Search Results (92)

Construction delays are a repeated problem in government buildings projects in Kuwait, always leading to increased costs and schedule slippage. This pilot study investigates key delay factors and corresponding solutions strategies by analyzing the responses from 60 construction professionals representing project management consultants (PMCs), contractors, and consultants. Using a structured questionnaire and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the study identifies and validates critical delay constructs and explores useful solutions measures from stakeholders’ perspectives. The findings provide foundational data to refine the main study and enhance model validity for structural equation modeling (SEM). The top of the delay factors are poor contractor monitoring, weakness of consultant project management team, and design faults. Recommended solutions strategies include establishing a monitoring system to track subcontractor progress and addressing potential delays proactively, ensuring timely approval for the required workforce, and establishing clear delivery schedules. The results validate the questionnaire’s reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.920) and provide insights into urgency areas for delay mitigation in the Kuwaiti governmental building construction sector. Full article

This research aims to facilitate informed decision-making to enhance building energy simulation, reduce costs, and minimize CO₂ emissions through building insulation enhancements employing BIM-based simulation. Architectural models of an apartment, a prevalent residential structure in Japan, were developed and examined under diverse insulation scenarios utilizing ArchiCAD 28. Five insulation substances were chosen based on existing guidelines to ensure conformity with local standards and were evaluated for their thermal and environmental properties: Cellulose Fiber, Glass Wool, Urethane Foam, Phenolic Board, and Rock Wool for evaluation based on thermal and environmental properties. The simulation parameters were aligned with Japan’s energy efficiency standards and climate conditions. The factors addressed encompass energy performance evaluation, economic viability, and CO₂ emissions. Simulation findings highlight Urethane Foam as the most effective and environmentally friendly building insulation material. This study provides valuable perspectives for property owners, building designers, and contractors, offering a framework for insulation enhancement choices that optimizes sustainable construction, reduces environmental impact, and enhances cost-effectiveness through the implementation of BIM-based simulation. Full article

An accelerated sea-level rise (SLR) may threaten the future livability of the Netherlands. Three perspectives to anticipate this SLR are elaborated here regarding technical, physical, and spatial aspects: Protect, Advance, and Accommodate. The overall objective was to explore the tools and measures that are available for adaptation, assess their spatial impacts, and identify dos and don’ts in current spatial issues like housing, climate adaptation, infrastructure, and the energy transition. Each elaboration was performed by a consortium consisting of representatives from private parties (engineering consultancy, project contractors, (landscape) architects, economists), knowledge institutes (including universities), and government, using an iterative process of model computations and design workshops. The elaborations made clear that a realistic and livable future perspective for the Dutch Delta continues to exist, even with a maximum analyzed SLR of 5 m, and will consist of a combination of elements from all three perspectives. This will require large investments and space for new and upgraded water infrastructure and will have large impacts on land use, water availability, agriculture, nature, residential buildings, shipping, and regional water systems. There is still a significant degree of uncertainty regarding future SLR; therefore, it is not advisable to make major investment decisions at this time. Nevertheless, some no-regret measures are already clear: continuation of the protection of the Randstad agglomeration (Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, and Utrecht) and its economic earning potential for future generations, adaptation of agriculture to more brackish and saline conditions, designation of space for additional future flood protection, extra storage capacity (for river discharge and increased precipitation), river discharge, and sand extraction (for future coastal maintenance). The research identified concrete actions for today’s decision-making processes, even though the time horizon of the analysis captures centuries. Including the perspectives in long term, policy planning is already necessary because the transition processes will take decades, if not more than a century, to be implemented. Full article

The current research investigates cost overrun factors in structural projects, focusing on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region using Egypt as a model. A systematic literature review was conducted, analyzing 405 research papers published between 2000 and 2024, from which 69 relevant papers were selected to identify 48 key factors contributing to cost overrun. Using K-means clustering, these factors were grouped into three clusters based on their probability and impact, which were classified for their risk levels. To ensure robust analysis, a survey was conducted to gather expert opinions, resulting in 369 valid responses from owners, contractors/subcontractors, and management firms/consultants. The fuzzy group decision-making approach (FGDMA) was conducted to rank all 48 factors, offering a detailed assessment of their relative importance. Based on these rankings, the top 20 factors were identified for analysis to examine variations in stakeholder priorities, capturing differences in perspectives among multi-stakeholders. Sensitivity analysis and Tornado charts explored the critical variations among stakeholders, with management firms/consultants and owners prioritizing design-related risks, such as inconsistencies and delays in approvals, while contractors/subcontractors focused more on material waste. This novel integration presents a structured approach for analyzing, prioritizing, and mitigating cost overrun risks, offering a comprehensive framework that provides practical insights for stakeholders to improve cost and risk management strategies. Full article

Delays and disruptions (D&D) are considered chronic peculiarities of the construction phase of the built environment, especially in megaprojects. Systematic monitoring of claimable D&D causes becomes crucial for the contractors to compensate for their losses caused by delays and disruptions, enabling sustainable use of resources. Thus, this study proposed a delay and disruption (D&D) cause monitoring framework that enables contractors to timely and accurately detect claimable delays and disruption causes/events in megaprojects. At the outset, a systematic literature review was conducted to design an initial version of the framework and extract claimable D&D. Then, focus group discussion (FGD) sessions were conducted to revise and refine the initial version of the framework and a list of claimable D&D causes. Next, a fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis was conducted to determine the relative importance of each claimable D&D cause in terms of its impact on the megaprojects. Finally, a consistency analysis was conducted to demonstrate the reliability of the dataset. Findings revealed that claimable D&D causes are indispensable parts of the claim management process. In this manner, the proposed framework recommends monitoring the claimable D&D causes regularly during the whole construction phase of the megaprojects. The fuzzy AHP analysis also revealed that causes such as “Suspension of project activities by the owner”, “Errors and clashes in the design”, “Shortage of construction materials in the market”, “Discovery of fossils and historical artifacts”, “Unavailability of the commissioning team on the due date”, and “Late delivery of testing materials and utilities by the owner” were particularly rated as highly critical causes, needing urgent and sophisticated monitoring plan for timely detection and data collection. By introducing a proactive approach to avoid lengthy and costly dispute resolution processes, this study enables decision-makers to enhance sustainability in the built environment. Full article

Supply chain management integration in construction project delivery emerged from strategies to improve competitiveness, increase profits, and gain control over the various factors influencing project delivery and performance. Hence, this study assesses the challenges of supply chain management in construction project delivery using the perspective of construction professionals in South Africa. A structured questionnaire was developed to obtain data from construction professionals in Durban, South Africa. Descriptive statistics and the Kruskal–Wallis test were conducted to determine construction professionals’ perspectives towards challenges affecting supply chain management in construction project delivery. According to the study’s findings, the essential challenges affecting supply chain management in construction project delivery in South Africa include weak procurement strategies, difficulties with scheduling flexibility, poor construction design, poor budget management, non-integration of automation systems in the SCM process, insufficient planning of the project before starting, and sub-contractors’ lack of understanding of SCM concepts. The study recommends that construction project delivery be guided by effective procurement systems, effective budget management, integration of automation in the supply chain, and enabling government policies. Full article

As global economic integration and rapid technological advancements transform international business, international engineering contracting has become essential for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). This paper investigates the significant impact of China’s strategic initiatives, notably the “Going Global” strategy and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), on the operational practices of Chinese enterprises involved in overseas investments. Central to this transformation is the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model, which emphasizes the integration of supply chain management and stakeholder collaboration to enhance performance in international EPC projects and underscores the crucial role of these elements in promoting sustainability. Incorporating insights from social network data analysis, this study reveals that contractors collaborating with various stakeholders—such as owners/consulting engineers, domestic and foreign customs departments, and group headquarters/design parties—exhibit a high degree of similarity in personnel profiles. This suggests that the internal organizational structure and personnel allocation of contractors could be optimized to enhance operational efficiency, aligning with the collaborative patterns identified. This study addresses a critical research gap by exploring how effective supply chain management and collaborative stakeholder engagement within multinational EPC projects contribute to sustainable outcomes. Employing advanced social network analysis software, the research examines the complex interactions among stakeholders and their influence on procurement dynamics. Findings indicate that strong relational networks and strategic collaborations significantly enhance procurement efficiency and project success, underscoring the importance of supply chain integration. Ultimately, integrating supply chain management principles into the EPC model not only offers innovative perspectives for advancing sustainability in international projects but also provides actionable insights for improving project outcomes within the BRI framework. This research underscores the pivotal role of supply chain organization and stakeholder cooperation in achieving sustainability objectives, thereby enriching the discourse on sustainable enterprise operation and supply chain management in the context of global initiatives. Full article

Despite the numerous advantages of using natural materials, such as fast-growing, living, and earthen materials, their widespread application in the construction industry remains limited. This research presents a perception survey, which investigates stakeholders’ perceptions regarding the market, regulatory barriers, and educational barriers, exploring experiences, motivations, and attitudes toward the adoption of natural materials in construction projects. The results capture variations in current practices and identify patterns for future directions, analyzed in a comparative manner to assess two geographical regions: Europe and North America. The results show that contractor availability, a lack of professional knowledge (mostly in Europe), and cost-to-value perceptions (mostly in the USA) are key barriers to adopting natural materials. The lack of awareness among construction professionals regarding technical aspects highlights the need for targeted training, while the lack of regulatory distinction between living and earth-based materials underscores the need for harmonized policies. By elucidating stakeholders’ perspectives and identifying key challenges, this research aims to inform policymaking, industry practices, and research initiatives aimed at promoting the use of a wider lexicon of construction materials. Ultimately, this study hopes to facilitate the development of strategies to overcome scalability challenges and accelerate the transition toward their implementation in mainstream projects. Full article

Synergy in a contractor project team improves performance by integrating diverse knowledge and skills among team members, enabling the achievement of project objectives. However, according to a literature review, factors that enhance synergy among contractor project teams from the perspective of executives and practitioners have rarely been discovered, revealing a knowledge gap that needs to be filled. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify a common structure of such factors for executives and practitioners. Data collection involved a questionnaire survey targeting large contractors in Bangkok, Thailand. Then, we compared the mean importance and rank order of synergy factors, examined differences and similarities in synergy factors between executive and practitioner perspectives using the Mann–Whitney U test, and applied confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for the data analysis. The differences and similarities show that executives and practitioners have similar perspectives on synergy factors. The CFA results validate a factor structure that enhances synergy. This synergy factor structure for executives and practitioners can be divided into five groups, with their standardized regression weights in parentheses: coordination (0.94), organizational structure (0.92), motivation (0.80), leadership (0.75), and planning and policy (0.69). These findings contribute to the body of knowledge and the state of practice by offering a practical framework to assist executives and practitioners in contractor organizations in identifying common measures and resource allocation based on the regression weights of synergy factors. This can improve synergy among contractor project teams, potentially resulting in better performance. Full article

Utilizing a turnkey approach to deliver a construction project entails significant risks from the contractor’s perspective. Essentially, the owner awaits project completion without commitments regarding additional expenditures incurred by the contractor during the project’s duration. This paper specifically focuses on estimating and analyzing the contingency value for residential turnkey projects in Saudi Arabia. The contingency value across the project’s life cycle is estimated using six Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models, which are compared to identify the best-trained network according to project complexity, contingency factor, and contingency impact during the project phases. The output layer provides the contingency factor percentages for each project phase. A 13-story reinforced concrete (RC) residential building established in one of Saudi Arabia’s cities was selected to implement the developed methodology. The contingency estimation, performed using @Risk 7.5 and NeuralTools 7.5, was determined to be 11.34% and was distributed across the five phases of the project’s life cycle: 0.30% for predesign, 0.99% for design, 2.61% for preconstruction, 6.33% for construction, and 1.12% for postconstruction. Furthermore, it was found that the estimated contingency varies based on project complexity, which is 7.20% for low complexity, 8.16% for medium complexity, 9.41% for complicated, and 11.34% for very complicated projects. Historical data and peer review approaches are employed to validate the results, both of which are endorsed by professionals in this field. This paper highlights two main contributions: Firstly, it significantly enhances risk management by facilitating a comprehensive understanding and systematic analysis of risks, thus improving the contractors’ ability to mitigate potential negative impacts on projects. Secondly, it supports more informed decision-making through the use of advanced techniques to estimate and analyze contingency values. These contributions are critical for contractors engaged in Saudi construction projects, particularly those involving residential buildings. Full article

Building information modeling (BIM) has become a vital tool in the construction industry, especially in Qatar, where remarkable infrastructural growth and innovation have taken place. This study looked into the factors influencing the adoption and acceptability of BIM in the Qatari construction industry using the Information System Success Model (ISSM), the Technology Acceptability Model (TAM), and structural equation modeling (SEM). Survey information gathered from project managers, contractors, engineers, architects, suppliers, and BIM specialists with direct BIM expertise was examined. The results showed that intentions to adopt BIM have a significant influence on its Perceived Usefulness and ease of use. The adoption of BIM is also significantly impacted by ISSM elements, including the Total Quality, Organizational Efficiency, Innovativeness, and Financial Aspects. This study illustrates the complex interactions between organizational influences and personal perspectives by demonstrating the direct and indirect effects of these factors on BIM adoption. These results provide a complete picture of the dynamics influencing BIM adoption in Qatar’s construction sector. As a result, this study makes connections between individual technology acceptance and the larger socio-technical environment of BIM implementation, providing essential information for building sector stakeholders, policymakers, and industry leaders. By using these insights to create strategies to boost BIM’s adoption and acceptability, the construction industries may be further aligned with global best practices in project management and delivery. Full article

This study aimed to identify the critical factors (CFs) influencing project performance and analyze their relative importance across multidimensional criteria throughout the project life cycle. Based on a literature review, 179 individual factors were categorized into nine performance criteria. A questionnaire survey was conducted with client representatives, consultants, and contractors in Thailand. The statistical analysis of 93 subjects showed that the significance levels of the performance criteria and CFs changed depending on the considered phase in the project’s life cycle. The analysis identified the three criteria (client satisfaction, quality, time) that were most frequently used to measure the success of a project. Furthermore, the findings revealed the top 10 CFs for each performance category throughout the life cycle. Notably, these findings provide compelling evidence of the following most important CFs across the performance measures: competence of project participants, adequate experience of project participants, the availability of competent staff, positive personal attitudes among project participants, participation in environmental initiatives by management, competent supervisors, effective project planning and control, the need for collaboration, and the professionalism of the project team’s services. This research provides insights into the factors that influence project success and have managerial implications for project stakeholders, facilitating informed decision making throughout the life cycle. Through establishing novel perspectives, this study enhances the knowledge base in the construction management domain. Full article

Contractors play a crucial role in ensuring efficient innovation within construction projects but limited research has focused on the innovation capability of contractors. This study utilizes a multi-method approach, including case studies, surveys, and interviews to collect data for analysis. Based on this, a conceptual model is proposed and a simulation mode which utilizes agent-based modeling (ABM) is constructed. ABM is the microscopic bottom-up approach which can describe and follow the agents and interactions. This study proposes a novel conceptual model to examine the emergence of contractor innovation capability at the project level, from a knowledge flow perspective. It fills the research gap regarding innovation capability in temporary cross-organizational projects. Additionally, an ABM simulation model is developed considering project and participant characteristics, providing insights into the formation rule and development mechanisms of contractors’ innovation capability at the project level. The conclusions are as follows: (1) The demand for innovation drives the innovative behavior of different entities within the project. (2) Knowledge availability in public domains and other entities’ knowledge creation capability provide critical support for contractor innovation. (3) Contractors’ capability to absorb and integrate knowledge serves as the foundation for achieving innovation. (4) When contractors possess strong capabilities, effective synergy among organizations facilitates the generation of innovative outcomes. Full article

The outbreak of COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the Saudi construction industry as well as the country’s economy. The pandemic jeopardized the positive perspectives and growth in megaproject numbers, as it has amplified the constraints that prevent the construction sector from realizing growth. This research work is intended to evaluate the status of the Saudi construction industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to achieve this objective, a three-phased methodology was developed. In the first part of the research, semi-structured interviews with forty industry experts were conducted. The gathered data from both, the literature review and interviews were synthesized. This process resulted in four domains to be explored: project performance measurement, workforce, supply chain, and financial management. The outcomes from phase one were then utilized to develop a questionnaire survey that was communicated to construction firms all over Saudi Arabia, for which 124 responses were received. Data analysis was carried out, and the obtained results were clarified and triangulated through a focus group discussion in the third phase of the research. The outcomes from the mixed-methods research methodology were aggregated to enrich and interpret findings and draw conclusions and recommendations. The findings indicate that the pandemic has had a total of ten core impacts. The highly impacted areas in the industry were the technical performance of projects, reduction in productivity, risk management practices, downsizing the scope of ongoing projects, reduction in new projects or contracts, material shortage, recruitment of manpower in the construction firms and affiliated projects, and the financial performance of the organization. In the meantime, it was found that the government implemented mitigation measures from which the sector benefited, where 27% of contractors obtained Saned system assistance, 51% received cash compensation and 22% received tax postponement. The scope of this study is limited to exploring the status of the Saudi construction industry (SCI) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study findings are of added value and represent a significant contribution to the body of knowledge in the field. However, further research on the exit strategies bringing the industry to the new normal, including the use of cutting-edge technologies in the age of multi-faceted disruption would be of great importance. Full article

As big-science infrastructures (BSIs) become the new infrastructure to support the construction of strong science and technology in China, how to choose an operation mode that is more conducive to achieving the construction goals of BSIs has become a current focus issue. The existing literature focuses more on the governance relationship between BSIs and universities or research institutes, while the important role of government has not yet been thoroughly analyzed. This study argues that government plays a fundamental role in the selection of operation modes for BSIs. Therefore, this study builds an evolutionary game model between the government and the contractor based on the perspective of asset specificity by analyzing the practical basis for the strategic choices of the government and the contractor for the operation of BSIs. The model is numerically simulated and analyzed. The research results indicate that the government’s decisions on operation strategies, outsourcing strategies, and the combination of the two significantly affect the strategic choices of the contractor, thereby affecting whether the government can obtain the value of asset specificity of BSIs. The government’s choice of the “independent operation” strategy or the combination “dependent operation + controlled outsourcing” strategy is more conducive to encouraging the contractor to choose the “cooperation” strategy for producing specific value for BSIs. The main contribution of this study is to clarify that the allocation of the government control right is the key factor in obtaining the value of asset specificity of BSIs. Full article