The construction sector in developing countries, such as Pakistan, continues to heavily rely on manual labor despite advancements in technology, resulting in persistent safety concerns that jeopardize workers, end-users, and the environment. This study investigates the key factors contributing to health and safety issues within Pakistan's construction industry. A questionnaire survey, developed from 25 factors identified through an extensive literature review, was administered to various stakeholders, including clients, consultants, and contractors. Data were gathered from 123 respondents, and 115 responses were considered valid for further analyses. Significance index (SI) analysis and comparative assessments were performed on the collected data to evaluate the significance of these barriers and the level of consensus among stakeholders. Findings reveal that the primary contributors to safety hazards are inadequate safety training, a shortage of certified skilled labor, and poor safety consciousness among workers. Insufficient education, a lack of safety-oriented policies, and minimal adoption of advanced safety technologies exacerbate these challenges. While clients and consultants emphasize operational procedures, regulatory enforcement, and team spirit, the contractors focus more on execution challenges and workforce skill levels, indicating a need for improved stakeholder alignment. A critical issue identified is the insufficient financial commitment to safety, with organizations typically allocating only 0.001% to 0.01% of project budgets to safety measures. The limited availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) further underscores the inadequate prioritization of workers’ safety at the site. The study emphasizes the urgent necessity for comprehensive safety policies, increased investment in safety training and resources, stringent regulatory enforcement, and continuous safety monitoring to cultivate a strong safety culture and enhance overall industry performance.

Improving the energy efficiency of buildings has become a critical priority, particularly in hot–humid climates where cooling demands are exceptionally high. Hence, due to buildings being considered one of the biggest contributors to energy consumption, utilizing feasible retrofitting strategies is critical. This study assessed the impact of three retrofitting strategies—enhanced glazing, enhanced roof insulation, and reflective cooling paint on exterior walls—on the cooling load, energy consumption, and economic feasibility of a residential townhouse in hot–humid climates in Sharjah. The methodology involved simulating various retrofitting scenarios using DesignBuilder to assess their impact on energy consumption and cooling load, followed by an economic analysis to evaluate feasibility in terms of cost, energy savings, and payback periods. It was found that using reflective paint achieved the highest reductions in energy consumption (8%) and cooling load (13%), while combining reflective paint with glazing upgrades offered up to 10% energy savings and 16% cooling load reduction. These results highlight that reflective paints and their combinations with other strategies provide a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution for retrofitting older buildings in hot–humid climates, making them a sustainable choice for reducing energy demand and promoting thermal comfort. The findings offer practical insights for replicable interventions in similar hot–humid urban contexts and contribute to the regional transition toward nearly net-zero energy buildings.

This conceptual paper introduces the responsive scaffold model (RSM), a theoretically grounded pedagogical and assessment framework designed to enhance soft skills development in construction management education. Using theoretical synthesis methodology, RSM integrates scaffolding theory, cognitive apprenticeship, and experiential learning into a cohesive framework. The model's theoretical foundations are well-established in educational literature, with each component drawing upon substantial research evidence from related contexts. Although developed within Australian higher education, the paper illustrates RSM's broader applicability across disciplines and international contexts. The model's responsiveness ensures tailored support that adapts to learners' evolving abilities, systematically reducing cognitive overload whilst maintaining academic rigour. Comparisons with problem-based and simulation-based learning highlight RSM's distinctive approach to balancing structured guidance and learner autonomy. Implementation guidelines cover curriculum design, faculty development, and authentic assessment, demonstrating RSM's scalability in large classes and digital settings. By aligning with educational standards and industry expectations, RSM offers a sustainable, learner-centred approach that bridges theoretical knowledge and real-world practice, advancing construction management education to enhance graduate employability and professional readiness. Future research directions are outlined to guide empirical validation of this conceptual framework.

Digital technologies can enhance health and safety on construction sites. However, despite their benefits, only few of these technologies have been implemented. This study explores how construction health and safety stakeholders perceive the benefits and challenges associated with digital technologies to enhance health and safety on construction sites. Based on a literature review, digital technologies in the construction industry were categorised into nine distinct types, namely, Personal Communication Technologies, GPS-based Technologies, Planning & Simulation Tools, Visualisation Technologies, Training Programs, Wearables & Smart Tools, Additive Manufacturing, Robotics & Exoskeletons, and Vision-based Surveillance. Utilising semi-structured interviews, this research gathers insights into perceived benefits and challenges associated with these technologies from construction health and safety stakeholders, health and safety professionals, and construction specialised academic industry experts in Germany and Australia. Each type of technology was further analysed to understand its perceived benefits and obstacles. The findings indicate that some technologies offer significant benefits, notably in automating construction processes and pre-emptively identifying potential incidents. However, the study also uncovers critical obstacles, particularly concerns about data protection and the financial burdens of development and implementation. This study provides unique insights into the perceptions of construction health and safety stakeholders regarding digital technologies. It highlights the dual nature of technology as a tool for advancement and a source of new challenges, specifically in terms of health and safety efficiency in the construction industry. The identification of specific benefits and obstacles offers a foundational understanding for further research and practical application in enhancing health and safety practices through digitalisation in construction.

The integration of knowledge management (KM) with total quality management (TQM) has a significant impact on project and organization performance. While previous literature has linked KM with TQM within the broader concept of organizational development and project performance, there was a notable gap concerning their application to construction projects in developing countries like Ghana. Thus, there is little information on the variables that contribute to their relationship. This study aimed to fill these gaps by investigating the integration of KM practices with TQM principles specifically in the Ghanaian construction industry, and identifying essential factors for this integration. A cross-sectional survey design was used and the population considered in this study consisted of architects, quantity surveyors, and civil engineers in the Ghanaian construction industry. The study adopted a purposive sampling technique. Quantitative data were collected from 256 professionals. Descriptive statistical techniques and the partial least squares structural equation modeling techniques were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that a one-unit rise in knowledge management processes (KMPs) corresponds to a roughly 0.839-standard deviation increase in TQM, suggesting that implementing KM will potentially improve the implementation of TQM principles during the delivery of construction projects. Conversely, a decrease in KMP is associated with a decrease in TQM. This can be implemented practically when there is leadership competence and commitment to ensure a culture of KM processes and TQM practices for the project to perform effectively. Theoretically, the study contributes to current discourse on KM and TQM from a fresh perspective.

This study evaluated the quality of construction technology data across four categories—intrinsic, contextual, representation, and accessibility—and examined how these factors influence potential data use. The research adopted a qualitative approach, systematically identifying and assessing publicly available data sources on construction technology from government, academia, industry, and society. Government sources include research databases, technical reports, and patents; academic sources comprise Scopus and the local repository Science and Technology Index; and industry sources encompass annual reports and social media. The evaluation revealed that government data demonstrate the highest credibility and the most complete metadata, but were updated infrequently. Despite limited metadata, industry data remain reliable due to consistent annual publication schedules. Academic data show moderate quality, offering substantial datasets but with irregular update frequencies. Most data sources are available in English or Indonesian and are predominantly open access, except for subscription-based academic journals. In summary, the vast majority of construction technology data sources in Indonesia are either unstructured with limited information or semi-structured large databases from credible institutions with unpredictable or irregular updates, presenting challenges for technology landscape mapping. Government and Scopus databases show significant potential but require greater standardisation and, in the case of Scopus, advanced natural language processing-based extraction methods to maximise their utility for construction technology landscape development.

In the context of the world facing serious environmental problems, sustainable development has become an inevitable trend in the construction sector. To achieve sustainability in construction, environmentally friendly solutions must be considered from the early planning stages. However, most construction projects today prioritize productivity optimization while neglecting environmental impacts. Developing methods to assess both construction performance and environmental impact simultaneously remains a major challenge in the industry. As part of research efforts to promote sustainability in construction, this study proposes a methodology for applying lean construction principles to improve performance and reduce environmental impact in earthwork activities in Vietnam. The EZStrobe simulation was used to model the earthmoving process under real-world conditions. After validating the model and identifying bottlenecks in the construction process, four lean construction principles were tested through simulation to optimize earthmoving efficiency. The most effective lean model resulted in significant improvements in construction performance, increasing productivity by 65.5% and reducing costs by 21.7%. Moreover, this model contributed positively to the environment by reducing fuel consumption by 21% and lowering CO₂ emissions by 12.7%. These findings highlight that integrating lean construction into earthwork operations is not just an effective management tool but also a crucial strategy for promoting sustainable construction.

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly used to improve the efficiency of public services such as building permit approvals, zoning management, and infrastructure inspections. However, this rapid integration has raised ethical concerns related to algorithmic bias, transparency, accountability, and data privacy. For example, automated zoning systems may inadvertently prioritize certain areas owing to biased data inputs. This paper presents a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis focused on ethical AI frameworks in municipal and construction-related services, particularly focusing on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where smart city initiatives are rapidly advancing. The review followed preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and drew on 102 peer-reviewed articles from Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and EBSCOhost using keywords such as “AI ethics”, “smart cities”, and “public services”. The analysis highlights recurring ethical gaps in existing global frameworks, including limited adaptability to local cultural and regulatory environments. Drawing from best practices in the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Artificial Intelligence Principles, and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Artificial Intelligence Ethics Guidelines, this study proposed a culturally sensitive governance framework tailored to the UAE context. The framework offers guidance for implementing ethical audits, transparency standards, and citizen feedback mechanisms. The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers—such as the development of regulatory sandboxes—and industry stakeholders deploying AI in construction-related municipal services. This study supported the development of responsible AI practices that align with both global ethical standards and local governance needs, ultimately contributing to more trustworthy smart city services.

Modern construction organizations demand high-performing teams (HPTs) in their projects in order to face increasing performance challenges. On the one hand, they face significant performance challenges due to the competition in the industry in many forms, such as competitive bidding to receive projects. On the other hand, they need to manage the performance challenges posed by the complexities of the uncertain and volatile construction project environment to deliver projects successfully and build up strong organizational profiles to face such issues. At the same time, they must also follow the legislative requirements of their countries, which are focused on the big issues and challenges that exist in the contemporary construction industry. In order to enable HPTs, they need a high-performance work system (HPWS) that can facilitate their projects. However, although literature shows numerous studies on organizational HPWSs that consist of human resource management practices, only limited attention has been given to identifying such a system for the project context. This study aimed to fill this knowledge gap through a quantitative research study. The project high-performance work system (PHPWS) was conceptualized using literature and tested using 221 responses to a questionnaire survey among team members in construction projects. The exploratory factor and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to analyze data to conclude this PHPWS. The findings facilitate the construction organizations to create the PHPWS for enabling HPTs in their projects and constitute a significant original contribution to the theory and practice in the construction management research domain.

Subcontracting has long been studied due to subcontractors’ critical role in construction. However, significant issues persist, especially in developing countries like Sri Lanka, impacting project performance. These issues between main contractors and subcontractors stem from a lack of mitigation methods incorporating relationship management into traditional practices. Furthermore, most prior mitigation strategies are not favorable to both parties. This research aims to develop a “win–win” approach to subcontracting, focusing on relationship and performance management, specifically applicable to building construction. A mixed-method research approach was employed, involving literature review, questionnaire survey, and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Findings reveal that effectively managing critical factors that influence both subcontracting relationships and subcontractor performance can lead to mutually beneficial outcomes. The study identified critical factors affecting the subcontracting relationship as mutual trust, good communication, and a clear understanding of the work scope by the subcontractor, while for subcontractor performance, the critical factors include time and cost management capabilities of the subcontractor, the availability of finance and working capital for both parties, and issues such as material price increase and inflation rate when subcontractors supply materials. The findings emphasize that prioritizing mutual satisfaction throughout the subcontracting process is essential for implementation. Recommendations provided in this study aim to improve these critical factors, offering practical solutions to enhance project efficiency and individual performance. This research provides valuable insights for developing organizational policies or industry guidelines, particularly for the unique challenges being faced in developing countries.