI is transforming the way we learn. Virtual reality (VR) is an effective technology that enhances student engagement and improves learning outcomes. However, the cost of implementing VR is a significant concern for educational institutions, making integrating VR technology into education challenging. To address this challenge, this study aims to explore the costs associated with integrating VR into architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) education. The study had three objectives: to identify relevant case studies that utilized VR in AEC education, to perform keyword analysis, and to conduct a cost analysis of the selected case studies. The thematic analysis identified VR applications in various categories, including VR platforms, construction safety training, design review simulators, civil engineering labs, building information modeling (BIM) integration, architectural design, and surveying engineering. The results revealed that the cost of VR varies based on the application, indicating that it is possible to implement VR in education even on a limited budget. This research provides valuable insights and recommendations for researchers and practitioners who want to adopt VR technology in AEC education effectively. Full article

Working at construction sites can harm individuals’ health and well-being. However, stakeholders often focus on improving health while discounting well-being. Establishing a better workplace environment can improve workplace well-being. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the factors influencing workplace well-being in infrastructure construction projects. To achieve this aim, the study objectives are to (1) identify the critical factors influencing workplace well-being in infrastructure construction projects; (2) develop an interrelationship model between underlying constructs of the factors; and (3) assess the influence of the underlying constructs on workplace well-being in infrastructure construction projects. First, a list of factors influencing workplace well-being was established using data from a systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews. Then, a survey was developed using the list of factors and distributed to infrastructure construction practitioners. In total, 124 responses were retrieved and analyzed using normalized mean analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The analyses reveal that the critical factors include workload, salary package, the timeline of salary payment, working hours, planning of the project, insurance for construction workers, workers’ welfare and project progress. Furthermore, the underlying constructs are physical factors and psychosocial factors. Finally, both physical and psychosocial factors are found to significantly influence workplace well-being in infrastructure construction projects. Focusing solely on physical factors may not sufficiently enhance workplace well-being in construction projects, as there are also non-visible factors, such as psychosocial factors. Thus, exploring the interplay between visible and non-visible factors and their influence on workplace well-being in construction projects is crucial. Nevertheless, the findings have several limitations, including using data from a single country and non-hands-on construction practitioners, as well as the underlying constructs being derived solely using statistical methods. Still, the study is original in its focus on modeling the relationship between the factors influencing workplace well-being within the context of infrastructure construction projects. In other words, this study differs from prior research by specifically modeling the factors that influence well-being in infrastructure construction projects. Full article

Previous studies have reported that TT genotype carriers of the adenosine A2a receptor (ADORA2A) gene rs5751876 polymorphism have better ergogenic and anti-inflammatory responses to caffeine intake compared to C allele carriers. The aim of the present study was twofold: (1) to investigate the association of the ADORA2A rs5751876 polymorphism with acute caffeine supplementation on hormonal (growth hormone and testosterone) response to resistance exercise (RE); (2) to examine the relationship between the rs5751876 polymorphism and the resting levels of growth hormone and testosterone in athletes who are light caffeine consumers. A double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study involving 30 resistance-trained men (age 21.7 ± 4.1) was conducted to assess the impact of caffeine supplementation on serum growth hormone (GH) and testosterone (TS) levels before, immediately after, and 15 min post-RE. One hour before engaging in resistance exercise, subjects were randomly administered 6 mg of caffeine per kg of body mass or a placebo (maltodextrin). After a 7-day washout period, the same protocol was repeated. Resting testosterone and growth hormone levels were examined in the sera of 94 elite athletes (31 females, age 21.4 ± 2.8; 63 males, age 22.9 ± 3.8). Caffeine consumption led to significantly greater increases in GH and TS in men with the TT genotype compared to C allele carriers. Furthermore, in the group of athletes, carriers of the TT genotype had significantly higher testosterone (p = 0.0125) and growth hormone (p = 0.0365) levels compared to C allele carriers. In conclusion, the ADORA2A gene rs5751876 polymorphism may modify the effect of caffeine intake on the hormonal response to exercise. Full article

This research aims to examine the performance indicators that are crucial for assessing the implementation of environmental management plans (EMPs) in water projects. To achieve this aim, a questionnaire survey, integrating a systematic literature review (SLR), was used to identify the initial performance indicators. Subsequently, ten interviews with environmental professionals were carried out to uncover additional indicators not identified by the SLR. Following the survey design and pilot study of the survey, the data collection resulted in 112 valid responses from environmental professionals engaged in water projects in Saudi Arabia. The data analysis encompassed reliability tests, mean ranking, normalized mean analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The normalized mean analysis highlighted 13 critical parameters among 39 for further investigation. The EFA disclosed three underlying constructs: environmental impact indicators, operational and safety indicators, waste management, and public safety indicators. PLS-SEM was used to validate the relationship between these indicators and the successful implementation of EMPs. The results indicate that all three underlying constructs positively influence the effective execution of such plans. This is the first study to model the relationships of the performance indicators in water projects. The study’s findings underscore the importance of developing precise performance indicators tailored to diverse construction projects that are mainly focused on water facility construction. The identified performance indicators offer significant insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers and provide a solid foundation for the advancement of knowledge in the field of environmental management. Full article

Construction safety education is crucial as it ensures worker well-being, improves construction quality, and contributes to sustainable infrastructure development and safeguarding lives. This study aims to examine students’ perceptions of construction safety education. A structured questionnaire survey aligned with the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) safety topics was used to collect data from students on their understanding of construction safety topics (CSTs). Data were gathered from 161 students and analyzed using Cronbach’s alpha, mean calculations, standard deviation measurements, normalization value, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and correlation analysis. The findings reveal a strong awareness and interest in fire safety, with variations across engineering faculties, academic years, and specific topics, suggesting the need for tailored educational strategies to improve construction safety knowledge and align education with industry needs. This study represents the first investigation into students’ comprehension of CSTs in Saudi Arabia. The study insights can guide decisionmakers in refining existing curriculums, ensuring students develop a strong understanding of safety protocols in construction projects. By aligning education with industry requirements, policymakers can enhance the preparedness of graduates, promoting safer practices in engineering. This contributes to the overall economic and safety progress of nations. Full article

The formidable need for building projects places greater pressure on stakeholders to deliver these projects on time, within the budget, and with high quality. However, many building projects have experienced extensive cost overruns despite extensive research on their causes and mitigation measures. Thus, the effectiveness of mitigation measures is questionable. This study examines the status of cost overrun in building construction projects and develops a structural equation model to establish the relationships between causes of cost overrun and mitigation measures, using higher education building projects as a case study. This study analyzed cost overruns in 27 higher education building projects. Furthermore, 118 responses were collected using a questionnaire survey and analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Kruskal–Wallis H test, exploratory factor analysis, and partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings suggest that around 93% of the 27 higher education building projects experienced cost overrun, and the majority overran between 5% and 10%. The findings illustrate that bid evaluation and project planning mitigation measures positively affect efficiency and contract management- and design-related causes. Furthermore, project initiation and contractor selection mitigation measures positively affect claim management-, efficiency and contract management-, estimation and scheduling-, and design-related causes. These findings will help policymakers make informed decisions in selecting effective mitigation measures to reduce cost overrun and improve industry efficiency. Full article

Assessing the implementation of environmental management plans (EMPs) in construction projects is crucial for meeting environmental sustainability goals and reducing potential adverse impacts. By using performance indicators (PIs), stakeholders can objectively measure the performance of EMP implementation, identifying areas of success and areas that may require improvement. Therefore, this study aims to examine the PIs for assessing EMP implementation in water supply construction projects, using Saudi Arabia as a case study. Data from semi-structured interviews and a systematic literature review were used to develop a potential list of PIs. Then, the PIs were used to create a survey and distributed to industry professionals. Data from 112 respondents were analyzed using mean ranking analysis, the normalization method, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE). Eighteen critical PIs for assessing EMP implementation in water supply construction projects were identified, including public safety, road safety hazards, construction waste, clogged drainage, irregular flooding, the spilling of chemical substances, slope failures, soil erosion, landslide occurrence, increased schedule waste, changes in the color of bodies of water, oil/fuel spills, restricted site accessibility, the smell of run-off water, traffic accidents on construction sites, the spread of disease, changes in the color of run-off water, and overflowing silt traps. The EFA revealed that PIs can be grouped into three underlying constructs: fluid-related indicators, health and safety-related indicators, and site environment-related indicators. The FSE results confirmed that all PIs are between moderately critical to critical. This study’s significance lies in its examination of PIs that aim to improve the environmental performance of water supply construction projects. Understanding which indicators are most effective allows for targeted improvements, helping to minimize negative environmental impacts and ensuring sustainable practices. Finally, this study is a pioneer in examining the critical PIs for assessing EMP implementation in water supply construction projects. Full article

The implementation of green roofs in buildings offers various environmental, social, and economic advantages. Despite Malaysia’s rapid urbanization, green roofs are not commonly integrated into existing or new buildings, which limits their potential benefits. Identifying the reasons behind this lack of implementation is crucial to promoting the widespread implementation of green roofs. Although previous works have explored barriers in developed urban areas, little attention has been given to Malaysia, where green roof implementation is still in its early stages. To address this research gap, our study aims to investigate the key barriers to implementing green roofs in buildings in Malaysia. Additionally, the study aims to assess the feasibility and level of support for green roof implementation in Malaysia. We utilized a combination of literature review, questionnaire surveys, and structured face-to-face interviews. Through the utilization of both normalization and the Relative Importance Index (RII) analysis, the findings highlight the presence of three primary barriers that impede the effective implementation of green roofs in Malaysia. Notably, the key barriers are: high/additional construction costs, high/increased maintenance costs, and lack of owner/client interest. Understanding and prioritizing these root causes can empower building owners, developers, and policymakers to develop effective strategies for green roof implementation. Our findings offer valuable insights for promoting sustainable development in Malaysian buildings and contribute to the advancement of green roof practices in the country. Full article

Despite its numerous benefits, many countries are slow in adopting building information modeling (BIM). As a result, policymakers are implementing different government initiatives (GIs) for enhancing BIM adoption globally. However, it is critical to exercise caution when implementing GIs due to each country’s specific requirements and rules. Having country-specific GIs can ensure that BIM is appropriately adopted and fits a country’s needs and problems. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the GIs in enhancing BIM adoption in Saudi Arabia. Data from 101 industry professionals were analyzed using a mean ranking analysis, normalization method, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE). Five critical GIs for enhancing BIM adoption were identified: developing programs for improving BIM competencies, developing programs to increase BIM awareness and understanding, developing programs to integrate BIM into education curricula and academia, developing BIM-related contractual frameworks, and providing financial aid to reduce the cost of BIM adoption. The EFA results indicate that the GIs can be grouped into two underlying constructs: national policies and organizational strategies. The FSE results confirmed that all GIs are effective. The study findings can serve as a significant reference for industry practitioners and policymakers in assuring successful BIM adoption. Full article

Caffeine is an adenosine A_2A receptor (ADORA2A) antagonist with ergogenic and anti-inflammatory effects. Previous studies have reported that the ADORA2A gene regulates glutamate metabolism and immune responses, with the ADORA2A rs5751876 TT genotype (with high sensitivity to caffeine) showing larger ergogenic effect following caffeine ingestion. We therefore hypothesized that the TT genotype would be associated with greater anti-inflammatory effects of caffeine in response to exercise, and with higher coffee intake in physically active individuals. The aim of the present study was twofold: (1) to investigate the association of the ADORA2A variant with the anti-inflammatory effects of caffeine in response to intense resistance exercise (RE), and (2) to analyze the association of the rs5751876 with coffee intake in physically active individuals (n = 134). Fifteen resistance-trained athletes participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study, where they consumed 6 mg/kg of caffeine or placebo one hour prior to performing an RE protocol. Blood samples were taken immediately from the arterial vein before, immediately after, and 15 min after RE for the analysis of inflammatory markers myeloperoxidase (MPO) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). We found that the ADORA2A TT genotype carriers experienced lower exercise-induced inflammatory responses (p < 0.05 for AchE) when compared to the C allele carriers (i.e., CC/CT) one hour following the ingestion of caffeine. Furthermore, the ADORA2A TT genotype was positively associated with coffee intake (p = 0.0143; irrespective of CYP1A2 rs762551 polymorphism). In conclusion, we found that the ADORA2A gene polymorphism is associated with anti-inflammatory effects of caffeine in response to resistance exercise, as well as with habitual coffee intake in physically active individuals. Full article

Building information modeling (BIM) enables substantial improvement in the architect, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. To enhance BIM implementation, policymakers should develop appropriate strategies addressing local AEC industry needs. However, prior works that have explored government strategies to enhance BIM implementation in Indonesia are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the critical government strategies to enhance BIM implementation in Indonesia. A systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews with AEC professionals yielded 12 potential government strategies. The data were analyzed using mean score ranking, normalization, overlap, agreement, and correlation analyses. The findings illustrate that six strategies are critical for enhancing BIM implementation in Indonesia. Two of the six strategies overlapped between all main construction project stakeholders (i.e., consultants, contractors, and clients): (1) develop programs to integrate BIM into education curricula and academia, and (2) develop BIM implementation guidelines. These two strategies were highly correlated, and all project stakeholders had consistent views on their criticality for enhancing BIM implementation in Indonesia. The findings benefit policymakers by highlighting specific strategies that should take place to enhance BIM implementation in Indonesia. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most serious global health crises. It has had a massive impact on the global workforce and workplaces, causing enormous changes in the working environment and raising concerns among organizations. Due to the pandemic, the construction industry has faced more challenges in delivering projects on time and within budget. This study aims to determine the relationship between the impacts and response strategies of COVID-19 in Sri Lankan construction projects. A systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews with industry professionals identified twelve COVID-19 impacts and twenty-two response strategies needed to mitigate the impacts. A structured questionnaire survey was then conducted with Sri Lankan construction professionals. The gathered data were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). A model and six hypotheses were developed to explain the impact and strategy. The results revealed that it is necessary to focus on the impacts related to the project, develop the necessary strategies from a financial point of view, and supply the necessary materials and equipment. During COVID-19, organizational management and information exchange should be enhanced, along with a project’s workforce and its provision. The study findings could aid industry professionals and policymakers in comprehending the pandemic and developing strategies to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on Sri Lankan construction projects. Full article

Implementing building information modeling (BIM) in construction projects can provide team members with an effective collaboration process. Therefore, organizations are implementing BIM to acquire the benefits. However, project members still use traditional collaborative approaches due to the lack of trust. Therefore, this study aims to identify the factors, challenges, and strategies of trust in BIM-based construction projects. To achieve this aim, semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty industry professionals, and thematic analysis was used to analyze the collected data. The results suggest that the factors affecting trust in BIM-based construction projects are knowledge, skills, awareness, behavior, policy, system, cost, and management. Moreover, the challenges to creating trust in BIM-based construction projects are policy, cost, cooperation, system, service, behavior, expertise, and knowledge. Finally, the strategies used to create trust in BIM-based construction projects are management, preparation, capability, cooperation, awareness, individuals, education, and government. In summary, this study provides insights that can help industry practitioners to improve construction projects by reducing unnecessary distrust among team members. Full article

Construction 4.0 involves implementing advanced technologies in construction projects to achieve higher productivity, safety, and sustainability. However, architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals are reluctant to adopt Construction 4.0 technologies. Lack of information on Construction 4.0 technologies and poor decision-making lead to the issue being unresolved. As a result, the following research question emerged: What are the current trends and research gaps in the existing research on Construction 4.0 technologies and decision-making? This study aims to review the publication trends in Construction 4.0 technologies and decision-making and pinpoint the gaps in prior research. To achieve the aim, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted on published articles using the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analyses (PRISMA) method. A total of 22 articles were carefully selected and reviewed. The findings disclosed four research trends: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Also, the findings suggested that existing research still concentrates on adopting and implementing Construction 4.0 technologies. As a result, the existing research has low exploration in integrating Construction 4.0 technologies and decision-making processes. The study findings could guide researchers and AEC professionals to establish effective decisions in achieving Construction 4.0. Full article