Engineering Construction Projects Research Articles

Recent developments in building sustainable marine fisheries in China: Reflections on the 2023 Revision of the Marine Environmental Protection Law

As the ocean provides an environmental carrier for fisheries development, sustainable marine fisheries and marine environmental protection are highly synergistic and consistent. Facing traditional and emerging crises such as marine pollution, overfishing and climate change, China revised the Marine Environmental Protection Law in 2023. This article aims to evaluate whether the newly revised Marine Environmental Protection Law effectively responds to crises of sustainable development in marine fisheries and how it contributes to sustainable marine fisheries. The study has found that the 2023 revision enriches and improves China’s legal regimes on marine fisheries from multiple aspects, covering marine environmental supervision, marine ecological protection and the prevention and control of land-based pollution, engineering construction projects pollution, waste dumping pollution, vessel pollution and legal responsibility. The newly revised Marine Environmental Protection Law not only refines the institutional norms and intensifies the legal responsibilities of violations but also improves the systemic nature of the legislation, thus providing stronger legal guarantees for sustainable marine fisheries. However, there are also legislative shortcomings such as unclear connotations of the newly established legal regimes and insufficient response to overfishing and climate change. Nevertheless, China’s newly revised Marine Environmental Protection Law applies the methodology of integrated ecosystem management and comprehensively utilized regulatory measures such as command-and-control tools, honor encouragement and economic incentives to enhance its regulatory effect, also providing implications and insights for addressing the challenges of sustainable marine fisheries on a global scale.

Insights into potential of banana leaf powder as a mud soil stabilizer

This study proposes a novel method for managing surplus soil in urban construction projects by investigating the use of banana leaf powder (BLP) as an eco-friendly and efficient mud-soil stabilizer. This study is pioneering in its focus on the use of an agricultural waste product, BLP, as an alternative to conventional methods that frequently rely on cement or lime, which pose environmental concerns owing to their high alkalinity and carbon emissions. BLP, derived from dried and pulverized banana leaves, traditionally used in various industries, was evaluated for its suitability as a stabilizer against orange peel biopolymer (OBP) and fly ash (FA). The findings of this study are groundbreaking. BLP's water absorption capacity, Wab, although lower than that of OBP, was significantly higher than that of FA, demonstrating its potential as a mud soil stabilizer. BLP increased the compaction and strength of the treated clay, whereas OBP made it more challenging to compact the clay owing to gelatinization. The ease of compaction with BLP is attributed to the absorption of free water into the pores of the particles. These results suggest that differences in the stabilizer's water absorption mechanism affect the effectiveness of the post-treatment compaction process on the treated soil. An analysis of the impact of water absorption capacity on the cone index, qc, revealed a material-independent relationship between the parameter β (=Wab × A, where A denotes stabilizer addition content) and qc for BLP and FA. This is because, in contrast to OBP, BLP and FA did not gelatinize the free water that was not absorbed by the stabilizer and remained in the same form within the treated clay. This indicates that understanding the water absorption capacity and mechanism of organic- or inorganic-based stabilizers is important for predicting the strength of treated soil. The same relationship between β and qc holds true for the hybrid-treated clay using both BLP and FA, with β considered to be the sum of β for both BLP and FA. Furthermore, this study innovatively addresses the concern of BLP decay in treated soil by creating a hybrid stabilizer with FA and conducting experiments to accelerate BLP decay using fungal mycelia. These experiments revealed that the hybrid-treated clay exhibited a more gradual decrease in carbon content and stabilized pH levels, implying that FA could inhibit decay by fungal mycelia, improving the BLP-treated soil's long-term durability. These findings suggest that agricultural wastes with high organic content can be effectively used for soil stabilization and ground improvement in civil engineering construction and maintenance projects by combining inorganic materials and taking advantage of their properties, such as high water absorbency. This can address the issues (such as high alkalinity and high carbon dioxide emissions) associated with cement- and lime-based stabilizers, which were previously widely used.

Evaluating the Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Managing Construction Engineering Projects

This study evaluates the impact of utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) in managing construction engineering projects. With the increasing complexity and scale of construction projects, AI offers promising solutions to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making processes. The study investigates the potential benefits, challenges, and practical applications of AI through detailed case studies. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research methods. Data was collected through literature reviews and case studies where AI had been successfully implemented. The analyses included comparisons between projects that used AI and those that did not. The findings demonstrated significant improvements in project efficiency, cost estimation accuracy, and risk management. For instance, AI-powered systems reduced scheduling errors by 35%, leading to more accurate timelines. Additionally, the integration led to a 20% reduction in project durations due to improved resource allocation and proactive risk management. Furthermore, AI-supported systems contributed to a 25% improvement in stakeholder satisfaction. In terms of cost estimation, AI-powered estimation tools improved the accuracy of cost estimates by 30%, helping to reduce budget overruns by 40%. In risk management, AI-supported tools enhanced the accuracy of risk identification by 45%, leading to the early detection of potential issues and the development of effective mitigation strategies that reduced the impact of risks by 30%. Thanks to these improvements, project success rates increased by 20%. These results demonstrate that integrating AI into the management of engineering construction projects can lead to tangible improvements in project efficiency, cost accuracy, and risk management, thereby enhancing stakeholder satisfaction and contributing to more successful project outcomes.

Predicting the Compressive Strength of Sustainable Portland Cement-Fly Ash Mortar Using Explainable Boosting Machine Learning Techniques.

Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) is a critical property for assessing the engineering performances of sustainable materials, such as cement-fly ash mortar (CFAM), in the design of construction engineering projects. The experimental determination of UCS is time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, the present study aims to model the UCS of CFAM with boosting machine learning methods. First, an extensive database consisting of 395 experimental data points derived from the literature was developed. Then, three typical boosting machine learning models were employed to model the UCS based on the database, including gradient boosting regressor (GBR), light gradient boosting machine (LGBM), and Ada-Boost regressor (ABR). Additionally, the importance of different input parameters was quantitatively analyzed using the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) approach. Finally, the best boosting machine learning model's prediction accuracy was compared to ten other commonly used machine learning models. The results indicate that the GBR model outperformed the LGBM and ABR models in predicting the UCS of the CFAM. The GBR model demonstrated significant accuracy, with no significant difference between the measured and predicted UCS values. The SHAP interpretations revealed that the curing time (T) was the most critical feature influencing the UCS values. At the same time, the chemical composition of the fly ash, particularly Al2O3, was more influential than the fly-ash dosage (FAD) or water-to-binder ratio (W/B) in determining the UCS values. Overall, this study demonstrates that SHAP boosting machine learning technology can be a useful tool for modeling and predicting UCS values of CFAM with good accuracy. It could also be helpful for CFAM design by saving time and costs on experimental tests.

Production Efficiency and Its Applications in Some Engineering Construction Projects

Production Efficiency and Its Applications in Some Engineering Construction Projects

Evaluating social media in architecture, engineering, construction and operation industry: a Nigerian perspective on applications and benefits

PurposeIn several developing contexts, the delivery of Architecture, Engineering Construction and Operation (AECO) projects continually grapples with issues such as fragmented communication, a lack of transparency, safety and risk management concerns. These problems result from the use of traditional construction practices and insufficient technology integration. Therefore, there is a pressing need to enhance communication, transparency and collaboration within construction projects in these countries through the improved utilization of innovative tools. Consequently, this study empirically assesses both the application areas and the benefits associated with the adoption of social media within the Nigerian construction industry.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a quantitative research approach that utilized a structured questionnaire to collect responses from construction professionals. The respondents were selected using a combination of purposive and snowball sampling techniques, resulting in a 75% response rate. Data analysis included mean score value (MSV), standard deviations and normality testing (Shapiro-Wilk) to assess data characteristics. The Kruskal-Wallis H-test was used for further analysis due to the ordinal nature of the data.FindingsThe findings of this study indicate that social media can be effectively used in project management, communication, safety management, as well as marketing and branding of AECO projects. The most significant benefits of using social media in construction activities include building trust and credibility, enhancing crisis communication and improving project collaboration.Originality/valueThis study introduces a fresh perspective by showcasing the transformative potential of social media, traditionally viewed as a communication tool, in addressing complex issues in construction project delivery. Consequently, the findings of this study can offer a paradigm shift in the way construction professionals, policymakers and industry stakeholders perceive and harness the capabilities of social media.

An Experimental Study Focusing on the Filling Process and Consolidation Characteristics of Geotextile Tubes Filled with Fine-Grained Tungsten Tailings

With advancements in mineral processing technology, the disposal of fine-grained tailings has increasingly become a significant challenge. The geotextile tube method, characterized by its use of a permeable fabric and its cost-effectiveness, has gradually been applied in dam construction and other engineering projects involving tailings. This method offers a novel approach to addressing the storage issues of fine-grained tailings and promotes sustainable utilization. In this paper, the fine tailings that remained after the cyclone classification of Ganzhou tungsten ore were taken as the research object. Specifically, this research endeavored to evaluate the effects of various filling heights and concentrations on the geotextile tube-filling and consolidation process. The results revealed that the filling concentration had a significant impact on the filling benefit of the geotextile tubes, while the filling height had a minimal effect. During the consolidation drainage stage, the dry density, internal friction angle, cohesion, and compression modulus of the tailings in the bags increased with an increasing consolidation time and filling concentration. However, the physical and mechanical properties of the tailings in the geotextile tubes decreased with an increased filling height. Ultimately, this research developed a hyperbolic equation that makes it possible to forecast the ultimate settlement value at various filling heights and concentrations, better representing how the settlement of geotextile tubes changes over the consolidation time.

Emergency logistics siting-path question for engineering construction projects based on quantum particle swarm algorithm

Emergency material security is the key to post-disaster emergency relief in complex environment engineering construction projects. Aiming at the emergency logistics center site path planning problem, the uncertain parameters of congestion time and maximum rescue time are described using trapezoidal fuzzy numbers, and the emergency logistics site path model of the two-phase engineering construction project is established. A quantum particle swarm optimization model is designed to avoid premature population convergence and maintain population diversity. The particle swarm algorithm uses the quantum spin gate’s rotation angle update to represent the particle velocity update. Taking the engineering construction project in the western mountainous area as an example, the validity and applicability of the model are verified through model comparison and sensitivity analysis. The results of the example show that in the complex environment, the quantum particle swarm algorithm takes 29.35 s in convergence time, and the particle swarm algorithm takes 40.12 s, which is 36.69% higher than the efficiency of PSO. In total cost, the quantum particle swarm algorithm has a total cost of 46,632.40 RMB, and the particle swarm algorithm has a total cost of 48,319.51 RMB, which is 3.62% lower than the cost of PSO. The quantum particle swarm algorithm’s total distance is 550.57 km, and the particle swarm algorithm’s total distance is 579.35 km, 5.23% lower than the total distance of PSO. The model established in this study can scientifically select the location of emergency facilities and formulate the emergency rescue path, reduce the response time of emergency rescue and storage costs, and provide decision support for the scheduling of emergency supplies for engineering construction projects in complex and dangerous areas.

Multi-objective location-routing model and algorithm study of material reserve bases for large-scale railway engineering construction projects

Material supply is an important support for engineering construction and an important factor affecting the progress and quality of engineering construction. A multi-objective mixed-integer nonlinear programming model is proposed for the location routing problem of the material reserve base of large-scale railway engineering construction projects, considering realistic factors like the construction period, the cycle of the material reserve, the variety of materials, the heterogeneous fleet, and demand splitting. An improved Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA- II) is developed for solving this model. This paper optimises obtaining the initial population based on the linear feature of railway engineering, improves the fitness function, and designs a two-stage crossover operator. In addition, the algorithm is compared with the augmented ϵ-constraint method with the help of a practical example. Three metrics are used to assess the performance of the algorithm's outputs, and two metrics are used to assess the similarity of the Pareto fronts obtained by the two algorithms. The results show that the proposed algorithm performs better in terms of ‘quantity’ and ‘spacing’, that the Pareto solutions obtained are accurate, and that the speed of solution is almost 10 times that of the augmented ϵ-constraint (AUGMECON) method.

Construction Method and Practical Application of Oil and Gas Field Surface Engineering Case Database Based on Knowledge Graph

To address the challenge of quickly and efficiently accessing relevant management experience for a wide range of ground engineering construction projects, supporting project management with information technology is crucial. This includes the establishment of a case database and an application platform for intelligent search and recommendations. The article leverages Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology, knowledge graph technology, and Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology. It explores the mechanisms for classifying construction cases, methods for constructing a case database, structuring case data, intelligently retrieving and matching cases, and intelligent recommendation methods. This research forms a complete, feasible, and scalable method for deconstructing, storing, intelligently retrieving, and recommending construction cases, providing a theoretical basis for the establishment of a construction case database. It aims to meet the needs of digital project management and intelligent decision-making support in the oil and gas sector, thereby enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of project construction. This work offers a theoretical foundation for the development of an intelligent management platform for ground engineering projects in the oil and gas industry, supporting the sector’s digital transformation and intelligent development.

Research on the evolutionary control of unsafe behavior of construction personnel based on multi-field coupled-homogeneous analysis model.

Unsafe behavior among construction personnel poses significant risks in petroleum engineering construction projects. This study addresses this issue through the application of a multi-field coupled homogeneous analysis model. By conducting case analyses of petroleum engineering construction accidents and utilizing the WSR methodology, the influencing factors of unsafe behaviors among construction personnel are systematically categorized into organizational system factors, equipment management factors, and construction personnel factors. Subsequently, employing Risk coupling theory, the study delves into the analysis of these influencing factors, discussing their coupling mechanisms and classifications, and utilizing the N-K model to elucidate the coupling effect among them. Furthermore, a novel approach integrating coupling analysis and multi-agent modeling is employed to establish an evolutionary model of construction personnel's unsafe behavior. The findings reveal that a two-factor control method, concurrently reinforcing equipment and construction personnel management, significantly mitigates unsafe behavior. This study provides valuable insights into the evolution of unsafe behavior among construction personnel and offers a robust theoretical framework for targeted interventions. Significantly, it bears practical implications for guiding safety management practices within petroleum engineering construction enterprises. By effectively controlling unsafe behaviors and implementing targeted safety interventions, it contributes to fostering sustainable development within the petroleum engineering construction industry.

Analysis of Full Lifecycle Cost Management of Construction Projects in the Construction Phase

The purpose of this article is to conduct an in-depth analysis of the comprehensive cost management of engineering construction projects during the construction phase, discussing its significance and application in project management. Through an introduction outlining the research background and objectives, the concept, role, as well as relevant theories and methods of comprehensive cost management throughout the project lifecycle are introduced. Subsequently, a detailed presentation of the main aspects of comprehensive cost management during the construction phase is provided, including the budgeting stage, contract stage, implementation stage, and closing stage. This is followed by an analysis of the key factors that influence comprehensive cost management, covering both internal and external factors. Finally, optimization and improvement strategies are suggested, along with a discussion of future research directions and development trends.

Unveiling the Impact of Communication Network on Engineering Project Team Performance: The Interplay of Centralization and Tie Strength.

Recent research has focused on the impact of communication networks on the performance of construction project teams, attempting empirical exploration from various social network analysis perspectives. However, there is still a significant gap in understanding the variations in performance and the mechanisms for teams using different communication networks. Drawing from organizational learning theory and social network theory, this study, based on the Input-Mediator-Output (IMO) model, explores the effects of the interaction between centralization and tie strength in communication networks on team performance, as well as the mediating mechanisms of knowledge sharing behavior and team resilience performance in engineering project teams. Drawing on classic group communication experiment, we design an online communication and collaboration platform to simulate the execution of a construction engineering project. Finally, data was collected through the communication experiment with 720 participants, and hypotheses were tested using ANOVA and PROCESS. The results indicate that under conditions of weak tie strength, centralized communication networks yield higher performance. Conversely, under conditions of strong tie strength, decentralized communication networks demonstrate superior performance. Furthermore, this study also verifies the mediating role of knowledge sharing behavior and team resilience performance when tie strength is strong. This study focuses on engineering project team, exploring the evolutionary development of knowledge sharing behavior and team resilience performance from the perspective of the interaction of communication network structural characteristics, as well as the paths to enhancing team performance. Our research results highlight the interactive effects of structural indicators and relational indicators of communication networks, revealing the mechanism by which the structure of communication networks impacts team performance. Additionally, from the perspectives of forming and timely adjusting team communication models, and motivating and supporting employee communication behavior, our study provides practical insights for project managers and relevant administrators.

Financial Calculation Problems and Countermeasure Analysis of Large-Scale Engineering Construction Projects

The financial aspects of large-scale engineering construction projects profoundly influence their success. Strengthening cost control and establishing a scientific financial evaluation system can enhance the project’s economic benefits, minimize unnecessary costs, and provide decision-makers with a robust financial foundation. Additionally, implementing an effective cash flow control mechanism and conducting a comprehensive assessment of potential project risks can ensure financial stability and mitigate the risk of fund shortages. Developing a practical and feasible fundraising plan, along with stringent fund management practices, can prevent fund wastage and optimize fund utilization efficiency. These measures not only facilitate smooth project progression and improve project management efficiency but also enhance the project’s economic and social outcomes.

Mechanical Properties of Virgin and Recycled Polymer for Construction Pile Application

Annual polymer waste generated in Malaysia has increased significantly to more than 1 million tonnes. The prolonged degradation periods required by diverse industrial polymer waste streams are a matter of significant concern, with some taking up to 1000 years to fully degrade. Pursuing a similar environmental concern, the use of bakau piles as supports for lightweight structures in Sarawak, including drainage systems, roads, sewerage, and other water-related structures, has become a matter of concern due to the deforestation of mangrove forests. Both bakau deforestation and polymer waste issues are significant environmental and global concerns. The idea of mitigating mangrove degradation and the non-biodegradable nature of polymer waste has led to the conceptualization of an alternative solution whereby recyclable thermoplastic polymer piles are utilized to supplant bakau piles in providing support for lightweight structures during civil engineering construction projects. Therefore, the study of polymer piles is conducted to examine their mechanical properties in the form of virgin (V) and recycled (R) thermoplastic polymers. In this study, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are considered, and the possibility of being utilized in pile application has been discussed. Based on the results, all virgin types of thermoplastic polymers (HDPE, PP, and PVC), 50%V:50%R for PP, PP(R), and PVC(R), respectively, exceed the bakau ultimate tensile strength. Thermoplastic polymer piles showed great potential to be the substitution for bakau piles to serve in the construction industry, with the recorded experimental tensile and compressive strength tests.

Analysis of Water Conservancy Engineering Construction Technology and Quality Control

At the present stage, the development of social economy and science and technology has promoted the prosperity of Chinese water conservancy construction undertakings, some of which water conservancy engineering construction projects have obtained a high level of in- ternational attention and attention. To continue to promote the rapid development of water conservancy construction in our country, it is neces- sary to optimize and perfect construction technology, and strengthen the implementation of quality control measures, to improve the integrity of water conservancy project construction quality. Therefore, this paper briefly analyzes the construction technology and construction quality control of water conservancy projects for reference.

Exploring causes of ineffective material management and impact on successful project deliverables in civil engineering construction projects in Sri Lanka

Purpose Construction material management plays a significant role in achieving successful project delivery of a construction project. However, ineffective material management is a critical issue in the construction industry, especially in developing economies, of which Sri Lanka is not an exception. Therefore, this study aims to focus on exploring the causes of ineffective material management practices in civil engineering construction projects in Sri Lanka and their impact on successful project delivery. Design/methodology/approach Furthermore, the literature findings were validated through the preliminary survey. Subsequently, a quantitative research approach was adopted to pursue the research aim. Questionnaire responses were obtained from 215 construction professionals in civil engineering projects who were selected using the judgemental and snowball sampling techniques. Collected data were analysed through Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) V26 and Microsoft Excel 2016. Findings Moreover, the study revealed that material price fluctuation, shortage of material in the market, delay in material procurement, inadequate planning and delays in material delivery are the most frequent causes of ineffective material management in civil engineering projects. In addition, it was evidenced that most ineffective material management practices cause both time and cost overruns in civil engineering construction projects. Most respondents emphasized inadequate planning, inadequate qualified and experienced staff, lack of supervision and lack of leadership as the causes for both time and cost overruns. Originality/value The study was concluded by proposing strategies for effective material management. Education/training/enlightenment of staff in charge of materials management, use of software like Microsoft Project, Primavera and similar software to eliminate manual errors in material management, and providing clear specifications to suppliers were the most agreed strategies for effective material management in civil engineering construction projects.

Municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash recycling assessment: Carbon emission analysis of bottom ash applied to pavement materials

Inspired by the concept of conserving resources, bottom ash has been increasingly utilized in road construction as a readily available waste material. This study sought to address this gap by quantifying the carbon benefits associated with bottom ash application. Through a comprehensive analysis grounded in life cycle theory, author evaluated the changes in energy consumption and carbon emissions before and after the integration of bottom ash into the road construction process. The analysis employed the raw material production stages of different pavement materials as the system boundary. By determining the optimal amount of bottom ash and calculating the associated values, the study proposed an efficient application scheme for utilizing bottom ash in urban engineering construction projects. The results showed that bottom ash had the least carbon reduction effect in permeable bricks, followed by cement concrete and cement stabilized macadam mixture. The most significant effect was observed in asphalt mixtures. However, energy consumption increased with the addition of bottom ash in asphalt mixtures, whereas it decreased in the other three products. The carbon reduction after applying bottom ash was predicted based on the annual growth rate of urban road construction. Under the premise of maintaining the non-destructive application performance of asphalt mixtures, the optimal carbon reduction benefit for a 20% addition of bottom ash was approximately 17,369.9 tons. In cement-stabilized crushed stone mixtures, the optimal carbon reduction benefit ws achieved with a bottom ash content of 30%, approximately 15,797.7 tons. The practice of utilizing bottom ash in road works was significant in terms of maximising the benefits of carbon reduction.

An Introduction to Civil Engineering Construction Technology in Civil Engineering Construction

The commercial demand and urbanization demand brought about by economic development have increased the quantity and quality requirements of construction projects. Civil engineering in the construction process needs to be supported by a number of technologies, such as foundation technology, steel structure technology, concrete technology, etc., the only way to promote the sustainable development of China's construction industry is to accurately master these technologies. With the continuous improvement of China's economic development, people's living standards have also been improved, and therefore also more aspiring to a better life experience, so for the living environment and conditions put forward higher requirements. As the main place for people to live and reside, the quality of the building and its environment have a greater impact on people's living experience, so the quality of the building is given more attention. As the main participant in the implementation of the building, the construction industry in the construction of housing, it is necessary to pay more attention to the quality, while ensuring the quality of construction, but also need to pay attention to the economic benefits. Along with the rapid development of the country, the scale of urban infrastructure is getting bigger and bigger. The breakthrough and innovation of construction technology in civil engineering construction can not only bring more profits for construction enterprises, but also provide a strong guarantee for the smooth progress of construction projects. In order to realize the quality of civil engineering construction projects, building construction units need to be careful and detailed planning for construction details, standardize the corresponding construction technology. Therefore, this paper discusses the construction technology related to civil engineering construction projects, analyzes the relevant problems and puts forward innovative solutions.

Research on Differences in Knowledge Demand of Sustainability Learning of Teams in Mega Engineering Construction Project in China

Knowledge plays a vital role in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) in construction industry. According to the view of organization learning, heterogeneous teams have heterogeneous core knowledge. The main aim of this study is to explore the differences in demand for sustainability learning knowledge (SLK) among the mega engineering construction project (MECP) teams, which has important implications for improving the performance of team learning and achieving SDGs in MECPs. This study followed a research design that included identifying SLK and the stakeholder teams that needed SLK and investigating the respondents’ perception of the level of demands for SLK through semistructured interviews and survey questionnaires executed in China. The statistical test results indicated that there were some significant differences in demands for some SLK among the MECP teams and MECPs. All types of MECP teams had a common high demand for SLK on environment, safety, and health in China. This study contributes to research on sustainable construction in MECPs in two main ways: (1) it reveals novel insights related to the integration of SL into the MECPs sustainable construction practices for developing countries and (2) it offers the possibility for practitioners to identify the most crucial knowledge and focus their efforts and resources efficiently.