Project Duration Research Articles

Evaluating the Alignment between Intended Project Durations and Standard Time Cost Models: A Comparative Analysis in Basic Hospital Construction Projects in Nepal

This study examines the congruence between the intended projected duration expressed in bidding documents for basic hospital construction projects and Nepal's time cost model specific to health building projects. Through a comparative analysis approach, data from bidding documents and the time cost model equation were analyzed to identify disparities or alignments. The findings reveal moderate to strong positive correlations between the intended project completion time and the time calculated from costs, with variations in correlation strength depending on the specific variables used for cost estimation. The study highlights the need for refining cost estimation methods, enhancing training and capacity building, regular calibration of time-cost models, and further research to improve project management practices in the Nepalese construction industry.

How employment-focused social procurement tackles health inequities: an investigation of Australia’s construction industry using determinants of health theory

With public and private clients in the construction industry increasingly using social procurement to achieve their social responsibility goals, it is important to develop theory-informed approaches for understanding how and to what extent social procurement creates social value. The research presented in this article uses social determinants of health (SDOH) theory to develop a case study of an employment-focused social procurement initiative in Australia’s construction industry. The case study shows how the employment-focused social procurement initiative used cross-sector intermediation to alleviate structural barriers to employment, including siloing in the employment services sector, unsupported pathways from training into employment in construction, and negative stereotypes of people who face structural barriers to employment. Using SDOH theory, the paper frames these barriers to employment as ‘upstream’ and ‘midstream’ structural determinants of health inequities. The research finds that the initiative’s impacts on determinants of health inequities are enabled and limited by commercial factors including project location and duration, status of the principal contractor, and insider knowledge of timing and requirements of new jobs.

Modeling and optimizing linear projects using LSM and Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II)

Linear projects are a special type of repetitive projects. Major disadvantages have been shown when using the critical path method (CPM) for linear project problems. So, to overcome these shortcomings linear scheduling method (LSM) was used to analyze linear projects. There are different types of activities in linear projects. However, existing mathematical models for LSM cannot represent all types of linear project activities. Therefore, this paper presents a mathematical model that can represent all types of activities using matrices. Moreover, the mathematical model is then used to create an optimization model that minimizes the project duration and cost using non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II). The two models can help project managers in scheduling real-life linear projects and find optimum linear project schedules. This paper introduces an optimization model for linear projects that utilizes matrices, offering a different approach in the field of linear project optimization.

Modern distributed production (manufacturing) as an important part of the future Ukrainian nationally rooted industry

The purpose of this paper is to propose a variant for the development of a part of the national industry, which would be free from the problems of large investments and threats of unprofitability against the background of innovations. Before the full-scale war, which began in 2022, Ukrainian industry was an offspring and a powerful part of the Soviet heavy industry, mainly of the third technological order. Now, the enterprises that were powerful generators of the national economy GDP are to a greater extent located in the temporarily occupied or front-line territory. Industrial regions suffered significant damage to the production base and infrastructure facilities. The post-war restoration of the domestic industry requires large capital investments, which the national economy is not capable of. In addition, there is a limitation on the duration of investment projects due to the rapid development of modern technologies. According to experts, any project whose implementation exceeds 3 years is risky. In addition, there is a Marxian tendency of the rate of profit to decrease, due to a change in the capital structure, in particular, a decrease in labor expenses. Modern processes of mechanization of production, increase of innovative components (computerization, Internet of things, digitalization, etc.) increase the risks of unprofitability. The authors give an example of the closure of coal mining enterprises in European countries against the background of scientific and technical progress. At the same time, based on the analysis of literary sources, the trend of the spread of the DIY 4.0 phenomenon (from Do It Yourself) was revealed – the use of the most modern technological elements for the manufacture of products designed to meet the manufacturers' own needs. Especially in the USA, the Maker Movement, which is a new culture of industrial activity, is developing. The article substantiates that the technological base of DIY 4.0 and the culture of the Maker Movement are the foundation of the new distributed manufacturing, free from the "curse" of mass investment and unprofitable innovation. It is distributed manufacturing that is able to fundamentally change the quality picture and structure of industry, to ensure the national rooting of industrial production.

Efficient project management of historical building groups: a BIM-based approach with critical chain method and 5D simulation

This article introduces a project management method for historical building groups using BIM technology. Historical building group projects encompass the entire lifecycle, from design, repair and reconstruction to construction and maintenance. To efficiently manage these complex endeavors, the Critical Chain Method is employed to control project progress, enabling effective coordination between various project aspects and reducing project duration. By leveraging the BIM 5D platform, the article incorporates schedules, site layouts and bidding quotations to simulate the construction processes involved in historical building projects. This comprehensive approach facilitates real-time project management, supported by video documentation and virtual walkthroughs. The utilization of BIM technology in this context allows for the successful realization of project management objectives for historical building groups. The article’s methodology aims to address the specific challenges associated with historical building group projects, enhancing their overall efficiency, cost-effectiveness and coordination among various stakeholders.

Integrating science-based and local ecological knowledge: a case study of mangrove restoration and rehabilitation projects in the Philippines.

Mangrove forest is an ecosystem-based solution for disaster risk reduction in the Philippines, but its historical deforestation has hampered its capacity to protect coastal communities. With the increasing occurrence of storm surge in the Philippines, mangrove reforestation projects have received renewed attention, but many have failed. Community participation was deemed to be essential in those projects that did well. Hence, this paper examines successful mangrove restoration and rehabilitation projects in the Philippines to find out how community participation contributed to the accomplishments. The study found that while the transfer of science-based ecological knowledge from project managers to the community is an important factor in ensuring successful initial planning and implementation, its integration into existing local ecological knowledge-'localisation' of science-based ecological knowledge or hybrid ecological knowledge formation-helped to facilitate long-term community-based mangrove management beyond project duration by empowering community members and enabling project acceptance and ownership. Still, continuous local institutional support is a necessary anchor for community resilience.

OPTIMIZATION SCHEDULING PROJECT REHABILITATION BUILDING AND HALL DEKRANASDA AND KALIMANTAN BARAT MUSEUM FENCE USING CRITICAL PATH METHOD (CPM)

This study investigates the optimization of project scheduling using the Critical Path Method (CPM) in construction projects. Focusing on the Building Rehabilitation Project, Dekranasda Hall, and Kalimantan Barat Museum Fence, the research aims to reduce project duration without altering costs. CPM is employed to map out activities in a network, identifying the critical path to enhance time management. The initial project duration was 249 days. By breaking down work items and increasing the number of workers in critical activities, the duration was reduced to 125 days. Optimization involved dividing tasks into manageable segments and determining the appropriate workforce through trial and error. The study demonstrates that effective project scheduling and resource allocation can significantly reduce completion time, highlighting CPM's value in project management for achieving efficiency and meeting deadlines. The findings emphasize the importance of detailed planning, dependency logic, and continuous monitoring to optimize construction project timelines.

Synchronizing production of precast elements with on-site erection

Offsite construction technologies are developed to reduce project cost and duration. To make the most of the potential offered by prefabrication the planner should consider the whole supply chain. A failure to coordinate the off-site production with on-site erection is a source of waste (waiting time of the construction crews or redundant handling activities on-site). Most of the research to date focused on optimizing operations of a prefabrication plant assuming a deterministic schedule of demand for its products. The purpose of this paper is to develop a mathematical model for integrated scheduling of offsite and on-site operations. Its solution is a schedule that minimizes the downtime of both the prefabrication plant and the on-site erection crews. In accordance with the Just-in-Time concept, the prefabrication schedule is set in a way to reduce the stocks of finished products, thus reducing the storage area and cost of funds tied up in inventory. The schedule’s robustness against the disturbance in the production and erection workflows is assumed to be assured allocating time buffers. The advantage of the proposed method is the ease of collecting the input: instead of detailed cost records, estimates of unit cost of lost time can be used.

Optimizing Human Resource Allocation in Construction Projects: A Case Study

In construction, human resources are essential for workers to carry out tasks and work optimally from project initiation to completion. This entails having workers with the requisite skills and abilities for each job description. This research focuses on analyzing the feasibility of constructing the Iskandar Muda Military Regional Finance Office in Banda Aceh City from a human resources perspective. Findings from productivity calculations reveal a decrease in the relationship between duration and work productivity progress, rendering the current number of workers ineffective in ensuring construction feasibility from a human resources standpoint. Despite the presence of 32 workers with skills aligned with job descriptions, the research underscores the importance of optimizing labor allocation and time utilization to enhance productivity. By implementing efficient methods tailored for repetitive tasks and adjusting labor requirements throughout the project duration, this approach proves feasible and effective in achieving better overall results in constructing the Iskandar Muda Military Regional Finance Office.

A Decision-Making Model for Fast-Track High-Rise Buildings Using Structural Equation Modelling

Fast-track is a project management technique used to address time constraints and schedule overrun on construction projects. One of the major impediments in the application of fast-track technique in Pakistan’s construction industry is the lack of a comprehensive decision-making model. The aim of this research is to develop a comprehensive decision-making model for fast-track high-rise buildings which can highlight the impact of each decision-making aspect on its relevant project success indicator i.e., time variance(TV), cost variance(CV), quality variance(QV) or scope variance(SV) and the impact of cost, quality, and scope variances on time variance. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to develop this model. Questionnaire based on 5-point Likert’s scale was used to collect data from 159 construction industry professionals. Data was analysed using smart PLS-4 software. Results showed that on fast-track projects, scope variance has the greatest impact on time variance whereas quality variance has the least impact. Early scope freeze, early involvement of the contractor in design phase and early procurement of long-lead-time items are the most important decisions on fast-track projects whereas quality optimization decisions have an adverse impact on project duration. The proposed model has high out-of-sample predictive ability making it a universally applicable decision-making model. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52783/pst.434

Beyond probability-impact matrices in project risk management: A quantitative methodology for risk prioritisation

The project managers who deal with risk management are often faced with the difficult task of determining the relative importance of the various sources of risk that affect the project. This prioritisation is crucial to direct management efforts to ensure higher project profitability. Risk matrices are widely recognised tools by academics and practitioners in various sectors to assess and rank risks according to their likelihood of occurrence and impact on project objectives. However, the existing literature highlights several limitations to use the risk matrix. In response to the weaknesses of its use, this paper proposes a novel approach for prioritising project risks. Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) is used to perform a quantitative prioritisation of risks with the simulation software MCSimulRisk. Together with the definition of project activities, the simulation includes the identified risks by modelling their probability and impact on cost and duration. With this novel methodology, a quantitative assessment of the impact of each risk is provided, as measured by the effect that it would have on project duration and its total cost. This allows the differentiation of critical risks according to their impact on project duration, which may differ if cost is taken as a priority objective. This proposal is interesting for project managers because they will, on the one hand, know the absolute impact of each risk on their project duration and cost objectives and, on the other hand, be able to discriminate the impacts of each risk independently on the duration objective and the cost objective.

Development of a parametric estimation method of the operations duration of the IT project of migration of the information system to the cloud platform

The process of migration of information systems (IS) to the cloud, which is an urgent problem for many modern enterprises, is considered. The subject of the research is methods for estimating the duration of operations in the implementation of an IT project of migration of information systems to the cloud. Several main methods for estimating the duration of operations are considered: the method of Expert Judgment, the method of Analogous Estimation and the method of analysis and revision of scenarios (Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT). Among the methods considered, the PERT method was chosen as the one that best adapts to temporal uncertainties. The advantages and disadvantages of the original PERT method are considered. It is found that focusing on the most probable scenario with minimal consideration of the influence of other scenarios may not reflect all possible cases when estimating the duration of operations of IT projects. Attention is paid to the existing modifications, the purpose of their development and adaptability to solving the problems of estimating the duration of operations for IT projects of migration of information systems to the cloud. An analysis of the existing modification of the method (Modified PERT) on the possibility of solving the problem of focusing on the most likely scenario. Based on the results of the preliminary study, a method of parametric estimation based on the PERT method has been proposed to solve the identified problem. A comparison of the accuracy of estimating the duration of operations of the IT project of migration of IS to the Google Cloud for the original PERT method and the developed method of parametric estimation is carried out on the example of three tasks. It has been experimentally shown that for situations where the context of the operation is not based on the most probable scenario, the developed method provides a more accurate estimate than the original one. The change in the graph of the probability curve of the distribution of the time of the operation is clearly shown using the original PERT method and the parametric estimation method based on the PERT method.

TIME AND COST EFFICIENCY ANALYSIS OF ACEH TENGAH REGENCY POM WORKSHOP PROJECT: A CRITICAL PATH METHOD APPROACH

The study addresses construction delays in the Aceh Tengah Regency POM Workshop project, valued at IDR 6,414,000,000 and spanning approximately 1,507 m2 across two floors. Motivated by the need for a comprehensive understanding of activity relationships and critical paths, the research aims to assess project duration, costs, and efficiency. Employing the Critical Path Method (CPM) due to data constraints, the study elucidates activity dependencies, network planning, and critical paths. Data collected from relevant stakeholders include schedule and cost budget plans. The analysis reveals a potential acceleration of 21 days, reducing the project duration from 126 to 105 days with a 99.74% probability. Cost control indicates an escalation to IDR 6,949,573,170.20 after calculating direct costs, with a daily increase of 0.92%. The findings underscore the significance of CPM in project management, offering insights into optimizing timelines and costs. The study highlights the importance of efficient project management methodologies in addressing construction delays and managing project budgets effectively.

Clustering and Optimizing Methods for Sprints of Agile Development Projects

To address the challenges of sprint planning and sequential optimization in agile development projects, this paper presents a model for agile sprint clustering and optimization. Firstly, we build an activity similarity network and measure the tie strength between activities using social network analysis (SNA) and design structure matrix (DSM). Then, we build an “overlap-iteration” model to measure the interactions strength between activities. Based on thecoupling strength (i.e. the sum of tie strength and interaction strength) between activities, this paper uses a two-stage clustering method to cluster the process DSM to obtain agile sprints. Furthermore, we measure the rework probability and rework intensity between sprints from the rework probability and rework intensity between activities to build an agile sprint optimization method. Finally, an agile development project example is provided to illustrate the validity of the proposed models. The results demonstrate that our approach significantly reduces project duration, cost, and rework risk in agile development projects.

Analysis of time-dependent bearing capacity of pile foundation in marine soft soil region considering non-Darcy flow

Due to the deviation of pore water seepage in marine soft soils from Darcy flow under low hydraulic gradients, existing methods face challenges in accurately calculating the time-dependent bearing capacity of piles in such areas. This paper adopts the secondary development of Python to ABAQUS and employs a continuous coupling analysis method to establish a numerical model capable of simultaneously solving the large deformation of pile driving and non-Darcy flow. The model addresses issues such as mesh distortion during pile driving and the numerical implementation of three-dimensional non-Darcy flow. The accuracy of the model was verified through comparison with two experimental cases. Subsequently, the study analyzed how non-Darcy flow affects soil consolidation around the pile and the time-dependent bearing capacity of pile. Results indicate that when the permeability coefficient of the soil around the pile is less than 1 × 10−7 m/s, non-Darcy flow significantly delays the consolidation of soil within three times the pile diameter around the pile, thereby reducing the time-dependent bearing capacity of pile, with a greater impact observed for lower permeability coefficients of the soil. Once the soil around the pile reaches 90% consolidation, subsequent construction can proceed to shorten the project duration while maintaining safety.

SOFTWARE OPTIMIZATION OF RESOURCE ALLOCATION PROCESS IN METRO CONSTRUCTION ORGANIZATIONS: ANALYSIS OF EFFICIENCY OF EXISTING METHODS

This article explores the objectives of optimal resource allocation in metro construction organizations, including improving work efficiency, reducing project duration, and minimizing costs. The primary optimization methods, such as mathematical modeling, critical path analysis, and the use of network graphs, are discussed in the context of achieving these goals. The role of project management software in providing comprehensive control over planning, resources, and execution is emphasized. Additionally, the article underscores the significance of utilizing the Python programming language and its libraries, such as Pandas, Scikit-learn, and Matplotlib, in analyzing and optimizing resource allocation in metro construction. The paper contains a case study of a software implementation of risk analysis of delivery delays in metro construction using the Python programming language and its key libraries. Pandas for data processing and analysis, NumPy for performing complex mathematical calculations, and Matplotlib for visualizing the results were used.

Rating the Delivery Rate of TETfund Projects in South-East Nigerian State Universities

The study evaluates the completion rates of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) projects in South-East State Universities, highlighting the importance of timely completion for high-quality education and university infrastructure development in Nigeria's impoverished economic situation, where inadequate funding is common. The study was conducted in five South-East Nigerian state universities targeting the 6662 population. The analysis used SPSS, resulting in 35.5% of the sample. The results showed that the duration of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) projects has influenced project completion rates in South-East Nigerian universities. 28% of respondents believe that time duration has led to some universities losing TETfund project approval, while 42% believe it has increased the likelihood of receiving more projects from TETfund. The test hypotheses confirmed that TETfund time duration has significant positive effect on the completion rate of projects. The model summary showed that time duration has caused some state universities to lose TETfund project approval, while it has continued to give universities the chance for more projects from TETfund. The study also highlighted the role of time to TETfund in ensuring projects approved must be completed at the appropriate time, which it assumes. The results showed that the F-value is the Mean Square Regression (3863.049), which is statistically significant (Sig =.000). The study suggests that State University management should maintain TETfund project duration due to high Federal Government funds and enforce stronger rules for project quality.

A systematic literature review of research examining the impact of citizenship education on active citizenship outcomes

AbstractThis article reports on a systematic review of the evidence concerning the impact of citizenship education, specifically focusing on the effect of different teaching activities on a range of active citizenship outcomes. It provides a narrative synthesis of 109 articles in peer reviewed journals, representing a wide range of methodological approaches. The review was undertaken for a teacher audience and the research team identified four themes with practical implications. First, we discuss the significance of school ethos and distinguish between distinctive aspects of ethos in the literature including relationships between students and teachers, values and behaviours. Second, we explore some of the characteristics of successful projects, including detailed consideration of the type of projects selected for action by young people, the role of teachers, and the duration of projects. This discussion suggests that, whilst full project cycles (involving students identifying and researching areas for action and devising, implementing and reviewing action plans) are valuable, there is also evidence to suggest that short, partial projects may be easier to implement and still secure comparable benefits. Third, we consider the evidence about whether and how citizenship education can have some compensatory effect, closing the civic gap between different groups of young people. In the fourth theme we consider the wide range of teaching strategies which have been demonstrated to have some success in practice.Context and implicationsRationale for this studyThis literature review was undertaken on behalf of a teacher's organisation to consider the evidence base for citizenship education.Why the new findings matterThe review demonstrates the breadth of evidence for the positive impact of citizenship education and highlights several avenues for further exploration relating to school ethos, action projects and reducing inequalities.Implications for researchers and educational institutionsImplications for practice relate to the importance of how students perceive the ethos of the school as a whole, as well as their experiences when learning citizenship. This has specific implications for school leaders whose support is required to nurture a positive school ethos (beyond the formal curriculum). Implications for citizenship teachers include making use of short, partial active citizenship projects more routinely; and adopting strategies for closing the civic gap. Researchers are urged to move beyond large‐scale surveys to explore longitudinal studies in specific contexts to track impacts over time for different students.

Data-Driven Approach for Selecting Mechanical Rebar Couplers Based on the Shape and Structural Characteristics of Reinforcing Bars for Sustainable Built Environment

Lap splices are the most commonly used method worldwide because they do not require specific equipment or skilled workers. However, lap splices incur high construction costs because of the long splice lengths required for large-diameter rebars in megastructures, as well as issues pertaining to material supply, labor costs, constructability, and project duration. Additionally, approximately 15% more rebar is required because of the overlap. Energy saving for a sustainable built environment is possible if the disadvantage of lap splices, which generate high CO2 emissions due to the excessive use of rebar, are resolved. Hence, mechanical rebar couplers (MRCs) have been developed. However, despite their advantages, they have not been widely applied in construction sites owing to concerns regarding safety, quality, and constructability. This is because data on MRC, including maintenance, and environmental impact, are not organized, making it difficult to select a coupler suitable for the environment during the construction stage. Therefore, a data-driven approach for selecting MRCs based on the reinforcing bar shape and structural characteristics is proposed in this study. The T-epoxy filled sleeve coupler was found to be the best in terms of seismic performance, durability, corrosion resistance, and long-term performance. In addition, using a data-driven MRC selection algorithm using the T-threaded coupler for one rebar over two floors resulted in 56% more efficient labor productivity, 15% shorter assembly time, 17% lower costs, and 26% lower CO2 emission. Using a developed algorithm, the appropriate MRC can easily and rapidly be selected for frequent design changes.

VISUALISASI METODE PELAKSANAAN PEKERJAAN PELAT RAMP PROYEK PEMBANGUNAN GEDUNG WAREHOUSE DEPOK

The Project of Depok Warehouse Building Construction is located at JL. Raya Jakarta-Bogor, KM. 35, Jatijajar, Depok City, West Java, 16415. The project of Depok Warehouse Building is built on a land area of 38,000 m2, with a building area of 24,000 m2. The Depok Warehouse Building has 8 floors, consisting of 5 floors for the building area and 3 mezzanine floors used for offices. PT. Depok Logistik Properti is the owner of the project, PT. Trimatra Jasa Prakarsa as the construction management, PT. Gistama Intisemesta as the planning consultant, and PT. Total Persada Indonesia as the main contractor. The type of contract used is a lump sum with a contract value of Rp 350,000,000,000. The planned duration of the Warehouse Building Construction project is 670 days. Research made on the field include upper structure works such as column, beam, floor slab, and ramp slab. The stages of the implementation method for the ramp Truck Plate Work start from preparation, marking, reinforcement fabrication, reinforcement installation, concrete decking installation, reinforcement checklist, formwork installation, verticality test, casting, formwork removal, and concrete curing.