Residential Building Projects Research Articles

Influence of BIM and Lean on mitigating delay factors in building projects

Building projects are affected by various phenomena that can affect their success and continuity and, in the worst cases, can lead to project abandonment. The delay has been identified as one of the phenomena with the most significant impact and recurrence; therefore, mitigation actions are required. BIM and Lean Construction are two approaches with great potential to mitigate delay-generating factors. However, more studies need to be conducted to analyze their influence on mitigating schedule delays. Considering this gap, this paper focuses on analyzing the influence of Lean Construction tools, and BIM uses that favor mitigating the main factors that generate variations in the construction schedules of residential buildings. The research method was divided into five main stages: (1) delay factors identification; (2) BIM uses identification; (3) Lean tools identification; (4) questionnaire design, validation, and application; and (5) influence quantitative analysis. A total of 20 delay factors, eight BIM uses, and eight Lean tools were selected. Next, a consultation was conducted with 50 building project managers and two residential building projects were analyzed. The findings show that implementing BIM and Lean tools greatly influences mitigating delay factors such as errors and deficiencies in design documents, inefficient project planning and scheduling, and poor communication and coordination with designers. BIM uses that have a strong influence on reducing delays include 4D construction planning and 4D construction analysis and optimization. In the Lean domain, the Last Planner System (LPS) and collaborative meetings have a high influence on mitigating delays. This study provides valuable insights for construction project managers to improve overall project efficiency by optimizing the implementation of BIM uses and Lean tools.

Features of the Design of Residential Buildings

The article discusses each type of residential and public buildings has its own spatial planning solution, the design of which reflects a rather complex workflow. When designing multi-family residential buildings, economic factors are primarily taken into account. In particular, the construction of residential buildings in Uzbekistan has its own historical tradition. The houses were built in two versions -national and European. These houses mainly consist of houses with separate courtyards. This study employs a qualitative research approach, drawing insights from architectural literature and historical records to examine the design features of residential buildings in Uzbekistan. Data collection involves literature review, analysis of architectural plans, and examination of historical documents. The analysis reveals that the design of multi-family residential buildings is influenced by various factors, including economic considerations, cultural heritage, and historical traditions. In Uzbekistan, the architectural landscape reflects a blend of national and European styles, each with its own spatial planning solutions and design elements. Traditional houses with separate courtyards not only provide privacy and security but also contribute to the overall aesthetics of residential neighborhoods. Additionally, economic factors play a significant role in shaping the design process, with cost-effective construction methods and materials being prioritized in residential building projects.

Automation in architectural design: optimization and decision-making in interference design

The design of architectural projects encompasses a complex array of types, constraints, and contradictions, necessitating a high reliance on the personal experience of architects. Automated generative design aids in exploring various design alternatives, but current research grapples with challenges such as limited user customization, inadequate integration with site environments, and insufficient amalgamation of architectural form and performance optimization. This paper develops an algorithm for early-stage architectural generation, which employs a multi- interference item strategy, serving as a highly customizable design tool. In conjunction with performance optimization based on the NSGA-II algorithm, it introduces a versatile workflow. This paper applied this workflow in a residential building project, whilst incorporating indices such as structural performance, material usage, and site plot ratio as optimization objectives and constraints. The resulting design solutions enhance structural performance while meeting the constraints. The generative design workflow of this study boasts advantages in efficiency, performance, and customization levels. It enables designers to explore the design space in a customized manner, yielding effective solutions within a reasonable timeframe.

Duration and Labor Resource Optimization for Construction Projects—A Conditional-Value-at-Risk-Based Analysis

The complexity and uncertainty of construction projects contribute to low efficiency in the construction industry. This research applied the Takt-time planning method to optimize the construction working process, and proposed a risk control framework based on Value at Risk (VaR) and Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR) approaches to explore and predict a project schedule and cost performance under different scenarios. This research selected a high-rise residential building project for a case study and collected 1672 productivity data samples. Arena Simulation models were established based on 90 combinations of labor assignments to assess Takt-time planning strategies’ impact on project performance in four scenarios. The VaR and CVaR evaluations at 75% and 90% confidence levels were compared to balance project benefits and risks. Without any overtime or additional workers, this research found a Takt-time planning method that can reduce the project duration by 20.2% and labor costs by 2.1% at the same time, using a labor assignment of 12 bar placers, 12 carpenters, and 5 pipefitters. The findings can assist construction managers to achieve a shorter duration, reduced cost, and safer work environment, which will be very effective and beneficial to improve project overall performance.

A data-driven customer complaint management model for residential building companies

ABSTRACT Many companies in charge of the development and construction of residential building projects do not appropriately manage customer complaint records, especially regarding providing feedback about quality. Data collection and procedures for data analysis are often ineffective, which limits the generation of knowledge. Previous studies on customer complaints have been mostly focused on the analysis of large databases but do not propose overall solutions for managing this type of information, including data collection and analysis. This investigation aims to devise a data-driven customer complaint management model for providing feedback to the design and production phases of residential building projects. This model has a set of protocols for: (i) data collection that can be used for developing digital applications; and (ii) analyzing defect cause–effect relationships, considering the experts’ perspective, by using Directed Acyclic Graph and Bayesian Network. This investigation was conducted in collaboration with a Brazilian residential building company, using Design Science Research as methodological approach. The main outcome of this investigation is a set of data collection and analysis protocols that support the migration from the traditional approach of simply providing repair services during the defect liability period to a data-driven customer complaint management approach that provides feedback to quality management systems. HIGHLIGHTS A customer complaint management model must consider several perspectives; Digital applications must be used to support the implementation of data collection on defects; A complaint management model must deal with the complexity of defect formation. Abbreviations: BN: Bayesian Network; CRM: Customer Relationship Management; DAG: Direct Acyclic Graph; DLP: Defect Liability Period; DSR: Design Science Research; MEP: Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Systems

Rework investigation in residential building projects: Cost, factors and effects

AbstractThis article aims at investigating rework cost, factors and effects in residential building projects in the West Bank – Palestine. Questionnaire survey is used to collect and rank the main factors and effects of rework from consultants' and constructors' point of view. Respondents show that more than 80% of the projects completed with rework cost of value greater than 5% of the total project cost. Overall, respondents' view concludes that the top rework factors include: mistakes in design, unskilled labors, unqualified subcontractors, non-conformance with required specifications, and bid awarding policy. Respondents indicate that the main effects of rework are cost overrun, project time extension, material waste excess and profit reduction. Spearman correlation test concludes a good correlation between contractors and consultants in ranking of rework factors and effects. Data collected from 47 residential projects reveal a high rework impact on cost overrun in construction projects. The results of this study would be helpful for researchers and professionals to guide their efforts to minimize rework in construction projects and to improve projects outcomes in term of cost, time and quality.

Development of a passive strategy for buildings’ sustainability using green roofs techniques in Taif City, Saudi Arabia

Buildings’ sustainability can strongly contribute towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals which set forth a challenge for humanity in existing and modern Saudi societies. Recently, large numbers of initiatives and strategies have been recently developed and adopted with a focus on the green architecture which relates the real estate and clean energy industries in Saudi Arabia. This is considered as an important step to the diversity in the Saudi economy, which is not built on oil revenues and towards the achievement of Saudi Arabia’s vision 2030. Consequently, the application of different passive sustainability strategies in residential building projects, e.g., green roofs technology, can boost sustainable building ratings. In the present paper, the feasibility and probable health and environmental benefits associated with green roofs technology in Saudi residential buildings have been described. Moreover, different perspectives have been presented related to the green roofs industry, such as: types, recent technology, and the current challenges. In addition, the contributions of green roofs to the sustainable building’s certification via Saudi rating system, MOSTADAM, has been explored. The method adopted in the present research is based on relating the characteristics of the green roof technology and its environmental effects to the different categories of the “Mostadam” rating system. It is found that the green roofs technology can boost the sustainable building ratings through contribution to the major categories of MOSTADAM rating system a potential of 32% credits total. This encourages stakeholders to apply green roofs in Saudi residential buildings supporting the sustainable development goals of the Saudi government’s ongoing initiatives that advocates for more sustainable and resilient cities considering vision 2030. Moreover, the present study would assist the “Mostadam” responsible in evaluating the sustainable buildings projects and making the right decisions on such projects.

Three Neoclassical Residential Building Projects in Russian Cities

In this article we share our experience in the design and construction of residential buildings in the historical centers of the Russian cities of Kaluga and Saint Petersburg. Through three projects, two of which are intended for implementation, we will consider principles and approaches that, on the one hand, favor traditional architecture in residential building, and on the other, allow new buildings to become an organic part of the urban environment.

A multi-criteria evaluation and stationary analysis of value management implementation barriers for sustainable residential building projects

Over the past 20 years, value management (VM) has become a well-established technique, while in underdeveloped countries; informal methods are used for VM-related activities. This study aims to examine the barriers to VM deployment. These barriers are categorized into environment and culture, workshop dynamics, knowledge and stakeholders and standardization. A review of prior research is conducted to identify these barriers, which are further categorized through a semi-structured interview. The significance of these barriers is determined through 335 structured surveys with building specialists. The four categories of barriers are then assessed using fuzzy synthetic evaluation and weighted aggregated sum product assessment—technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution methods. In addition, a stationary method is used to evaluate the incorporation of VM barriers into residential projects. According to the findings, the most significant category of barriers that hinder the widespread use of VM is knowledge and stakeholders. Among these categories, the most influential barriers that constrain the VM implementation are workshop decision-maker participation issues. This research provides a roadmap for effective VM adoption in developing countries by helping stakeholders in the residential building industry understand VM barriers and leverage them to enhance the value of their projects.

Research and Application of Prefabricated Steel Structure Inner Partition Connection Technology

Based on an example of a steel structure residential building project in Yinzhou District, Ningbo, this paper focuses on innovative methods for new connection nodes between steel beams, columns, and ALC internal partitions in steel structure buildings, standardized new installation process steps and key points for attention, and analyzes the technical points of key node connections.

Construction Technology of Steel Structure Prefabricated Panel Wall

Prefabricated steel structure buildings and prefabricated partition walls generally have many joints and pores. Therefore, prefabricated steel structure prefabricated panel walls and steel structures can achieve high air tightness requirements, which can be solved by deepening the connection between prefabricated panel walls and steel columns, steel beams, and gaps, and conducting air tightness treatment. Based on an example of a steel structure residential building project in Yinzhou District, Ningbo, this article focuses on introducing the connection details and gap treatment of prefabricated panel walls, steel columns, and steel beams, and analyzing key technical control points.

Good practices in COVID-19 risk reduction adopted by Australian construction enterprises

PurposeThis research investigated the impacts of COVID-19 on construction enterprises and good practices adopted by the enterprises in reducing COVID-19 risks. The Sendai Framework (TSF) is widely accepted as a strategic roadmap to reduce disaster risks throughout the life cycle of a disaster. As such, with the aim of enhancing the resilience of Australian construction enterprises, the identified good practices were mapped with TSF priorities to consolidate COVID-19 risk reduction practices that can be adopted by Australian construction enterprises.Design/methodology/approachCase study research approach was used, and three case studies were conducted with small, medium and large construction enterprises. Small, medium and large enterprises were selected based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics classification of the business size. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with three executive members from the three enterprises. Data were analysed using content analysis.FindingsThe study found that construction enterprises faced demand and supply side impacts. Infrastructure projects, funded by public sector clients and larger enterprises were least affected. Investments and demand for residential and other building projects were reduced by private sector clients, affecting small and medium enterprises. Findings also show that the construction enterprises adopted good practices in identifying, managing, investing on resilience and recovery that align with TSF priorities. All three enterprises agreed on some common good practices on risk identification, risk management and effective recovery. Different views were shared on investments related to disaster resilience.Practical implicationsThis study contributes to mitigate the COVID-19 impacts on construction enterprises and subsequent economic and social impacts.Originality/valueThis research found how Australian construction enterprises survived during COVID-19. The study adopted TSF to construction and COVID-19 context while consolidating COVID-19 risk reduction practices.

Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of Building Construction: A Case Study in China

Life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) has been increasingly implemented in a wide spectrum of products. Considering the vital importance of buildings to human lives, it is surprising that there have been few LCSA case studies of buildings from mainland China, which boasts the largest developing economy in the world. This study aims to implement LCSA in a typical residential building project in China. The three areas of protections (AoPs) are integrated into an overarching LCSA framework by applying the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. It is found that the building project has less impacts of climate change, acidification and human toxicity, but greater impacts of ozone depletion and freshwater eutrophication, as compared to benchmarks of buildings. The sustainability single score is estimated to be 71.5/100, with 40.86% caused by the environmental impact, 29.68% by the economic impact and 29.46% by the social impact. The sustainability results of the studied case are further compared with an existing study in Hong Kong. The results would contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the sustainability performance of buildings in China. The methodology presented in this study can contribute to further improvements in LCSA evaluation, both regionally and globally.

The residential application of chain recooling energy recovery ventilator system in a hot and humid climate

The Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) is proven efficient for residential ventilation applications. Yet, certain drawbacks, including a more confined space due to descended ceiling, a lengthy accompanying duct system, and over-ventilation issues that result in extensive energy consumption, need to be addressed. In this study, a novel Chain Recooling Energy Recovery Ventilator (CR-ERV) system is proposed to replace the typical ERV system design to solve the shortcomings above. By conducting an experiment on a three-bedroom condo in a hot and humid climate, it was found that compared to the natural ventilation strategy, the proposed system can help reduce the mean indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration from 976 to 677 ppm and PM2.5 concentration from 6.4 to 4.1 μg/m3, representing a 29% and 34% reduction, respectively. From the regulatory perspective, only 64.4% of the natural-ventilated hours have a CO2 concentration below the 1000 ppm limit per the local air quality Act. This fraction can be improved to 99% after adopting the proposed ventilation system. All these benefits come at the cost of a slight 2.3% increase in electricity consumption. In summary, the proposed system is proven efficient, and its implementation is fairly straightforward and economical; thus might be worth integrating into future residential building projects.

Cyber Technology Implementation Barriers for Sustainable Buildings: A Novel Mathematical Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling

To reap the most advantages while maintaining the functioning of residential building projects, sustainability concepts should be included at all stages of the construction decision-making process. This research identified and investigated the barriers to the employment of cyber technology in residential construction projects in order to ensure their long-term viability. Prior research identified cyber technology barriers, which were then contextually explored using a questionnaire survey in the Nigerian construction business. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed that cyber technology hurdles may be classified into five constructs: knowledge, government, culture, project nature, and regulations. The barriers model was also built using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). According to the findings, project-related constraints were key impediments to the implementation of cyber technology. The findings of this study might serve as a guide for decision-makers in Nigeria’s construction industry looking to decrease costs and boost sustainability via the use of cyber technology.

Timber Construction as a Solution to Climate Change: A Systematic Literature Review

The built environment significantly contributes to climate change. There is pressure on the construction industry to find and use alternative sustainable environmentally friendly building materials to reduce the climate impact. Timber is increasingly being considered in the literature and used as a viable alternative for steel and concrete in both residential and non-residential building projects as it is a renewable material and has multiple benefits for reducing carbon (CO2) emissions and consequently climate change. This study aims to research the benefits of sustainable timber construction in terms of climate change. To achieve this aim, a systematic literature review was performed based on the research conducted between 1998 and 2022. For this purpose, research papers were searched from the Web of Science database and screened by applying a combination of keywords and the criteria for academic publication selection, including climate change, timber or wooden building, renewable material, sustainable material, carbon sink, carbon reduction, embodied energy, lifecycle assessment, and the circular economy. Further, a quantitative analysis of publications was performed using a science mapping approach, and qualitative content analysis was then conducted in three areas of research: timber as a sustainable construction material, the carbon storage of and reduction in GHG/CO2 emissions, and the circular economy. Research trends, general findings, and knowledge gaps were identified, and future research directions were indicated. The literature review proves that timber construction is a potential solution to reduce climate change.

Exploring the Adoption of Cyber (Digital) Technology for Sustainable Construction: A Structural Equation Modeling of Critical Success Factors

The concepts of sustainability should be incorporated at every level of the decision-making process during the construction of residential building projects. It will ensure maximum cost savings without compromising the residential buildings’ services. To understand these sustainability principles, this study was conducted to identify and investigate the critical success factors (CSFs) required for implementing cyber technology in residential building projects. These CSFs were obtained from existing studies that were contextually explored via a questionnaire survey involving construction experts in the Nigerian building industry. Based on the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) results, cyber technology CSFs were grouped into five distinct constructs: Governmental, Customer satisfaction, Time, Social safety, and Marketability of the construction product. Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was adopted to develop the model for the CSFs. The study showed that the Governmental component possessed the highest effect on the model, further underlining this construct as a crucial CSF in implementing cyber/digital technology. The findings from this study will facilitate cyber/digital technology introduction in the Nigerian construction industry. It will aid decision-makers and construction professionals in seeking viable ways of reducing costs and improving sustainability. Thus, this study has developed a CSF model to showcase the adoption of cyber/digital technology, with other implications for facilitating the goal of achieving sustainable residential building projects.

An Information Management Model for Addressing Residents’ Complaints through Artificial Intelligence Techniques

Construction companies usually record customer complaints as unstructured texts, resulting in unsuitable information to understand defect occurrences. Moreover, complaint databases are often manually classified, which is time-consuming and error-prone. However, previous studies have not provided guidance on how to improve customer complaint data collection and analysis. This research aims to devise an information management model for customer complaints in residential projects. Using Design Science Research, a study was undertaken at a Brazilian residential building company. Multiple sources of evidence were used, including interviews, participant observations, and analysis of an existing database. Natural language processing (NLP) was used to build a word menu for customers to lodge a complaint. Moreover, a recommendation system was proposed based on machine learning (ML) and hierarchical defect classification. The system was designed to indicate which defects should be investigated during inspections. The main outcome of this investigation is an information management model that provides an effective classification system for customer complaints, supported by artificial intelligence (AI) applications that improve data collection, and introduce some degree of automation to warranty services. The main theoretical contribution of the study is the use of advanced data management approaches for managing complaints in residential building projects, resulting in the combination of inputs from technical and customer perspectives to support decision-making.

Three-level modular grid system for sustainable construction of industrialized residential buildings: A case study in China

Although industrialized residential buildings (IRBs) are a significant contribution to sustainable construction, the lack of standardized design hampers their development. This study, therefore, develops a three-level modular grid (TLMG) system to fill this gap. The paper first introduces state-of-the-art modular construction for IRBs and then comparatively analyses the bottom-up and top-down modular coordination approaches to address the complex interrelationships between the modular grid and assembled parts. Comparative analysis results show that the TLMG system based on a top-down design approach can meet the requirements of a standardized design. Finally, the proposed modular grid system is validated through an actual residential building project in Nanjing, China. Interestingly, the TLMG system applied in the case project increases the assembly rate of IRBs to 90%. Applying a TLMG system enables the overall dimensions of the building to control local sizes and obtain coordination between them. Moreover, the TLMG system is not only suitable for residential buildings but can also be implemented in other types of buildings such commercial and educational buildings. The proposed methodology can also be referred to by other researchers and practitioners to improve the sustainable construction of industrialized buildings.

Decision Making Model for Identifying the Cyber Technology Implementation Benefits for Sustainable Residential Building: A Mathematical PLS-SEM Approach

Sustainability principles should be implemented during all the phases of the decision-making process of constructing residential buildings to achieve maximum gains without compromising the function of such projects. This study identified and examined the benefits of implementing cyber technology in residential building projects, with a view to promoting the sustainability of such projects. The benefits of cyber technology were identified from previous studies, which were then contextually explored via survey questionnaires within the Nigerian building industry. The results from the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) technique showed that the cyber technology benefits could be categorized into five constructs, namely, planning, transparency, efficiency, productivity, and quality. In addition, partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to develop the benefits model. The results showed that transparency related benefits were crucial benefits for implementing cyber technology. The study’s results will serve as a reference for decision-makers looking to decrease costs and increase sustainability by using cyber technology in the Nigerian construction sector.