Project Level Research Articles

Developer sentiment, developer’s strategy and housing supply: evidence from Hong Kong

ABSTRACT The increasingly important role of sentiment in the housing market has complicated the challenges facing developers during boom-and-bust cycles. This study investigates how developer sentiment affects developers’ decision-making and the housing supply at the project level. As the standard evaluation usually overlooks sentiment resulting in suboptimal inferences, we develop a new theoretical model that analyses both sentiment and developers’ optimal strategies. Our findings suggest a ‘U’-shape relationship between developer sentiment and the expected waiting time to develop. Second, the optimal development density declines when developer sentiment intensifies. The Hong Kong housing market is used as a case for empirical analysis.

Institutional Environment, Institutional Arrangements, and Risk Identification and Allocation in Public–Private Partnerships: A Multilevel Model Analysis Based on Data from 31 Provinces in China

As an important part of market-based reforms, the issue of “risk” has always been a part of the public–private partnership (PPP) debate, and the way in which risks are managed determines the sustainability of market-based reforms. This study systematically examines how the institutional environment and institutional arrangements affect the effectiveness of PPP risk identification and allocation. The study aims to establish a multi-source database of all publicized PPP projects in 31 provinces during the period of 2017–2021 in China, and it incorporates different levels of influencing factors, such as the institutional environment and institutional arrangements, into a framework. Through the application of a multilevel model, the impact of the political–institutional structure at the provincial level and institutional arrangements at the social capital and project levels on PPP risk identification and allocation is judged hierarchically. It is found that only social capital at the institutional environment level can directly and positively contribute to the effective identification and allocation of PPP risks, while both the degree of potential market competition and the degree of integration at the project level have a positive effect on its risk profile. In addition, there are cross-level moderating effects, with social capital, government transparency, and government–business relations positively improving risk allocation and identification through the degree of market competition, with no significant coordinating effect on the degree of contractual integration. This study goes beyond the existing one-dimensional risk profile analysis and risk typology to dismantle the “black box” of risk identification and allocation, which is a process of continuous negotiation, and to provide a sustainable governance mechanism for the market-oriented reform of public services in the institutional arena.

Exploring the impact of absorptive capacity to navigate the challenges of uncertainty in digitalization projects

PurposeThis research fills a gap in digitalization project studies by exploring them through the lens of organizational learning. It investigates the impact of uncertainty on digitalization project success and the role of absorptive capacity.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-methods approach is adopted, incorporating qualitative and quantitative analyses. The qualitative part assesses how uncertainty affects digitalization project success, while the quantitative side explores absorptive capacity as a mediating factor between adaptability to uncertainty and project success.FindingsThe qualitative results uncover challenges facing digitalization projects under uncertainty and suggests coping strategies at individual, project, and organizational levels. Quantitative results show that both potential and realized absorptive capacities significantly mediate the link between adaptability to uncertainty in the environment and project success.Originality/valueThis research offers new insights into digitalization project studies, merging organizational learning theory with a mixed-methods approach. It highlights how uncertainty and absorptive capacity influence digitalization project success.

Reconstruction of design principles of a late Gothic net vault using 3D laser scanning

Precise knowledge of the principles according to which vaults were designed and constructed and how they were implemented in construction not only forms a decisive basis for their preservation as monuments. These principles also provide information about the vaults shape finding and technology of their construction. The load-bearing behavior in its current state can also be traced back to certain premises. Using the example of the late Gothic net vault in the St. Peter and Paul church in Lutherstadt Eisleben, this article shows how design and construction principles of vaults can be precisely deduced with the help of known monitoring methods, tachymetry, and terrestrial three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning. The results of reverse engineering refer to the application of design principles that are relevant in the late Gothic period, such as the principal arch or the plan specifications for maintaining the heights of the ribbed intersections of figured vaults. Due to the artisanal nature of the building process at the time of their construction, individual segments of the vaults may well deviate more significantly from these rules. The fact that these apparent rule deviations may be responses to inadequacies at the project level, from planning to execution, is also explored.

Validation francophone de la CASIG-rev – un outil clinique visant à soutenir le rétablissement des personnes avec un trouble psychiatrique: French validation of the CASIG-rev – a clinical personal recovery assessment for people with psychiatric disorders

There are few tools capable of measuring the personal recovery of individuals presenting with mental disorders that take into account the various dimensions of recovery. Personal recovery encompasses several objectives at the level of autonomy, positive interpersonal relationships, mental and physical health, self-acceptance, the school/professional domain, as well as developing a life project. A team of practitioners and researchers from four countries (Canada, Belgium, France, and Switzerland) adapted the Client Assessment of Strengths, Interests, and Goals (CASIG) tool to more accurately measure these different aspects of personal recovery. This study aims to validate the revised version of CASIG (CASIG-rev) in French, in terms of construct validity, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, and clinical sensitivity to change. A total of 272 individuals were recruited across different French-speaking countries to respond to the CASIG-rev online, as well as Ryff's well-being measure, the Recovery Assessment Scale, and the WHODAS. A subgroup of 29 individuals responded again to the CASIG-rev after 1 month (for temporal stability), and 24 again at six months (for sensitivity to change). The confirmatory factor analysis suggests a 5-factor model, very similar to the initially proposed model of 6 factors. Convergent validity was demonstrated between the subscales of tools measuring similar concepts, and test-retest reliability was proven for the majority of scales. The CASIG-rev also appears to be sensitive to clinical or rehabilitation changes, notably at the level of the life project. This study supports the use of the CASIG-rev in French to measure the recovery of individuals presenting with mental disorders, as well as to support practitioners in the evaluation of their programs and interventions. Limitations, as well as the tool's relevance, are presented. An English validation is underway to make the CASIG-rev available in Anglo-Saxon countries.

Ambidextrous Innovation in Project Management: A Systematic Literature Review

Projects work under constant pressure of resource and time constraints. In order to perform effectively and efficiently, innovation seems to be a significant factor. However, due to the different nature of projects as compared to the organization, projects have been finding it difficult to undertake such innovation. However, ambidextrous innovation, which seeks to balance exploratory and exploitative innovation, offers a possible solution. However, research on the relationship between ambidextrous innovation and project management is at an early stage. The purpose of the present research is to undertake a systematic review of the literature to build and synthesize the understanding of innovation ambidexterity at the project level. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, our research collected data from the Web of Science and SCOPUS databases. By adhering to the PRISMA approach, we ensured a rigorous and transparent approach to the systematic review study, allowing for comprehensive data collection and analysis. The results of the present review study suggest that interest is building rapidly to incorporate ambidextrous innovation into project management. Ambidextrous innovation seemed to positively impact both the performance and capability of projects to undertake the innovation. Further, important drivers such as organizational culture, knowledge management, innovation activities, and agility play key roles in undertaking ambidextrous innovation at the project level. Further, elements of the team such as team integration, alignment, and knowledge utilization also play key roles. Finally, the avenue of future research has also been highlighted.

Public clients pursue innovation, but what’s going on at the project level? A case study of infrastructure operation and maintenance

This paper examines the gap between macro-level calls for innovation and the micro-level enactment, by exploring the discrepancies between a public client’s pursuit of innovation and the actions taken at the project level. Through empirical analysis of four infrastructure operation and maintenance projects, we identify discrepancies within and between procurement strategies and project-level practices. Taking a strategy-as-practice perspective, our study shows how procurement strategies are adapted and enacted by inter-organizational project actors, shedding light on why macro-level innovation intent may not translate into expected outcomes at the project level. Our findings underscore the importance of aligning macro-level directives with micro-level actions to drive innovation in construction projects effectively. This research contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics shaping innovation in construction projects, highlighting the critical role of procurement strategies in bridging macro and micro contexts to achieve sustainable development goals.

A novel deforestation risk and baseline allocation model for the next generation of nested REDD+ projects

Nature-based solutions that use a counterfactual scenario depend heavily on the methodology used to determine the business as usual (BAU) case, i.e., the “baseline.” Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) projects traditionally set baselines using a “reference area” as a control for estimating BAU deforestation and emissions in the treatment (project) area. While the REDD+ market is shifting from project-based to nested approaches as countries increase their efforts to meet nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to the Paris agreement’s global climate target, methodologies for allocating national baselines are not yet formalized and tested, despite an urgent need to scale the market. We present a novel method for mapping deforestation risk and allocating national forest reference emission levels (FREL) to projects: baseline allocation for assessed risk (BAAR). This approach provides a spatial predictor of future deforestation using a dynamic vector, and a method for allocating a FREL to differentiated risk areas at the project level. Here, we present BAAR using 34 REDD+ projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We demonstrate the importance of risk-based FREL allocations to balance fitness for purpose and scientific rigor. We show how BAAR can be used by governments to focus voluntary carbon market finance in areas at highest risk of imminent deforestation, while maintaining alignment with nationally determined contribution (NDC) goals.

Enhancing Construction Performance: A Critical Review of Performance Measurement Practices at the Project Level

The construction industry faces significant challenges in measuring and assessing performance effectively. Conventional methods of measuring construction performance have become less effective, prompting a need to adopt non-financial performance measurements. This shift acknowledges the shortcomings of relying solely on financial performance measurement systems. As a result, there has been a substantial increase in research and focus on non-financial performance measurement systems in recent decades. This study focuses on analyzing performance measurement practices and key performance indicators (KPIs) in the construction industry, specifically at the project level. By examining 146 relevant articles, the study offers a thorough overview of various aspects of project performance. In addition to the traditional dimensions of the project management triangle (cost, time, and quality performance), the study emphasizes the importance of considering other dimensions. These include stakeholder performance, safety performance, technology utilization performance, value performance, environmental impact performance, and the application of maturity models. By incorporating these additional KPIs, a more comprehensive and holistic evaluation of project performance can be achieved. This study’s findings make notable contributions to the methodological framework of performance measurement in construction projects. By consolidating diverse research sources, the study offers valuable guidance for future research in the field of project performance. Moreover, it provides insights into selecting suitable performance measurement methods, empowering practitioners to effectively assess and manage project performance.

Assessment of flooding impact on thin pavement structure in Texas coastal region

Over the recent years, transportation infrastructure in the United States have experienced numerous hurricanes or tropical storms usually accompanied with heavy rainfalls. This may lead to flooding on pavements and higher groundwater levels, causing soil erosion, slope instability, reduced pavement strength, and lowering pavement’s load-bearing capacity, subsequently shortening pavement service life or increasing rehabilitation and maintenance costs. This study focuses on the impact of flooding on thin pavement structure with surface-treated pavements in Texas coastal region, which contains 6,277 lane miles of roads. First, at a project level, a Mechanistic-Empirical pavement design tool is used to analyze pavement performance under flooding and non-flooding/normal conditions. Pavement life is estimated for different flooding timing cases. Second, simulations are run to evaluate the impact of flooding on the pavement life at a network level. Three flooding frequencies are highlighted: low, 100-year; medium, 50-year; and high, 20-year. By a comparison with non-flooding baseline, it is found that the pavement life for the entire weak pavement network in the coastal region can be reduced at varying degrees due to the flooding impact. The quantified pavement life reduction can serve to enhance pavement design practice and system management decision making in a proactive manner.

Making room for affordable housing: Project-based negotiations between planning authorities and landowners in Dutch and Swiss densification

The emerging objective to combat urban sprawl has put densification on the political agenda. Simultaneously, the complexity of planning within the existing built environment means that planning increasingly occurs on the project level. Project-based negotiations between planning authorities and landowners, in which agreements between parties are formalized in negotiated land use plans or private law contracts, thus shape the outcomes of densification projects. Considering the potential adverse effects of densification on housing affordability, it is important to understand how this shift towards project-based negotiations affects the ability of planners to secure public benefits such as affordable housing in redevelopment projects. This study uses a neo-institutional framework to analyze the negotiations between landowners and planning authorities and illuminates under which conditions affordable housing is provided. Case studies of six projects in two larger-scale redevelopment areas in the cities of Bern (Switzerland) and Nieuwegein (Netherlands) show this ability is highly dependent on (1) the existence of binding affordable housing targets, (2) landownership by non-profit actors, and (3) the direct involvement of citizens. The cases show a distinction between different types of project negotiations. In the Netherlands, contract-based negotiations can lead to the dilution of affordability targets, while in Switzerland, these targets are implemented more consistently through negotiated land use plans. The findings indicate that a project-based approach to planning may speed up the implementation of densification objectives but comes at the cost of democratic accountability. Instead, to ensure the social sustainability of urban densification projects, the scope of negotiations between planners and developers needs to move beyond cost-benefit considerations to include a broader range of public interests.

A three-year project on Structural Health Monitoring of railway bridges: main results and lessons learnt

Bridges and viaducts worldwide are threatened by ageing, increasing loads and climate-related extreme events. The situation calls for immediate actions to prevent catastrophic failures and extend the life of our infrastructural heritage. In this regard, thanks to significant efforts from academics, Structural Health Monitoring is paving its way towards application in the real world. Unlike the simple monitoring activity, which is not new in the field, SHM is more identifiable as a paradigm, encompassing several steps and involving many stakeholders. Also, the focus is not on a project level but on the network as a whole. Such a new perspective offers the opportunity – and obliges at the same time – to look for synergies among different bridges, with the aim of designing standardized guidelines to foster SHM scalability. Embracing this vision, in 2020, RFI and the Mechanical Engineering Department of Politecnico di Milano gave birth to a collaboration oriented to testing the application of Structural Health Monitoring on the Italian railway infrastructure. The project had a twofold objective: on the one hand, the realisation of an automated software to extract and deliver information from the monitoring systems installed on three pilot bridges; on the other hand, the draft of guidelines that could report the lessons learnt and generalise as much as possible the design and exploitation of SHM on railway bridges. Given the interest in the feasibility of an extensive adoption of such practice, the pilot bridges were selected to be representative of the whole network. This paper wraps up the three-year project, intending to share the experience gained in the field and the take-home messages for future applications of SHM, with a focus on the key aspects for a broad spectrum adoption of this paradigm.

Ensemble Deep Random Vector Functional Link Network Using Privileged Information for Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive brain disorder. Machine learning models have been proposed for the diagnosis of AD at early stage. Recently, deep learning architectures have received quite a lot attention. Most of the deep learning architectures suffer from the issues of local minima, slow convergence and sensitivity to learning rate. To overcome these issues, non-iterative learning based deep randomized models especially random vector functional link network (RVFL) with direct links have proven to be successful. However, deep RVFL and its ensemble models are trained only on normal samples. In this paper, deep RVFL and its ensembles are enabled to incorporate privileged information, as the standard RVFL model and its deep models are unable to use privileged information. To fill this gap, we have incorporated learning using privileged information (LUPI) in deep RVFL model, and propose deep RVFL with LUPI framework (dRVFL+). Privileged information is available while training the models. As RVFL is an unstable classifier, we propose ensemble deep RVFL+ with LUPI framework (edRVFL+) which exploits the LUPI as well as the diversity among the base leaners for better classification. Unlike traditional ensemble approach wherein multiple base learners are trained, the proposed edRVFL+ model optimises a single network and generates an ensemble via optimization at different levels of random projections of the data. Both dRVFL+ and edRVFL+ efficiently utilise the privileged information which results in better generalization performance. In LUPI framework, half of the available features are used as normal features and rest as the privileged features. However, we propose a novel approach for generating the privileged information. We utilise different activation functions while processing the normal and privileged information in the proposed deep architectures. To the best of our knowledge, this is first time that a separate privileged information is generated. The proposed dRVFL+ and edRVFL+ models are employed for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Experimental results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed dRVFL+ and edRVFL+ models over baseline models. Thus, the proposed edRVFL+ model can be utilised in clinical setting for the diagnosis of AD.

Variability in the projection level of the vertebra prominens: a cadaveric study.

The 7th cervical vertebra (C7) is described as having the most prominent spinous process (SP) and is characterized as the "vertebra prominens" (VP) of the cervical spine in anatomy textbooks. The VP is an important anatomical landmark of the neck for clinical examination and therapeutic intervention. The present study identifies the level of the most prominent SP of the cervical and uppermost thoracic vertebrae in a cadaveric cohort. Thirty-nine (23 female and 16 male) cadavers of a mean age of 77.5 years were investigated in a prone position and a certain cervical kyphotic bending. The most prominent SP, at the base of the neck, was palpated and marked with a wedging nail into the SP of the vertebra. The cervical region was dissected, and a blind investigator examined whether the nail was placed into the SP of C7 or the SP of another upper or lower vertebra. In 19 out of 39 cadavers (48.7%), the C7 was identified as the VP (typical anatomy), followed by the C6 (in 14 cadavers, 35.9%), C5 (in 4 cadavers, 10.3%). In 2 cadavers (5.1%) the first thoracic vertebra was identified as having the most prominent SP. Although C7 is described as the VP, in the present study the SP of C7 was the most prominent in less than 50%. The high variable projection level of the most prominent SP of the cervical vertebra holds great clinical significance for spine examination, neck surgery, and spinal anesthesia.

Health service impacts and extractive industries: Experiences from health service leaders operating in a resource-dependent region

Resource extraction and development projects alter community health and well-being in complex and diverse ways. The extractive industry's impacts on local infrastructure and services are commonly recognized social externalities, yet little detail is available on how these manifest across the healthcare system. This study offers a better understanding of the health service impacts of resource extraction and development. It does this by capturing the observations and experiences of leaders from a rural, regional health authority who have worked with industry to manage impacts on health services during a period of rapid economic development and amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that impacts from resource extraction and development were experienced first and foremost in emergency departments but were also felt across the entire healthcare system. These pressures were primarily driven by the size of the temporary workforce but also influenced by factors such as the relative size of the workforce to the local community, the local context, and how well impacts were managed at the project level, including the competency of a project's medical service provider.

Diversity in invasive species management networks

Effective management of invasive species requires collaboration across a range of stakeholders. These stakeholders exhibit diverse attributes such as organisation types, operational scale, objectives, and roles within projects. Identifying the diverse attributes of stakeholders is beneficial for increasing collaboration success while minimising potential conflicts among multiple stakeholders when managing invasive species across landscapes. Despite the increasing number of studies on connections among stakeholders, there is little understanding of the diverse attributes of stakeholders involved in invasive species management. This is a notable gap because the diversity of stakeholders is one of the significant factors that can influence collaboration success. To bridge this knowledge gap, we used a social network approach to identify the attributes of stakeholders that influence their participation in collaborations using a case study of invasive wild pig (Sus scrofa) management in Queensland, Australia. Our findings suggest that even though the overall stakeholder network was diverse, the stakeholder network at the project level exhibited a lack of diversity on average, particularly regarding the scale of operation and type of organisation. In other words, stakeholders are highly likely to form ties in projects involving other stakeholders from similar types of organisations or operational scales. We suggest that targeting a greater diversity of stakeholders across types of organisations and scales of operations might enhance the success of collaborative invasive species management.

The slow implementation of sustainable innovations in the asphalt paving sector: the role of actors and their interactions

International climate agreements and government policies, push the road construction industry towards more sustainable practices using alternative materials, new production techniques, and more efficient construction processes. Despite the broad availability of these sustainable solutions, their adoption is slow and uncertain. The reasons behind this remain unclear. This study employs a system innovation perspective to analyze the process that leads to the implementation of sustainable innovations in the Dutch asphalt paving sector. By exploring actors’ roles and their interactions at different stages of the process, we aim to identify key aspects influencing the pace and outcome of the innovation implementation process in the industry. The results highlight that (1) the asphalt paving sector is anchored in a project perspective that often overlooks long-term sustainability goals, (2) several key innovation roles are not fully fulfilled, and the absence of a coordinating role is leading to misunderstandings, and (3) monitoring at both the project and sector levels is lacking; there is no holistic assessment of the overall impact of innovations. Overall, the findings suggest that sustainable innovation processes in Dutch asphalt paving remain confined to the niche level, which can be overcome by redistributing actors' responsibilities, addressing the lack of system monitoring, and overcoming the project perspective could help address the challenges in the process.

Implementing digitally enabled integrated healthcare

PurposeThe European funded project ADLIFE focuses on the application of digitally enabled integrated care for people with advanced chronic diseases. The implementation of the ADLIFE intervention required a robust practical tool that would be common to all pilot sites while allowing flexibility for local variations as well as the ability to adapt to unanticipated changes and problems.Design/methodology/approachThe ADLIFE project combined the concepts of implementation research and formative evaluation with the standardized operating procedures (SOP) methodology. The ADLIFE project significantly modified the SOP approach and used it as a means to not only to define and organize the tasks that needed to be performed in preparing and implementing the ADLIFE intervention but also to create a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced in each site, as well as a method for achieving a consensus.FindingsThe ADLIFE SOPs were developed by a dedicated working group, and they encompassed the preparatory phase leading up to implementation of the intervention. The SOP was also the basis for monitoring the implementation, and this created a structure for the dynamic ongoing tactical and even strategic changes necessitated by local diversity as well as many unanticipated changes.Originality/valueThe SOP methodology was useful in supporting the development of the ADLIFE SOP, which was a consensus-based approach to guide for managing the implementation process, both at project and local levels. It has supported continuous improvement and learning throughout the project. Both the process and the SOP produced by the process can be readily adapted and used in other similar projects.

Attention Allocation to Projection Level Alleviates Overconfidence in Situation Awareness

Overconfidence in situation awareness (SA) can lead to various detrimental consequences, including risky behaviors. This study investigates the influence of stress and attention allocation on SA in manufacturing. Specifically, this study aims to (1) examine the effects of stress on objective SA, (2) explore the relationship between SA levels and SA overconfidence, and (3) investigate the potential alleviation of SA overconfidence through attention allocation to more challenging SA levels. These findings demonstrate that stress impairs the comprehension aspect of SA. Moreover, SA overconfidence increases with the SA level. In exploring strategies to mitigate SA overconfidence, allocating attention specifically to the most challenging SA level—SA projection—proved effective in alleviating overconfidence. These findings contribute to future SA research by clarifying the relationship between stress and SA, uncovering the link between SA levels and SA overconfidence, and exploring methods to alleviate overconfidence and improve decision accuracy in manufacturing systems.

Bibliometric analysis of publications on the effect of animal production on climate change from past to present

Bibliometrics and scientific mapping methods using R software, the biblioshiny web program, Scopus and VOSviewer were used to analyze the works of literature referenced and analyzed by the Web of Science during 1990–2023 in order to provide a thorough overview of the effect of animal production on climate change research from 1990 to 2023. A bibliometric analysis of 6,558 publications that were published on the Web of Science database was done in order to determine which articles, authors, and journals were the most important. It also provided information on future study themes and gaps, as well as present topic trends. The most productive nations are China, the United States, and Australia; the most productive journals are Global Change Biology, The Science of the Total Environment, and Environmental Science and Pollution Research International. The analysis’s findings show that, over the course of the study period, there was a noticeable rise in the number of research publications discussing how animal production is impacted by climate change, along with a steady expansion of the study area. The level of cooperation and research projects in this field among nations has increased, which has improved the caliber of publications over time. Important publications, writers, and journals in the area of how animal production affects climate change were also tallied. The problem of animal production and climate change will become significantly more dependent on new data, techniques, and technology.