Local Construction Research Articles

Identifying Factors Influencing Time and Cost Overruns in Public Construction Projects in Bhutan

Construction industries worldwide are impacted by time and cost overruns, resulting in significant financial loss and failure to complete projects on time. Clients, contractors, and consultants can plan properly for public construction projects if they have a better understanding of cost and time overruns. The Construction Development Board (now Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority) is the lead agency regulating and overseeing the government construction projects in Bhutan. However, in recent four years, from July 2017 to June 2021, about 50% of the total 2111 government construction projects experienced time and cost overruns, and the total financial loss was Nu. 2,578.86 million. Therefore, study was designed to examine the factors causing delays and cost escalations in the construction project implemented by government during the financial year July 2017 to June 2021. Thus, this study explores identifying factors influencing time and cost overruns to avoid time delays and financial losses. The primary data was collected through the questionnaire survey from engineers of 20 Dzongkhags and 4 Thromdes. The secondary data was collected from the CDB's annual reports, the Construction Association of Bhutan (CAB), and the National Statistics Bureau (NSB). The data was analyzed using the descriptive statistics method, and the relative importance index (RII) was calculated to rank the factors identified from literature reviews. The research results show that financial issue was the critical factor causing delays and cost escalation in the government construction project in Bhutan. Followed by the issue of delays and cost overruns due to shortage of local construction materials, inadequate experience of the contractor, poor site planning, shortage of skilled workers, unrealistic schedule, design change, contractual issues, and project manager competence.

Research on Full-Element and Multi-Time-Scale Modeling Method of BIM for Lean Construction

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a very effective technology for supporting lean construction. However, the current application of BIM during the construction phase does not incorporate all necessary elements of the construction site in a comprehensive manner. Additionally, the depiction of the construction process lacks the desired level of detail. These limitations impede the application of BIM-based lean construction. In this paper, we propose a full-element and multi-time-scale modeling approach to BIM during the construction phase. Our method first establishes a full-element model by reconstructing the main body of the building based on construction subdivision dimensions, construction technology, and management objectives. We then create a three-dimensional model that includes a process elements model of circulating materials, temporary facilities, construction machinery, and surrounding environmental elements. The integrated model of these elements provides a comprehensive representation of BIM at any static time point. Second, we conduct multi-time-scale simulations based on the full-element model. Our approach divides the entire time, local time, and special time points into three scales to simulate project progress, local structure construction technology, and working conditions. A case study of the Daxing International Airport construction project verifies that our method can achieve lean management of construction resources. Full-element modeling provides a comprehensive BIM representation at any static time point, thereby supporting lean construction by improving construction resource management, reducing costs, and enhancing efficiency.

Spatiotemporal Weighted for Improving the Satellite-Based High-Resolution Ground PM2.5 Estimation Using the Light Gradient Boosting Machine

Surface fine particulate matter (PM) with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) negatively impacts human health and the economy. However, due to data and model limitations, obtaining high-quality, high-spatial-resolution surface PM2.5 concentration data is a challenging task, and it is difficult to accurately assess the temporal and spatial changes in PM2.5 levels at a small regional scale. Here, we combined multi-angle implementation of atmospheric correction (MAIAC) aerosol products, ERA5 reanalysis data, etc., to construct an STW-LightGBM model that considers the spatiotemporal characteristics of air pollution and estimate the PM2.5 concentration of China’s surface at 1 km resolution from 2015 to 2020. Our model performed well, and the fitting accuracy of the 10-fold cross-validation between years was 0.877–0.917. The fitting accuracy of the model was >0.85 at different time scales (month, season, and year). The average slope of the regression prediction was 0.9 annually. The results showed that PM2.5 pollution improved from 2015 to 2020. The average PM2.5 concentration decreased by 4.55 μg/m3, and the maximum decrease reached 90.51 μg/m3. The areas with high PM2.5 concentrations were predominantly in the North China Plain, Sichuan Basin, and Xinjiang in the west, and the levels in areas with elevated PM2.5 levels were consistent across most study years. The standard deviation ellipse for PM2.5 in China showed a ‘northeast–southwest’ spatial distribution. From an interannual perspective, the average values of the four seasonal stations in the country showed a downward trend from 2015 to 2020, with the most obvious decline in winter, from 70.67 μg/m3 in 2015 to 46.75 μg/m3 in 2020. Compared to earlier inversion studies, this work provides a more stable and accurate method for obtaining high-resolution PM2.5 data, which is necessary for local air governance and environmental ecological construction at a fine scale.

Study on the Construction of Interlayer Adjustable C@MoS2 Fiber Anode by Biomass Confining and its Lithium/Sodium Storage Mechanism.

Building a stable and controllable interlayer structure is the key to improving the sodium storage cycling stability and rate performance of two-dimensional anode materials. This study explored the rich functional groups in bacterial cellulose culture medium in the way of biological self-assembly. Mo precursors were used to produce chemical bond in bacterial cellulose culture medium, and intercalation groups are introduced to achieve MoS2 localized nucleation and in situ localized construction of carbon intercalation stable interlaminar structure, thus improving ion transport dynamics and cycle stability. In order to avoid structural irreversibility of MoS2 at low potential, an extended voltage window of 1.5-4 V was selected for lithium/sodium intercalation testing. It was found that there was a significant improvement in sodium storage capacity and stability. During the electrochemical cycling process, in-situ Raman testing revealed that the structure of MoS2 was completely reversible, and the intensity changes of MoS2 characteristic peaks showed in-plane vibration without involving interlayer bonding fracture. Moreover, after the lithium sodium was removed from the intercalation C@MoS2 all structures have good retention.

KAJIAN METODE ARSITEKTUR BIOKLIMATIK PADA RUMAH ADAT BANJAR GAJAH BALIKU

Bioclimatic architecture is a design approach that considers the relationship between architectural forms and the local climate. Vernacular architecture is an architectural design that adapts to the local climate, local construction materials and techniques, influenced by social, cultural and economic aspects of the local community. The ancient architecture of the Gajah Baliku traditional house in South Kalimantan has been around since the 1800s and is part of the vernacular architecture. This study discusses the bioclimatic architectural methods found in the traditional house of Banjar Gajah Baliku. The method used in this study is a qualitative descriptive method which aims to find out how the application of bioclimatic architectural methods to the traditional house of Banjar Gajah Baliku. The data collection method was obtained from primary sources, namely literature which was carried out to find the theoretical basis and become a reference in reviewing empirical data, as well as field observations consisting of measurements, sketches, documentation and redrawing the research object. From this study, it is concluded that the traditional house of Banjar Gajah Baliku in South Kalimantan has met the nine criteria of the bioclimatic architectural method.

On-site response issues in disaster recovery of public civil engineering facilities based on the experience of the 2011 Kii Peninsula flood

Nearly 10 years have passed since the 2011 Kii Peninsula flood, and assessing the disaster response at that time is crucial for developing a future disaster response system. This study is based on questionnaire and interview surveys of construction managers, i.e., heads of local construction administrations in charge of disaster recovery for public civil engineering facilities in Wakayama Prefecture. We clarify the situational judgments and decisions that are made in the field response of disaster recovery, check whether they were undertaken to extract issues, examine the characteristics, and consider issues for future disaster response.

New life-span results for the nonlinear heat equation

We obtain new estimates for the existence time of the maximal solutions to the nonlinear heat equation ∂tu−Δu=|u|αu,α>0 with initial values in Lebesgue, weighted Lebesgue spaces or measures. Non-regular, sign-changing, as well as non polynomial decaying initial data are considered. The proofs of the lower-bound estimates of life-span are based on the local construction of solutions. The proofs of the upper-bounds exploit a well-known necessary condition for the existence of nonnegative solutions. In addition, we establish new results for life-span using dilation methods and we give new life-span estimates for Hardy-Hénon parabolic equations.

Highways and pedestrian deaths in US neighborhoods

Over 100,000 pedestrians have been struck and killed by vehicles on US roadways in the first two decades of the 21st century, representing an alarming public health issue. We examine the US Interstate Highway System’s legacy in contributing to local pedestrian deaths using historical Interstate Highway plans as an instrument for local Interstate construction. Operating an Interstate through a census tract increased local pedestrian deaths significantly. Among 17,000 tracts bisected by Interstates, we estimate the average tract experienced 2.5 additional pedestrian deaths between 2001–2020 due to the presence of the Interstate. We find these deaths occur disproportionately in Black communities.

Compressive sensing based indoor localization fingerprint collection and construction

Compressive sensing based indoor localization fingerprint collection and construction

Assessing the environmental effects of the supporting policies for mineral resource-exhausted cities in China

Slowing down the exhaustion of energy and mineral resources in resource-depleted cities and the development of pillar industries and energy restructuring in these cities have become the cores for achieving the sustainable use of natural resources and the long-term development of the environment. Therefore, this paper focuses on the environmental impacts of the supporting policies for mineral resource-exhausted cities by using a multi-period difference-in-differences model with the adoption of the panel data of Chinese 285 cities scanning from 2003 to 2018. The results showed that the supporting policies had stimulated environmental pollution in Chinese municipalities in the form of increased emissions of environmental pollutants. Specifically, the supporting policies for mineral resource-exhausted cities have a more pronounced impact on the aggravation of environmental pollution in areas with high resource endowments. The effect of heterogeneity among cities in different geographical regions is partially established. Further analysis of the influencing mechanism suggests that higher electricity inputs increase local construction costs and put pressure on environmental pollution. At the same time, China's industrial transformation from the extensive model to the intensive model still has a long way to go, which could break up the traditional dependence fundamentally. This study not only has theoretical values for the academia, but also has important practical implications for promoting the sustainable management of similar developing countries on the sustainable use of resources, and balancing the conflict between economic growth and natural resource conservation, especially in the post COVID-19 era.

Combining isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification with lateral flow assay for diagnosis of P. cynomolgi malaria infection.

Plasmodium cynomolgi is a nonhuman primate parasite that causes malaria in humans and is transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito. Macaques, the natural hosts of P. cynomolgi, are widely distributed in Asia, especially in Southeast Asia. Anthropogenic land-use changes and wildlife habitat reduction due to local environmental changes, deforestation, urban expansion, and construction increased the frequency of human-macaque-vector interactions and facilitated the emergence of zoonotic malaria, causing an exponential increase in the infection rates in this area. Although microscopic tools are the gold standard for malaria diagnosis, they have very low sensitivity. Therefore, disease control and prevention require rapid, sensitive and accurate diagnostic tests. This study aims to develop a diagnostic method using a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) combined with a lateral flow (LF) strip method to specifically diagnose P. cynomolgi. Laboratory validation determined the method's sensitivity and specificity compared to the nested PCR method. The lower limit of detection was 22.14 copies/μl of recombinant plasmid per reaction. The combination method represented 81.82% sensitivity and 94.74% specificity compared to the nested PCR. The diagnostic testing developed in this study combines a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and a lateral flow (LF) strip, offering rapid high sensitivity and specificity. Further development of this technique could make it a promising method for detecting P. cynomolgi.

Boosting VOCs photodegradation performance of Co-doped WO3 nanofibers through efficient oxygen activation and localized electric field construction

Exploring efficient photocatalysts for degrading hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is gaining increasing popularity. Herein, we developed Co-doped WO3 nanofibrous photocatalysts by incorporating Co dopant into the WO3 lattice, where hexavalent W(VI) is replaced with divalent Co(II). This heterovalent substitution causes significant charge rearrangement around the Co dopant, resulting in a localized electric field (LEF) that enhances oxygen adsorption and activation. Such an electric field drives photoexcited electrons to gather at the Co dopant, thereby achieving spatial charge separation. Both the efficient oxygen activation and LEF forming contribute to the production of superoxide radicals. The Co0.8-WO3 nanofibers demonstrated improved photocatalytic oxidation of gaseous HCHO and CH3COCH3 compared to WO3. This study highlights the significant promotion of dopant-induced oxygen adsorption and LEF-induced efficient carrier separation. These findings offer a new direction for developing more efficient photocatalysts using unique doping approaches.

Urban geophysical exploration: case study in Chengdu International Bio-City

Abstract Understanding the shallow geological structure of urban areas is crucial for effective planning and development of underground spaces. Geophysical methods that are well-suited for site-specific investigation and have robustly anti-interference capabilities can provide important geological information for urban areas. In support of investigating the 3D geological structure of the shallow subsurface in Chengdu International Bio-City, a geophysical exploration study was conducted using three methods: the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), micro-seismic exploration and opposing-coil transient electromagnetic method (OCTEM). Results from the study showed that the ERT method was greatly affected by local high-resistance bodies, construction sites and industrial currents, therefore leading to poor detection results that did not match well with the area’s layered structure characteristics. The micro-seismic exploration method showed good layering effects and correlation with the drilling data in the elevation range of ∼350 to 436 m, but poor layering effects and low correlation with drilling data in the elevation range of ∼235 to 350 m, with relatively slow construction efficiency. The OCTEM showed good correlation with the drilling data for shallow depths up to 200 m and good identification capabilities for gypsum and mudstone in the area. Additionally, the instrument’s anti-interference ability was suitable for complex urban conditions. Thus, OCTEM was selected for the area-based exploration with a 100 × 10 m grid, rapidly obtaining 3D resistivity information for depths up to 200 m in the study area. By integrating the 3D resistivity information with known engineering geological information, a comprehensive 3D geological model of the study area was created.

Creating a News Garden: Maintaining place and the role of local journalism

This article explores the relationship between local journalism and place through a case study of the Somerville News Garden, a community news initiative launched in 2019 to address the city’s failing news infrastructure. Researchers used collaborative ethnographic methods to study the News Garden from its inception in August 2019 to December 2021: we surveyed residents about their news preferences (n = 92), interviewed eighteen residents and conducted participant observation at planning meetings and public forums hosted by the News Garden. The study addresses two themes: first, local journalism constructs and maintains place by covering location-specific issues and moving information across unfamiliar spaces; and second, community news initiatives challenge scholars and practitioners to reconsider the role of local journalism and its continued relevance in civic life. Finally, the study reviews the News Garden’s organizational structure and proposes grassroots governance: a model of news production and distribution based on collaboration and accountability in the service of democracy.

Explaining the lower usage rate of indigenous construction materials in Ghanaian public buildings using bounded rationality

Judicious use of Indigenous Construction Materials (ICM) contributes to sustainability of a local construction industry. Why has the use of ICMs not contributed to the sustainability of the Ghanaian Construction Industry (GCI), and how can the use of ICMs engender the sustainability of GCI and that of similar developing countries? This paper uses bounded rationality and mixed-method strategy to explain the ICM usage rate in the GCI, and describes measures for improving the sustainability of the local construction industry through ICMs use. Relatively high ICM cost and non-availability of alternatives have been found as factors largely responsible for constrained ICMs usage. This paper is one of the first to draw on a synergy of the bounded rationality theory and empirical findings to give advanced insight into factors constraining the use of ICMs, as well as provide a measured usage rate of local building materials using real building projects cases. The research has carved a path for nurturing sustainable construction industry in developing countries through indigenous resources.

Comparison analysis between the components of vernacular and modern architectures for sustainable housing in Niger State

Modern architecture has its roots in the vernacular type. Globally, every cultural group has its own form of vernacular architecture, though the approach may vary from region to region and also among the individuals. The traditional and modern architectural styles in Minna Niger State, Nigeria are examined in this paper since these styles possess distinct climatic, economic, and socio-cultural practices. A typical vernacular architecture was sited at Tudun Fulani Extension whereas a typical modern architecture was sited at GidanMatasa. The study examined the buildings in terms of physical features, thermal comfort and cost analysis. EnergyPlus, a simulation program, was used in this study to assess and forecast the thermal comfort. To affirm, local construction materials were used to meet the housing demands without harming the environment. The study outcomes found that the traditional housing units outperformed the modern ones by a wide margin. The findings of the study revealed the following features as part of vernacular architecture such as the presence of a courtyard, vegetation, connection to nature and construction using natural materials. On the other hand, the modern architecture does not have any courtyards, inadequate vegetation and isolation from the nature. It is also constructed using the imported building materials, although the modern architecture enables the windows to be of large size. The findings also disclose that the vernacular architecture provides more thermal comfort than the modern architecture since the latter has a heavy heating load density i.e., 9,571 (Watt). This value is 50 percent more than the peak heating load of the traditional architectural structure i.e., 2,109 (Watt). Finally, the study was able to ascertain the high-cost implication of the modern architecture compared to vernacular architecture. Furthermore, the study also proved that the vernacular housing units are much better than the modern ones in terms of thermal comfort, usage of cost-effective and natural materials and the building’s thermal properties. The researcher recommends that the components of both vernacular and modern architecture must be properly integrated for the development of the sustainable homes in Northern Nigeria.

David and Goliath & lessons learned

Debly Construction is a local construction and materials company in Saint John. It was started by the Lebanese Brother who were educated in civil engineering- one with a masters in construction materials. No one thought competing with the Irving billionaires was possible in Saint John. The Debly’s proved everyone wrong. The Deby’s are successful and expanding.

Fine-grained concrete for repair and restoration based on complex modifiers

Nowadays ensuring normal operation of buildings made of monolithic reinforced concrete is of great relevance. Bearing building structures in the process of operation or erection can have defects and damages of various origins. There is a need to develop repair compositions to ensure the durability and reliability of monolithic reinforced concrete buildings. In this paper we have conducted research and developed a repair composition of fine-grained concrete (FGC) on the basis of modification and improvement of its structure. In the composition of complex modifier on the basis of analysis were chosen: microsilica MCU-95 as a highly active pozzolanic mineral admixture; superplasticizer C-3, hydrophobizing component – soapstock. Cements of Novo-Karaganda, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Shymkent cement plants M400 were chosen as binders. In order to study the influence of modifiers on the setting time of cement dough and concrete structure, several concrete compositions were developed. The performance of the developed FGC was improved in terms of basic physical and mechanical parameters. Cement consumption was reduced by 15% (from 450 kg to 382.5 kg). The influence of the main factors and dependence of performance indicators on physical and mechanical properties of cement stone and the studied FGC has been established. Production waste and local construction materials were used to save binder.

Design and implementation of a bioclimatic housing prototype for the Bolivian highlands

The Mechanical - Electromechanical Engineering research institute, made up of a multidisciplinary team, designs and implements a bioclimatic housing prototype for the Bolivian highlands, located near the Andes Mountains at an altitude of 3,000 to 4,000 meters above sea level. This project was developed and implemented with financing from the Swiss Cooperation for Bolivia, within the Climate Change Adaptation projects.
 The design process includes: the sociocultural study of the inhabitants of the region, where direct information is collected from the peasants on the conception of housing in their culture and ancestral construction characteristics of their houses. Subsequently, the climate of the region (temperatures, solar radiation, winds and relative humidity) is characterized with the help of a meteorological station, which provided historical records of 5 years. Those data were sufficient to be able to carry out a reliable characterization, with which the Typical Meteorological Year is determined. Likewise, local construction materials that may be useful in the design are studied, analyzing their thermal and mechanical properties in the laboratory.
 Finally, with all the information described, an architectural design is carried out taking into account bioclimatic aspects, ways of harnessing solar energy, distribution of the room and a viable construction cost for the economic reality of the region. The developed architectural model is optimized in an energy simulation program (Siter Vs. 1.2), achieving energy savings of 65%. The software used is owned property of the research institute
 The house has been monitored with temperature sensors for about a year and six months, to date it shows good results, where the correct functioning of the elements and constructive forms is evidenced, reflecting a temperature inside the house of around 10 °C above room temperature 24 hours a day.

Local Branding: Imperative Strategy Towards Competitiveness of Sustainable Destinations Through the Role of Social Media

The aim of the research is to form the Competitiveness of Sustainable Destinations to realize tourism marketing through Local Branding. The variables tested are Local Branding and Destination Image. Social Media is expected to moderate the influence of Local Branding on the Competitiveness of Sustainable Destinations. The population is visitors to tourist attractions, while the sample is 152. Respondents are determined using the Proportionate Stratified Random Sampling technique. SEM as an analysis tool with the smartPLS.3.0 program application The results of the Sustainable Destination Competitiveness test results can be manifested through optimal management of Local Branding and Destination Image. Local Branding can be applied through Local Culture and Destination Image. Local Branding significantly affects the Competitiveness of Sustainable Destinations, while Local Culture significantly influences Local Branding. Destination Image significantly influences Local Branding and significantly influences the Competitiveness of Sustainable Destinations. Social Media is able to function as a pure moderator of the influence of Local Branding on the Competitiveness of Sustainable Tourism Destinations in Semarang City. The R - Square value in the Local Branding construct is 0.758536, meaning that Local Branding is influenced by Local Culture and Destination Image 75.85%. The Q Square value > 0 (0.575377) on the Local Branding variable indicates that the model has strong predictive relevance, meaning that the research model has relevance in predicting Local Culture and Destination Image with Local Branding in Tourism Objects. R-Square on the construct of Sustainable Destination Competitiveness 0.817528 means that the Competitiveness of Sustainable Destinations is influenced by Local Branding and Destination Image 81.75%. The Q Square value of 0.668352 (> 0) indicates that the model has strong predictive relevance, meaning that the research model has relevance in predicting Local Branding and Destination Image on the Competitiveness of Sustainable Tourism Destinations.