Search

Financing rail infrastructure development in developing countries has hitherto received scant academic attention, especially in empirical developments. This research study assesses the poli...

This research reports upon the scale of building information modeling (BIM) implementation maturity, from nonadoption to full-scale deployment, within small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) operating within the Australian construction industry. The research utilizes a competitive dynamics perspective (CDP) as the theoretical lens and analyses data collected from 135 SMEs using Bayesian belief networks (BBNs) to provide a richer insight into levels of BIM implementation maturity. Findings reveal that there is no meaningful association between BIM implementation maturity within SMEs and their organizational attributes, such as size and level of experience. A paucity of solid evidence to support a reasonable return on investment (ROI) was also identified as a key barrier to using BIM in higher levels of maturity. In practical terms, the study focuses on pertinent issues associated with mandated BIM in Australia from SMEs’ perspectives, pointing out potential consequences and challenging the pressure for mandating. The research concludes by outlining industrial implications and providing pragmatic recommendations designed to accelerate the pace that Australian SMEs move across a BIM trajectory from nonadoption to higher levels of maturity.

This paper assesses the impact of power infrastructure investments in the developing economy of Ghana following sector restructure and reform and develops a forecasting model for predicting the future trend in electricity generation and electricity tariffs. Secondary data sourced via the World Bank Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF)/Private Participation in Infrastructure (PPI) Project Database for the period 1994 to 2013 and Energy Commission for the period 2000 to 2014 were used to analyze Ghana’s power generation statistics using descriptive, exploratory data analysis and polynomial prediction models. Results reveal that reform has stimulated independent power producer (IPP) investment, particularly in thermal generation capacities to complement hydro alternatives. It is predicted that in the medium term the electricity tariff will continue to rise while electricity generation will decline if additional investments in power infrastructure are not made. This paper provides a case study that critically appraises Ghana’s power sector reform; exposes the gap between policy implementation and policy objectives attainment; and proposes a simple yet novel polynomial prediction model that can facilitate short-to-medium term planning of generation and tariff management.

The build–own–operate–transfer (BOOT) scheme is widely used for the provision of new bulk water supply. However, this scheme is complex and carries significant financial risks because of th...

Cost overruns are a recurrent problem in hydrocarbon (oil and gas) megaprojects. An understanding of why and how they occur is needed if they are to be mitigated; such knowledge can provide managers with the foundations to develop techniques to reduce and contain their negative impacts on a project’s performance. This paper examines the nature of cost overruns in hydrocarbon megaprojects using the theoretical lens of chaos theory. The underlying principles of chaos theory are reviewed and its research implications for examining cost overruns identified. By viewing megaprojects as chaotic or dynamic systems, the industry and research community may be better positioned to develop innovative solutions to mitigate cost overrun occurrence.

Infrastructure deficit is inextricably linked to funding availability, especially in developing countries. Innovative financing (IF) can be beneficial in helping combat such deficit. Strategic issues underpinning IF of Ghanaian infrastructure projects are identified and analyzed. The study’s empirical aspect employs structured interviews and a questionnaire survey to accrue data from project implementation agencies relating to infrastructure IF. Factor analysis establishes those variables from among the large number studied that measure similar underlying dimensions. Three strategic IF issues are identified and explained: (1) appropriateness of the financing method, (2) pricing and management of the financing method, and (3) sustainability of the financing method. Infrastructure development stakeholders in developing countries may benefit from the findings through greater appreciation of IF sources and techniques. Suggested future research includes detailed exploration of IF barriers and comparati...

Workforce planning (WP) for infrastructure projects provides a readily available pool of skilled labor that can deliver a nation’s societal needs. However, achieving a robust and reliable workforce prediction is a constant challenge, as a variety of variables and factors must be considered. Despite various forecasting techniques and approaches being developed, government’s worldwide continue to produce inaccurate forecasts and consequently fail to maintain the balanced workforce required to deliver infrastructure projects. To address this problem, a system dynamics (SD) model for the construction and civil engineering industry is developed, as traditional WP modeling approaches are static and unable to accommodate the changing complex dynamics that influence workforce supply and demand. The SD model is tested and used to formulate training policies that ensure workforce equilibrium and in turn, nurture sustainable infrastructure development.

Rework is a chronic problem in construction and engineering projects. A wide variety of studies examining the nature of rework have been undertaken since the seminal research of Burati in the early 1990s, which examined quality deviations. Initial studies focused on identifying the causal factors and costs of rework to quantify the severity of the problem. From these studies, it was recognized that rework causes were interdependent; so techniques such as cognitive mapping (CM) and system dynamics (SD) were subsequently introduced to model the complexity and dynamic of this phenomena. Although such results provided the essential building blocks to better understand and provide the much-needed stimulus for theory development, rework remains a pervasive issue. A number of factors have contributed to the causal ambiguity that presently prevails, which includes the epistemological underpinning used to construct the nature of causes and the subsequent use of tools and techniques that are used for analys...

Selecting an appropriate procurement method to deliver supply chain efficiencies can reduce the costs of public sector projects by an average of 5%. Despite the considerable practical experience of Australian governments in the public sector, little agreement exists about how to effectively select an approach to deliver social infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals, museums, and prisons). Determining the optimal procurement approach for social infrastructure is a challenging task considering the array of procurement methods available and the criteria that must be assessed. Methods for procurement selection that have been developed are prescriptive and unable to deal with the complex and changing needs of public sector clients. As a result, a robust procurement selection process is developed and examined using a participatory action research. Focus groups, comprised of key stakeholders involved with delivering an educational project, examined the approach’s applicability and use in determining a suitable...

Little systematic knowledge is available on the dynamics of rework in complex hydrocarbon (oil and gas) projects, despite the fact that they frequently exceed budget and schedule projections by more than 10%. To better understand pertinent issues associated with rework, twenty three in-depth interviews were undertaken with personnel from a major international oil and gas operator. The interviews sought to elicit deep individualistic knowledge about the dynamics of design changes, errors, and omissions that contributed to rework in four off-shore projects that they were involved with. Akin to previous research, the factors of poorly defined scope, unrealistic schedules, design changes, and coordination problems were identified as contributors to rework. A significant difference from previous studies, however, was that rework was expected and considered a norm. The issue at hand therefore related to ‘when and where’ rework would materialize, because it was considered that the implementation of front end loa...

Mini-excavators (m-excs) are commonly used in construction and allied industries to maximize productivity and reduce costs, but they present considerable health and safety hazards, the greatest of which is arguably their tendency to overturn. Assessment of m-exc stability is not prescribed in recognized standards and is primarily achieved using a “tilt-test.” The tilt-test has considerable limitations and its application in practice varies, indicating that procurers have incomplete information on selecting the most stable (i.e., safest) machine. The purpose of this study was to compare three types of m-exc stability tests (i.e., tilt, operational, slewing) and contrast these to determine the most reliable testing regime. From these results, an innovative mini-excavator procurement model is proffered that incorporates the assessment of machine stability and practical selection criteria. The effect of the study to date (and for the future) on encouraging original equipment manufacturers to engender innovati...

A risk/reward model is described as that which aligns project participants' behaviors toward the achievement of a project's performance objectives through the use of incentives. A risk/reward model typically includes the following mechanisms: risk/reward shared percentages among nonowner participants, project cost risk/reward, noncost risk/reward, risk cap, and achievability of performance targets. This paper examines the influence of a risk/reward model on the behavior of project participants. Twenty-nine industry practitioners from eight civil infrastructure project alliances were interviewed. The interviews revealed that individual features of a risk/reward model identified had merits, but the achievability of performance targets model appeared to be the most appropriate for promoting positive behaviors within the project team. Additionally, it was found that all incentive aspects of the model examined led to positive and constructive behaviors occurring due to their perceived fairness and equity of payment structure. Participants indicated that having a commercial interest in an alliance's performance outcomes ensured collaboration and engagement throughout the project's life cycle. It is concluded that risk/reward sharing is pivotal to obtaining a successful project outcome for the procurement of civil engineering infrastructure projects when using an alliance.

Construction and engineering practitioners have found it increasingly difficult to learn from their mistakes, particularly with regard to the prevention, identification and/or containment of design errors. Yet, design errors have been the root cause of numerous catastrophic accidents that have resulted in the death and injury of workers and members of the public. This paper examines and classifies the nature of error and design error causation in construction and engineering projects. A review of the normative literature revealed that design errors are caused by an array of factors that can work interdependently. A generic framework is developed that classifies design error according to people, the organization, and project is presented. The paper suggests that people, over and above organizational and project management strategies, have the greatest propensity to reduce errors through the process of situated learning and knowing. This is because the working environment provided by an organization and the processes used to deliver construction and engineering projects influence the nature and ability of people to undertake tasks. Consequently, there is no single but rather a multitude of strategies that need to be adopted in congruence to reduce design errors so that safety and project performance are ameliorated.

Construction professionals are subjected to a plethora of occupational demands that can have a negative effect on their psychological wellbeing. Such demands can have an adverse influence on individual and organizational performance. To investigate the nature of self and social supports and mental health among construction professionals, an exploratory study was undertaken using the Stress and Mental Health Survey. The survey was distributed to construction professionals throughout Australia and 449 responses were received. Analysis revealed that those working for a contracting organization on-site reported higher levels of poor mental health and greater work stress than consultants. Those working on-site also experienced greater levels of self-stress, whereas consultants reported higher levels of self and work support. Work support was a significant predictor of poor mental health for consultants. Good health, however, was predicted by self, situational, and work support, whereas those working for a contractor only self-support predicated good mental health. It is concluded that while supports are essential in the fostering of good mental health, the absence of these supports can have a significant impact on poor mental health.

Within Australia, civil engineering works continue to meet the insatiable demand for new infrastructure despite project complexity and cost and schedule overruns. A significant factor that can contribute to such overruns is rework; yet to date research into the root causes and consequential costs of rework in civil infrastructure projects has been limited. Using a questionnaire survey, rework costs and probable causes were obtained from 115 civil infrastructure projects. Stepwise multiple regression was then used to determine the significant variables that contributed to rework. The regression model revealed that the following five significant predictors accounted for 25% of the variance in total rework cost: (1) ineffective use of information technologies; (2) excessive client involvement in the project; (3) lack of clearly defined working procedures; (4) changes made at the request of the client; and (5) insufficient changes initiated by the contractor to improve quality. The findings also revealed that...

Rework has been identified as a major contributor to cost and schedule overrun in construction projects. Previous studies that have examined rework are based on a limited data sets and thus eschew generalizations being made about the key determinants. Using data from 260 completed building (n=147) and civil engineering (n=113) projects, path analysis is used to develop a structural model of the most significant causes of rework. The model revealed that the paths of client-directed changes, site management and subcontractors, and project communication were statistically significant contributors to rework costs. The analysis confirmed that the lack of attention to quality management resulted in higher rework costs being incurred in the projects sampled. The analysis also revealed that there were no significant differences between building and civil engineering projects in terms of the direct and indirect cost of rework experienced, and the effectiveness of the project management practices implemented. Considering the findings, it is suggested that generic strategies for reducing the incidence rework in construction and civil engineering projects can be developed.

Accurately modeling and forecasting construction works completed by main contractors is pivotal for policymakers, who require reliable market intelligence to adjust or develop optimal labor and housing policies. Yet, despite its importance, limited research has been conducted to systematically develop approaches to investigating future trends of works completed in the private construction sector. Against this backdrop, this paper provides a study of the annual financial value of construction work in the private residential market. A vector auto-regression (VAR) model developed utilizes economic indicators (used by private financiers when making investment decisions) to estimate the value of annual construction work carried out by main contractors. Using data from the Hong Kong private residential market and constructing an accumulated impulse function, the developed model suggests that construction work completions in private residential markets can be explained by changes in economic indicators s...

Project time-cost relationships were examined by using project scope factors as predictors for 161 construction projects that were completed in various Australian States using the multiple regression technique of weighted least squares. The analysis was per- formed between project duration (i.e., time), project type, procurement method, tender type, gross floor area (GFA), and number of stories. An alternative model to that proposed by Bromilow more than three decades ago for forecasting time and cost performance is proposed. It is shown that GFA and the number of stories in a building are key determinants of time performance in projects. Furthermore, the results indicate that cost is a poor predictor of time performance. Limitations and practical implications of the research are also presented. projects that were completed in Australia. From the analysis pre- sented, we propose an approach to predicting the time and cost performance of building construction projects. While the research was conducted in an Australian context, it is envisaged that the research outcome could be applicable in other locations. In the next section of this paper, we present a contextual backdrop to previous time-cost studies that have been undertaken in Australia.

Limited research has been undertaken to explore how Chinese construction workers’ personality affects their safety behavior. Inappropriate behavior on-site can instigate serious accidents, injuries, or fatality as well as incur significant costs and loss of corporate reputation. To address this dearth within the extant literature, this paper uses Eysenck Personality Questionnaire to examine the complex relationship between the personality of Chinese construction workers (especially, bar benders) and occupational accidents. A significant relationship between personality, unsafe behaviors, and the extent of injury was identified. Using the results generated, a series of practical recommendations are proffered to reinforce behavioral safety training (and reduce accidents on-site), including suggestions for conducting training programs that can be tailored to construction workers with different personality traits.

Wheel detachment from plant trailers used on public highways represents a significant health and safety hazard and major financial risk, especially for construction and utility companies that rely on these type of trailers to transport machinery such as miniexcavators or road rollers. This study uncovers the antecedents of plant trailer wheel detachment and suggests pragmatic guidance for mitigating this risk. A case study using elements of action research studies the problem in the field through direct observation and stakeholder interviews. Analysis of resulting qualitative data conceptualizes antecedents on which guidance is formulated. Risks are found to result from a combination of physical failure underpinned by inadequate human interventions and poor risk management. The primary contributions of the study are that it describes entirely novel research on trailer wheel detachment, produces new safety guidance for businesses and practitioners that operate plant trailers, and resultantly contributes to lowering the risks identified.