Numerous Construction Projects Research Articles

Transformational leadership and project success: the serial meditating roles of team flexibility and team agility

The construction sector is known for its dynamic nature, and numerous construction projects have failed to reach completion due to inadequate development of leadership. As a widely recognized leadership, transformational leadership has shown the positive relationship with project success. However, the mechanisms driving this relationship remain unclear in the context of construction projects. In response to this topic, by adopting the Input-Mediator-Outcome model, this study seeks to investigate the mediating effect of team flexibility and team agility between transformational leadership and project success in the context of construction projects. Data were collected through a survey from 306 construction project members. The Structural Equation Modeling method was employed to test the proposed model. The findings demonstrate that (1) transformational leadership positively impacts team flexibility and team agility; (2) team flexibility and team agility positively impact project success; (3) team flexibility shows a positive mediating effect between transformational leadership and project success; (4) team agility shows no mediating effect between transformational leadership and project success; and (5) team flexibility and team agility play serial mediating roles between transformational leadership and project success.

Impact of Pre-Planning on Time Management in Construction Projects

Numerous construction projects in India are grappling with significant delays, leading to surpassing the initially set timelines and budgets. The term "delay" in this context refers to the extension of time beyond the initially planned completion period. This research initiative aims to identify the most influential factors contributing to delays in Indian construction projects through a combined approach of literature review and a questionnaire survey. The literature review unearthed 103 causes of delays, which were categorized into 8 distinct groups, and identified 8 effects associated with project delays. Notably, authors presented varying rankings for these delaying factors, reflecting diverse perspectives influenced by different native and contextual considerations. 1. The pre-planning stage presents a crucial opportunity to plan numerous aspects, ensuring that the project is set on the right course right from its inception. 2. The objective of this study is to pinpoint various parameters that, when appropriately addressed during the planning stage, can contribute to successful project delivery. Key Words: Tread; operation; management.

BIM Impact on Construction Project Time Using System Dynamics in Saudi Arabia’s Construction

Construction delays are a prevalent issue worldwide, and Saudi Arabia is just a short distance from this experience. Although the Saudi construction industry was booming due to Vision 2030, major delays were recorded in numerous construction projects, resulting in extra costs and schedule overruns. Studies on Building Information Modeling (BIM) have increased recently due to their crucial role in managing construction projects. However, more efforts need to be made to define the impact value of adopting BIM using advanced techniques such as System Dynamics (SD). It also aims to demonstrate the BIM impacts globally to encourage taking advantage of such a system. Limited papers studied BIM impact in-depth using advanced techniques such as SD. Thus, A questionnaire was distributed to fifty-nine experts to measure the extent of BIM’s influence on the ten factors affecting project delay times discovered in the literature. The statistical analysis results were used to calculate each factor’s relative importance index (RII), compare them to the results obtained without BIM use, and calculate the relative difference for each factor. These relative differences were considered in the modified SD. The modified SD was applied to a case study representing an academic building in the King Saud University campus. The main finding revealed that BIM decreased construction project delays by 14.55%. In addition, this study found that BIM has a maximum influence on poor site management and supervision by contractors, with a reduction percentage of 17.65%, and a minimum influence on lack of contractor experience and managerial skills, with 11.76%. The SD analysis results confirmed that BIM has a significant impact on reducing construction project delays.

A Proposed Knowledge Management System to Improve the Business Growth At PT. Multi Guna Equipment

The construction equipment industry in Indonesia, in which the lifting equipment is a part of, is showing promising growth with an estimated value of 4.5 billion US dollars in 2028, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.79% during the period of 2021-2028. PT. Multi Guna Equipment (PT. MGE) is one of the authorized distributors of lifting equipment specializing in reach stackers and harbour mobile cranes from Konecranes – a company based in Finland. In recent years, PT. MGE has experienced stagnant business growth, despite the enormous potential demand for lifting equipment in Indonesia due to the numerous construction projects that are a priority for the Government. The obstacles that contribute to the stagnant business growth of PT. MGE are related to the absence of a system to manage knowledge in the company. In light of these circumstances, the company needs a structured and effective system for managing knowledge, which is through the implementation of a Knowledge Management (KM) system. In doing this, the research is based on two research questions. The first is how can a knowledge management system be proposed to improve the business growth of PT. MGE, and the second is what is the implementation plan for the proposed knowledge management system. These two research questions will be answered using theories related to knowledge, knowledge management, and two knowledge management frameworks, namely People, Process, Technology (PPT) and Socialization, Externalization, Combination, Internalization (SECI). Because a qualitative method is used in this research, data is collected through interviews and observations, which are then analyzed using thematic analysis. The results of data collection show that there are several issues related to the PPT and SECI frameworks. These issues range from the limited sales knowledge and sales skills possessed by salespeople, the lack of knowledge sharing processes within and between teams, the lack of proper knowledge transfer, difficulty in accessing knowledge and information due to manual access, and others. Through the utilization of PPT and SECI frameworks, the author was able to design a knowledge management system by formulating several tools, for example, Coaching, Training, Knowledge café, Lesson-learned documents, K-based exit interview, repository, and e-learning. With a total of 13 (thirteen) knowledge management tools or techniques, the company now has the ability to identify the knowledge needed, capture the knowledge, store the knowledge, share the knowledge, and effectively utilize knowledge and information which can improve the organization’s performance, enhance decision-making processes, and foster innovation and collaboration, thereby gaining a competitive advantage in the lifting equipment industry which ultimately contributes greatly to the growth of the company. For the knowledge management system implementation process, it will be divided into 4 (four) stages: Pre-Adaptation, Adaptation, Implementation, and Evaluation to ensure that the knowledge management system is implemented effectively, its impact can be measured, and areas for improvement can be identified to make necessary changes. Implementation will begin on the second half of 2023, to be specific in August 2023, and there will be a dedicated Person In Charge (PIC) for all knowledge management initiatives to monitor the progress and ensure the sustainability of this system.

The Family of Minister Al-Sayyid Al-Ajall: A Study of Its Political, Administrative, and Urban Role (7th-8th Century AH / 13th-14th AD)

Objectives: The study aimed to clarify the role of Al-Sayyid Al-Ajall and his family in the service of the Mongol Empire. They worked to develop its administrative and military institutions, benefiting from their extensive experience in administration, politics, economics, and urban affairs. Due to their capabilities, they received the patronage of Genghis Khan and subsequent generations, earning the confidence of the ruling Mongol authority. As a result, they were granted significant powers within the state. Methods: The study relied on the analytical method to analyze historical texts, compare them with others, and discuss them accurately. Results: The study yielded several results, including the minister's keen interest in implementing various reformist and urban projects throughout the country. These projects encompassed the construction of mosques, dams, bridges, markets, and more. Additionally, the minister played a significant role in organizing the state budget, showcasing his expertise and efficiency. Conclusions: The study concluded that Al-Sayyid Al-Ajall exerted every effort to achieve stability in the countries under his rule and promote justice among all. His profound impact on Mongol history and the regions they governed made him an exemplary figure. Additionally, Al-Sayyid Al-Ajall played a crucial role in the spread of Islam across various regions of China. Moreover, he undertook numerous construction projects, including the building of roads, markets, mosques, temples, dams, bridges, river excavation, and the establishment of shelters for orphans and the elderly.

Comparing a single pile's axial bearing capacity using numerical modeling and analytical techniques

It has become crucial to study the different pile types in terms of their performance and bearing capacity due to the growing use of different types of piles throughout numerous construction projects. The bearing capacity of piles has been determined for this purpose using various analytical, numerical (finite element and finite difference), and field approaches. To determine pile-bearing capacity, geotechnical engineers and accountants prefer to utilise analytical pile design methods, which take into consideration a variety of methodologies and the soil conditions for each method (such as adhesion, internal friction angle, etc.) Design decisions are made depending on the opinions that are expressed. By comparing the analytical and software results using Plaxis 2D software, using the design results of more than 30 heaps, and analysing prior studies, we attempted to gauge the validity of each of these approaches in this study. For the analyzed piles, the greatest relative error between the theoretical technique and the numerical approach utilised in this study was around 14%; however, this error can be greatly decreased by modifying the meshing and making it finer since the method answers the method. Based on the findings, it was concluded that accurate calculations of the bearing capacity of piles could be made using numerical models and appropriate behavior models for the soil and piles. Therefore, it is somewhat true, rational, and appropriate that numerical models can prevent costly loading tests on piles.

CBR laboratory investigation on Lightweight Modular Block (LMB) using recycled dredged soil mixed with EPS

Changing material into a lightweight geomaterial such as EPSCS is one of the considerable methods to improve the geotechnical performance in the field. This material is already used in numerous construction projects due to its light characteristics. Lightweight Modular Block or LMB is a type of EPSCS composed of dredged Soil, cement, and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS). The amount of cement composition are 3%, 5%,7% and 9%. Meanwhile, Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) are 0.5% and 0.75%. This paper aims to briefly explain the performance of LMB as road foundation materials, such as subbase and base, through CBR laboratory tests. Based on the data, adding EPS can reduce density by 18% - 29% depending on the chosen mixture. Whereas adding more cement tends to increase the CBR value. All the test results will be analyzed and compared to SNI 03-3438-1994 for its qualification as a road foundation layer.

Inflation rate and labours’ wages in construction projects: economic relation investigation

PurposeLabours are one of the key resources of construction projects having a significant impact on economic development. With time, the construction industry is getting a boom due to numerous construction projects in which labours’ contribution is significant. Project betterment is associated with the project productivity which relates to the labours. Wages play a vital role in retaining labours in the construction industry.Design/methodology/approachThis study focuses on investigating the increasing and decreasing behaviour of labour wages in the construction industry and observing the impact of the inflation rate in deviating labour wages. Initially, the percentage deviation was calculated to observe the changing behaviour of the data and then the Spearman correlation test was used to find the relationship between the inflation rate and the labour wages.FindingsIt is evident that even with a good economy and a stable construction sector, still, the labour wages faced a decline over time, which is a matter of concern. Also, based on the correlation coefficient, it was revealed that several labour wages categories are moderately and strongly correlated with the inflation rate and can impact project cost if the inflation rate is not considered while finalizing the budget. Besides that, the changing behaviour of labour wages due to the inflation rate impacts significantly on gross domestic product (GDP); therefore, it requires vital attention.Originality/valueChanges in labour wages are not considered in budget estimation which drag the project towards cost overrun. This study brings the attention of the stakeholders on the issue with experimental justification. Also, how the inflation rate is affecting the labour wages has also been addressed.

Key drivers for adopting design build: A comparative study between project stakeholders

The construction industry recognizes the need for a relationship-based procurement by considering the stakeholders to promote the right project delivery method. Design-Build (D-B) is an alternative procurement method that can overcome the incompleteness of Design-Bid-Build (D-B-B) in delivering construction projects. D-B is becoming more common in the United States, China, and Japan, but numerous construction projects are still practicing D-B-B. Hence, understanding the drivers of D-B adoption among project stakeholders can determine the root cause for the acceptance or rejection of D-B. This study aims to compare the key drivers for D-B adoption among the three main stakeholders, namely client, consultant, and contractor. To achieve that objective, this study analyzes survey data from 111 professionals with D-B project-related experiences. The results reveal sixteen D-B drivers that affect the stakeholders’ decision to adopt D-B. From the sixteen D-B drivers, the specific key D-B drivers for consultants are “interest in the design-build,” “reduce works variations,” and “better track record.” Conversely, “better project pricing” and “greater allocation of risks to contractors” are the specific key D-B drivers for clients and contractors, respectively. This study contributes to the existing literature on D-B by investigating the inter-relationships between D-B drivers of project stakeholders. The key D-B drivers can help researchers to formulate strategies to improve D-B adoption. The research findings could enhance the understanding of D-B drivers by providing a valuable reference for stakeholders to promote D-B in the construction industry.

The Major Causes of Construction Delays Identified Using the Delphi Technique: Perspectives of Contractors and Consultants in Thailand

At present, in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area of Thailand, numerous construction projects are in process or have recently been brought to completion. In pursuing this work, contractors regularly face construction delay problems, many of which are likely to have been avoidable. The research objective is to survey and prioritize the factors leading to construction delays from the perspective of both the consultants and the contractors. Data were collected via a survey instrument and the Delphi technique was used as the research methodology. To identify the factors that lead to construction delays relevant to the study context, a panel of experts comprising 18 construction public company leaders and 17 project engineers and 17 project consultants, 1 from each of the largest construction contractor and consultant companies in Thailand, and 20 academics in the field of construction were invited to share their opinions. Eventually, 13 factors leading to construction delays were identified from the data collected from the expert panel. A questionnaire was generated using a Likert scale with a range of 1–5 based on the factors suggested by the experts’ opinions. A total of 17 respondents from the contractor companies and 17 respondents from the consultant companies responded to the questionnaire. The numeric value of the responses was computed using the Delphi technique. The responses reached constancy at the second round of data collection. According to the statistical analysis, a Shortage of qualified labor was the most important factor leading to construction delays, according to both the contractors’ and the consultants’ perspectives with a mean value of 4.65 and 4.53, respectively. Change orders made by owners were the second most important factor according to both the contractors and the consultants with a mean value of 4.24 and 4.28, respectively. In addition, insufficient financial liquidity on the part of the contractor ranked as the third most important reason according to both the contractors and the consultants with a mean value of 4.18 and 4.12, respectively. The outcomes are applicable to the causes of construction delay in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area of Thailand, but may not be applicable to other settings. A review of the literature suggests significant differences in relation to such matters as the regulatory environment, societal practices and expectations, economic considerations, the environment, technology, and religion across settings may have an impact on what causes construction delays.

Estimating Residual Flexural Strength of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Using the ASTM C1550 Panel Test

Abstract The ASTM C1550, Standard Test Method for Flexural Toughness of Fiber Reinforced Concrete (Using Centrally Loaded Round Panel), round panel test has been used for quality control of fiber-reinforced shotcrete (FRS) and concrete (FRC) on numerous construction projects internationally since it was introduced in 2003. Using this method, the post-crack performance of FRS and FRC is normally expressed in terms of energy absorption. Energy absorption is useful for performance assessment in ground support applications, such as tunnel linings, because it offers the advantage of low inherent variability. However, engineers responsible for other structural applications involving FRC are usually more familiar with designs based on flexural strength rather than energy absorption. As a result, there has been a demand that post-crack performance of ASTM C1550 round panels be based on residual flexural strength. This paper describes how residual flexural strength can be calculated from data generated by the ASTM C1550 test method, and how corrections for deviations in thickness from the required 75 mm can be implemented to reduce variability in residual strength parameters and eliminate any possible bias associated with nonstandard thickness.

Building an Infection Prevention and Control Construction Portfolio to Navigate Healthcare Construction Projects

<h3>Background</h3> All healthcare construction requires collaboration with many stakeholders to build both correctly to published standards and safely. Effectively managing numerous new construction and renovation projects is challenging for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Departments. With the building of new inpatient units, a new hospital and a new inpatient tower we chose to assemble a construction portfolio to maintain consistency throughout all the phases of the projects. <h3>Methods</h3> With numerous construction projects running concurrently we had many spreadsheets, documents and recommendations saved in various areas making it difficult for members of the IPC team to easily manage and review projects. Our aim was to build a portfolio consisting of: a construction playbook based on recognized published national guidelines; internal construction contractor guidelines that provide standards for approved room fixtures and appropriate placement; and previous project recommendations for reference on future projects. The portfolio also contains a spreadsheet for each project that include the three phases of construction – design, build and occupancy. This spreadsheet details the scope of each project and the potential populations to be served. This assists in strategizing potential future staffing needs for the IPC department to oversee additional patients or programs. <h3>Results</h3> The most important phase to a successful construction project is in the detailed design. We have been able to share portions of our portfolio with our internal hospital project construction managers as well as the architects and construction contractors involved in each build. This has assisted in streamlining the construction process for the IPC team and decreased the man hours involved attending meetings. <h3>Conclusions</h3> A standard, methodical approach to navigating healthcare construction projects can assist what at times may seem daunting and overwhelming. A portfolio is one tool that IPC departments can use as institutions continue to build new hospitals and renovate existing infrastructures.

A comparative study on newly emerging type of formwork systems with conventional type of form work systems

Today, due to globalization, many improvements in construction methods around the globe have been brought about as the dissemination of new and innovative technology across the world’s populations has become easy and the exchange of cross-border information has become quicker and accurate. Formwork, which temporary structure helps to mount concrete into desired shape supporting the loads placed on it stays as well as underpinning wet cement until it fixes, is a vital developmental part. Formwork is an important building feature and requires 20–25 percent of the total construction cost. Therefore, with the use of latest methods in formwork, it allows the casting of larger elements faster than normal one, which eliminates the need for time and labour compared with conventional methods. A comparative study is made in this paper between existing formwork technology with newly emerging formwork systems such as aluminium form work, jump formwork system, which is not commonly used in India and thus suggests which method is best to the project being considered. To better understand this subject, numerous construction projects are studied where newly emerging formwork techniques are used and the data collected from these projects are used to compare newly emerged formwork with traditional formwork system.

The praxis of stupidity: an explanation to understand the barriers mitigating rework in construction

The practice of ‘functional stupidity’ forms the essence of Alvesson and Spicer’s ‘Stupidity-based theory of organisations’. Functional stupidity is an incapacity and/or disinclination on the part of organisational members to exercise critical reflection about what they are doing, to understand why they are doing it, and determine what the consequences of their activities are beyond the immediate task at hand. Drawing on the authors’ empirical research with regard to the nature of rework causation, we have observed that there is a proclivity for functional stupidity to reside in everyday practice in construction. We noticed that functional stupidity was a recurring organisational issue explicitly linked to ‘power and politics’ that was played out in numerous construction projects. In these projects managers attempted to discourage critical reflection that called into question prevailing organisational norms and values that had been sanctioned under the auspices of a ‘zero-vision’. In some instances, this, in turn, led to reinforcing ‘stupidity self-management’ behaviour whereby employees intentionally limited their own critical reflection creating a vicious zone of zemblanity that kept being played out in projects. The corollaries in this instance being an inability to learn, engender innovation, and improve organisational and project performance.

Urban noises and earthquakes effects on dynamic slope stability – a case study: Arash-Esfandiar tunnel

Slope stability is one of the main concerns among geotechnical researchers. Many aspects have been studied to examine their effects on slope stability (e.g. soil and slope properties). Besides, the dynamic slope stability analysis has great importance due to the danger of destructive dynamic stresses such as earthquakes, storms. On the other hand, urban areas daily encounter numerous construction projects, which generate unlimited microseismic noises that are usually considered ineffective on the dynamic slope stability. In short-term periods of time, these noises are not able to make impacts on slope stability; however, the long-term effects of the noises have not been studied sufficiently. In this study, firstly, geological and geotechnical investigations were done to obtain the soil types, parameters and characterisations of an excavation located in Tehran. Then, using a microtremor, the noises of the area were recorded for 52 min. In addition, the seismogram records of six earthquakes which had occurred in Tehran were taken. These seven records (the noises and six earthquakes) were separately applied to the geotechnical model and the behaviour of the soil (caused displacements and changes in the factor of safety) was observed. Thereafter, the results were obtained and the effects of the noises were compared with the six earthquakes. Accordingly, the displacements of the noises were considerable in comparison with the earthquakes displacements and the noises would cause the collapse in the slope after about six years. The results confirmed the effectivity of the urban noises and showed the importance of urban noises.

Automated three-dimensional design of the chuck of core drilling rigs

Numerous construction projects have caused the rapid development of the drilling industry in China. Various types of drilling equipment are widely used in the projects and have to be designed quickly to meet the increasing demand. Based on the initial modeling, macro recording, program compilation, and interface development in the SolidWorks and Visual Basic environment, this article introduces a new method of automated design using specialty automated design software for the chuck of core drilling rigs. This secondary developed software can quickly perform design for the parts and assembly of the chuck after inputting only several parameters of the work requirements. This software simplifies and automates the design process to a great extent by embedding the laborious computing tasks into the computer program and eliminating manual drafting work. This makes the designer focus more on the work requirements, instead of modeling, drafting, calculating, and so on. This can decrease the repetitive work of mechanical designers and increase their working efficiency.

통계분석을 이용한 낙동강유역의 수질변화 특성 조사

본 연구에서는 시간에 따른 수질 변화를 파악하고 원인에 따른 경향을 분석함으로써 적절한 관리대책을 수립하는 것이 필요하다고 생각되어 이 같은 연구를 하게 되었다. 현재 수질오염이 심각한 낙동강 수계를 대상으로 2006~2010년까지 수질변화를 분석하였다. 수계의 803개, 국가하천 13개소, 지방1급 하천은 10개소, 하천에 합류하는 하천은 31개 지점에서 측정한 수은, BOD(Biological Oxygen Demand), TN(Total Nitrogen)과 TP(Total Phosphorus) 등의 월평균 자료결과를 바탕으로 하여 통계적 분석(상관분석, 회귀분석, 분산분석, 시계열분석)을 통한 낙동강 유역의 인근 지역의 계절별로 수질항목을 확인하였으며, 평가지표에 따른 변화를 측정하고자 하였다. 유역의 지질 및 지형의 영향이 주로 작용하는데 지역의 기후조건, 식생, 지형, 토양, 비포화대 매질의 영향을 받기 때문에 여러가지의 변수를 가지고 유출했으며, 이는 방류량의 결정문제, 호소의 부영양화 문제 등이 제기될 수 있겠으며, 좋은 개선방안을 만들어보려고 한다. 따라서 낙동강의 강우기 유량을 증대하는 대책이 병행되는 것이 바람직하며, 물 관리 대책에는 하천유지용수 확보를 구성을 해야하며, 수로 건설사업 완료를 지속적인 관찰이 필요하다. 그러나 지류에는 물이 흐르지 않는 시기가 발생하는 이유는 자연 상태에서 흘러야 하는 하천수 및 공업용수와 농업용수로 취수했기 때문이다. 따라서 이모든 것을 관찰 및 구성을 하기 위해서는 지속적인 연구가 필요로 하며, 다음과 같은 연구의 목적을 두고 연구조사 하였다. In this study, we assess changes in water quality trends over time based on certain control measurements in order to identify and analyze the cause of the trend in water quality. The current water pollution in the Nakdong River was analyzed, as it suggests that the significant changes in water quality have occurred in between 2006 and 2010. Based on monthly average data, we have examined for trends of the Nakdong River watershed in water temperature, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Nitrogen (TN), and Total Phosphorus (TP). Moreover, we have investigated seasonal variation of water quality of sites within the Nakdong River Basin by implementing further analyses such as, Correlation Coefficient, Regression Analysis, Hierarchical Clustering Method, and Time Series Analysis on SPSS. Geology and topography of the watershed, controlled by various conditions such as, climate, vegetation, topography, soil, and rain medium, have been affected by the non-homogeneity. Our study suggests that such variables could possibly cause eutrophication problems in the river. One possible way to overcome this particular problem is to lay up a ship on the river by increasing the nasal flow measurement of the Nakdong River during rainy season. Moreover, the water management requires arranging the measurement of the flow in order to secure the river while the numerous construction projects need to be continuously observed. However, the water is not flowing tributary of the reason for the timing to be flowing in a natural state of river water and industrial water intake because agriculture. Therefore, ongoing research is needed in addition to configuration of all observations.

Industry foundation classes based integration of architectural design and structural analysis

The numerous construction projects in China provide the best environment for the development of information technology applied in building design. Various commercial CAD/CAE software applications are purchased by design firms for multi-disciplinary design tasks. However, researches on integration and interoperability are seldom considered. This study pursues a breakthrough point of integration in the architectural and structural domains and expects further development in other aspects. A central building information modeling (BIM) framework based on the industry foundation classes (IFC) is proposed to handle the data exchange between IFC-compatible architectural models and structural models. A central XML(extensible markup language)-based unified finite element model (FEM) is proposed for model conversion among various commercial structural CAE software applications. In addition to bidirectional data interfaces among IFC-based BIM, XML-based FEM and various commercial FEMs, some other components such as visualization, calculation and model editing/check are also equipped into the prototype system.

Morphological responses of an estuarine intertidal mudflat to constructions since 1978 to 2005: The Seine estuary (France)

Since 1834 the Seine estuary (France) has been the site of numerous construction projects with the aim to accommodate and secure boat traffic. Since 1978, the increasing of the activities of Le Havre port, located at the mouth of the estuary, has accelerated the construction work rate. Several dykes, a bridge, and new port facilities have been constructed in rapid succession, modifying considerably the hydrodynamic conditions which sustain a partially vegetated sandy–muddy tidal flat located in the North bank of the estuary between the new port of Le Havre and the Normandy bridge achieved in 1995. The present study deals with the morphological evolution of this zone from 1978 to 2005. The use of a low altitude remote sensing technique combined with traditional methods of ground survey and probes allow to demonstrate the impact of human activities on sedimentary and vegetation dynamics. The Northern mudflat of the estuary is the most affected by these human activities, which surface have reduced of 62% during the last 27 years with an intensified local erosion during the last 27 months corresponding to a loss 1 250 000 m 3 of fine-grained sediment. At the same time, the general sanding up in the channel of the zone has caused a loss of more than 31% of the tidal prism, more than three quarters of which occurred during the last three years. Results also establish that the response times of the sedimentary or topographic readjustment to an installation depend on the extent and the nature of the construction. In fact, the sedimentary readjustments to an installation can be delayed by up to 10 years in the case of the Seine estuary. This delay is explained by a rapid succession of construction works which may occult the effect of a single installation. Except in the case of a dyke built perpendicular to ebb and flood currents, the impacts of these installations reach a hydro-sedimentary equilibrium on the level between 1 and 7 years after their completion.

Environmental Conflicts and Activism with Industrialization in South Korea

AbstractWhen South Korea launched the first 5‐year economic development plan in 1962 to industrialize Korea, little attention was given to the environment. The industrialization process has been successful and as a result, the quality of the environment has been continually deteriorating in South Korea resulting in numerous environmental conflicts. The earliest environmental activism that arose was the struggles of the inhabitants in industrial complexes for survival. The government removed inhabitants from the affected areas instead of solving the root causes of the environmental problems. The activism began to disperse into areas surrounding metropolitan cities and industrial areas and even into rural areas as environmentally‐susceptible facilities such as nuclear waste repositories and landfills, which often resulted in violent riots. The environmental conflicts have been aggravated since numerous construction projects have boomed in the country. In particular, the so‐called National Policy Projects such as large‐scale reclamation as well as dam and road construction brought forth nationwide environmental conflicts and activism. Such conflicts often resulted in the breakdown of communities as well as serious economic loss to their inhabitants. Most of these conflicts share common causes, i. e., undemocratic processes in decision making, lack of fair impact assessment procedures, and severe economic loss to the local inhabitants. All of the processes used to resolve the conflicts, e. g., negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and ultimately lawsuits have been painful and costly. Transparency and democracy in the decision‐making process and the fairness in impact assessment are essential to prevent such conflicts or to resolve them. In addition, the voice of the minority victims should not be ignored. In order to ensure this, sustainable governance building is necessary incorporating the government, corporations and citizens. Sustainable development is the key issue to help prevent environmental conflicts arising. There have been positive aspects of the environmental activism, e. g., through the activism, the communities have been strengthened, environmental awareness has risen and social capital has built up.