Construction Domain Research Articles

Tensile and Flexural Behaviour of Basalt Composites with Silicon Carbide Fillers

The requisite in need of biopolymer materials in the automotive, aerospace, biomedical, sports and construction domains driven the present research attempt. The research aims to fabricate a novel natural composite with improved properties by dispersing silicon carbide as a micro filler. The basalt fiber epoxy composite is fabricated by hand layup method at a different weight percentage of silicon carbide, namely 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10%. The developed basalt fiber epoxy composite’s mechanical behaviour was characterized through hardness, tensile and flexural tests. The maximum hardness of 92.4 HV0.3 is obtained for the composite with 10 wt.% silicon carbide. The density and percentage of water absorption are increased with an increase in silicon carbide fillers’ dispersion. The dispersion of silicon carbide fillers on the basalt fiber epoxy composite resulted in the enhancement of tensile strength to 221.3 MPa, i.e., 25.74% rise in tensile strength for composite with 7.5 wt.% silicon carbide filler. The dispersion of silicon carbide fillers on the basalt fiber epoxy composite showed a reduction in flexural strength. Further, the fractography analysis of the fractured samples displayed the dominant failure mechanisms. Delamination shows a more significant contribution to the reduction of flexural strength of the developed composite.

A New Framework to Address BIM Interoperability in the AEC Domain from Technical and Process Dimensions

Building information modelling (BIM) is an integrated informational process and plays a key role in enabling efficient planning and control of a project in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) domain. Industry foundation classes- (IFC-) based BIM allows building information to be interoperable among different BIM applications. Different stakeholders take different responsibilities in a project and therefore keep different types of information to meet project requirements. In this paper, the authors proposed and adopted a six-step methodology to support BIM interoperability between architectural design and structural analysis at both AEC project level and information level, in which (1) the intrinsic and extrinsic information transferred between architectural models and structural models was analyzed and demonstrated by a business process model and notation (BPMN) model that the authors developed; (2) the proposed technical routes with different combinations and their applications to different project delivery methods provided new instruments to stakeholders in industry for efficient and accurate decision making; (3) a new material-centered invariant signature with portability can improve information exchange between different data formats and models to support interoperable BIM applications; and (4) a newly developed formal material information representation and checking method was tested on a case study where its efficiency was demonstrated to outperform (i) proprietary representations and information checking method based on a manual operation, and (ii) the model view definition (MVD)-based information checking method. The proposed invariant signature-based material information representation and checking method brings a better efficiency for information transfer between architectural design and structural analysis, which can have significant positive effects on a project delivery due to the frequent and iterative update of a project design. This improves the information transfer and coordination between architects and structural engineers and therefore the efficiency of the whole project. The proposed method can be extended and applied to other application phases and functions such as cost estimation, scheduling, and energy analysis.

Integrative data processing for cyber-physical off-site and on-site construction promoting co-design

The term co-design describes a collaborative design process, usually across the boundaries of individual areas. A major aspect, and often an obstacle in the implementation of the co-design approach, is the establishment of a centralized data management system. In the past, the data management concept has been approached from different perspectives. Current approaches usually are oriented along the process chain and thus reflect a unidirectional flow of information. Neither the information feedback nor the reaction to adjustments in upstream model steps is supported, which makes continuous collaboration more difficult and at best reduces the co-design approach for continuous data usage. This paper addresses these weaknesses while outlining an integrative data processing concept enabling co-design between the domains of construction and industrial prefabrication.Geometrical information generated during architectural design and construction planning is reused for the production of components, manufacturing-related design adjustments are transferred back into the domain of construction. Changes throughout the entire process are centrally recorded. To ensure independence from the software tools used and to consider their great diversity, data exchange is largely based on standards, namely industry foundation classes and the standard for the exchange of product model data. In order to counteract the sequential processing according to a waterfall model and to support the co-design approach, the industrial prefabrication toolchain, consisting of computer-aided manufacturing software and downstream postprocessors, is largely automated, so that reprocessing of a workpiece for minor geometric adjustments no longer requires any interaction of the production planner.

Development of an Instrument to Assess Pre-Service Teachers’ Attitudes on Person-Centered Behavior Toward Students (APBS): Gathering Validity Evidence Based on Test Content

This study aims to gather content validity evidence for the APBS questionnaire. Although validation based on test content is one of the most essential steps in instrument development, it is often neglected or insufficiently documented. Using deductive test construction strategies, definitions of the construct domains “unconditional prizing”, “non-judgmental empathic understanding” and “congruence” were developed and 189 items were formulated. Ten subject matter experts evaluated the items’ suitability in terms of relevance, unambiguity, and comprehensibility. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses indicated test content's appropriateness for assessing the intended construct. The least appropriate items were excluded or reformulated, resulting in a preliminary 114-item test version, which needs to undergo further validation studies. Implications for validation studies based on test content are discussed.

A rank order of determinants of construction organisations' performance in New Zealand

There are certain factors within and outside organisations that can influence organisational performance. The presence or absence of those factors impacts organisations' ability to gain a competitive advantage over their rivals. As a risk-prone business sector, construction organisations need to identify those determinants that could ensure their superior performance. To date, global studies have identified many determinants that govern the performance of construction organisations. However, few of these are known in New Zealand, and their weightings could be useful in forming business strategies. Therefore, this paper measures the significance of identified determinants of construction organisational performance. A total of 100 professionals participated in a questionnaire survey administered using a snowball sampling technique. The Relative Importance Index approach was used to rank the determinants according to their importance to organisational performance. Five main determinants were significant and ranked highly, with more than 80% relative importance index scores. These determinants are resources and capabilities, competitive strategies, organisational characteristics, environmental factors, and customers relationship management. This finding provides a useful benchmark for future research on the significance of some determinants that could explain the performance differentials experienced in the construction domain in New Zealand

The Maudsley 3-item Visual Analogue Scale (M3VAS): Validation of a scale measuring core symptoms of depression

AimsLow mood and anhedonia are the core symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, there is no established visual analogue scale that measures pervasiveness of both symptoms. We aimed to validate the Maudsley 3-item Visual Analogue Scale (M3VAS) as a measure of core depressive symptoms and suicidality. MethodsThis is a cross-sectional secondary analysis combining data from two randomised controlled trials covering a broad range of depression severity from euthymia to severe depression. We validated the M3VAS by testing: 1) latent construct domains using factor analysis; 2) internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha; and 3) convergent validity by correlating M3VAS scores against scores on the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-16 item (QIDS-SR-16), which is validated for use in clinical trials. ResultsOf 180 patients in the combined cohort, 177 (98.3%) provided complete data on the M3VAS and QIDS-SR-16. The mean (SD) age was 41.6 (13.0) years and 59.3% were female. Using factor analysis, one eigenvalue above 1 was produced (2.39) that explained 79.6% of the variance, indicating a one-factor model. Cronbach's alpha was 0.87, demonstrating good internal consistency. Total M3VAS scores correlated strongly (r = 0.72, p<0.001) with QIDS-SR-16 scores, indicating good convergent validity. LimitationsThis was a cross-sectional study and was not validated against a clinician-rated assessment for depression. ConclusionThe M3VAS is a simple, valid instrument for the assessment of core depressive symptoms and suicidality across the depression spectrum. Future studies should test the longitudinal validity of the M3VAS in detecting changes in core depressive symptoms and suicidality over time.

Towards Complexity and Dynamics: A Bibliometric-Qualitative Review of Network Research in Construction

Social network analysis (SNA) has gained increasing academic attention in the construction domain over the past two decades due to its capability to characterize the complexity and dynamics of interindividual and interorganizational interactions. To date, however, scant attempt has been made to develop an integrated framework to systematically review the diversified network research at different levels in this domain and to quantitatively characterize the evolution of related research interests and research instruments. This study aims to fill this gap by conducting a bibliometric-qualitative review based on 106 papers published from 1997 to 2020. Keyword cooccurrence analysis is employed to reveal the research foci, identify the research trends, and develop a comprehensive categorization framework, which classifies related research based on two interrelated dimensions: the type of network node (individual and organization) and the levelof network analysis (project level, corporate level, and industry level). The framework then facilitates further content analysis in terms of research topics, research designs, and research instruments. The results provide evidence that the research foci in this domain are generally moving towards addressing the complexity and dynamics of project-related relations at more diversified levels, in terms of not only research topics but also research instruments. Future research can be enriched by investigating the multiple types of dynamic interproject relationships, adopting state-of-the-art methodologies for network data collection and triangulation, and employing multiple SNA constructs and inferential statistical methods to reveal how complex networks coevolve and interact with actors’ behaviors as well as project and organizational outcomes.

Measurement properties of all versions of the Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL) 2.0: a systematic review protocol.

The aim of this review is to critically appraise and summarize the quality of the measurement properties of all versions of the Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL) version 2.0. The Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale version 2.0 was developed as a comprehensive measure in assessing the quality of life of stroke survivors. The shortened version and cross-culturally translated versions are further developed in different countries. A systematic review will clarify the levels of reliability and validity of all versions. The population of interest for this review will include adult stroke survivors of either sex diagnosed with a stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) who have no other comorbidities affecting their quality of life. The SS-QOL version 2.0 will be the specific instrument of interest, and the quality of life of stroke survivors will be the construct of interest in this review. The measures of reliability, validity, and responsiveness will be assessed as outcomes. Only the studies evaluating the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of all versions of the SS-QOL 2.0 will be included in the review. A literature search will be conducted for published studies in MEDLINE and Embase, and unpublished data in Google Scholar and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. After a three-step search strategy, study selection will be done by two reviewers independently. Then, the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) methodology will be applied for assessment of methodological quality, data extraction, and synthesis. PROSPERO CRD42020211727.

Assessing the Recovery Opportunities of Different Types of Wastes by their Embedment in Inorganic Binders

The use of wastes in the architecture of new binders for construction domain is the key for the success of the progress regarding environmental, technical and economical issues. For instance, bricks wastes have huge recycling value but are often discarded for worthless junk. The wastes glasses which are difficult to be recovered are regularly disposed in landfflls although they successfully could replace the fine and coarse aggregates in concrete. More than that the glass aggregates can be used for decoration of concrete structure floors, patio, entrances etc. Paper slag ash has a similar chemical composition to that of cement, but the mineral phase composition significantly differs and is no reactive with water. Therefore she can be used in the production of concrete, a beneficial idea regarding exhaustible resources and intelligent recycling within circular economy and durable development context. Although the large paper producers fight with this challenge, until now the construction industry didn’t find the courage to tackle these opportunities, continuing to adopt classical methods for designing construction materials. In this context the paper presents reuse potential of different types of wastes as supplementary addition for cement based materials obtaining. In order to demonstrate their functionality the new mortars specimens were mechanically tested. The obtained results highlighted of many times similar properties with that of the classical compositions, sustaining thus the idea of sustainable development within civil industry domain.

“Traditions” from Folklore Studies to Media Product and the Beginnings of Broadcasting in Romania

The rhetorical logic of the discourse which is currently building the image of the junction between tradition and nation (and of the concepts thus required) is also due to processing this discourse in the media. That is to say that the connection between media communication and the political instrumentalization of traditions as a domain of national constructs has offered proper soil for shaping the political and ideological narratives based on nation. The use of some concepts, such as nation, national culture, traditions and folklore in the first decades of the 20th century, and their instrumentalization as radio products, created the premises and particularly the pattern of some specific discursive constructions regarding the nation- state. These were meant to be integrated, embraced and, especially, reproduced on a large scale. Therefore, the discourse focused on national identity – with all its constitutive elements (the state, the language, the history and traditions) – could disseminate a unique hypostasis, shaped under political control, which thus legitimated it. From 1928, the year when the first radio programs were broadcast, until directly after the 1950s, when the recording of the radio programs on magnetic tape was a common professional practice, the only documents that could be considered today are the written texts of the radio programs (conferences, educational or informative programs, political, agricultural news, etc.). Between 1925, when The Romanian Society of Radiotelephony was established, and 1948, the year when the communist regime officially came into power, Romanian radio programs broadcast discourses on a broad range of topics and for a large audience. The present study focuses on the ethnological one. We are interested in how the ethnological discourse rooted in the aforementioned time period also built a media hypostasis for addressing the entire society, and in how programs dedicated to “traditions” bear the signs of this structuring process.

Technology opportunity discovery based on constructing, evaluating, and searching knowledge networks

Discovering and seizing technology opportunities is key to innovation at all levels. However, there are several open issues in the existing research into the discovery of technology opportunities, such as the insufficient specification of technology opportunities, defining the features of opportunities in a way that may lead to the exclusion of some valuable opportunities, and a lack of empirical support for evaluation criteria. This study proposes a new approach to technology opportunity discovery that attempts to address these issues. Our approach uses patents as a data source and constructs domain knowledge networks (DKNs) automatically based on the syntactic dependencies of technological words. We represent technology opportunities as connected sub-networks within DKNs and use a regression analysis of historical patents to obtain significant variables that affect the value of technology opportunities. These are then used to form an objective function for searching for and interpreting optimal opportunities. Ant colony optimization is applied to discover the optimal set of technology opportunities. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach are demonstrated by empirical research into a technology for measuring mechanical vibrations or sound waves by electromagnetic means.

The Nurse Leader’s Role:: A Conduit for Professional Identity Formation and Sustainability

The development of professional identity in nursing (PIN) is essential to the education, advancement, and brand image of nursing, and to demonstrate the impact on patients’ health and well-being. Unfortunately, the construct of PIN has not been well-established. To further shape and distinguish the concept, 3 think tanks were held between 2018 and 2020, resulting in the recognition that nursing leadership is a primary conduit to influence PIN. How leaders role model, improve practice environments, and foster lifelong learning greatly contributes to the formation and sustainability of the professional identity of nurses and the next generation of leaders.

A REVIEW AND CONCEPTUALIZATION FOR SOCIAL COLLABORATION ACHIEVEMENT IN BIM CONSTRUCTION CONTEXT

The emergence of widespread advanced digital technologies being utilised into the construction industry practices adds a new dimension to the better integration and collaboration of construction projects. Nowadays, Building Information Modelling (BIM) is recognized as a modern tool to enhance greater visualisation of project information and provides opportunities for an effective communication platform within a multi-organisations context. Despite the wave of enthusiasm for BIM studies having shown exceptional benefits, the context of social collaboration across multi-organisations is still limited. Thus, this paper aims to present the review of key indicators towards social collaboration achievement within multi-organisations in the BIM construction context. Based on a comprehensive review, five key indicators are identified that contribute to the social collaboration achievement in BIM construction context. Including organisational perspectives, foundational setting, behavioural perspective, educational perspective and enforcement platform. The findings also revealed the extend of the spectrum of collaboration literature in the context of construction domain particularly on characterisation and its importance towards social collaboration within a multi-organisation in digital environment.

Modified scales for organizational identification and organizational disidentification for the foodservice industry.

This study is to test whether social identity theory can be applied to employees in the foodservice industry. Modified measures of OI and ODI using a mixed-method developed and tested and presented empirical evidence for the reliability and validity of the scales. To specify the domain of construct, the existing measures of social identification varied across studies were reviewed. A preliminary list of OI and ODI measurement scales were generated based on previous measures and data from personal interviews with foodservice workers. An expert group reviewed items and removed irrelevant and redundant ones. Also, two online surveys were conducted to validate the measurements and identify the underlying structures of the constructs. The findings of this study suggest that the final measures of OI and ODI using the categorical dimension approach are one-dimensional, reliable, and valid.

Who is responsible for construction safety in Australia? A STAMP analysis

Limitations surrounding knowledge of the construction safety operating system have contributed to a failure to understand and prevent fatal incidents. The aim of this paper is to present a control structure model of construction in Australia to provide an improved understanding of the construction operating system. The model was developed by applying and extending the Systems Theoretic and Accident Model and Processes (STAMP) method to show the actors, organisations, controls, communication loops and relationships that are involved in managing safety throughout the Australian construction industry. The control structure was validated by subject matter experts from across all levels of the system. The analysis highlights a disconnect between the upper and lower levels of the system in terms of feedback mechanisms and relationships that limit the understanding and effectiveness of safety controls. To demonstrate the limitations of current approaches to understanding accident causation in the construction domain, the model is used to represent the findings from a recent Coronial investigation into a fatal construction incident. The benefits of applying systems thinking in accident analysis and countermeasure development by construction organisations, clients, regulators and law makers are discussed.

Exploratory study of user-perceived effectiveness of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) integration in visual inspections of transportation agency

This research assesses the effectiveness of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and provides further implications and recommendations for UAS-based visual inspections in the construction and infrastructure environment. This study includes field tests at infrastructure projects provided by Georgia DOT, as well as semi-structured interviews and survey questionnaires after the field tests. A total of three field test locations were selected, including an airport, bridge, and road. During the field tests, eight UAS platforms were used to collect various data, including still images, infrared images, and video. Interviews with and a survey of industry professionals participating in the field tests were employed to measure the effectiveness of UAS integration into their construction-related task environments. The results of this study will assist in implementing UAS in infrastructure construction and operations. Since only a small number of potential UAS users from the field tests and post-test interviews, this study qualitatively describes further implications based on users’ perceptions, prompting the integration of UAS into the domain of infrastructure construction and operation.

Construção e validação de um instrumento para avaliação clínica e psicossocial de sobreviventes da UTI

Objetivos: Descrever a elaboração de um instrumento de avaliação clínica e psicossocial de pacientes pós alta da UTI, submetê-lo ao processo de validação de conteúdo e, verificar a aplicabilidade do instrumento na população alvo. Metodologia: Estudo de desenvolvimento metodológico, fundamentado no modelo de validação de conteúdo de Pasquali (1998), realizado em três etapas: construção dos itens, avaliação do instrumento por um painel de especialistas nas áreas de enfermagem, fisioterapia, nutrição, psicologia e serviço social e, por fim, a análise das respostas dos avaliadores por meio do Índice de Validade de Conteúdo (CVI) e o Índice de Concordância Interavaliadores (IRA). Após a validação, o instrumento foi aplicado na população alvo. Resultados: A maioria dos avaliadores possui título de doutorado (67%), com tempo médio de experiência de 17,6 ± 8,38 anos, estando a maior parte atuando na área de docência e assistência. Houve pouca discordância entre os especialistas na análise das questões de acordo com os domínios do construto. A maioria dos itens foi avaliada positivamente, recebendo uma pontuação acima de 80%, obedecendo ao critério de validação do instrumento. Os itens que não atingiram esta pontuação foram reformulados e/ou excluídos. A versão final do inquérito foi aplicada em um grupo de pacientes pós alta da UTI e mostrou-se satisfatoriamente compreensível indicando validade semântica. Conclusão: O instrumento obteve uma avaliação global positiva em relação aos quesitos propostos sendo considerado válido no que se refere ao conteúdo e à aplicabilidade na população de pacientes seis meses após a alta da UTI.

Patterns and trends in Internet of Things (IoT) research: future applications in the construction industry

PurposeThe Internet of Things (IoT) provides exciting opportunities for the construction industry to solve its time and resource constraints and frequent defaults. This study seeks to identify and rank the perceived importance level of principal research areas associated with the IoT and the construction industry by utilising a scientific mapping tool (i.e. VOSviewer). Such knowledge would enable key drivers for successful adoption of the IoT and digitisation technologies to be outlined. An analysis of key drivers and research trends that facilitates the development of a roadmap for applying the IoT and digital technologies in the construction sector is therefore much needed.Design/methodology/approachAn interpretivist philosophical lens was adopted to analyse published work as secondary data, where each publication represented a unit of analysis. A total of 417 peer-reviewed journal review articles covering the IoT within the construction domain were systematically reviewed using a mixed-methods approach, utilising qualitative-scientometric analyses techniques.FindingsThe results revealed a field of study in a fledgling stage, with a limited number of experts operating somewhat in isolation and offering single-point solutions instead of taking an integrated “holistic” approach. Key publication outlets were identified and the main focus of research undertaken being in the technical areas of smart buildings, smart construction objects and environmental sustainability. The major effects of adopting the IoT within the construction industry were identified as high-speed reporting, complete process control, data explosion leading to deep data analytics, strict ethical and legal expectations. Key drivers of the IoT adoption were outlined: interoperability; data privacy and security; flexible governance structures; proper business planning and models.Practical implicationsThe study benefits researchers and industry practitioners alike. For researchers, the identified gaps reveal areas of high priority in future research. For construction companies, particularly small to medium-sized businesses, the study raises awareness of the latest developments and potential applicability of the IoT in the industry. For government agencies and policymakers, this study offers a point of reference in directing the adoption of the IoT smoothly in the construction sector and provides guidelines and standards for maximising the potential benefits.Originality/valueThe study is the first scientometric review of the existing body of knowledge in the context of application of the IoT in the construction industry. Findings expose knowledge gaps in contemporary research, specifically, a broader consideration of organisational adjustments needed to accommodate the IoT usage, economic analyses and impediments to wider acceptance.

D-linked and non-d-linkedwh-questions in L2 French and L3 English

AbstractThis study considers L2 French and L3 English ultimate attainment among L1 Moroccan Arabic adult learners. It contrasts the acquisition of two types ofwh-questions: discourse-linked and non-discourse-linked questions in root and embedded forms. The results of two acceptability judgment tasks indicate that the advanced learners in L2 French and L3 English are nativelike on d-linkedwh-questions but less accurate on non-discourse-linked interrogatives. They successfully unlearn resumption as an L1 strategy to form discourse-linked questions. Therefore, contra the prediction of the Interface Hypothesis, discourse-linking is acquirable though it is a property of the syntax-discourse interface. It does not pose more learning difficulty than quantification (formalwh-feature) of narrow syntax. The study indicates that embedding and thereby the processing cognitive load are the deterministic variables, not the language domain of constructions.

DIGITAL TWINNING OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT – AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TOPIC FOR INNOVATION IN DIDACTICS

Abstract. The concept of a Digital Twin (DT) takes an increasingly important role in the construction industry and related research fields. It is a concept associated with Industry 4.0; however, the scientific literature does not provide a unique and clear definition of this concept. This paper aims to analyse the definitions of the digital twin to clarify this concept in the related fields of architecture, engineering and construction (AEC). Moreover, this work proposes and employs the concept of a Digital Twin as an objective for a project-based learning approach in a didactical setting. As an interdisciplinary approach, this work demonstrates the potential impact on the traditional didactical frameworks in the educational domain of construction and its value as an opportunity to introduce interdisciplinary expertise to all students in these fields. This work presents a use case applying the concept at the School of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geomatics of FHNW.