Construction Domain Research Articles

Extending the Boundaries of Illegitimate Tasks: The Role of Resources.

We replicate several studies that have shown illegitimate tasks to be related to strain above and beyond job demands, but extend previous work by addressing (i) whether they are when accounting for job demands and resources and (ii) whether resources mitigate strain relationships. We separately examine unreasonable and unnecessary task subdimensions. Using hierarchical regression analyses, results show that unreasonable tasks account for additional variance in anxiety (9.9%) and depressive symptoms (7.3%) beyond both main and multiplicative effects of job demands and resources of control, and support from supervisors and coworkers, in 214 early-career employees. In addition, unreasonable tasks, control, and supervisor support interact, such that task unreasonableness is less strongly tied to depressive symptoms for those perceiving high supervisor support; and high levels of control and supervisory support resources buffer links between unreasonable tasks and both outcomes. Unexpectedly, task unreasonableness is unrelated to anxiety for those perceiving low control and supervisor support, suggesting a possible habituation effect under undesirable workplace conditions. No interactive effects are found for unnecessary tasks or for coworker support. Our findings offer new understanding of the construct domain space and dimensionality of illegitimate tasks, and address several important practical and theoretical implications surrounding the role of resources.

Resource depletion: where is an intervention most effective?

PurposeWhere does one need to intervene in to be most effective? The purpose of this study is to rank areas of the resource system, according to how much of a change can be expected from interventions in an area, in relation to the problem of depleting resources.Design/methodology/approachPrinciples of structured analysis are used to model how society uses resources. From this model, nine intervention areas are defined. These intervention areas are ranked in terms of effectiveness, through the use of the analytic hierarchy process.FindingsTo be most effective, one must prioritize intervention areas as follows: material inputs to the operation phase; process inputs to the operation phase; products’ longevity; process inputs to the manufacturing phase; and material inputs to the manufacturing phase.Practical implicationsMost decisions are not made on the basis of rigorous analysis but by using heuristics (rules of thumb). The results of this study are expressed as rules of thumb. They can help decision makers prioritize what is most important, but without imposing new ways of working.Originality/valueIn the construction domain, heuristics that generalize the impact of actions (content), instead of intervention areas (context), currently seem to prevail. The heuristics of this study generalize the impact of intervention areas. Therefore, they provide an extra perspective for many decision makers. This extra perspective can help reduce mistakes that are typically made by oversimplifying matters.

A contextual ontology for distributed urban data management

The evolution of information and communication technology in the construction domain has yielded a variety of heterogeneous data sources. While bespoke approaches have been developed to explore data merging for a variety of purposes, few have explored how to develop a multipurpose information organisation that can be reconfigured on a per-project basis. This paper describes an approach that, using a lightweight central server, is used to investigate the effectiveness of loose federations of information sources that together serve the information needs of a project. The central server provides both a common context through which relationships between the information sources can be expressed and a data register to enable information discovery. The paper describes the creation of an ontology to capture this context and a software architecture to support its use. The efficacy of the approach is illustrated through describing the use of the server for marshalling data used in a renovation project.

An Analysis Of Architectural (Full Design) Project Development Phases: From An Idea to The Construction Works

The paper presents a useful algorithm which can be applied in the development of a design and construction project, in order to reach a pertinent conclusion on investing or not in it. The algorithm describes the chronological process through which any investor should go through. Every step of this process implies additional costs and will be taken only if the algorithm indicates so. Firstly, the paper enlightens the main steps in developing a design and construction project financed through public resources. In this case, the process has a clear path due to the legislation in the field imposed in Romania. After that, it continues with defining the steps for a similar project but financed through private resources. This is a more complicated case because the private investor has fewer financial resources and in the opportunity stage, for the most part, he does not own the site for the future project. Therefore, a private investor has to pay more attention to every step taken in the investment decision, especially in the construction domain. The interest in studying these processes derived from my observations on my company’s clients’ needs when taking decisions related to design and construction projects. It is obvious that the standard business plan is not sufficient in developing such a project. In addition, these specific projects have different involvements from other types of projects that were taken into account when proposing the algorithm. Consequently, the algorithm from this paper was elaborated based on my personal experience in over 40 design and construction projects as an entrepreneur and on the literature review I carried out.

Ranking of Heritage Building Conversion Alternatives by Applying BIM and MCDM: A Case of Sapieha Palace in Vilnius

A balance (symmetry) between socio-cultural and socio-economic benefits as a part of the economic, social, and cultural development policy of each city and country should be assured when converting built heritage. To anticipate building conversion priorities and opportunities, modern technologies can be employed. However, currently the activity of reconstruction of heritage buildings is part of the construction domain wherein modern digital technologies have been the least ever applied. Therefore, photogrammetry and the 3D modeling of existing heritage buildings was suggested. A case study of Sapieha Palace, built in the Baroque style in 1689–1691 in Vilnius, Lithuania was explored in this research. The applied technologies and software (Agisoft Photoscan, Autodesk ReCap and Autodesk Revit) allowed for the creation of a high quality and accurate model involving both the textured exterior of the building and the interior layout. In addition, the valuable features of a building were identified and marked in a three-dimensional digital model. Based on the model, the authors formulated possible conversion alternatives of the building and identified the associated decision-making criteria, as well as determined their relative significance by an expert survey method. The authors suggested the application of the multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) method under uncertainty, namely the rough weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS), for ranking alternatives according to multiple criteria. Therefore, the suggested integration of modern digital technologies and decision-making models helps to assure the rational conversion decision of built cultural heritage based on high accuracy data as well as contributing to the sustainable development of engineering processes.

Towards the development of scales to measure patent management

This article aims to propose measurement scales for patent management seen as a macro-process made up of different sub-processes, where activities are carried out, having the firm as our unit of analysis. To this purpose, we followed a recommended six-step methodological approach for new scale development and validation widely recognized in the literature, and specifically this article focused on the first two steps (i.e. specify domain of construct and item generation) for which both a theoretical analysis, through an in-depth literature review, and a qualitative analysis, through interviews, were conducted. The analysis of the literature and the interviews with experts allowed us to develop a measurement framework of patent management by identifying four core processes, namely patent generation, patent portfolio management, patent exploitation and enforcement and patent intelligence, and two supporting dimensions, namely strategy and organization. Beyond that, we categorised activities within each core process and organizational aspects within each supporting dimension with associated measurement items. The findings have both managerial and theoretical implications. For managers, the current article offers a clear conceptualization and measurement scales that can be used as an assessment tool to evaluate firm patent management. Beyond that, future research can benefit from a solid foundation to extend our knowledge of patent management still further by having measurement items at disposal.

BIM-linked data integration for asset management

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the transfer of information from the building information modelling (BIM) models to either conventional or advanced asset management platforms using Linked Data. To achieve this aim, a process for generating Linked Data in the asset management context and its integration with BIM data is presented.Design/methodology/approachThe research design employs a participatory action research (PAR) approach. The PAR approach utilized two qualitative data collection methods, namely; focus group and interviews to identify and evaluate the required standards for the mapping of different domains. Also prototyping which is an approach of Software Development Methodology is utilized to develop the ontologies and Linked Data.FindingsThe proposed process offers a comprehensive description of the required standards and classifications in construction domain, related vocabularies and object-oriented links to ensure the effective data integration between different domains. Also the proposed process demonstrates the different stages, tools, best practices and guidelines to develop Linked Data, armed with a comprehensive use case Linked Data generation about building assets that consume energy.Originality/valueThe Linked Data generation and publications in the domain of AECO is still in its infancy and it also needs methodological guidelines to support its evolution towards maturity in its processes and applications. This research concentrates on the Linked Data applications with BIM to link across domains where few studies have been conducted.

Factors influencing multifactor productivity of equipment-intensive activities

Purpose Due to its key role in the successful delivery of construction projects, construction productivity is one of the most researched topics in construction domain. While the majority of previous research is focused on the productivity of labor-intensive activities, there is a lack of research on the productivity of equipment-intensive activities. The purpose of this paper is to address this research gap by developing a comprehensive list of factors influencing the productivity of equipment-intensive activities and determining the most influential factors through interview surveys. Design/methodology/approach A list of 201 factors influencing the productivity of equipment-intensive activities was developed through the review of 287 articles, selected from the ten top-ranked construction journals, by searching for construction productivity in the articles’ titles, abstracts or keywords. Next, the most influential factors were determined by conducting interview surveys with 35 construction experts. To ensure that the interviewees were aware of the research objectives and the distinction between labor- and equipment-intensive activities, an information session was held prior to conducting the surveys, and the surveys were conducted in interview format to allow for clarification and discussion throughout the process. Findings Project management respondents identified foreman-, safety- and crew-related factors as the categories with the most influence on productivity; tradespeople respondents identified foreman-, equipment- and crew-related factors as the most influential categories. In total, 14 factors were identified, for which there was a significant difference between the perspectives of project management and tradespeople regarding the factors’ influence on productivity. Originality/value This paper provides a comprehensive list of factors influencing the productivity of equipment-intensive activities. It identifies the most influential factors through an interview survey of 35 construction experts, who are familiar with the challenges of equipment-intensive activities based on their experience with such activities in the industrial construction sector of Alberta, Canada. Additionally, the differences between the factors that influence the productivity of labor- and equipment-intensive activities are discussed by comparing the findings of this paper with previous research focused on labor intensive activities.

The Global Aging & Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder Database (GAGE-BD) project: Understanding older-age bipolar disorder by combining multiple datasets.

There is a dearth of research about the aging process among individuals with bipolar disorder (BD). One potential strategy to overcome the challenge of interpreting findings from existing limited older-age bipolar disorder (OABD) research studies is to pool or integrate data, taking advantage of potential overlap or similarities in assessment methods and harmonizing or cross-walking measurements where different measurement tools are used to evaluate overlapping construct domains. This report describes the methods and initial start-up activities of a first-ever initiative to create an integrated OABD-focused database, the Global Aging & Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder Database (GAGE-BD) project. Building on preliminary work conducted by members of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders OABD taskforce, the GAGE-BD project will be operationalized in four stages intended to ready the dataset for hypothesis-driven analyses, establish a consortium of investigators to guide exploration, and set the stage for prospective investigation using a common dataset that will facilitate a high degree of generalizability. Initial efforts in GAGE-BD have brought together 14 international investigators representing a broad geographic distribution and data on over 1,000 OABD. Start-up efforts include communication and guidance on meeting regulatory requirements, establishing a Steering Committee to guide an incremental analysis strategy, and learning from existing multisite data collaborations and other support resources. The GAGE-BD project aims to advance understanding of associations between age, BD symptoms, medical burden, cognition and functioning across the life span and set the stage for future prospective research that can advance the understanding of OABD.

Residual Compressive Strength of High-Strength Concrete Exposed to Elevated Temperatures

High-strength concrete (HSC) has several well-known technical, aesthetic, and economic advantages over normal-strength concrete (NSC), which explains the increasing popularity of the former material in the construction domain. As in the case of NSC, however, high temperature adversely affects HSC mechanical properties even more than in NSC, as indicated by the many studies performed so far on HSC at high temperature (hot properties) or past a thermal cycle at high temperature (residual properties). Since many code provisions concerning concrete properties versus high temperature were developed for ordinary concrete and the available models (in terms of stress-strain relationship) come mostly from the tests on NSC—as the tests on HSC are less numerous—developing predictive relationships for HSC exposed to high temperature is still an open issue, especially with reference to many parameters affecting concrete compressive strength, like temperature as such, heating rate, water-to-binder ratio, and strength in compression, to cite the most relevant parameters. To this purpose, a large database (more than 600 tests) is examined in this paper, which is focused on HSC residual properties and on the variables affecting its residual strength. Available design models from various guidelines, standards, codes, and technical reports are tested against the database, and new regression-based models and design formulae are proposed for HSC strength in compression, after the exposure to high temperature.

Automated content-based filtering for enhanced vision-based documentation in construction toward exploiting big visual data from drones

In recent years, emerging mobile devices and camera-equipped platforms have offered a great convenience to visually capture and constantly document the as-is status of construction sites. In this regard, visual data are regularly collected in the form of numerous photos or lengthy videos. However, massive amounts of visual data that are being collected from jobsites (e.g., data collection on daily or weekly bases by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, UAVs) has provoked visual data overload as an inevitable problem to face. To address such data overload issue in the construction domain, this paper aims at proposing a new method to automatically retrieve photo-worthy frames containing construction-related contents that are scattered in collected video footages or consecutive images. In the proposed method, the presence of objects of interest (i.e., construction-related contents) in given image frames are recognized by the semantic segmentation, and then scores of the image frames are computed based on the spatial composition of the identified objects. To improve the filtering performance, high-score image frames are further analyzed to estimate their likelihood to be intentionally taken. Case studies in two construction sites have revealed that the accuracy of the proposed method is close-to-human judgment in filtering visual data to retrieve photo-worthy image frames containing construction-related contents. The performance metrics demonstrate around 91% of accuracy in the semantic segmentation, and we observed enhanced human-like judgment in filtering construction visual data comparing to prior works. It is expected that the proposed automated method enables practitioners to assess the as-is status of construction sites efficiently through selective visual data, thereby facilitating data-driven decision making at the right time.

Raw-score equivalence of computer-assisted and paper versions of WISC-V.

The adaptation of individually administered psychological tests from paper to app-based administration formats can present unique threats to the construct and raw-score equivalence of the paper and digital formats. We discuss these potential threats and describe a study evaluating the equivalence of paper and digital versions of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, fifth edition (WISC-V), which has been adapted to an app-based testing platform called Q-interactive. The present study (N = 350) used an equivalent-groups design to assess the raw-score equivalence of 18 WISC-V subtests that were designed with the intent of minimizing format effect. Effect sizes in standard deviation units were small, ranging from -0.20 to 0.20 (mean absolute value = 0.09), and format effects were unrelated to ability level, age, sex, or parent education. These results suggest that when tests are designed or adapted with digital-paper equivalence as a goal, digital-paper raw-score equivalence can be achieved across a variety of construct domains. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

An empirical study on the potential usefulness of domain models for completeness checking of requirements

Domain modeling is a common strategy for mitigating incompleteness in requirements. While the benefits of domain models for checking the completeness of requirements are anecdotally known, these benefits have never been evaluated systematically. We empirically examine the potential usefulness of domain models for detecting incompleteness in natural-language requirements. We focus on requirements written as “shall”-style statements and domain models captured using UML class diagrams. Through a randomized simulation process, we analyze the sensitivity of domain models to omissions in requirements. Sensitivity is a measure of whether a domain model contains information that can lead to the discovery of requirements omissions. Our empirical research method is case study research in an industrial setting. We have experts construct domain models in three distinct industry domains. We then report on how sensitive the resulting models are to simulated omissions in requirements. We observe that domain models exhibit near-linear sensitivity to both unspecified (i.e., missing) and under-specified requirements (i.e., requirements whose details are incomplete). The level of sensitivity is more than four times higher for unspecified requirements than under-specified ones. These results provide empirical evidence that domain models provide useful cues for checking the completeness of natural-language requirements. Further studies remain necessary to ascertain whether analysts are able to effectively exploit these cues for incompleteness detection.

A knowledge construction methodology to automate case‐based learning using clinical documents

AbstractThe case‐based learning (CBL) approach has gained attention in medical education as an alternative to traditional learning methodology. However, current CBL systems do not facilitate and provide computer‐based domain knowledge to medical students for solving real‐world clinical cases during CBL practice. To automate CBL, clinical documents are beneficial for constructing domain knowledge. In the literature, most systems and methodologies require a knowledge engineer to construct machine‐readable knowledge. Keeping in view these facts, we present a knowledge construction methodology (KCM‐CD) to construct domain knowledge ontology (i.e., structured declarative knowledge) from unstructured text in a systematic way using artificial intelligence techniques, with minimum intervention from a knowledge engineer. To utilize the strength of humans and computers, and to realize the KCM‐CD methodology, an interactive case‐based learning system(iCBLS) was developed. Finally, the developed ontological model was evaluated to evaluate the quality of domain knowledge in terms of coherence measure. The results showed that the overall domain model has positive coherence values, indicating that all words in each branch of the domain ontology are correlated with each other and the quality of the developed model is acceptable.

A systematic review of ‘enablers of collaboration’ among the participants in construction projects

The recent advancements in the project execution thinking and the growing levels of large capital-intensive investment projects in construction have led to increased attention to the ‘collaboration’. Loss or lack of collaboration between project partners is seen as the most significant professional and project execution in the construction industry. This study aims to identify the enablers, i.e. governing factors of collaboration. This study applies a systematic review methodology to explore the literature and achieve the objectives. In the process of this systematic literature review, a total of 800 articles were identified in the construction domain, out of which 110 articles were found to be relevant for this study. The ‘citation analysis’ was performed on the articles identified by ‘content analysis’ as relevant to this study, which focused on the issue of the construction industry and issues of subcontractors. The findings identified that trust, commitment and reliability are the enablers of collaboration in construction projects. Providing due attention to the enablers of collaboration, i.e. ‘trust, commitment and reliability’ in the context of the project execution decisions, can facilitate collaboration and thus enhancing project productivity.

LoRaWAN Battery-Free Wireless Sensors Network Designed for Structural Health Monitoring in the Construction Domain.

This paper addresses the practical implementation of a wireless sensors network designed to actualize cyber-physical systems that are dedicated to structural health monitoring applications in the construction domain. This network consists of a mesh grid composed of LoRaWAN battery-free wireless sensing nodes that collect physical data and communicating nodes that interface the sensing nodes with the digital world through the Internet. Two prototypes of sensing nodes were manufactured and are powered wirelessly by using a far-field wireless power transmission technique and only one dedicated RF energy source operating in the ISM 868 MHz frequency band. These sensing nodes can simultaneously perform temperature and relative humidity measurements and can transmit the measured data wirelessly over long-range distances by using the LoRa technology and the LoRaWAN protocol. Experimental results for a simplified network confirm that the periodicity of the measurements and data transmission of the sensing nodes can be controlled by the dedicated RF source (embedded in or just controlled by the associated communicating node), by tuning the radiated power density of the RF waves, and without any modification of the software or the hardware implemented in the sensing nodes.

An automatic and non-invasive physical fatigue assessment method for construction workers

Abstract The construction industry around the globe has unsatisfactory occupational health and safety records. One of the major reasons is attributed to high physical demands and hostile working environments. Construction work always requires workers to work for a long duration without sufficient breaks to recover from overexertion and to work under harsh climatic conditions and/or in confined workspaces. Such circumstances can increase the risk of physical fatigue. Traditionally, fatigue monitoring in the construction domain relies on self-reporting or subjective questionnaires. These methods require the manual collection of responses and are impractical for continuous fatigue monitoring. Some researchers have used on-body sensors for fatigue monitoring (such as heart rate monitors and surface electromyography (sEMG) sensors). Although these devices appear to be promising, they are intrusive, requiring sensors to be attached to the worker's body. Such on-body sensors are uncomfortable to wear and could easily cause irritation. Considering the limitations of these methodologies, the current research proposes a novel non-intrusive method to monitor the whole-body physical fatigue with computer vision for construction workers. A computer vision-based 3D motion capture algorithm was developed to model the motion of various body parts using an RGB camera. A fatigue assessment model was developed using the 3D model data from the developed motion capture algorithm and biomechanical analysis. The experiment showed that the proposed physical fatigue assessment method could provide joint-level physical fatigue assessments automatically. Then, a series of experiments demonstrated the potential of the method in assessing the physical fatigue level of different construction task conditions such as site layout and the work-rest schedules.

Influence of blockchain on development of interaction system of investment and construction activity participants

The main principles of blockchain operation and its main advantages of efficiency increase of investment and construction activity (ICA) participants’ interaction are described in this article. Blockchain process operation principles in a technical sense are stated. Practical examples of efficiency increase of ICA participants’ interaction with the use of blockchain process in Russia and abroad are given. The main trends and results of blockchain use in construction domain are systematised. Potential of blockchain process use in development of the system of ICA participants’ interaction is described. Specific features and advantages of blockchain use in construction domain are highlighted. The main problems requiring improvement of normative and methodical base while developing blockchain within ICA participants’ interaction are analysed. The article gives a review of blockchain influence on improvement of the process of ICA participants’ interaction.

Hallowed be thy brand: measuring perceived brand sacredness

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to capture the strength of consumer’s perceived brand sacredness. The authors developed and validated a measurement scale composed of three related dimensions: supremacy, mesmerization and communitas.Design/methodology/approachSix empirical studies were conducted to identify the brand sacredness construct domains, develop and validate the measurement and test the nomological network between brand sacredness and it antecedent and outcome variables.FindingsResults from a series of studies provided robust supports for the scale structure and demarcated the construct domains from other consumer–brand relationship measures. Testing of nomological validity of the scale further showed that brand sacredness is influenced by brand love, emotional brand attachment and brand loyalty and, meanwhile, provides explanatory power to predict theoretically related outcome variables, including transcendent consumer experience, defense of brand, incorporation brand in extended-self, brand ritualism and brand evangelism.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is based on cross-sectional survey data obtained from respondents belonging to well-established brand communities. A longitudinal study involving recent and emerging brand communities could provide an enhanced understanding of the evolution of brand sacredness with time, including brand sacralizaton process as well as possible de-sacralization process.Practical implicationsThe study provides significant insights for brand managers to create an enduring brand and ascertain that consumers find their affiliations with the brand and make it the sacred core of their lives by fandom management through brand evangelism.Originality/valueThis study adds to the theory on consumer–brand relationship realm by delineating the domains of brand sacredness with its defining feature of extraordinary experience transcending an ordinary brand. It contributes to the existing body of branding and customer-based brand equity literature by incorporating the spiritual aspects of faith, passion and devotion into measuring the value of a brand.

A Case Study of BIM Implementation in Rail Track Rehabilitation

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an Industry 4.0 methodology that is increasingly used in the domain of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC). BIM emerges as a new methodology, one that is more collaborative and based on parametric three-Dimensional (3D) models, centralizing different types of information of a geometric, physical, and economic nature. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the application of the BIM methodology to a rail track rehabilitation case study using a geotextile and geogrid in the ballast layer base. The creation of the 3D and 4D BIM models was performed using various BIM-based tools, which made it possible to achieve the spatial and parametric representation of the rail track and the simulation of the main construction tasks. A new BIM object pertaining to the rail track was created. This paper describes the procedures applied in achieving the BIM models, the limitations involved, and the interoperability between the BIM tools. Additionally, the potential for information extraction with respect to the infrastructure design, construction, and operation, e.g., planning and scheduling, quantities, graphic outputs, and track geometry quality, was demonstrated. It was concluded that the BIM methodology was viable and could be implemented with benefits, despite certain difficulties and limitations, which emphasize the need for further developments.