Search Results (132)

To enhance the ability to identify and analyze the construction safety risks of prefabricated building projects, this paper explores the risk factors affecting the construction safety of prefabricated buildings from the perspective of the construction stage. Based on the WSR theory, this paper identifies risk-influencing factors from five dimensions: personnel, materials, management, technology, and environment, and constructs a safety risk assessment index system. This paper establishes a risk assessment model based on the G1-CRITIC method and cloud model. Firstly, it quantitatively analyzes the weights of the risk indicators for prefabricated building construction, and then evaluates the specific degree of impact of each indicator on the construction risk of this type of project. The research results show that the project is at the low-risk level, but there are still some potential risks in terms of material and technical factors, which require close attention and targeted management. The evaluation results obtained by applying this model are consistent with the current actual situation of prefabricated building construction, further demonstrating the applicability of this model. The risk assessment model proposed in this paper, by focusing on a specific type of risk, comprehensively incorporates the fuzziness and randomness of risk factors, thereby more effectively capturing the dynamic characteristics of risk evolution. This model can effectively evaluate the level of safety risk management and plays a positive role in reducing the incidence of engineering accidents. Furthermore, it also provides practical experience that can be drawn upon by risk managers of similar projects which holds significant theoretical value and practical guiding significance. Full article

This study provides a bibliometric analysis of life cycle assessments (LCAs) to explore the sustainability potential of mass timber buildings, focusing on glulam. The analysis highlights regional differences in carbon footprint performance within the ISO 14040 and EN 15978 frameworks. LCA results from representative countries across six continents show that wood buildings, compared to traditional materials, have a reduced carbon footprint. The geographical distribution of forest resources significantly influences the carbon footprint of glulam production. Europe and North America demonstrate optimal performance metrics (e.g., carbon sequestration), attributable to advanced technology and investment in long-term sustainable forest management. Our review research shows the lowest glulam carbon footprints (28–70% lower than traditional materials) due to clean energy and sustainable practices. In contrast, Asia and Africa exhibit systemic deficits, driven by resource scarcity, climatic stressors, and land-use pressures. South America and Oceania display transitional dynamics, with heterogeneous outcomes influenced by localized deforestation trends and conservation efficacy. Glulam buildings outperformed concrete and steel across 11–18 environmental categories, with carbon storage offsetting 30–47% of emissions and energy mixes cutting operational impacts by up to 67%. Circular strategies like recycling and prefabrication reduced end-of-life emissions by 12–29% and cut construction time and costs. Social benefits included job creation (e.g., 1 million in the EU) and improved well-being in wooden interiors. To further reduce carbon footprint disparities, this study emphasizes sustainable forest management, longer building lifespans, optimized energy mixes, shorter transport distances, advanced production technologies, and improved recycling systems. Additionally, the circular economy and social benefits of glulam buildings, such as reduced construction costs, value recovery, and job creation, are highlighted. In the future, prioritizing equitable partnerships and enhancing international exchanges of technical expertise will facilitate the adoption of sustainable practices in glulam buildings and advance decarbonization goals in the global building sector. Full article

As key nodes in the energy transmission network, oil and gas pipeline stations are crucial in ensuring national energy security and stable economic development. The traditional construction mode of “on-site prefabrication and installation” has problems, such as low efficiency, high cost, and large quality fluctuations, which make it difficult to meet current construction needs. Factory prefabrication technology for pipelines has become a key path to solving industry pain points. This article focuses on the factory prefabrication technology of oil and gas station pipelines. By integrating key technologies, such as 3D modeling, automated welding, modular transportation, and intelligent detection, the visualization and digitization of station pipeline design are achieved, providing a basis for prefabrication and processing. They also improve welding quality and efficiency through automated welding technology and non-destructive testing technology. Through research on the planning and construction of prefabrication factories, construction organization and quality management, supply chain management, and information technology applications, real-time monitoring and information management of the construction process have been achieved. Case analysis shows that factory prefabrication can achieve a prefabrication rate of 70% for DN50–DN600 pipelines in the station, 80% for automated welding seams, a total construction period reduction of about 30%, a one-time welding qualification rate of over 96%, and a significant cost reduction, reflecting the significant advantages of factory prefabrication in terms of construction period, quality, and cost. Further research has clarified that factory prefabrication technology can effectively improve the efficiency, quality, and economic benefits of pipeline construction in oil and gas stations, promote the transformation of construction towards a high-efficiency, low-carbon, and sustainable direction, and provide support for the strategic goal of “One National Network”. Full article

Modular construction has the potential to transform the construction industry, as most (80–95%) of the modules, which are considered prefabricated buildings, are manufactured off-site, which is more efficient, safe, cost-effective, sustainable, productive, and faster than traditional construction. It is not without challenges, however, as it requires detailed and comprehensive planning, high initial costs, and navigating transportation and design constraints. The goal of this study was to identify and categorize the benefits and challenges of modular construction and offer strategies for resolving the challenges. This study also provides a comprehensive review of modular construction methods, including permanent modular construction (PMC), movable modular construction (RMC), volumetric modular construction (VMC), and panelized construction, and examines the connectivity of the modules, as well as the integration of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). The results revealed that the most frequently cited benefits of modular construction were reducing construction time by up to 50%, 20% cost savings, and material waste reduction of up to 83%. The most common challenges included transportation complexity, limited design flexibility, and high initial costs. The results of this study will assist project managers, construction professionals, and company owners in evaluating modular construction by providing quantified benefits and challenges, a comparative analysis of different modular methods, and insights into effective mitigation strategies, allowing them to assess its suitability based on project timelines, budgets, design requirements, and logistical constraints. Full article

In the face of evolving digital technologies, all industries have undergone radical changes. Similarly, the construction industry needs to apply digital technology to improve the existing Supply Chain (SC), which has problems such as the inefficient collaboration among various links, the poor ability to cope with risks, the higher costs, the waste of resources and pollution, etc., and to adapt to the development of the digital era. Prefabricated Construction (PC), with their advantages of having a high efficiency and being energy-saving, can help improve the above problems and promote the sustainable development of the construction industry. Therefore, this review uses a combination of scientific bibliometrics and a qualitative analysis to search a total of 129 works of literature on the application of digital technologies in Prefabricated Construction Supply Chain Management (PCSCM) for the period of 2015–2024 included in the Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases. After visualization and analysis in Citespace v6.3.1.0 and VOSviewer v1.6.20.0, it was found that most of the literature focuses on the economic benefits of cost reduction and efficiency, while there are fewer studies on the topic of sustainable development. Therefore, this study summarizes the current status of the application of digital technologies in PCSCM, addressing the lack of attention to environmental benefits in the existing studies and the limitations of the current research. Creatively, it proposes recommendations that will help PCSCM achieve sustainable development in the future, and points out that the construction industry must break through the limitation of focusing only on its own economic interests to realize the vision of a harmonious coexistence between human beings and nature. Full article

Incentive policies for prefabricated buildings (PBIP) can effectively promote the development of prefabricated buildings (PB) and improve the sustainability of the construction industry, attracting increasing attention from academia and industry. The government has issued many PBIPs (including land policy, plot ratio reward policy, fund policy, financial support policy, preferential tax policy, research and development support policy, and construction process management policy) but the implementation effect of PBIP remains to be clarified, especially regarding the research gap from a dynamic perspective. This study proposes an analytical framework of policy implementation effect based on the chain of “policy text content–policy impact path–policy implementation effect”, aiming to analyze the implementation stage and effect of PBIPs using the system theory analysis method. Combining the main factors affecting the PBIP impact system, a quantitative model containing 50 variables is established based on the system dynamics (SD) model. Finally, using Shenyang, one of China’s first PB pilot cities, as an example, the system simulation and sensitivity analysis of main parameters are carried out in Vensim software. The research results indicate that PBIP in Shenyang has not been fully utilized and targeted improvements and strengthened implementation of PBIP are needed. In the simulation of individual policies, the implementation effect of fund policy is the best, and the impact of research and development support policy on carbon reduction is the most significant. The promotional effect of the policy combination on PB development is more prominent. Using the policy combination reasonably is necessary to leverage the incentive effect fully. Simulation and sensitivity analysis results provide valuable insights for government departments to enhance the implementation effectiveness of the existing PBIP. This study responds to the global trend of promoting sustainable building development. It proposes a new framework for systematically analyzing the implementation effects of PBIPs, filling the research gap in policy evaluation from a dynamic perspective. Its methods and findings are not only applicable to the Chinese context but also provide valuable experience for other countries to develop and optimize PBIPs. Full article

Prefabricated construction is an effective method for reducing project time and waste and improving quality and safety compared to traditional construction. However, its widespread adoption faces risks and challenges, having detrimental impacts on project performance. This research aims to assess prefabricated construction risks in Iraq using fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE). After determining the mean importance score for the likelihood and impact of risks extracted from comprehensive theoretical reviews, significant risks were selected using normalization, followed by FSE. The theoretical review results yielded 79 risks across 11 categories. After normalization, 34 significant risks across 10 categories were identified. The results showed that all risk categories had a medium probability and impact, except for investment and political risks, while experience risks had a high probability and high impact, respectively. FSE results showed that the highest risk importance index was for experience (12.075), followed by political (11.753), capital investment (11.362), safety (11.242), and design risks (10.902). Through its detailed and integrated methodology, the study contributes to formulating an accurate roadmap for FSE of prefabricated construction risks and provides accurate results that add a deeper understanding of risks, helping project managers identify significant risks and formulate the necessary policies to mitigate and control them. Full article

Developing prefabricated buildings (PBs) and optimizing the construction supply chain represent effective strategies for reducing carbon emissions in the construction industry. Prefabricated building supply chain (PBSC) carbon reduction suffers from synergistic difficulties, limited rationality, and environmental complexity. Therefore, investigating carbon emission reduction in PBSC is essential. In this study, PBSC participants are divided into four categories according to the operation process. Gaussian white noise is introduced to simulate the random perturbation factors, and a four-way stochastic evolutionary game model is constructed and numerically simulated. The study found the following: Stochastic perturbation factors play a prominent role in the evolution speed of the agent; the emission reduction benefit and cost of the participant significantly affect the strategy selection; the operation status of the PBSC is the key to strategy selection, and it is important to pay attention to the synergy of the participants at the first and the last end of the PBSC; the influence of the external environment on strategies is mainly manifested in the loss caused and the assistance provided; and the information on emission reduction is an important factor influencing strategies. Finally, we provide suggestions for promoting carbon emission reduction by participants in the PBSC from the perspective of resisting stochastic perturbation, enhancing participants’ ability, and strengthening PBSC management; external punishment and establishing a cross-industry information sharing platform is more important than the reward. Full article

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has recently gained popularity in the public building industry, and BIM is widely implemented in the construction industry in many developed countries around the world. In this paper, in order to evaluate the application level of BIM technology in assembly buildings in China, five maturity levels of BIM application in assembly buildings are established based on the commonly used maturity model, including the initial level, the starting level, the management level, the integration level, and the continuous optimization level. In order to construct a maturity evaluation index system for BIM application in prefabricated buildings, the literature review method was chosen to identify the indexes initially, the indexes were optimized by combining the questionnaire survey method, and using the balanced scorecard model, the maturity evaluation index system for BlM application in prefabricated buildings consisting of one target level, five guidance levels, thirteen graded element levels and thirty-one secondary index levels were identified. Based on this framework, the study establishes a maturity assessment model for BIM application in prefabricated buildings through three methodological integrations. First, the hierarchical analysis method Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to assign weights to indexes within the evaluation system. Subsequently, the Entropy Weight Method (EWM) was utilized to systematically construct the index system. This quantitative foundation was then combined with fuzzy comprehensive evaluation principles to develop the integrated assessment model. The practical application of this model was demonstrated through a case study of a prefabricated building project in China. The assessment results revealed that the project’s BIM application maturity level falls within the transitional phase “between the management level and integrated level”, indicating progressive but not yet fully optimized implementation. The result verifies the validity of the assessment model and proposes corresponding optimization suggestions based on the assessment results. Full article

Understanding the complex interaction between sustainability drivers (SDs) and the sustainable development goals (SDGs) within construction practices is essential to accelerating the global construction industry’s transition towards sustainable development. The current study aims to establish a universal measurable indicator system that establishes relationships between SDs that are relevant to prefabricated construction (PFC) and specific SDGs. The developed indicators measure how effectively PFC aligns with and contributes to achieving the targeted SDGs. A case study in Sri Lanka is used to identify and validate the usefulness of key SDs in advancing PFC in developing economies. The research methodology comprised a literature search, a pilot study, a questionnaire survey targeting PFC stakeholders, statistical analysis, an SDG mapping process, and a case study-based demonstration. The statistical analysis highlighted a reduced overall project time, the efficient consumption of materials, and overall project cost savings as the most significant SDs. The factor analysis grouped these SDs into four categories, explaining 71.48% of the cumulative variance. A fuzzy evaluation confirmed the critical role of all driver categories in the effective diffusion of prefabrication. The developed indicator system establishes a structured connection between SDs, SDGs, impacts, stakeholders, and indicator types. The case study analysis highlighted the potential of precast construction and the use of modular design in disassembly approaches to improve sustainability outcomes, which would directly support SDG targets such as resource efficiency (SDG 8.4) and health and pollution management goals (SDG 3.9). The outcomes provide valuable insights for construction industry stakeholders in developing economies committed to improving construction efficiencies. The proposed indicator system also contributes to the global construction sector’s efforts toward achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Full article

Prefabricated building construction is a crucial approach to achieving “green” building goals, yet it differs significantly from traditional cast-in-place construction methods. Due to complex cross-operations, high mechanization requirements, insufficient worker experience, and inadequate safety measures, prefabricated construction faces greater safety management challenges than traditional methods. This study identifies 17 key indicators influencing unsafe behaviors among prefabricated building construction workers across four dimensions: physical environment, individual factors, team factors, and safety management. A combined weighting method, integrating the entropy weight method and the coefficient of variation method, was employed to determine the weight of each factor. Based on the weight analysis results, a system dynamics intervention model for unsafe behaviors of prefabricated building construction workers was developed and simulated using the Vensim platform. The results indicate that, among single intervention measures, improving individual comprehensive skills has the most significant effect, reducing unsafe behaviors by 37.78%, though this still falls short of the desired target. In contrast, combined interventions yield superior outcomes, with reductions of 68.87% for individual factor interventions, 59.93% for safety management interventions, 46.32% for team factor interventions, and 20.71% for physical environment interventions. These findings highlight the significant advantages of combined interventions. Based on the study results and the characteristics of prefabricated construction, this paper proposes specific intervention strategies, emphasizing the importance of training and institutional development to systematically enhance workers’ safety behaviors. Full article

The increasing global demand for metals, driven by technological progress and the energy transition, has led to an acceleration in the expansion of the mining and metallurgical industry, resulting in an increase in the generation of mine tailings. This waste, which is of heterogeneous composition and has high contaminant potential, represents significant environmental and social challenges, affecting soils, water, and the geotechnical stability of tailings. The accumulation of these mine tailings poses a problem not only in terms of quantity, but also in terms of physicochemical composition, which exacerbates their environmental impact due to the release of heavy metals, affecting ecosystems and nearby communities. This article reviews the potential of geopolymerization and 3D printing as a technological solution for the management of tailings, offering an effective alternative for their reuse as sustainable building materials. Alkaline activation of aluminosilicates facilitates the formation of N–A–S–H and C–A–S–H cementitious structures, thereby providing enhanced mechanical strength and chemical stability. Conversely, 3D printing optimizes structural design and minimizes material consumption, thereby aligning with the principles of a circular eco-economy and facilitating carbon footprint mitigation. The present study sets out to compare different types of tailings and their influence on geopolymer reactivity, workability, and mechanical performance. In order to achieve this, the study analyses factors such as the Si/Al ratio, rheology, and setting. In addition, the impact of alkaline activators, additives, and nanoparticles on the extrusion and interlaminar cohesion of 3D printed geopolymers is evaluated. These are key aspects of their industrial application. A bibliometric analysis was conducted, which revealed the growth of research in this field, highlighting advances in optimized formulations, encapsulation of hazardous waste, CO₂ capture, and self-healing geopolymers. The analysis also identified technical and regulatory challenges to scalability, emphasizing the necessity to standardize methodologies and assess the life cycle of materials. The findings indicated that 3D printing with tailings-derived geopolymers is a viable alternative for sustainable construction, with applications in pavements, prefabricated elements, and materials resistant to extreme environments. This technology not only reduces mining waste but also promotes the circular economy and decarbonization in the construction industry. Full article

Prefabricated buildings, characterized by factory production, on-site assembly, and efficient and refined management, enhance construction efficiency, reduce building time, and promote material reuse and recycling. The energy consumption (and carbon emissions) during the building operational stage are significantly influenced by the performance of the building envelope component system. To minimize carbon emissions throughout the building’s lifecycle, it is essential to focus on a comprehensive optimization design for carbon reduction in prefabricated envelope systems. This paper draws on grounded theory to construct a system of factors influencing carbon emissions throughout the lifecycle of prefabricated building envelopes. Using a questionnaire survey and leveraging Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), this study identifies key pathways and factors, influencing carbon emissions throughout the lifecycle of building envelope components. It provides insights into carbon emission mechanisms in these components and establishes a comprehensive design pathway for carbon control throughout the lifecycle of building envelope systems. Subsequently, the survey results were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to identify key factors influencing carbon emissions throughout the lifecycle and their interrelationships. These findings were integrated into the various stages of the whole-process design, yielding actionable recommendations for carbon control in the design process. Additionally, the case study method was employed to illustrate how carbon control design and optimization techniques can be applied at each stage of a specific project, providing a practical demonstration of the research outcomes. The study offers optimized methods for carbon control across the entire process, utilizing optimization strategies to reduce carbon emissions at each stage of the building’s lifecycle. Full article

In recent years, the disruption of the prefabricated building supply chain has led to increased construction period delays and cost overruns, limiting the development and popularization of prefabricated buildings in China. Therefore, this study established a vulnerability evaluation index system for the prefabricated building supply chain using the driving force–pressure–state–impact–response (DPSIR) framework. We employed the intuitionistic fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (IFAHP), the projection pursuit (PP) model, and variable weight theory to determine the indicator weights. The IFAHP was utilized to reduce the subjectivity in weight assignment and to obtain the degree of membership, non-membership, and hesitation of experts in evaluating the importance of indicators. The PP model was used to determine objective weights based on the structure of the evaluation data, and variable weight theory was applied to integrate subjective and objective weights according to management needs. We utilized Set Pair Analysis (SPA) to establish a vulnerability evaluation model for the building supply chain, treating evaluation data and evaluation levels as a set pair. By analyzing the degree of identity, difference, and opposition of the set pair, we assessed and predicted the vulnerability of the building supply chain. Taking the Taohua Shantytown project in Nanchang as a case study, the results showed that the primary index with the greatest influence on the vulnerability of the prefabricated building supply chain was the driving force, with a weight of 0.2692, followed by the secondary indices of market demand and policy support, with weights of 0.0753 and 0.0719, respectively. The project’s average vulnerability rating was moderate (Level III), and it showed an improvement trend. During the project’s implementation, the total cost overrun of the prefabricated building supply chain was controlled within 5% of the budget, the construction period delay did not exceed 7% of the plan, and the rate of production safety accidents was below the industry average. The results demonstrated that the vulnerability assessment method for the prefabricated building supply chain based on SPA comprehensively and objectively reflected the vulnerability of the supply chain. It is suggested to improve the transparency and flexibility of the supply chain, strengthen daily management within the supply chain, and enhance collaboration with supply chain partners to reduce vulnerability. Full article

Intelligent construction, as a crucial driving force for the transformation and upgrading of the construction industry, is currently reshaping the production processes and management models throughout the entire life cycle of buildings. Nevertheless, construction enterprises are confronted with issues, such as great difficulties in system integration, complexity in multi-field collaboration, mismatch of technological requirements, and disharmony between standards and management processes during the process of promoting intelligent construction, which have restricted its in-depth application. This paper adopts a combination of questionnaire surveys and text mining methods to accurately gain insights into the actual situation of the application of intelligent construction in Chinese corporations. Cite Space is utilized to conduct keyword co-occurrence and clustering analyses and to construct the correlation atlas of the intelligent construction system, which are used to conduct in-depth analyses of its development trends and internal correlations. The research results demonstrate that aspects, such as building information modeling (BIM), smart construction sites, intelligent equipment, and prefabricated construction, exhibit significant development trends in the field of intelligent construction. Moreover, the precise matching between technology and the business needs of enterprises is of vital importance for the efficient implementation of intelligent construction. This research provides clear technological and management paths for intelligent construction in Chinese corporations, aiming to promote the standardization process of intelligent construction for enterprises and the industry and to facilitate the digital transformation and upgrading of the construction industry. Full article