Modular Project Research Articles

El cuerpo vestido como construcción de identidades latinoamericanas a partir de lo monstruoso. Un enfoque decolonial para la enseñanza de la moda

This research analyzes and questions fashion and its respective teaching from a colonial matrix, constantly constructed from the body as a place of use, representation and construction of fashion and its imaginaries. In this way, learning exercises in fashion are traditionally based on the recognition of the anatomical-ergonomic of the body in direct relation to the needs of the hegemonic industry, which imposes its narratives and canons. Thanks to the decolonial foundation of the Professional Program in Fashion of the Universidad Santo Tomás and through its modular project, the approach to the body is proposed from the monstrous as a place of the possibilities of creation, which allows exploring other dimensions of representation and body construction. Derived from the above, eight projects are developed conceptually and materially in the period 2024-1 as part of Module 1: design and identities that covers the first and second semester of the course, where it is built, based on the reflections on identity, a narrative that challenges and deconstructs the hegemonic imaginaries that fashion has imposed on certain corporealities and corporealities. This in order to broaden the spectrum of fashion to a plurality of representations and that first semester students at the beginning of their specific training in fashion, led from the costume and clothing workshop I, are able to propose from the problematization and exploration of historically marginalized imaginaries.

TRENDS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF RISK MANAGEMENT APPROACHES APPLIED IN MODULAR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

In modular construction, given the different undertakings compared to conventional construction, the latter deems less risky. However, the current industry is faced with malpractices which are loopholes disabling full capacity performance. There is a noticeable lack of studies specifically analyzing the risk management approaches. This study aims to vigorously analyze all risk management approaches applied in previous projects by compiling qualitative and quantitative content for the eased risk assessment of modular projects. By performing a systematic literature review and meta-analysis, 175 documents were finalized and manually analyzed. Synthesis of the literature was carried out to generate graphs, illustrations, and tabularized content, followed by critical explanation for relevant risk management approaches identified according to risk category and project criteria. Risk management approaches for modular construction were showcased in terms of yearly trends, geographic involvement, keywords mostly encountered, and universities and institutions involvement. Classified risk management approaches were tabularized alongside a research domain targeting technical risk management approaches. Future work scopes were suggested with percentage initiations from analyzed studies. This study is a fundamental steppingstone in broadening knowledge on risk management approaches of modular construction and will aid both academicians and practitioners to get direct insights on current trends with project-oriented results showcased.

Revolutionising the 4D BIM Process to Support Scheduling Requirements in Modular Construction

Given the heightened importance of revolutionising 4D BIM-based construction scheduling in modular construction, it has become vital to explore how 4D-BIM could be integrated with the lean concept. Therefore, this research aims to develop a lean-integrated process model to revolutionise the 4D BIM-based construction scheduling in modular construction projects. A case study approach was used to obtain the data. The data was obtained using semi-structured interviews with construction scheduling professionals, site observations, and extracts from the BIM model used within the selected case in the UK. Findings showed that conventional (component/object based) 4D BIM supersedes conventional scheduling methods in terms of foreseeing potential implications during design and construction. The findings also showed that lean-integrated 4D BIM in modular construction have different considerations when compared with component/object-based scheduling. A lean-integrated 4D BIM process model was developed from the analysis and it was validated using an interactive workshop with eight participants from two UK construction companies and two modular construction manufacturers. The developed process model identified a number of considerations for 4D BIM in modular projects including constructability, operations, health and safety risks and time. This study suggested the further potential of 4D BIM in scheduling for modular construction projects.

An Exploratory Study of Professional Issues Based on the Pain Points of Teaching Modular Projects

Abstract The modular teaching mode has been introduced into many disciplines, especially in higher education, computer education, and other skill-based disciplines. The modular teaching mode is more widely used. Based on the modularization project, this paper explores the pain points in teaching, starting from the principle of modularization project teaching and listing the advantages of modularization project teaching. Based on the principle of modular project teaching, a diagnostic model for teaching pain points is proposed. The K-means algorithm is used to construct a student learning profile, analyze the students’ learning pain points, and design a modular project teaching model to address these pain points. Through experimental analysis, we verify the effect of the model on teaching pain point problems. The experimental class saw a rise in student performance from 104 to 110 points. The pre-and post-test academic performance of the experimental class is significantly different at the 0.05 level, as indicated by the significant difference of 0.001. In the case of improving learning interest, close to 70% of the students expressed greater interest in learning after learning from the teaching model proposed in this paper.

Application of modular construction technologies in the design of hotel and hostel buildings

The construction of modular hotels is part of a new construction trend that has been gaining momentum over the past few decades. Due to the relative novelty of this trend, there is an insufficient number of scientific studies in the scientific space that consider the use of modular technologies. This article discusses the features of modular construction technology in general and in particular for hotel construction; traces the history and development of modular construction, presents a brief analysis of research by scientists, considers the experience of using modular technology in hotel design, identifies the main advantages of modular technology, and explores the role of modular construction in the development of the hotel industry. Modular construction technology is gaining popularity in the modern world and is becoming an increasingly common alternative to other conventional construction methods due to the ability to create a simple alternative to brick buildings without the need for heavy machinery. This construction method is successfully used for the construction of buildings of various types and purposes. The essence of this technology lies in the process of erecting buildings from prefabricated blocks - modules. Since these blocks are manufactured in factories and transported to the construction site for assembly, the construction process using this construction method is much faster than others, and this is despite the fact that the technology ensures all design and construction standards, and the cost can be significantly lower. Modular construction is a construction technology that involves the assembly of elements manufactured off-site by producing bulk modular units. This technology involves the use of various structural systems and building materials. The main advantages of modular hotel construction include increased productivity and safety at work, reduced overall construction schedule, environmental friendliness, cost optimization, and quick commissioning. These advantages ensure high profits for investors and construction companies. However, if the implementation of a modular project is subject to significant delays due to unforeseen circumstances, on-site construction may be a more efficient solution. Today, the use of modular technologies in hotel construction can be called a necessary evolutionary step for the development and efficiency of the hotel industry.

CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS FOR MODULAR CONSTRUCTION ON HIGH-RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS BASED RISK MANAGEABILITY TO INCREASE PROJECT TIME PERFORMANCE

International Construction Costs published in Comparison 2020 continued to increase as an impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, The modular system is considered able to answer the problems of increasing costs. Although modular construction has been widely applied to low-rise buildings, application in high-rise buildings remains limited, less than 1% worldwide. The need for residential high-rise building applying modular construction in Indonesia becomes important. The interdependence between parties in modular projects is greater than in conventional methods. Unavailability of design guidelines hinders the construction industry in implementing modular technology. The purpose of this study is to analyze the critical success factors for modular construction of residential high-rise buildings applying risk-based management to improve project time performance. Forty-one Indicators were drawn from literature reviews and specialist interviews to conduct a sustainability evaluation. The survey was submitted to case project developers, designers, supervisors, and contractors in Indonesia, thereafter statistically analyzed using SPSS and risk management analysis with three stages: risk sources, risk drivers and risk causes. Critical success factors for drawing approvals have a considerable influence on modular construction among 15 other factors, followed by supply chain and design standardization. It is necessary to mitigate these risks to improve project time performance.

Planning of Mobile Crane Walking Operations in Congested Industrial Construction Sites

The trend toward more compact designs and congested site layouts makes it challenging for lift planners to provide feasible lift paths for mobile cranes, confronting the added risk of potential collisions when maneuvering through on-site obstacles. In some cases, particularly in congested industrial modular projects, it is inevitable for mobile cranes to walk with loads to a position with sufficient clearance to perform the lifts and place the objects in their final set position. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by introducing a comprehensive lift planning framework to plan complicated lifts involving mobile crane walking operations. Due to the lack of reliable and accurate plans for such lifts in practice and the added complexities, they are often eluded by practitioners compared with the more straightforward pick-and-set scenarios. This study proposes an algorithm for optimized planning of crane walking–involved lift operations borrowing an obstacle avoidance technique from robotics. The proposed path planner thoroughly considers site constraints and crane configurations to prevent collision between the crane body and the load with preinstalled objects. Actual case studies are presented to validate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm. The system generated the presented real-world lift in less than 5 min, satisfying the operations’ optimality, safety, and feasibility.

Examining the success drivers and barriers of modular building projects using qualitative comparative analysis

Compared to traditional construction methods, it is expected that modularization can achieve a faster, cheaper and more sustainable delivery and, as a result, should have a higher chance of project success. However, it is not unusual that modular projects fail to achieve the project objectives and stakeholders’ expectations. The failure of modular construction projects makes researchers and industry practitioners wonder whether the causal configurations for modular project success and failure are different from other types of construction projects. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by exploring the combinatorial impact of success drivers and barriers on project outcomes using qualitative comparative analysis, with a specific focus on modularization practices in the building sector. The data matrix, which summarises project information of 31 cases, is imported into analysis software, fsQCA 3.0, to test the multiple conjunctural causations for modular building project success and failure. The analysis results confirm that the success drivers and barriers interactively and collectively influence project outcomes of modular buildings. The most commonly involved success drivers and barriers are discussed in detail. This research will serve as a valuable reference for building sector practitioners and facilitate the effort to improve the success rate of modular building projects.

Biden announces US-backed small modular reactor project in Romania

Biden announces US-backed small modular reactor project in Romania

Can product modularization approaches help address challenges in technical project portfolio management? – Laying the foundations for a methodology transfer

Formalized Project Portfolio Management (PPM) models struggle to provide comprehensive solutions to project selection, resource allocation and adaptability to dynamic technology project environments. In this article, we introduce a vision for a novel Modular Project Portfolio Management (MPPM) approach by drawing on well-established engineering methods for designing modular product architectures. We show how systems theory can be used to enable a transfer of methods from the area of engineering design and manufacturing to the area of PPM and how the concept of product modularity could help address challenges of existing PPM approaches. This lays the groundwork for the possible development of MPPM as a new and innovative methodology for managing complex technology and engineering project landscapes.

A techno‐economic analysis framework for intensified modular systems

AbstractIn this work, a novel systematic techno‐economic analysis framework is proposed for costing intensified modular systems. Conventional costing techniques are extended to allow estimation of capital and operating costs of modular units. Economy of learning concepts are included to consider the effect of experience curves on purchase costs. Profitability measures are scaled with respect to production of a chemical of interest for comparison with plants of traditional scale. In the developed framework, a base case scenario is analyzed to identify the relevance of the economy of learning and cost parameters that are yet to be established for modular projects that will be deployed. Then, a sensitivity analysis step is conducted to define changes in relevant variables that benefit the construction of modular systems. In a final step, scenarios in which the modular technology presents break‐even and further reduction in cost are identified. A process model for a modular hydrogen unit is developed and used for demonstration of the proposed framework. In this application, process synthesis is carried out, including operability analysis for selection of feasible operating conditions. A comparison with a benchmark conventional steam methane reforming plant shows that the modular hydrogen unit can benefit from the economy of learning. A synthesized flowsheet for a modular steam methane reforming plant is used to map the decrease in natural gas price that must be needed for the plant to break even when compared to traditional technologies. Scenarios in which the natural gas price is low allow break‐even cost for both individual hydrogen units and the assembled modular plant. For such break‐even cases, the economy of learning must produce a reduction of 40% or less in capital cost when the natural gas price is under 0.02 US$/Sm3. This result suggests that the synthesized modular hydrogen process has potential to be economically feasible under these conditions. The developed tools can thus be used to accelerate the deployment and manufacturing of standardized modular energy systems.

CONCEPTUAL COST ESTIMATION FRAMEWORK FOR MODULAR PROJECTS: A CASE STUDY ON PETROCHEMICAL PLANT CONSTRUCTION

Modularization, which allows for pre-assembly away from a construction site, has been known to be more cost-effective than stick-built; however, contractors have difficulty ascertaining the benefits and adopting it. Calculating the benefits and costs of adopting modularization precedes decision making. However, modular cost estimation is challenging since relevant information in the early stages of a project and historical data about industrial modularization both have limited availability. To solve this problem, this study developed a conceptual cost estimation framework for industrial modular projects by converting stick-built project information. The framework is composed of eight steps based on two approaches. This study conducted a case study to demonstrate the applicability of the framework, which compared the project cost of modularization scenarios 1 and 2 with that of the stick-built version of the ongoing project. In addition, the estimated modular cost was compared with the engineers’ estimation to verify the accuracy of the framework. The contributions of this study are in identifying and quantifying the factors influencing the differences in cost between the modularization and stick-built versions, and developing the conceptual cost estimation framework for an industrial modular project. This framework is expected to support deciding on adopting modularization, budgeting, and project viability.

Identifying modular candidates in engineer-to-order companies

The purpose of this paper is to address a gap of missing modularization methods for engineer-to-order (ETO) companies. The research project was initiated by clarifying the challenges facing ETO companies, based on these challenges synthesis of existing methods was done to conceptualize a method. This article presents the modular candidate identification (MCI) method aimed at identifying modular candidates in ETO companies. The method analyzes five dimensions, namely, market segments, customer requirements, product architectures, cost and lead time to find modular candidates. The method was applied in a Danish ETO company and shown to be successful in identifying two modular candidates. Both were recognized by management and redesigned in modular product development projects.

Overcoming process-related barriers in modular high-rise building projects

Modular projects can be of higher quality, a safer, faster and more predictable construction process, and less environmental nuisance compared to a traditional on-site project. High-rise projects seem to be particularly suitable for modular building methods, however there are still some process-related barriers. Research so far has not focussed on collaboration forms for modular high-rise projects. This paper examines which collaboration form fits best for a modular high-rise project by conducting an international case study research. From the case studies it is debatable whether the current PDMs meet the need for modular concepts; modular buildings will benefit more from a long-term collaboration with fixed partnerships. This requires a complete different approach to the construction industry. Until then, the best match should be sought by matching the customer profile to the PDM characteristics. The most suitable PDM is dependent on the client profile that can be determined by 17 selection criteria.

Optimizing Heavy Lift Plans for Industrial Construction Sites Using Dijkstra’s Algorithm

AbstractPlanning lift activities of mobile cranes for a modular project can raise productivity and improve safety. An optimized lift plan is essential for multiple lifts due to high rental cost of ...

Connecting teams in modular construction projects using game engine technology

Industrialized Construction (IC) has the potential to disrupt and improve the construction industry, but there are still challenges that need to be resolved, such as proper collaboration and coordination between all project teams. With the undergoing digital transformation of the industry, little research is being done on the development of integrated digital platforms to connect all project teams in IC. The overarching aim of this research is to explore how Game Engine Technology can be used to create a platform to integrate the design, production, transportation, and construction teams working on modular projects. This study shows that game engines provide a rapid and cost-effective tool for developing digital solutions for modular construction projects. Feedback from industry professionals highlighted the benefits of using such game engine-based tools in projects which opens up future investigations on the practical use of game engines in other aspects of construction.

Understanding the Key Risks Affecting Cost and Schedule Performance of Modular Construction Projects

Modular construction has been documented to be superior over traditional construction methods in terms of schedule, quality, predictability, and other project objectives. However, the lack of understanding and proper management of unique modular risks have been documented to result in suboptimal performance in modular construction projects. Although many previous research efforts have focused on the barriers and drivers related to the adoption of modular construction in the industry, no previous research work has addressed the key risks impacting cost and schedule of modular construction projects. This paper fills this knowledge gap. The authors utilized a multistep research methodology. First, a survey was distributed to and answered by 48 construction professionals to examine the effects of 50 modular risk factors that were identified based on a systematic literature review in a previous study. Second, a Cronbach’s alpha test was conducted to check survey validity and reliability. Finally, Kendall’s concordance analysis, one-way ANOVA, and Kruskal–Wallis tests were conducted to examine the agreement of responses within each as well as among the various stakeholders of modular construction projects. Results showed that the most critical factors affecting both cost and schedule of modular projects are (1) shortage of skilled and experienced laborers, (2) late design changes, (3) poor site attributes and logistics, (4) unsuitability of design for modularization, (5) contractual risks and disputes, (6) lack of adequate collaboration and coordination, (7) challenges related to tolerances and interfaces, and (8) poor construction activity sequencing. This study adds to the body of knowledge by helping practitioners to better understand the key risk factors that should be considered to enhance the performance of their modular construction projects. The outcomes provide insight into the alignment of stakeholders on the different risk factors affecting cost and schedule in modular construction projects. This should help practitioners to establish mitigation plans during the early stages of a project.

Tower Crane Location Optimization for Heavy Unit Lifting in High-Rise Modular Construction

Modular construction, which involves unit production in factories and on-site work, has benefits such as low cost, high quality, and short duration, resulting from the controlled factory environment utilized. An efficient tower crane lifting plan ensures successful high-rise modular project completion. For improved efficiency, the lifting plan should minimize the reaching distance of the tower crane, because this distance directly affects the tower crane capacity, which is directly related to crane operation cost. In situations where units are lifted from trailers, the trailer-to-tower crane distance can have a significant impact on the tower crane operation efficiency. However, optimization of this distance to improve efficiency has not been sufficiently considered. This research proposes a genetic algorithm optimization model that suggests optimized tower crane and trailer locations. The case study results show that through the proposed model, the project manager can reflect the optimal location selection and optimal tower crane selection options with minimal cost.

Methodological performance analysis applied to a novel IIoT access control system based on permissioned blockchain

Considering that RFID technology presents a significant growth in IIoT environments, industrial manufacturing is being one of the most benefited by this growth. As growth implies increased security risks, access control systems have emerged as an essential solution for IIoT environments and particularly in RFID systems. Considering Hyperledger Fabric Blockchain as a modular project oriented to environments with high level of performance in terms of speed and scalability, our manuscript proposes a performance analysis based on a methodological framework to demonstrate the viability of a comprehensive access control system which includes Identification, Authentication, Authorization and Accountability/Auditing based on the permissioned blockchain Hyperledger Fabric Blockchain. Our proposal promotes a novel approach to reliable data privacy, based on private data collection solution promoted by Hyperledger Fabric to implement the registration phase of our access control system. In this regard, the feasibility of using private data collection with respect to a private data local management solution is demonstrated. Finally, thanks to the modularity promoted by Hyperledger Fabric Blockchain, we define the optimal network model for our use case. To demonstrate these approaches, several experiments are conducted, based on a proposed methodological performance framework.

Analysis of safety risk factors of modular construction to identify accident trends

ABSTRACT Although the modular construction method is safer than traditional onsite construction methods, accidents still occur; therefore, modular projects have characteristic safety risks. This study investigated accident cases related to modular construction and identified the safety risk factors. The study evaluated accident cases related to modular construction that occurred in the United States from 2000 to 2018 and analyzed safety risk factors, such as the types and causes of accidents in these cases. In the process of analysis, the causal map was developed and it was used to identify the causes of accidents. The results of the analyses showed the major accident causes and types that occurred in these activities. Second, this study conducted a comparative analysis to identify differences between accidents in modular and general constructions. Furthermore, suggestions are proposed to prevent safety accidents and to develop management schemes based on the analyzed outcomes. This study contributes to the body of knowledge as a basic modular construction safety management study; it presents safety risk factors by identifying safety accidents in modular construction projects and helps safety managers frame appropriate measures when making decisions.