Cost-influencing risk factors in infrastructure projects on soft soils

Abstract

In view of economic growth, infrastructure projects are gradually increasing in terms of quantity, size and complexities. As such, construction of infrastructure projects on soft soils is unavoidable. This poses challenges in infrastructure development as infrastructure construction is vulnerable to greater risks. Review of the literature showed that research on risk assessment of infrastructure projects on soft soils is deficient. Hence, this research was focused on cost-influencing risk factors during the construction phase. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was used to determine the risk prioritization of infrastructure projects on soft soils through questionnaire survey. It is found that controllable (internal) risk factors, such as legal and project-client risks and uncontrollable (external) risk, such as economic and soil condition risk play a critical role in infrastructure project’s cost on soft soils during the construction stage.