Identifying and managing risks involved in the transition to the EU nZEB decree

Facilities ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 339-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikko Kantola ◽  
Arto Saari
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Delivery Systems ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Project Delivery ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
Modern Project ◽  
Level Of Knowledge

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the risks and challenges related to the change in building construction projects to the European Union (EU) zero-energy building (nZEB) decree in the year 2020. Another goal was to create solutions to those risks and challenges. Design/methodology/approach A workshop method was chosen to gather up-to-date information from the construction cluster in Finland. Findings In the workshop, the main concern was the level of knowledge and know-how with all the parties working with construction projects. As an answer to this challenge, serious and substantial education in the organisations and competence requirements for designers and piloting as much as possible in the next few years was offered. Commissioning consultant was also seen as vital for nZEB project. Tight schedules and unfit project delivery systems were also seen as a risk for nZEB projects. However, modern project delivery systems were seen to be problematic in practice even if they were functional in theory. Originality/value The results of the workshop are valuable for all parties working with building construction projects in Finland and the whole EU area.

Project delivery systems for nZEB projects

Facilities ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 85-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikko Kantola ◽  
Arto Saari
Keyword(s):  
Inductive Reasoning ◽  
Delivery Systems ◽  
Project Delivery ◽  
Integrated Project Delivery ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
System A ◽  
Integrated Project ◽  
The Eu

Purpose – The paper aims to reveal the most functioning project delivery systems for nearly zero-energy building (nZEB) projects. The focus is set to reveal the qualities of the systems that support the nZEB goals and sustainability. Design/methodology/approach – Research method used in this paper is inductive reasoning. The reasoning is based on existing literature, and conclusions are drawn by combining pieces of that literature. Findings – The state-of-the-art heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and insulation requirements of nZEB technology and the lack of experience in the industry regarding nZEB projects suggest that modern collaboration-based project delivery systems should be favoured. The authors found that the most suitable project delivery system for a standard nZEB project is the integrated project delivery (IPD), which binds the financial goals of the main parties together via a reimbursement solution: target pricing. The authors also found the construction management (CM) at-risk system a suitable solution, especially if it is modified by adding the tools utilised in the IPD approach, thereby making it an IPD lite system. Originality/value – The paper has value for the entire construction industry in Finland and European Union (EU). The owners and construction companies can use the findings in their development efforts towards nZEB construction. The EU 2020 nZEB degree makes all the findings concerning practicalities of nZEB projects valuable due to the lack of time and the lack of experience in the industry.

Ensuring functionality of a nearly zero-energy building with procurement methods

Facilities ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 312-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikko Kantola ◽  
Arto Saari
Keyword(s):  
Research Program ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Project Delivery ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
House Building ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show the results of the task given by a major research program concerning low-energy building and indoor environment. The task was to develop contracting document model layouts to be used in zero-energy building (ZEB) and nearly zero-energy building (nZEB) construction projects. Design/methodology/approach – A workshop method was chosen for gathering information and developing the layouts. Findings – In the debate in the workshop three main topics arose: the selection of project delivery system, the use of performance controller for the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and making innovation possible by making the call for bids as loose as possible. Research limitations/implications – The use of performance controller could be investigated more, and more accurate information and knowledge about the best practices on nZEB construction can be captured as the industry moves in that direction and more projects will appear. Originality/value – The goals of the research program were met and also the main issues of nZEB construction contracting were documented, which can be utilized by the whole industry of house building.

Productivity monitoring in building construction projects: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesam Salah Alaloul ◽  
Khalid M. Alzubi ◽  
Ahmad B. Malkawi ◽  
Marsail Al Salaheen ◽  
Muhammad Ali Musarat
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Machine Learning Algorithms ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Productivity ◽  
Automated Monitoring ◽  
Monitoring Tools ◽  
Meta Analyses

PurposeThe unique nature of the construction sector makes it fall behind other sectors in terms of productivity. Monitoring construction productivity is crucial for the construction project's success. Current practices for construction productivity monitoring are time-consuming, manned and error prone. Although previous studies have been implemented toward reducing these limitations, a gap still exists in the automated monitoring of construction productivity.Design/methodology/approachThis study aims to investigate and assess the different techniques used for monitoring productivity in building construction projects. Therefore, a mixed review methodology (bibliometric analysis and systematic review) was adopted. All the related publications were collected from different databases, which were further screened to get the most relevant based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria.FindingsA detailed review was performed, and it was found that traditional methods, computer vision-based and photogrammetry are the most adopted data acquisition for productivity monitoring of building projects, respectively. Machine learning algorithms (ANN, SVM) and BIM were integrated with monitoring tools and technologies to enhance the automated monitoring performance in construction productivity. Also, it was observed that current studies did not cover all the complex construction job sites and they were applied based on a small sample of construction workers and machines separately.Originality/valueThis review paper contributes to the literature on construction management by providing insight into different productivity monitoring techniques.

Barriers to the adoption of value management in developing countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 818-834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Omoregie Aghimien ◽  
Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke ◽  
Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Value Management ◽  
Training And Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
Readiness To Adopt ◽  
Design Construction

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine the barriers to the adoption of value management (VM) in the construction industry of developing countries with a view to providing possible measures in avoiding these barriers and increasing the usage of the system within the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach The level of knowledge and adoption of VM practices, as well as the barriers to its adoption in the construction industry were assessed through a survey design. Construction professionals were sampled from the six geo-political zones in Nigeria through the use of a structured questionnaire. Factor analysis was conducted on data gathered on the barriers of VM. Findings The study revealed a moderate level of knowledge of VM among construction professionals. This implies that the problem of VM is not that of awareness, but readiness to adopt the system. The study also reveals that the barriers to the adoption of VM can be categorised under the general stakeholder’s barriers, training and education barriers, client barriers and government/top management barriers. Practical implications This study was conducted across the six geo-political zones of the country as against common practice of selecting a particular region or states to represent the entire country. The findings therefore show a true reflection of the barriers to VM adoption in the country and its recommendations can to a large extent promote the adoption of VM in the country and also other developing countries where construction projects are executed through similar method, style and approach. Originality/value This paper highlights the possible barriers to the adoption of VM in Nigeria construction industry and provides ways to avoiding these barriers in order to achieve better quality construction and value for money.

Incorporating aleatory and epistemic uncertainties in the modelling of construction duration

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 2199-2219
Author(s):  
Hassan Adaviriku Ahmadu ◽  
Ahmed Doko Ibrahim ◽  
Yahaya Makarfi Ibrahim ◽  
Kulomri Jipato Adogbo
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Bayesian Model Averaging ◽  
Predictive Accuracy ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Model Averaging ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Percentage Error ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Matlab Programming

PurposeThis study aims to develop a model which incorporates the impact of both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties into construction duration predictions, in a manner that is consistent with the nature/quality of information available about various factors which bring about uncertainties.Design/methodology/approachData relating to 178 completed Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) building construction projects were obtained from construction firms via questionnaire survey. Using 90% of the data, the model was developed in the form of a hybrid-based algorithm implemented through a suitable user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) using MATLAB programming language. Bayesian model averaging, Monte Carlo simulation and fuzzy logic were the statistical methods used for the algorithm development, prior to its GUI implementation in MATLAB. Using the remaining 10% data, the model's predictive accuracy was assessed via the independent samples t-test and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE).FindingsThe developed model's predictions were found not statistically different from those of actual duration estimates in the 10% test data, with a MAPE of just 2%. This suggests that the model's ability to incorporate both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties improves accuracy of duration predictions made using it.Research limitations/implicationsThe model was developed using a particular type of building projects (TETfund building construction projects), and so its use is limited to projects with characteristics similar to those used for its development.Practical implicationsThe developed model's predictions are expected to serve as a useful basis for consultancy firms and contractor organisations to make more realistic schedules and benchmark measures of construction period, thereby facilitating effective planning and successful execution of construction projects.Originality/valueThe study presented a model which permits combined manipulation of aleatory and epistemic uncertainties, hence ensuring a more realistic incorporation of uncertainty into construction duration predictions.

Optimising the safety of road transport workers on IBS building construction projects: a review

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 837-851
Author(s):  
Zul-Atfi Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Good Condition ◽  
Road Transport ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Quality Improvements ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Level ◽  
Transport Workers ◽  
Construction Specification

Purpose The purpose of this study is to develop a new information and communication technology (ICT)-based approach for optimising safety transportation according to the needs of the current industrialised building system (IBS) building construction schemes. The improper handling and information management of road transport workers appears to be a major problem in the safety of the IBS building construction industry. Transportation activity is particularly problematic for IBS building construction projects in which traffic incident and safety management level are not in good condition to match with construction specification. Design/methodology/approach A new ICT-based approach is suggested for optimising safety transportation in accordance with the needs of the current IBS building construction schemes. As a precursor to this work, the concept of road transport workers practices is reviewed and the main features of ICT tools and techniques currently being used on such projects are presented. Findings The sophisticated road transport workers system solutions is described as an essential component of this optimisation to promote long-term safety and quality improvements of IBS building construction projects. Originality/value Finally, the potential for a research framework for developing such a system in the future is presented.

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