Search Results (8)

The diffusion of intelligent construction technologies has improved construction efficiency and information integration, while also increasing the complexity and uncertainty of governance decisions in megaprojects. In particular, selecting an appropriate Engineering Transaction Mode (ETM) under intelligent construction involves multiple conflicting criteria, expert judgments, and loss-averse risk preferences, which are not fully captured by conventional multi-criteria decision-making methods. This study proposes a decision-making model that combines Pythagorean fuzzy sets (PFSs) and prospect theory to support ETM selection for megaprojects under intelligent construction. The model constructs an ETM evaluation system grounded in a systematic literature review and questionnaire evidence, encodes expert judgments using PFSs, determines expert and criterion weights via information-utility and fuzzy-entropy measures, and aggregates perceived gains and losses relative to positive and negative ideal solutions through prospect theory. A mega-pumping station project with four ETM alternatives is used for validation. Results indicate that “Self-management + Network-based integrated application + Consultant assistance” achieves the highest prospect value and is consistently ranked first; the same ordering is obtained using TOPSIS and a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method, demonstrating robustness. The study contributes to theory by coupling hybrid fuzzy representation with loss-aversion-based behavioral aggregation for ETM governance under intelligent construction and provides practitioners with a transparent, replicable decision tool to support ETM selection in complex, uncertainty-laden megaprojects. Full article

Appropriate subcontracting strategy optimizes large-scale engineering project organization, enhancing implementation efficiency. However, numerous subcontractors increase the transaction costs of project subcontracting management. This study classifies subcontracting costs into coordination, monitoring, and negotiation costs based on transaction cost economics (TCE), and divides contractor management control into behavior and outcome control. This study aims to examine the causal mechanisms between subcontractor dispersion and the three types of transaction costs, plus the moderating effects of behavior and outcome control. Data is collected through a survey questionnaire and is analyzed by Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis. Results show that the extent to which work is distributed among multiple subcontractors is positively related to transaction costs. Behavior control exercised by general contractors significantly suppresses the increase in transaction costs (especially the monitoring costs) resulting from subcontractor dispersion. However, outcome control does not exhibit a significant moderating effect on the relationship between subcontractor dispersion and transaction costs. The findings contribute to the theory of TCE and fill the gap in the research on the effective application of different management control modes. The findings help project managers choose an appropriate mode of management control to effectively manage subcontracting. Full article

To enhance the utilization efficiency of existing construction land and promote integrated urban–rural development, China’s government has implemented the “Linkage” Policy, which has commodified land development rights and reallocated urban–rural development potential. In recent years, a growing number of studies have examined the diversified governance structures of “Linkage” projects, which has deepened our understanding of China’s project-based rural land governance. However, most studies have focused primarily on governance performance while neglecting the comparative advantages of different governance structures in improving process efficiency, particularly within the same local institutional environment. To fill this gap, this study first conceptualizes the transactions and sub-transactions in the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) and then systematically assesses the associated organizational risks. Drawing on Transaction Cost Theory, this paper analyzes how governance diversity mitigates risks and optimizes efficiency. Empirically, this research employs a comparative case study approach, examining three representative governance modes using data triangulation to ensure robust findings. Finally, the theoretical and empirical analyses yield three key findings regarding China’s TDR system: First, given the inherent complexity and substantial financial investment required, the efficient implementation of China’s rural land development projects necessitates leveraging complementary stakeholder strengths. Second, transaction risks constitute the primary source of transaction costs and the central concern of all governance structures. Third, beyond governance structure selection, local institutional innovations and collective action mechanisms significantly enhance governance efficiency. Full article

The engineering general contracting mode is an advanced engineering transaction mode, and design optimization is one of the important driving forces for vigorously promoting the general contracting mode. The application proportion of the general contracting mode in infrastructure projects is not high, the number of successful projects is not large, and the implementation effect is not ideal. One of the main reasons is that the design optimization theory and practice of international standard general contracting projects cannot adapt to the general contracting projects in the Chinese context, making local general contracting projects face huge challenges such as low enthusiasm for design optimization from all parties and unsatisfactory design optimization effects. Therefore, under the premise of bounded rationality, when the owner adopts control methods of different intensities, an evolutionary game study on the selection of design optimization strategies between the design and construction parties is carried out, and stability control strategies are proposed through case experiments and simulations. The research results indicate the following: firstly, the design optimization of general contracting projects in the Chinese context is feasible, but it depends on the distribution ratio of benefits obtained from the design optimization. Compared with general civil construction general contracting projects, the design optimization allocation ratio of industrial construction general contracting projects is more significant; secondly, the mixed control method of strong control and weak control is the optimal choice for the owner of the general contracting project; and thirdly, there are multiple evolutionary stable points, and mechanism design or incentive measures should be used to guide owners to choose weak control strategies, while design and construction parties should choose their design optimization strategies. The research results provide a reference for owners to determine the proportion and scheme of design optimization allocation, and for construction parties to determine design optimization strategies. Full article

The emerging blockchain technology has injected new vitality into the energy market, especially the peer-to-peer power trading of microgrid systems. However, with the increase of energy blockchain projects, the difficulty of data communication and value islands between blockchain networks have become open issues. Thus, in this paper, we propose a dynamic adaptive cross-chain trading mode for multi-microgrid joint operation. The novelty is to design a proof of credit threshold consensus mechanism to achieve effective information verification. This consensus mechanism can ensure the adaptive consistency of cross-chain information without changing the existing blockchain architecture of each system. At the same time, we design a corresponding key management interoperability protocol based on RSA algorithm and Chinese remainder theorem, which can realize data transfer and information consensus for cross-chain transactions. The theoretical analysis verifies that the cross-chain communication information is effective and the system is able to protect against the attack of malicious nodes. Finally, a cross-chain simulation experiment is established to analyze the operation efficiency. The result shows that this cross-chain trading takes place within seconds, which basically meets the response requirements for multi-microgrid joint operation. Full article

The project delivery mode is an extremely important link in the life cycle of water engineering. Many cases show that increases in the costs, construction period, and claims in the course of the implementation of water engineering are related to the decision of the project delivery mode in the early stages. Therefore, it is particularly important to choose a delivery mode that matches the water engineering. On the basis of identifying the key factors that affect the decision on the project delivery system and establishing a set of index systems, a comprehensive decision of engineering transaction is essentially considered to be a fuzzy multi-attribute group decision. In this study, intuitionistic fuzzy entropy was used to determine the weight of the influencing factors on the engineering transaction mode; then, intuitionistic fuzzy entropy was used to determine the weight of decision experts. Thus, a comprehensive scheme-ranking model based on an intuitionistic fuzzy hybrid average (IFHA) operator and intuitionistic fuzzy weighted average (IFWA) operator was established. Finally, a practical case analysis of a hydropower station further demonstrated the feasibility, objectivity, and scientific nature of the decision model. Full article

Aiming at the design of a project transaction mode, the case-based reasoning (CBR) method is used as a methodology to build a case-based reasoning system based on project performance predictions. Thirty-four cases are initially selected for the practical application. Based on the classical CBR, the performance forecast is added, an improved continuous variable interpolation scoring method is proposed, and three types of manual revision methods are proposed: owner’s preference for the project transaction mode, extreme value, and secondary learning. The innovative method is verified with Nanjing HF Project as an example, and the results show that the case-based reasoning system can optimize the selection and design of the project transaction mode, providing a certain guarantee for project performance and facilitating the transfer of construction experience and knowledge within the construction industry. Full article

In recent years, rural-urban integrated development has become a vital national strategy in China. In this context, many regions have implemented rural renewal projects to enhance the vitality and development of rural areas. The objective of this study is to reveal the reasons why different rural renewal modes have emerged in contemporary China and assess their ability to facilitate rural-urban integration. An analytical framework, the Institution of Sustainability (IoS) and a comparative analysis of two cases are used for the rural renewal evaluation. Our findings indicate that the properties of transactions and the characteristics of the actors involved jointly determine the governance structures of rural renewal. Furthermore, different governance structures contribute to performance differences, particularly differences in the physical outcomes, distribution effects and process efficiency. Finally, we suggest relevant policy recommendations. Full article