Planning Stages Of Project Research Articles

Applying Predictive Safety Analysis to Complete Streets: A Case Study

Complete Streets encompasses policymaking, planning, design, and operations to improve safety, connectivity, and equity for all road users. Existing safety performance analysis and evaluation methods have gaps related to predicting the safety benefits of Complete Streets projects. Specifically, the methods do not fully capture expected multi-modal safety performance effects or address the combined effects of multiple safety treatments implemented in combination. This paper describes a research effort to 1) apply predictive safety analysis methods to quantify the safety performance effects of Complete Streets projects in the project planning stage and 2) compare the predicted safety performance effects with actual effects estimated with a project evaluation after construction. The paper serves as a basis for understanding the current capabilities, challenges, and needs associated with safety performance analysis of Complete Streets projects.

Risk Assessment of The Latifiya Expressway Segment Using a Proactive Approach

Road safety assessment is an essential step in the management of transportation projects. The proactive approach in the safety assessment considers the pre-construction stage to reduce the likelihood of road accidents. This research aims to assess the risk of road infrastructure in Iraq by applying the most recent methodology based on road features and supported traffic data. The selected methodology significantly contributes to enhancing a proactive approach to road safety and incorporating risk assessment in the planning and design stages of road projects. A segment of 15km from the beginning of the Latifiya expressway was selected for this study and assessed using the international road assessment program methodology. Data on road features and traffic were collected for this goal; where data on 38 aspects of road features is collected. The traffic data includes traffic volume and spot speed. Then these data were coded and processed using VIDA online web. The assessment results were presented for three road user groups: vehicle riders, pedestrians, and motorcyclists. The results showed that the assessed segment has a high-risk level; 1 to 3 stars for vehicle riders and 1 star for motorcyclists and pedestrians. Countermeasures were presented, and their efficiency was tested to raise the star rating for all road user groups to five stars.

Determining a Fuzzy Model of Time Buffer Size in Critical Chain Project Management

Abstract Elaborating and applying a new model for estimating the time buffer size of a project programme, which shall guarantee a 90 % probability of timely project execution. The research included source text analysis to provide information on a research gap and the identification of the research problem. The research problem was identified: the time buffer size in a critical path programme does not guarantee a 90 % probability of timely project execution. A new model was then elaborated to estimate the buffer size; it was applied in a technical production preparation project. An additional comparative analysis was performed using the following methods to verify the model more accurately: half of the time total of a path, the sum of squares (SSQ), and the root square error method (RSEM). The application of the fuzzy model to estimate the buffer size in a critical chain programme offers can shorten the total planned project duration. It has a higher probability of timely project execution than other methods for estimating the buffer size. It guarantees a 90 % probability of timely project execution, keeping aggressive task times, which eliminates unwanted situations such as student syndrome, Parkinson’s law, overestimating task duration, and multitasking. Project programming is an inherent part of the project planning stage in project management. Recently, project management has been increasingly developing, which has been confirmed by the article’s source literature analysis. The analysis revealed a research gap in models estimating project buffer size, which might guarantee a 90 % probability of timely project execution. Thus, a fuzzy model for estimating time buffer size in a critical chain was developed, constituting added value to the science of management and quality of production engineering (currently, mechanical engineering). The fuzzy model for estimating time buffer size was applied in one Polish enterprise in a project for a new product’s technical production preparation. The fuzzy model for estimating time buffer size permits the shortening of the duration of tasks to aggressive times, guaranteeing a 90 % probability of project timely execution. The elaborated model for estimating time buffer size may be applied further in practice in projects programmed using the critical chain method.

Mandatory Requirements for Planning and Commissioning of Medical Cyclotron Facility.

Over the last 15 years, there has been substantial growth in the installation of medical cyclotrons. This is mainly due to the increased demand for the production of positron emission tomography radiopharmaceuticals. In every country, there is a regulatory body that regulates the uses of medical cyclotron intending to protect occupational workers, the public, and the environment. It regulates the entire stages of such facilities, which mainly controls regulatory activities such as construction, commissioning, operation, and decommissioning. This article primarily highlights the key practices for planning and installation of a medical cyclotron facility (MCF). It also covers the particular aspects that should be considered in the early stages of project planning and provides information for best practices and challenges. If these aspects are properly addressed, then it ensures the safe operation of the MCF. The texts also elaborate on the necessary requirements for effective planning of the MCF, such as layout and space considerations, workload plan and maximum research capacity of the institute and equipment, shielding requirements, water cooling circuit, storage of radioactive components, management of radioactive waste from medical cyclotron and radiochemistry laboratory, construction and commissioning project management, exhaust system and filtration options, plans for staffing and training, and combination of equipment safety systems and building safety systems.

Comparative Analysis of Environmental Protection Laws and Their Impact on Sustainable Development in Rwanda

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze comparative analysis of environmental protection laws and their impact on sustainable development in Rwanda. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Environmental protection laws play a crucial role in sustainable development, particularly in Rwanda where the balance between economic growth and environmental integrity is pivotal. A comparative analysis reveals that systematic inclusion of environmental impact assessments and strategic environmental assessments are essential for fostering sustainable development. These processes ensure that environmental considerations are integrated into the planning and decision-making stages of development projects, thereby mitigating negative impacts on the environment. Capacity building at various levels, from macro to micro, is recommended to enhance the understanding and implementation of these laws. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Legal pluralism, policy diffusion & institutional analysis may be used to anchor future studies on comparative analysis of environmental protection laws and their impact on sustainable development in Rwanda. Practitioners can leverage findings from such studies to identify best practices, lessons learned, and areas for improvement in environmental governance. Policymakers should use comparative analysis findings to inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of environmental policies and regulations at local, national, and global levels.

Implementasi Pendekatan Objective-Oriented Project Planning dalam Pekerjaan Magang MBKM di PT. Mitra Bangun Kreatifa

This study aims to implement the Objective-Oriented Project Planning (OOPP) model in the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) internship program at PT. Mitra Bangun Kreatifa to enhance project performance. The method used is a participatory approach involving internship students in every stage of project planning. These stages include identifying objectives, determining success indicators, and developing and evaluating work plans. The results show that the implementation of the OOPP model significantly improves the efficiency and effectiveness of project execution and provides a more structured and result-oriented learning experience for internship students. Additionally, active participation of students in the project planning process enhances their managerial skills and practical understanding of project management. These findings indicate that the OOPP model can be an effective framework for internship programs focused on improving project performance and developing student competencies.

Understanding stakeholder attitudes towards low-head pumped hydro storage technology

BackgroundThe share of renewable energy feeding the European grid has been growing over the years, even though the intermittency of some renewable energy sources can induce electric grid instability. Energy storage has proven to be an effective way of reducing grid instability. Various solutions for large-scale energy storage are being researched nowadays. This study focusses on the innovative low-head pumped hydro storage (LH PHS) technology, a large-scale energy storage scheme suitable for shallow seas (5 – 30 m depth). Implementation of renewable energy technologies, such as wind farms in Europe, Asia and North America, has faced public opposition which has delayed or even cancelled the implementation of renewable energy projects. Literature about public perception of projects highlights the importance of involving stakeholders from the early stages of project planning. Considering this, the present study aims to collect stakeholder opinions (via an online survey) to determine what is necessary for a smooth implementation of LH PHS in the North Sea, both from technical and policy points of view.ResultsStakeholders from commercial parties, government authorities and local groups recognized the potential of LH PHS as a means to increase the share of renewable energies within the European power grid. Economics, bureaucratic burden, and structural safety have emerged as primary aspects of concern respecting the implementation of LH PHS. The impression of the respondents is that a low-head pumped hydro station would not have negative effects on their organizations. Furthermore, most of the engineering firms participating in the study communicated that their knowledge and resources could be involved in the construction of such an energy storage facility.ConclusionAs identified stakeholder concerns such as economics and structural safety are currently being researched, effective communication of the findings of this research is paramount to keep stakeholders informed of the ongoing progress. Two-way communication between researchers and stakeholders is recommended to enhance public acceptance of future technologies. Furthermore, is it advisable to undertake an examination of the available energy policies relevant to LH PHS.

Hydrokinetic resource assessment in Colombia’s Non-Interconnected Zones: Case study

Energy accessibility in Non-Interconnected Zones (NIZ), together with the energy transition context, converges on exploring non-conventional renewable energy sources and the technology to harness them. Hydrokinetics is an interesting and abundant resource in Colombia, present in many cases near NIZ communities but with unavailable information about (flow velocity) its actual power generation potential. This work presents a method to assess the hydrokinetic resource in NIZ based on the estimation of river flow velocity from river discharge, river level, and cross-sectional profile data available from the Colombian Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM). It is applied in a case study where a year of data was studied to characterise the hydrokinetic resource and match a local household load demand with the potential power generation of a hydrokinetic turbine. An average river flow velocity of 1.14 m/s was obtained, showing a consistent behaviour that means reliability in potential energy production. This approach could be helpful for researchers or power suppliers who aim to harness hydrokinetic resources near NIZ users with hydrokinetic technology in the project planning stages.

A mechanistic model for industrial workplace design based on inherent safety and health concepts

AbstractThis study aims to establish a mechanistic model of using inherent safety and health concepts to conduct industrial workplace risk reduction strategies during the project planning stage. Accordingly, a dedicated implementation tool termed inherently safer and healthier design model for industrial workplaces (ISHDM‐IW) is developed. First, the safety and health by design checklist is adapted to derive industrial workplace safety and health risk indicators. Then, the risk indicators are rated and weighted using the methods of risk matrix and precedence chart. Subsequently, the risk indicators are aggregated via fuzzy risk representation with the indicators' risk values and weights. Last, the inherent safety and health principles are used to do risk‐based baseline design optimization. The case study demonstrates the capabilities of the proposed ISHDM‐IW to upgrade the workplace design scheme from risk level II to risk level I, thus generating a more satisfactory workplace design alternative. The proposed ISHDM‐IW offers a novel design mechanism of inherent safety and health for industrial workplaces, which can be expected to ensure employees' safety, health, and well‐being with fundamentally better ergonomics of industrial work environments.

Critical success factors for cost overrun minimization in public construction projects in developing countries: the case of Ghana

Purpose It is widely accepted that one criterion for determining if a construction project is successful is whether it is completed within the expected budget. There have been advancements in the management of building projects throughout time but cost overruns remain a key concern in the construction sector internationally, particularly in emerging economies such as Ghana. This study aims to answer the question, “What are the critical success factors (CSFs) that can assist reduce cost overruns in public sector infrastructure projects in the Ghanaian construction industry?” Design/methodology/approach This study used a quantitative survey method. The questionnaire was pre-tested by interviewing 15 contractors to ascertain the validity of the content. Factor analysis and multiple regression were adopted to analyze the data. Findings This study discovered that the critical factors that can reduce cost overruns in construction projects in Ghana are directly linked to five themes: early contractor involvement in the project planning stage, adequate funding, good project team relations, competent managers/supervisors and project participant incentives/bonuses. This study identifies indestructible, empirically measurable important success criteria for reducing cost overruns in public building projects in Ghana. Practical implications When well thought through from the project initiation stage to completion, these critical successes can also be used to deal with damaging economic effects such as allocative inefficiency of scarce resources, further delays, contractual disputes, claims and litigation, project failure and total abandonment. Originality/value The uniqueness of this research resides in the fact that it is, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, a first-of-its-kind investigation of the CSFs for reducing cost overruns in public building projects in developing countries.

An empirical method for estimating TBM penetration rate using tunnelling specific energy

Establishing a suitable tunnel boring machine (TBM) performance estimation model is benefit to the machine type selection, project scheduling and budgeting. Although various models have been developed to predict TBM performance, most of these models use a relatively small specific database, which is difficult to be applied to engineering practice. In this study, some equations for estimating TBM penetration rate (PR) applicable to different geological conditions are proposed. Firstly, a TBM construction performance database containing 159 tunnel sections is built according to four different tunnel projects originating from China, which covers rock mass properties, TBM specification parameters and performance information. By eliminating the effects of some TBM specification and operating parameters, a normalized energy index is proposed for assessing the rock mass boreability. On this basis, a series of statistical analysis, i.e. linear multiple regression (LMR) and non-linear multiple regression (NLMR) are used to develop some empirical equations for estimating the PR by employing rock mass properties and TBM specification parameters, and more than 84% of the PR can be accurately predicted. Finally, to further evaluate the prediction performance of these equations, they are compared and discussed with fifteen published typical models, and the results proved that the models developed in this study are more reasonable and reliable. It should be noted that the input parameters of these equations are readily available at the project planning stage, thus they are very simple and practical for designers and constructors.

Digital Application of Construction Project Cost Risk Control and Management Based on BIM Technology

Abstract The core objective of this study is to explore the application of BIM technology in the whole process of cost management of construction projects and to assess the project risk. The study covers the key stages of project planning, design, transaction and construction, and focuses on analyzing the cost management process of investment decision, design estimate, transaction and construction. Through questionnaire surveys and expert interviews with 72 valid samples, this study collects data on green building and analyzes the quality of the risk assessment data. Through questionnaire survey and expert interviews with 72 good samples, this study collects data on green building and analyzes the quality of the risk assessment data. In establishing the BIM-based project cost risk model, the study analyzes the management elements of BIM and IPD in detail, including the quantification of technical and management components. three case projects show that the application of BIM and IPD technologies in different projects has different focuses, and produces other management effects. for example, the number of engineering changes (e.g., the number of changes to the project) exhibited by the project B For example, the number of project changes (NCO) is 35, the cost change rate (COP) is 0.93%, the duration change rate (DCP) is −10.25%, and the number of contract negotiations (NRFI) is 6. The risk evaluation model is applied in a mixed-use project in Xiamen, China, and the results of the simulation experiments show that the method is effective in realizing the risk assessment of the construction project, and the clustered nature of the output features is good. The average value of the risk fuzzy variable is 0.576, and the minimum value is 0.192.

Proactive-reactive repetitive project scheduling method – the concept of risk consideration at the project planning and execution stage

Proactive-reactive repetitive project scheduling method – the concept of risk consideration at the project planning and execution stage

Detailed Activity-Based Earthwork Scheduling Model to Aid during the Planning Stage of Road Construction

Earthwork scheduling (during the planning phase of road construction) is an important task that directly affects the cost and time of a project. However, the current scheduling methods are not performed at a detailed level and carry forward gaps from the actual schedule in the construction stage, causing problems, including time delays and additional costs, during the construction stage and thereby leading to the modification and supplementation of existing plans. Many studies related to scheduling have focused on process optimization or automation; therefore, the gaps between the planning and construction stages have not been studied well. These gaps must be determined in advance to solve the fundamental problem of earthwork scheduling in road construction. Therefore, this study proposes a detailed activity-based scheduling model for earthwork at the planning stage to minimize the gap between the planned schedule and the actual process at the construction stage. The proposed model comprises a detailed activity-based database of earthwork in road construction (DADER), which enables the subdivision of the existing earthwork schedule plan, and a dynamic programming (DP) procedure, which enables the combination of activities. The earthwork schedule at the case site, planned for only three activities, is subdivided using DADER into 36 activities. Additionally, the DP procedure is used to derive a combination of activity alternatives that minimizes the cost among the conditions that satisfied the input target duration. The model is verified through an expert survey using a 7-point Likert scale. Results show that the model has cost efficiency (4.19), onsite applicability (4.70), and task efficiency (4.48). The findings indicate that performing scheduling during the planning stage of earthwork projects can help reduce additional work caused by the gap between the site and the plan. This study will help improve the productivity of road construction projects by providing correct process optimization and automation research data.

Development of Project Methodology Implementation: Engineering Perspective

The study aimed to develop a methodology for the implementation of construction projects according to the world standards during the life cycle of the project from the beginning to the closure. Since the construction projects in Jordan suffers many problems, a specified questionnaire was designed as a method of data collection and distributed among simple random sample of 191 respondents from total population. The relative importance index was used to sort the practices according to their importance to the proposed methodology. The results showed that the most important factors according to the overall ranking based on the value of the relative importance index (0.844) is in the project planning stage. This is related to the duration of the task, which should not exceed more than (4-6) weeks; as the determination of the duration of the project activities is an important point in developing the methodology. In addition, the study revealed that the project monitoring and closing phase is the most important during the project life cycle (relative importance index was about 0.655). The lowest value of the relative importance index was (0.399) in the implementation phase of the project, which related to the impact of cash flow on the implementation of the project, because this factor particularly affects the implementation phase more than the implementation of the project as a whole. Finally, the results showed that if present methodology is applied the improvement would be between 75% to 79% in comparison to the conventional projects methodologies. Scope of the Study Deciding to choose the most suitable methodology in each project is essential step during project planning and whether to have one or more methodology for a project. Project methodologies are different in composition and the parts of a methodology all play a role in supporting the project team during the project life cycle to achieve the projects’ objectives. The study give insight of the best practices of project management that will lead to better performance for construction projects in Jordan, recommended key practices during implementation that could be adopted to achieve project success, and identify key problems facing project implementation processes. Objectives of the Study The main objectives of the study are as follows: 1-Developing a project methodology implementation from engineering perspective depending on world standards. 2-To analyze and find out and what are critical factors that play an importance role in influencing the project success (i.e. implementing the world standards). 3- Improve the quality of project planning and implementation, project implementation within time, cost, budget from engineering perspective. 4- Understand and manage employers needs in a positive way from engineering perspective. 5- Increase productivity and reduce costs and thus increase profits from engineering perspective. 6- Minimizing errors and defects in the product or service provided, reduced human error and waiting service time from engineering perspective.

Construction Simulation and Environmental Impact Analysis: Towards a 4D-Based Analysis of Road Project Variants

Road construction work has a multitude of impacts on its host environment, and the effect of these impacts varies according to the areas it crosses. Taking these impacts into account from the earliest stages of project planning is the ideal approach pursued by planners to ensure that their plans not only take these impacts into account but also mitigate their effects as much as possible. Drawing up a project schedule that considers the impact of the work requires an in-depth understanding of its scale, spatial extent, and timing. In practice, however, such an understanding is difficult to achieve due to the complex and variable nature of impacts. To help project planners understand the impacts of a road project from the outset so they can better plan mitigation measures, we have developed a conceptual framework for four-dimensional Building Information Modeling (4D BIM) deployment that visualizes the most significant impacts on the project site’s surrounding environment in terms of their spatial extent and progression over time. By testing the method on a case study of a road improvement project in northwestern Quebec, the method shows that, compared with traditional 2D methods, the proposed 3D and 4D impact visualization modeling provides an integral perspective for visualizing and understanding spatial changes in project impacts over time and enables different possible project implementation variants to be evaluated with relative ease.

Stakeholder management challenges in a health-care medical device project in India – an SME perspective

Learning outcomes The learning outcomes are as follows: understanding the impact on company growth through identification and alignment of stakeholder priorities in a project for SME in an emerging market; analyzing the impact of stakeholder alignment and relationship management on the project outcome; and evaluating the importance of Stakeholder Management for effective Project Management. Case overview/synopsis The case of ‘Hospedia Medicare,’ a medical device manufacturing company based in India, was started by a family involved in the medical devices business for over two decades. The company began operations in a new avatar and focused on one medical device or product by 2013. The product was designed with quality features to solve customer problems, making the cost relatively high compared to other domestic peers. Creating new product lines or updating the existing product attributes was imperative for the company to attain its growth objectives. The protagonist was dealing with a dilemma involving managing various stakeholders, aligning the project scope to create a growth story for the company in line with its vision and managing the stakeholders by understanding and analyzing their needs, expectations and interest, thus influencing the project outcome. The case can be used by instructors to identify, understand and evaluate the importance of different stakeholders on project outcome or success. Furthermore, it can be used to analyze and critique the impact of stakeholders on project scope, which can affect the long-term sustainability of the company, as different stakeholders have different expectations and needs. The case also details how regular communication, collaboration and awareness became essential for the project's success. Lack of an effective engagement strategy at the project planning stage can have risks concerning cost and achieving the overall vision, which creates a positive outcome for all the stakeholders. Complexity academic level The case study can be introduced to graduate and undergraduate students to reflect on and critique the importance of Stakeholder Management in Project Management. It can be used for, entrepreneurship, project management, operations and strategy, particularly emphasizing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Supplementary material Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 9: Operations and Logistics.

Preliminary evaluation methodology for payback infrastructure projects in private-public partnership

The authors of the article present the results of scientific and practical research on the development of methods of primary assessment of the efficiency of payback infrastructure projects public-private partnerships achieved through the monitoring and analysis of the state company’s investment activities and project portfolio management. The purpose of this study is to develop methodology for preliminary evaluation of payback infrastructure projects, that is able to be used to evaluate efficiency of capital investment at the stage of initial project appraisal and planning and to range perspective projects in accordance with their efficiency. The subject of the article: efficiency of payback investment projects in the infrastructure industry. The relevance of the study is determined by absence of a generally accepted methodology for initial evaluation of investment projects, that allows for into consideration the legal and economic specifics of federal projects approval and implementation in the regions of Russia. The methodology formed on the basis of an interdisciplinary approach implemented in the course of approval and evaluation practice of investment projects appraisal within the framework of the activities of a state-owned company. The instrumentation reviewed in this paper is based on data from financial modeling of infrastructure projects, with preliminary geographical modeling of traffic flow intensity. It includes the following modified indicators based on discounted cash flows: consolidated coverage ratio, ratio of operating income to capital investment, share of extrabudgetary funding in the life cycle of a project, internal rate of return. These indicators are unified into a single integral indicator, which allows to rank and manage future projects in a company’s portfolio. The applicability of the proposed methodology has been verified by the results of implementation of the public-private partnership projects. Based on the results of the study a financial model for initial assessment of project efficiency has been prepared, which can be used as the initial stage of project justification.

ФИНАНСОВЫЙ МЕНЕДЖМЕНТ: ПЛАНИРОВАНИЕ, ПРОЕКТИРОВАНИЕ И УПРАВЛЕНИЕ

Planning and project management is one of the main tools of financial management and budgeting. Organizational actions and practical steps to analyze financing models in the financial management system are strategic tasks for the development of the project and, in general, the business of an economic entity. Effective forecasting and management of investments and cash flows in the financial management system is the key to successful project co-financing. One of the main areas of planning in the financial management system is financial planning and modeling. Project management at the planning stage in the financial management system is time-consuming and significant. Methods of financial management in project management are aimed at studying the development of the project using its own funds and through co-financing (attracted investments). Financial management at the stage of project planning and development requires financial modeling of current tasks. Budgeting in the financial management system carries the tasks of budget management. Budgetary management is a detailed study of costs and investments, managing them, using a set of traditional methods and management procedures. It is concluded that in the system of financial management - planning, design and business management are vital for the implementation of both current activities and the development of new projects.

Diving into a just transition: How are fisheries considered during the emergence of renewable energy production in Scottish waters?

Infrastructure at sea to accommodate a transition to renewable energy and meet global climate commitments is proliferating around the world. Although there is seemingly more space at sea than on land for these new developments, anticipated and existing conflict with existing marine users such as the fishing industry have raised concerns. Yet, countries around the world have committed to a just energy transition, which should avoid disproportionate impacts on specific communities. This study introduces a framework that considers three dimensions of justice at different project planning stages to analyse whether strategies to foster justice for fisheries align with remaining barriers to justice. It was used to understand how existing and planned cable and renewables projects in Scottish waters account for energy justice in relation to the fishing industry. Procedural justice aspects of project planning have improved over time, with greater involvement of the fishing industry during the siting and design of projects. However, resource constraints limited the involvement of smaller fishing fleets, indicating a barrier to recognitional justice. Distributional justice at project level was steered by decision-making at a national level, and national targets for renewable energy generation made the fishing industry feel they are not on equal footing with project developers. The findings of this study provide key insights into the multiple dimensions of energy justice and their implications for the consideration of fisheries. Identified best practices and potential barriers to a just transition can be helpful for other nations seeking to introduce new developments into their marine space.