Norwegian Construction Industry Research Articles

A mapping of electric construction machinery and electric construction sites in Norway

The Norwegian construction industry is responsible for ca. 2.2 million tonnes CO2eq in 2021. The rise in GHG emissions, noise and air pollution in the built environment is becoming a potential hazard due to the large growth of construction activities within cities. As a response, actors from the Norwegian construction industry have converted diesel construction machinery to electric operation to reduce these impacts. As a result, the electric construction machinery market in Norway has grown exponentially. However, access to electric construction machinery varies greatly. The aim of this paper is to map the available electric construction machinery on the Norwegian market as first steps towards creating a database of electric construction machinery for subsequent energy and power demand modelling of fully electric construction sites. This paper also maps the regional differences in construction machine availability through mapping the known public construction sites in Norway that use electric construction machinery.

User perspectives on reuse of construction products in Norway: Results of a national survey

Construction industry is one of the main contributors to the world's emissions and material footprints. Reuse of construction products is one way to lower the sector's embodied emissions and increase resource utilisation. The aim of this study is to identify the main drivers and challenges affecting reuse of construction products as well as assess success factors, reuse potential, and potential measures which should be considered to overcome these obstacles. An online national survey was conducted on reuse of construction products among actors from the Norwegian construction industry. The valid responses obtained from 260 participants show ‘emission reduction’ as the most important driver for reuse of construction products by all user groups. Even if regulatory and economic components were listed under drivers in the survey questions, they were considered as barriers rather than drivers by some of the respondents. All user groups, except suppliers of reused products, rated ‘lack of documentation’ as the most important barrier, and ‘good planning’ as the most important success factor. Suppliers of reused products rated ‘high cost’ and ‘good planning’ as the most challenging and the most important success factor for reuse, respectively. The findings also reveal different perceptions and levels of optimism among actors. Most respondents were optimistic about availability of reusable products (within less than 5 y), but least optimistic about finding cheaper reusable products in the near future (assuming it might take 9 to 17 y). Laws and regulations, testing, documentation and certification, and economic subsidies are mentioned as the top three measures to address the current barriers. Concerning the definition of the term ‘Reuse’, the findings indicate a lack of common understanding – and the need to create a clear description and a harmonised definition. The findings from the study show the need to take several actions to address the current challenges of reuse.

Norwegian stakeholder's attitudes towards EU taxonomy

PurposeThe European Union (EU) aims to become climate-neutral by 2050. Achieving this requires targeted measures and strategies. One of the instruments of the EU is the EU taxonomy, a classification system with the purpose of creating a common definition of what economic activities are deemed sustainable. The paper aims to examine how the EU taxonomy can affect the Norwegian construction industry, property owners and facilities management (FM) providers.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on a document analysis and interviews with main stakeholders within the financial sector, construction and real estate (RE) sector, authorities, environmental organisations and businesses related to FM and RE.FindingsThe findings show that different stakeholders share largely similar attitudes towards the taxonomy, although some differ in their opinions. This paper finds that there are high levels of uncertainty and confusion associated with the taxonomy, which can be said to be a major obstacle for successful implementation. Several stakeholders show concerns related to the fact that Norway lacks definitions and regulations on which the taxonomy is based. The requirements for new buildings and existing buildings are considered stricter than the current practice in the Norwegian construction and RE industry, while the requirements for renovation are considered more achievable. The uptake of the EU taxonomy will impact the FM and the urban FM practices and standards for the procurement of services, and the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies must be developed.Research limitations/implicationsThe research presented in this paper was conducted at a time when the EU taxonomy was a relatively unknown concept in the Norwegian construction and RE industry. FM providers were not interviewed in this study.Practical implicationsThis research is one of the first studies to be conducted on this topic in Norway and represents the first meeting between the EU taxonomy and the industry. The discussion underpins the relevance of adjusting and updating FM standards to today’s knowledge about ESG principles.Originality/valueThe paper shows the viewpoint of the Norwegian stakeholders involved in the construction and RE industry. This gives valuable information about the challenges that the industry needs to overcome.

Profit Rate and Profit Persistence in the Norwegian Construction Industry – A Sector with Different Segments, Strong Competition and Many Small Companies

There exist numerous published articles that examine the level of profit persistence across various industries. Such analyses prove highly valuable in acquiring a deeper understanding of the market. This paper investigates how important business-specific factors are for businesses involved in construction industry. This sector is characterized by its high capital intensity and sensitivity to economic cycles. To investigate its dynamics, researchers commonly employ the dynamic panel data approach along with the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator, a widely used econometric technique. The approach is to estimate to what degree firms can make a profit and outperform the market. We split the sample of Norwegian construction firms from 2006 to 2019 by three criteria: segment, size, and debt. With a comprehensive dataset encompassing information from over 40,000 companies spanning a period of 14 years, there exists a solid foundation for generating accurate estimates. The finding is that the degree of profit persistence (PoP) is considerable in this sector and especially among large companies. The longterm profit rate is around 6 percent. There was a noticeable decline in activity during the financial crisis. The building segment and highly indebted enterprises faced the greatest challenges during that period.

Developing an AI-powered smart insole system to reduce the possibility of back pain among older workers: lessons from the Norwegian construction industry

Blue-collar workers are generally more susceptible to specific health conditions such as musculoskeletal disorders, among which back pain is a significant problem for older workers. This study presents the design of a smart insole system developed as a part of the research and the practicality of its use in the construction industry, including an evaluation of its benefits and limitations. Pressure sensors in the soles generate heatmaps that allow us to identify incorrect posture using an adaptable Artificial Intelligence lifting engine. The data is used to evaluate the lifting actions in real-time and preemptively warn the individuals. Using the principles of participatory design as a starting point, the pilot phase, and testing of the solution, the pre-use survey was conducted among construction workers to understand their experience while interacting with the solution. The user testing period was followed by the feedback and evaluation period, which included getting informal feedback on the system. While it has shown the promise of a new solution, it still needs improved robustness and simpler instructions. Some minor technical challenges must be addressed before moving to the commercial stage. The results are used to evaluate further, improve the system, and make decisions in the product design.

Sharing incident experiences: a roadmap towards collective safety information in the Norwegian construction industry

This article presents a study on sharing practices after incidents across organizations in the Norwegian construction industry as a means towards improvement of occupational safety. Interviews were performed with safety personnel from different actors, including clients, contractors and designers. The findings show that several arenas for sharing of safety-related information across actors exist; however, the sharing is limited, not structured, and occurs occasionally. Furthermore, the information is not widely shared across all actors in the industry for whom the information could be valuable, e.g., early phase actors. As a willingness to share and an excitement for new technology are present, the work goes on to propose how and where the industry can improve on information sharing after incidents to move towards inter-organizational learning. A roadmap for the Norwegian construction industry is suggested for collective information sharing with a focus on technological and digital solutions.

Investigating Systems Engineering Approaches in the Norwegian Construction Industry: A Multi‐Case Study

AbstractThere is an increasing application of Systems Engineering in the Norwegian construction industry. This paper investigates the effects of a Systems Engineering approach on project management performance, prerequisites for success, and which elements contribute to effectiveness from a technical contractor perspective. First, we find a positive perception of Systems Engineering's effect on time, cost, and quality. Second, we provide and rank a list of 12 prerequisites for success. Third, we quantify the perceived importance of five elements of the systems engineering process. Finally, we find a disconnect between what seems to be essential processes and prerequisites and what gets done in practice. To improve Systems Engineering performance, we recommend improving Systems Engineering competence and capabilities, increasing the formality of requirements analysis and documentation, and front‐loading the effort and allocation of resources in projects.

Corrective and Preventive Action Plan (CAPA) for Disputes in Construction Projects: A Norwegian Perspective

The consensus in the Norwegian construction industry is that the projects are characterized by conflicts. Because unresolved disputes that reach courts take time and resources to be solved, this leads to lost productivity and high costs for all stakeholders. Of the root causes of conflicts identified previously, tender specification and contract understanding were the most significant issues. To expand on previous findings, a qualitative analysis of 58 formal, semi-structured interviews was conducted to determine whether personal characteristics and types of contracts presented conflicts. Interviews were conducted with contractors, public clients, consultants, academics, and lawyers. Data were analyzed using NVIVO 12.0 following specific relevant themes and thematic maps. Corrective and preventive actions included the development of a new method to produce better-prepared tender documents, knowledge building in contract management, training to ensure better communication and dialogue between client and contractor, trust-building, dispute resolution along the way, and avoid awarding contracts at the lowest price or the use of a hybrid model. Improved routines may drive costs down, and cooperation and new forms of tendering and contracting could be the key to prevent and minimize disputes in Norway.

Experiences with Partnering: A Case Study on the Development Phase

Collaborative approaches to projects are increasingly prominent in the Norwegian construction industry. Project Partnering is one means to collaborative project delivery that is progressively more used. This paper examines how the three project actors: client, contractor, and technical advisors, experienced cooperation in the development phase in a partnering construction project. The case under scrutiny was two jointly developed public projects. The case methodology utilised a survey to collect empirical evidence, and the researchers collected data from 37 respondents distributed among the three actors. The results show that the contractors had the most positive experience, while the client’s respondents were the most negative. However, the response from the survey suggests that all the actors were happy with the cross-disciplinary cooperation. Furthermore, the response from the client indicates that their frustration was mainly due to struggles within the client organisation, and not with the other actors.

Opportunity Space for Work-related Crime from Procurement to Production

This study examines the opportunity space for work-related crime from procurement to production in the Norwegian construction industry through the optic of sixteen measures. This study was initiated by literature review about work-related crime in construction industry. Further, the method consists of a case-specific document study and interviews. Eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives working within two contractors. Research on the measures in context of the Norwegian construction industry is scarce. The results provide a perception of the contractor’s routine regarding the measures. A majority of the measures are used in both procurement and production phase. However, use of them differ, in both companies and phases. This creates an opportunity space to the measures. The main reason for the opportunity space is lack of control and discontinuity of responsibility. The transition between phases is essential to keep control and continuity. There should be more research on counteracting measures in the Norwegian context. There is need for industry efforts to improve barriers to avoid crime. The study shows an opportunity space for work-related crime in transition from procurement to production. Thus, more research on the transition between the phases is needed. This study provides assessment of the implemented measures.

Development of target cost – By the owner or together with Contractors - Target Value Design

Cost growth and cost overrun of projects is a well-researched topic, but still a recurring problem. Some of the problems may be attributed to the difficulties of setting a realistic cost estimate in the early phase of the project. This paper aims to give insight o the challenge of setting realistic cost targets. We particularly focus on large and complex infrastructure projects in the context on the Norwegian construction industry. Four large infrastructure projects have been examined, all used a variation of target cost and was more or less successful in their implementation of this approach. Through interviews and document study we identified that when setting cost targets for projects, both allowable cost and target cost should be considered. Allowable cost should be defined by the project owner, implying that the allowable cost should be set before the start of design. Furthermore, the target cost should either be set by the project owner or in dialogue with the design and contractor team. The study concludes that it is important that the target cost is set 12 – 20 % below allowable cost so that it is possible both to drive innovations through the design process and to be able to handle risks during construction.

Policy Mix for a Transition to Sustainability: Green Buildings in Norway

A transition to sustainability is a systemic shift in the way buildings are procured, produced and used, as well as how the built environment connects to the energy and mobility systems. This study focuses on the role of policy and assesses how the policy mix affects transition to green buildings. The case of the Norwegian construction industry is analyzed through a theoretical framework that cuts across policy domains, it includes a mix of policy instruments, as well as rationales for policy. Results show that the instrument mix is relatively consistent and there is a powerful self-reinforcing dynamic among financial, regulative, and information-based instruments. A small fraction of the industry drives innovation, and policy instruments target different segments of the industry accordingly. The synergies between instruments create a dynamic where policy aimed at the elite and policy aimed at lifting the bottom reinforce each other. This policy dynamic supports a transition by allowing the industry to change through cumulative incremental changes. At the same time there is a need for coordination between policy domains and different levels of governance. Conflicts arise from differences in goals and styles of governance in different policy domains. Findings show that inconsistencies and conflicts are inevitable, these aspects can be counterbalanced by consistency in implementation and by credibility and clear communication from policy makers.

Ethical challenges during construction project handovers

The paper reports on case studies of handovers in medium-large and large Norwegian construction projects. It outlines an understanding of the ethical challenges experienced during this handover as part of a wider enquiry into the ethical field in the context of the Norwegian construction industry. In addition to a literature review and document study, 41 semi-structured interviews have been carried out in accordance with a qualitative approach. Four of these were general in nature (with policy makers) and 37 case-specific (with clients, contractors and user representatives). The paper establishes a descriptive picture of significant ethical challenges at handover experienced within the Norwegian construction industry. The most prominent of these stems from the participants' own hidden agendas and power plays. Clients, contractors and subcontractors alike tend to be systematically suspicious of one another. Signs of participants repetitively utilising the complexity involved for their own benefit at the expense of others are identified. The main costs involved seem to reinforce these challenges. Further research is needed to clarify challenges and develop appropriate measures to address these issues on both operational and policy levels.

Experiences with CLT Construction in Norway

The use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) elements in buildings is an innovative and upcoming construction method. In Norway, due to its eco-friendly potential, more widespread use of the method is expected despite limited experience to date. The lack of a domestic guiding literature related to issues such as moisture behaviour is creating uncertainties in achieving sustainable buildings and, taken together, such issues are creating a demand for more information about CLT construction in Norway. Qualitative in-depth interviews were used to obtain views based on the hands-on experience of skilled actors in the Norwegian construction industry. The informants (owner-builders, consultants, contractors and CLT suppliers) revealed different outlooks to the CLT construction process. In general, these actors experienced no more challenges with CLT construction than they did with other construction systems. In Norway, the major barrier to the more widespread use of CLT is compliance with fire safety and acoustics regulations. Differences in focus between the industry and Norwegian literature regarding moisture safety is clear. There is a lack of consistent guiding literature. Closer collaboration between industry and the research community is recommended in order to develop workable solutions. It is important to clarify the risks linked to built-in moisture and its impact on buildings. Research institutions should also focus their research on fire safety and acoustics.

Methods for creating CLT Construction Guidelines

During the past decade, the use of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) elements has become gradually more popular and widespread in building construction in Norway. A study mapping the experience of CLT use in the Norwegian construction industry reveals that existing domestic literature on this topic is outdated and no longer relevant. This paper describes the methods used for preparing updated CLT construction guidelines. Information obtained from expert actors in the construction industry, combined with document studies, has formed the knowledge basis for this study. A total of 19 qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted, and more than 400 documents from 12 CLT projects were received from 11 actors. A CLT construction guide focusing on moisture safety design and rational production was prepared based on the information obtained, and was quality assured by 16 experts from industry and the research community. Guidance on the approach to preparation of the guide, its format and layout, was provided by SINTEF Science Communication. Critical feedback influenced the content of the guide and its design recommendations. The study shows that dialogue with the construction industry and research community is a valuable contribution to the preparation of structured construction solutions. The involvement of the industry has accentuated the importance of the preparation of CLT construction guidelines. It is hoped that the guide will inspire research institutions to prepare and publish updated guidelines.

Trajectory of a language broker: between privilege and precarity

ABSTRACTThis paper offers an ethnographic case study of Tomasz, a Polish construction worker, and his professional trajectory as well as daily work life on Norwegian construction sites. The study is based on observations, interviews, and recordings of Tomasz’s daily workplace activities and interactions. The Norwegian construction industry is characterized by socioeconomic stratification between permanently employed ‘local’ and temporarily leased ‘migrant’ workers. Moreover, due to a high degree of migrant workers in the industry, Norwegian construction sites are often de facto multilingual workplaces. This condition entails that multilingual communication and workers with the ‘right’ language repertoires become valuable. Their value, however, can be volatile and easily appropriated and redefined, as the case of Tomasz will demonstrate. On the one hand, Tomasz, as a worker with the ‘right’ language repertoire, gains agency and social recognition as being indispensable. Yet, on the other hand, this linguistic valuation also enables continued differentiation and distinction between ‘migrant’ and ‘local’ workers. This study contributes to understanding workers’ investments in language learning, the conditions of these investments, and how their trajectories make these investments feasible to the workers but also to the companies that hire and lease them.

Lessons learnt from the design and construction strategies of two Norwegian low emission construction sites

Over the last couple of years, research related to fossil free and emission free construction sites has developed rapidly in Norway, with an ambition to contribute towards global, national and regional emission reduction targets. Major public players are already demanding fossil free construction sites through public procurement, whilst requirements for emission free construction sites are on the way. Even though the Norwegian construction industry is a forerunner, there is a lack of knowledge or common understanding among different stakeholders on the definition, scope and strategies needed for fossil free and emission free construction sites. The aim of this paper is to present the main challenges and opportunities from the construction phase of two Norwegian zero emission construction sites, namely Campus Evenstad in Hedmark and Lia nursery school in Oslo. Construction activities considered include transportation and installation of building materials, construction machinery, temporary works, energy use, waste management and person transport. This paper presents and discusses the lessons learnt from the design, ambition levels, inputs from stakeholders, emission reduction solutions of these two construction sites, and evaluates methods considered to address conceptual and practical issues. In conclusion, this paper suggests lessons learnt for reducing GHG emissions from Norwegian zero emission construction sites.

Improvement measures to achieve sustainable construction labour performance

Construction industry is the largest industrial employer of the world. However, construction labour suffers from declining productivity, job satisfaction and wellbeing. Given its volume and labour extensiveness, measures undertaken to improve labour sustainability of the construction industry would have high impact for the future. To improve the sustainability of labour performance, this paper suggests decision-making measures at the strategic, tactical, and operational levels. Data is generated through targeted interviews of the top management of the five biggest Norwegian construction contractors. The measures suggested by the interviewees are analyzed and complemented with theory through a systematic literature review, resulting in the development of 45 measures to achieve sustainable labour performance at strategic, tactical and operational decision-making levels. Due to strict labour laws and regulations, some frequently reported measures in literature do not hold relevance to the Norwegian construction industry. However, the quality of data and unique position of the Norwegian construction industry magnifies its relevance to the global construction industry.

Best Value Procurement (BVP) in Norwegian Construction Projects

The traditional contractor selection method, based on lowest price, has resulted in conflict, low quality products and a waste of resources. The need for an alternative supplier selection method has resulted in Best Value Procurement (BVP). BVP seeks to increase project value by utilizing the expertise of the contractor, while reducing the client’s management, direction and control. Currently, pilot projects in the Norwegian construction industry are testing the method. This paper addresses 1) how BVP is implemented in practice, 2) what the experiences with BVP are, and 3) how BVP should be performed in future projects. The research was carried out through a literature study and two Norwegian case studies. A building project and a medium-size infrastructure project in the Norwegian public sector were investigated through nine semi-structured, in-depth interviews and document studies. The findings show that the practical use of BVP is in accordance with the theoretical approach. Furthermore, the experiences with BVP are mainly positive. However, some challenges have been identified, such as the clients’ and contractors’ lack of knowledge and experience with the BVP method. This may reduce the potential project value. The conclusion is that BVP is an effective and promising method for contractor selection and project management. However, for the success of future projects using the method, clients and contractors may benefit from more knowledge and experience with BVP. This can be done by training and by being persistent in using BVP in future projects. This paper is a revised version of a paper that has been published in the proceedings of the Creative Construction Conference 2018.

WHY CONFLICTS OCCUR IN ROADS AND TUNNELS PROJECTS IN NORWAY

Conflicts within the Norwegian construction industry have reached unacceptable levels. The grievance of these disputes, whether it is the number of conflicts or the expense involved in these conflicts, is under discussion. This article examines the reasons for these conflicts in a comprehensive and inclusive manner. Twenty-five respondents with expertise and understanding of most conflicts in the Norwegian construction industry were interviewed. Results from a questionnaire sent to 1799 contractors have also been included in this study. Sixteen reasons for disputes were identified out of which four comprised the root causes. Tender specification and contract understanding came in first followed by “final settlement-payment related”, corroborating previous findings. The third and fourth root causes of conflicts were “low priced contracts” and “changes in projects” respectively. Our findings point to design deficiencies and defective contract plans as significant causes of conflicts, confirming the view of construction experts. The third root cause of conflicts might explicate some aspects of the first and second major causes of disputes. It is also important to mention that though this is the general view, one can also see how every group involved in this study interpret major causes of conflicts. Our findings also point to “communication between clients and contractor”, “carried out quantities” and “client restriction to time extension” as among the chief causes of conflicts, confirming the view of construction experts. Client understanding of contractors’ anxiety and quest for sound contracting process are aspects that Norwegian clients are currently engaging in, for the sake of conflict reduction and prevention in future construction projects.