scholarly journals Innovative Use of Low-Cost Digitisation for Smart Information Systems in Construction Projects

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 270
Author(s):  
Mostafa Babaeian Jelodar ◽  
Feiya Shu

The low-level application of digital tools and information systems in construction implies that many projects cannot meet modern requirements and standard of work of advanced industries. This study adopts a practical and diagnostic approach to identify key attributes and implementation processes of information systems in construction and logistics. To have triangulation of knowledge, a three-step methodology is adopted. Initially an exploratory analysis of previous literature is performed. Secondly a diagnostic analysis of IS applications in construction is achieved by case studies. Finally, expert interviews are performed to examine and consolidate the findings. The study illustrated practical and innovative applications of low-cost digital tools in IS development and created a framework for documentation of these discrete and mostly unshared practices. It is recommended that the construction sector should embrace more advance technologies to minimise human intervention and enhance real-time capabilities. The practicality of how different low-cost and off-the-shelf tools and digital platforms can be combined is discussed and demonstrated. The study provides a clear distinction for practitioners and academics as to what is being practiced in comparison to the dominant theories.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Liu ◽  
Erik Brynjolfsson ◽  
Jason Dowlatabadi

Digital platforms provide a variety of technology-enabled tools that enhance market transparency, such as real-time monitoring, ratings of buyers and sellers, and low-cost complaint channels. How do these innovations affect moral hazard and service quality? We investigate this problem by comparing driver routing choices and efficiency on a large digital platform, Uber, with traditional taxis. The identification is enabled by matching taxi and Uber trips at the origin-destination-time level so they are subject to the same underlying optimal route, by exploiting characteristics of the pricing schemes that differentially affect the incentives of taxi and Uber drivers in various circumstances, and by examining changes in behavior when drivers switch from taxis to Uber. We find that (1) taxi drivers route longer in distance than matched Uber drivers on metered airport routes by an average of 8%, with nonlocal passengers on airport routes experiencing even longer routing; (2) no such long routing is found for short trips in dense markets (e.g., within-Manhattan trips) or airport trips with a flat fare; and (3) long routing in general leads to longer travel time, instead of saving passengers time. These findings are consistent with digital platform designs reducing driver moral hazard, but not with competing explanations such as driver selection or differences in driver navigation technologies. We also find evidence of Uber drivers’ long routing on airport trips in times of surge pricing, suggesting that the tech-enabled market designs may not be binding in our setting. This paper was accepted by Chris Forman, information systems.


Author(s):  
Tuğçe Şimşekalp Ercan ◽  
◽  
Gizem Günlü ◽  

As the COVID-19 outbreak affected the whole world, the epidemic had positive and negative effects on the construction industry. Epidemic; Information leakage with working from home conditions, problems of logistics chains for the transportation of materials to the construction site, has brought along special risks according to many new processes. Within the scope of this study, it is aimed to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 epidemic on construction projects, new risks that occur and applications used against these risks together with digital tools. In the literature, the importance of innovative digital technologies for risk management is emphasized. In this study; It reduces the epidemic-specific risks that occur in the construction projects of innovative digital applications; how, why and which actors were involved. In this context, one-to-one interviews and a survey field study were conducted with construction industry experts for data collection. This research; It will guide the future positions of the sector by identifying and classifying new risks that occur specific to the COVID-19 outbreak process in the construction sector, and analyzing which digital tools and methods to be used to cope with these risks. In line with the research, it will be ensured that construction companies are better prepared against the threats and opportunities posed by the risks.


The issues of determining the estimated cost of capital construction projects with the involvement of Federal budget funds at the stage of development of project documentation, during verification of the accuracy of determining the estimated cost and the initial (maximum) contract price are considered. On the basis of the assessment of amendments to urban planning legislation for the purpose of implementing a state contract by the contractor ( based on the results of competitive procedures or without competitive procedures by decision of state authorities), the procedure for forming the estimate as part of a state (municipal) contract, the price of which is firm, is presented. For the purpose of mutual settlements between the customer and the contractor for the work performed, the formation of primary accounting documentation, as well as for checking the work performed by regulatory authorities, an example of drawing up an estimate of the state (municipal) contract on the basis of grouping costs according to structural elements and complexes of work is given. The result of the research conducted was the development of regulations and the formation of criteria for their practical application by state bodies, institutions, organizations and other participants in the investment-construction process, as well as recipients of budget funds, who perform the functions of the state (municipal) customer, developer and technical customer.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-84
Author(s):  
Wadhah Amer Hatem ◽  
Samiaah M. Hassen Al-Tmeemy

     Suicide attacks, bombings, explosions became the part of daily life in Iraq. Consequently, the threat of terrorism put the Iraqi construction sector in the face of unique and unusual challenges that not seen on other countries. These challenges can have extensive impact on construction projects. This paper seeks to examine the impact of the terrorist attacks on construction industry and determine the extent to which the impact of terrorism on construction projects in terms of cost, schedule, and quality. This study adapted quantitative and qualitative approaches to collect data using questionnaire survey and interviews, as well as historical data. The study focused on projects that have been the target of terrorist strikes in Diyala governorate. A variety of statistical procedures were employed in data analysis. The results revealed the extent to which terrorist attacks impact construction projects in terms of cost, time, and quality. The results of this study will enhance the awareness of all construction parties to the impact of the terrorist attacks against construction projects. Eventually, this can develop a risk management assessment and assist contractors to properly protect projects and buildings to minimize injuries and fatalities in the event of terrorism.


Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 271
Author(s):  
Bruno Daniotti ◽  
Cecilia Maria Bolognesi ◽  
Sonia Lupica Spagnolo ◽  
Alberto Pavan ◽  
Martina Signorini ◽  
...  

Since the buildings and construction sector is one of the main areas responsible for energy consumption and emissions, focusing on their refurbishment and promoting actions in this direction will be helpful to achieve an EU Agenda objective of making Europe climate-neutral by 2050. One step towards the renovation action is the exploitation of digital tools into a BIM framework. The scope of the research contained in this paper is to improve the management of information throughout the different stages of the renovation process, allowing an interoperable exchange of data among the involved stakeholders; the development of an innovative BIM-based toolkit is the answer to the research question. The research and results obtained related with the development of an interoperable BIM-based toolkit for efficient renovation in buildings in the framework of the European research project BIM4EEB. Specifically, the developed BIM management system allows the exchange of the data among the different tools, using open interoperable formats (as IFC) and linked data, in a Common Data Environment, to be used by the different stakeholders. Additionally, the developed tools allow the stakeholders to manage different stages of the renovation process, facilitating efficiencies in terms of time reduction and improving the resulting quality. The validity of each tool with respect to existing practices is demonstrated here, and the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed tools are described in the workflow detailing issues such as interoperability, collaboration, integration of different solutions, and time consuming existing survey processes.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. E17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Nicolosi ◽  
Zefferino Rossini ◽  
Ismail Zaed ◽  
Angelos G. Kolias ◽  
Maurizio Fornari ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVENeurosurgical training is usually based on traditional sources of education, such as papers, books, direct surgical experience, and cadaveric hands-on courses. In low-middle income countries, standard education programs are often unavailable, mainly owing to the lack of human and economic resources. Introducing digital platforms in these settings could be an alternative solution for bridging the gap between Western and poor countries in neurosurgical knowledge.METHODSThe authors identified from the Internet the main digital platforms that could easily be adopted in low-middle income countries. They selected free/low-cost mobile content with high educational impact.RESULTSThe platforms that were identified as fulfilling the characteristics described above are WFNS Young Neurosurgeons Forum Stream, Brainbook, NeuroMind, UpSurgeOn, The Neurosurgical Atlas, Touch surgery, The 100 UCLA Subjects in Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery Survival Guide, EANS (European Association of Neurosurgical Societies) Academy, Neurosurgical.TV, 3D Neuroanatomy, The Rhoton Collection, and Hinari. These platforms consist of webinars, 3D interactive neuroanatomy and neurosurgery content, videos, and e-learning programs supported by neurosurgical associations or journals.CONCLUSIONSDigital education is an emerging tool for contributing to the spread of information in the neurosurgical community. The continuous improvement in the quality of content will rapidly increase the scientific validity of digital programs. In conclusion, the fast and easy access to digital resources could contribute to promote neurosurgical education in countries with limited facilities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-70
Author(s):  
Huda Yaseen ◽  
Hafeth I. Naji

Construction projects are of a special nature affected by many factors, which makes them exposed to multiple risks that may lead to the abandonment of projects. Recently, the Iraqi construction sector is facing a number of problems. Abandoned construction projects are one of the most common and dangerous problems in the construction industry in Iraq, with their negative effects on stakeholders, the economy, and the environment due to the lack of sufficient financial and administrative capabilities to complete construction projects, which is reflected in exceeding the time limit for the completion of projects. The aim of this research is to use the analytic network process (ANP) technique to choose the best form of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) contracts to fund abandoned projects in Iraq. using a questionnaire survey to determine the most criteria and alternatives for selecting appropriate financing for the abandoned project. The results shown final weight of the Build-Own-Operate (BOO) contract from ANP is 0.533, which is the best form of PPP contract among the alternatives proposed to fund the project.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zainab Sarbaz Abdulhameed AL-DABBAGH ◽  
◽  
Gökhan GELİŞEN ◽  

Design-Build (DB) and Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contracts are the two types of public-private-partnerships that are widely used in the region that are aimed in this study. The objectives of this study were to analyze and compare DB and BOT projects in terms of project costs and durations. In order to analyze and compare Design-Build (DB) and Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) projects, this study collected data by means of convenient random sampling, from construction projects built by five ministries of Republic of Turkey. Statistical tests were conducted to determine if the metrics related to cost and schedule were significantly different from each other in these two types of projects. The findings of this study will help the public agencies decide what delivery method is best for their projects in terms of controlling costs and schedule. Results show that DB projects outperform BOT projects in terms of cost and schedule. The results of this research will enable governments to become more familiar with comparisons between DB and BOT distribution methods, and the findings will help the ministries to choose swhich delivery method is suitable for use on a project-based.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 11077
Author(s):  
Abdulmalek K. Badraddin ◽  
Rahimi A. Rahman ◽  
Saud Almutairi ◽  
Muneera Esa

While concrete recycling is crucial to protecting the environment, its implementation in practice is low in many countries. This study aims to highlight challenges to concrete recycling. To achieve that aim, the study objectives are (1) to identify the main challenges to concrete recycling in construction projects; (2) to compare the main challenges between small–medium enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises (LEs); and (3) to determine the underlying groups among the main challenges. Potential challenges were identified through a systematic literature review of journal articles and semi-structured interviews with fifteen industry practitioners. Then, the identified challenges were inserted into a questionnaire survey and distributed to industry practitioners. Eighty-nine valid responses were collected and analyzed using the mean score ranking, normalization, agreement analysis, and factor analysis techniques. The analyses show thirteen main challenges to concrete recycling. The main challenges include increased project duration, lack of national programs, lack of comprehensive rules and regulations, increased project cost, low demand for recycled concrete, low cost-effectiveness of concrete recycling, and increased transportation cost. However, there is no consensus on the criticality between SMEs and LEs. For example, increased project cost is the main challenge for SMEs but is only middlingly ranked for LEs. Finally, the main challenges can be categorized into three interrelated groups: people and technical, legal and environmental, and economic challenges. This study contributes to the literature by analyzing challenges that hinder concrete recycling in practice. The findings allow researchers and practitioners to develop strategies to reduce concrete recycling rejection.


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