Understanding the Effect of Bid Quantities, Project Characteristics, and Project Locations on the Duration of Road Transportation Construction Projects during Early Stages

2020 ◽  
pp. 036119812095314
Author(s):  
Guillermo Nevett ◽  
Paul M. Goodrum ◽  
Ray L. Littlejohn
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Road Transportation ◽  
Single Model ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Transportation Projects ◽  
Project Characteristics ◽  
Transportation Construction

Creating accurate estimates for the duration of road transportation projects is a challenging task that estimators and engineers have to face daily, and a lack of understanding of what drives such durations is a big contributor to this challenge. This paper expands on the efforts created by previous research efforts, not only by adding more variables to the model, but also by combining all project sizes and types into a single model. These additions increased the amount of explained variability, and the range of projects that can be studied with one model. This paper aims to determine which of the variables analyzed best predict project durations.

scholarly journals A Systematic Approach to Modelling Change Processes in Construction Projects

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Motawa
Keyword(s):  
Change Process ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Change Processes ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Effective Change ◽  
Project Characteristics ◽  
Change Identification ◽  
Available Information ◽  
The Relationship

Modelling change processes within construction projects isessential to implement changes efficiently. Incomplete informationon the project variables at the early stages of projects leads toinadequate knowledge of future states and imprecision arisingfrom ambiguity in project parameters. This lack of knowledge isconsidered among the main source of changes in construction.Change identification and evaluation, in addition to predictingits impacts on project parameters, can help in minimising thedisruptive effects of changes. This paper presents a systematicapproach to modelling change process within construction projectsthat helps improve change identification and evaluation. Theapproach represents the key decisions required to implementchanges. The requirements of an effective change processare presented first. The variables defined for efficient changeassessment and diagnosis are then presented. Assessmentof construction changes requires an analysis for the projectcharacteristics that lead to change and also analysis of therelationship between the change causes and effects. The paperconcludes that, at the early stages of a project, projects with a highlikelihood of change occurrence should have a control mechanismover the project characteristics that have high influence on theproject. It also concludes, for the relationship between changecauses and effects, the multiple causes of change should bemodelled in a way to enable evaluating the change effects moreaccurately. The proposed approach is the framework for tacklingsuch conclusions and can be used for evaluating change casesdepending on the available information at the early stages ofconstruction projects.

Implementation of project change management best practice in different project environments

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 439-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Zou ◽  
Sang-Hoon Lee
Keyword(s):  
Change Management ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Change Orders ◽  
Project Outcomes ◽  
Construction Industry Institute ◽  
Project Characteristics ◽  
Project Data ◽  
The Relationship

Change orders are ubiquitous in construction projects, and effective and efficient control of changes is critical to project success. There have been many empirical suggestions as to how to manage changes for best project outcomes, but this research is specifically aimed at exploring the relationship between project characteristics and the implementation of project change management best practices (PCMBP). Construction project data for this research are derived from the Construction Industry Institute (CII) benchmarking and metrics (BM&M) database. Binary logistic regressions and factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) are performed to find out the differences among diverse types of projects in terms of the extents to which the PCMBP elements have been implemented. The findings can assist construction industry practitioners with using PCMBP more purposefully in accordance with specific project characteristics so that they will be better able to develop and administer their project execution plans.

A Study on Variations in Sewerage Construction Projects

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Azraai Kassim ◽  
Jen Loong Lee
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Site Conditions ◽  
Project Costs ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Project Characteristics ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
A Company ◽  
Total Project ◽  
Sewerage Network

Perubahan dalam pembinaan telah lama menjadi isu pertikaian antara pelbagai pihak yang terlibat dalam projek pembinaan. Namun, hanya sejumlah kecil kajian yang rasmi telah dijalankan untuk menganalisis sebab-sebab dan kesan-kesannya. Kajian ini tertumpu kepada analisis kekerapan dan keterukan berbagai-bagai faktor yang mengakibatkan perubahan dalam projek pembinaan rangkaian pembetungan. Adalah penting bagi sesebuah syrikat bukan sahaja mengetahui kos perubahan, tetapi juga mengenal pasti perkara-perkara yang perlu diberi perhatian untuk mengurangkan kos-kos sedemikian dalam projek akan datang. Kesemua data dan maklumat yang diperlukan diperolehi dari fail-fail arkib bagi tiga belas projek yang disahkan melalui temubual. Data-data dikategori untuk menganalisis kekerapan dan keterukan faktor-faktor. Jadual dan carta digunakan untuk menunjukkan hasil-hasil kajian. Daripada hasil analisis, keadaan tapak yang berbeza merupakan faktor utama yang mengakibatkan perubahan. Faktor-faktor ini menyumbangkan 49.3% daripada jumlah bilangan perubahan, 56.2% daripada jumlah kos perubahan dan 3.8% daripada jumlah kos projek. Dua ciri projek, iaitu nilai anugerah kontrak dan gred pendaftaran kontraktor dengan Lembaga Pembangunan Industri Pembinaan (mewakili pengkhususan, kedudukan kewangan dan sumber-sumber lain kontraktor) menunjukkan penyebab yang tertentu dengan perubahan. Kata kunci: perubahan; kekerapan; keterukan; pembetungan; rangkaian; pengkhususan Variations in construction have long been a debatable issue among the different participants involved in construction projects. However, only a few formal studies have been carried out to analyse its couses and effects. This study is focused on the frequency and severity of various factors causing variations in sewerage networks construction projects. It is important for a company not only to know the variation costs, but also to identify the most likely areas on which to focus in order to reduce these costs for the future projects. All the necessary data and information are obtained from archival files of thirteen projects and verified through interviews. These data are categorised to analyse the frequency and severity of factors. Tables and charts are presented to show the research findings. From the analysis, differing site conditions appear to be the major factors contributing to variations. They average 49.3% of the total number of variations, 56.2% of the total variation costs and 3.8% of the total project costs. Two project characteristics i.e. contract award value and the contractor´s registration grade with the Construction Industry Development Board (which represents the contractor´s specialisation, financial and other resources standing) show certain causal relationships with variations. Key words: variation; frequency; severity; sewerage; network; specialisation

Request for information frequency and their turnaround time in construction projects

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Ajibade A. Aibinu ◽  
Simon Carter ◽  
Valerie Francis ◽  
Paulo Vaz-Serra
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Staffing Levels ◽  
Management Platform ◽  
Complex Projects ◽  
Project Characteristics ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Information Frequency ◽  
Data Analytic

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the nature of request for information (RFIs) on construction projects by using data analytics to understand the frequency of RFIs, when they occur on projects, and the relationship between project characteristics and frequency of RFIs and between project characteristics and RFI turnaround time. Design/methodology/approach A data-analytic approach using RStudio and Minitab software on 168 construction project cases in Australia and New Zealand involving 1,032,949 correspondences and 53,042 RFI event records made available by Aconex, one of the world largest cloud-based project management platform. Findings Large and complex projects tend to have significantly larger number of RFI events per day and longer RFI turnaround when compared with smaller and less complex projects. Projects with fewer users per organisation recorded a higher RFI turnaround time when compared with projects with more users per organisation – users mean persons involved in managing the project using the online platform (an index of project complexity). RFIs occur early on less complex projects and occur later on more complex projects. Research limitations/implications Benchmarks of RFI incidences and turnaround time have been developed for various project characteristics and, practitioners can use them to monitor the RFI performance of projects. Organisations need to pay greater attention to staffing levels needed to handle RFIs to reduce RFI turnaround time. Originality/value A data-analytic study of RFI yielded insights for managing RFIs. The findings of previous studies on RFIs are difficult to generalise because they are based on single project case study. The influence of project characteristics on RFI frequency and RFI turnaround time is not yet known.

Analysis of effective project-based communication components within primary stakeholders in construction industry

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elnaz Safapour ◽  
Sharareh Kermanshachi ◽  
Shirin Kamalirad
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Internal Communication ◽  
Design And Technology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Project Characteristics

PurposeEffective internal communication facilitates the transfer of data and information among project parties throughout the execution of construction projects. It minimizes the distortion of data and major cost overruns and delays. The aim of this study was to determine main components of the project characteristics that affect quality of internal communication within owners, designers and contractors in construction projects.Design/methodology/approachProject characteristics that significantly affect quality of internal communication were identified through existing literature. Forty case studies associated with national and international construction projects were gathered. Since data regarding other aspects of collected case studies, which were not included in the case study data, were required, a structured survey was developed and distributed to the primary stakeholders. The factor analysis method was adopted to determine the key components of effective internal communication.FindingsThe results demonstrated that project targets, bureaucracy, location and coordination affect the quality of internal communication among owner entities. Additionally, design and technology, clarity of the project’s scope, resources, delivery, construction management and design management affect quality of internal communication within design entities. Qualified field labor, objectives, restrictions, material quality, equipment quality, availability of qualified project managers and equipment turnovers affect the quality of internal communication within contractors.Originality/valueThe findings of this study help project managers evaluate the effectiveness of internal communication of a construction project during the early stages of the project. Additionally, the outcomes guide project managers to allocate sufficient resources to their projects and adopt proactive strategies which prevent/reduce miscommunications and their unintended consequences.

scholarly journals Development of a Model for Predicting Probabilistic Life-Cycle Cost for the Early Stage of Public-Office Construction

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (14) ◽  
pp. 3828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin ◽  
Kim ◽  
Hyun ◽  
Han
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Prediction Model ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Case Based Reasoning ◽  
Probabilistic Prediction ◽  
Construction Costs ◽  
Early Stages

Decisions made in the early stages of construction projects significantly influence the costs incurred in subsequent stages. Therefore, such decisions must be based on the life-cycle cost (LCC), which includes the maintenance, repair, and replacement (MRR) costs in addition to construction costs. Furthermore, as uncertainty is inherent during the early stages, it must be considered in making predictions of the LCC more probabilistic. This study proposes a probabilistic LCC prediction model developed by applying the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) to an LCC prediction model based on case-based reasoning (CBR) to support the decision-making process in the early stages of construction projects. The model was developed in two phases: first, two LCC prediction models were constructed using CBR and multiple-regression analysis. Through k-fold validation, one model with superior prediction performance was selected; second, a probabilistic LCC model was developed by applying the MCS to the selected model. The probabilistic LCC prediction model proposed in this study can generate probabilistic prediction results that consider the uncertainty of information available at the early stages of a project. Thus, it can enhance reliability in actual situations and be more useful for clients who support both construction and MRR costs, such as those in the public sector.

Applicability of Biodiversity Impact Assessment Methodologies to Transportation Projects

1997 ◽  
Vol 1601 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia A. Bardman
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Environmental Groups ◽  
National Environmental Policy Act ◽  
Highway Projects ◽  
Transportation Projects ◽  
Natural Landscapes ◽  
Acceptable Method ◽  
Roadway Construction ◽  
Impact On Biodiversity

Human activities often adversely affect natural landscapes or ecosystems. Natural landscapes typically consist of habitats differing in size, shape, structure, and composition. These components create biodiversity, which is broadly defined as the variety of the world’s organisms. Impacts on biodiversity—including direct impacts from development, secondary impacts, and impacts from active consumption—are increasing as the human population continues to grow. Impact on biodiversity is emerging as a concern of environmental groups. Highway construction may contribute to biodiversity loss because transportation corridors tend to disrupt normal patterns in the landscape. Transportation agencies, such as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, are interested in evaluating the need to analyze the effects on habitat fragmentation and biodiversity caused by roadway construction projects. Evaluation of such effects is a relatively new issue. There are currently no regulatory requirements to perform these types of evaluations. Therefore, the opportunity exists to develop rational and practical guidance to use on transportation projects. Even though no formal guidance exists, a number of similar methods in use could be modified for analyzing and quantifying impacts on biodiversity caused by highway projects. The decision whether to assess biodiversity for a project depends on the existing environment and the types of impacts the project will have on that environment. Whether mitigation of these biodiversity impacts should occur depends on the overall impacts on all resources by the proposed project. Much work still needs to be done in the development of an acceptable method for assessing the potential impacts of transportation projects on biodiversity. The general state analysis should be molded into an acceptable method for use by state departments of transportation. This method would need support in the form of a new mandate for implementation under the National Environmental Policy Act.

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