Construction Project Selection Research Articles

The integration of BIM in the application of green building materials in construction projects

In recent years, with the growing call for sustainable development, green building materials, which are of great meaning for reducing resource and environmental impacts, have attracted more and more attention. However, in China, a country with frequent construction activities and high resource consumption, the application of green building materials in construction projects still faces challenges. Building Information Modelling (BIM) as an emerging technology in the construction industry can increase the adoption rate of green building materials in construction projects. The aim of this study is to identify the barriers encountered in the application of green building materials in Chinese construction projects, and to propose corresponding improvement measures by integrating BIM in the decision making. This study adapted a qualitative research method, using semi-structured interviews as a research tool. A total of 6 respondents (including project managers, architects, engineers, and researchers) from Chinese construction companies and research institutions collected interview data, and used Nvivo software to analyze and summarize. The results of this study show that although the application of green building materials in construction projects in China still faces challenges, including market acceptance and supply chain issues, cost and economic feasibility issues, and lack of relevant technology and knowledge. In addition, the study found that BIM technology made a great contribution in promoting the application of green building materials. Through BIM technology, the whole life cycle information management such as material selection, engineering simulation and performance evaluation of construction projects can be carried out, so as to improve the application of green building materials. By exploring the obstacles to the application of green building materials in China’s construction projects and combining with the promotion of BIM technology, this study puts forward a series of specific suggestions and solutions to foster the application of green building materials. This research has made certain theoretical and practical contributions to foster the application of green building materials for the sustainable development of China's construction industry.

Identification of Factors Affecting Risk Appetite of Organizations in Selection of Mega Construction Projects

Risk appetite is a crucial component that plays a key role in the decision-making process of project risk management. Despite rising scholarly interest in project risk management, risk appetite has received little attention thus far. A well-defined risk appetite ensures that all decisions taken throughout the course of a project are consistent with an organization’s ultimate strategic aim. This research aims to identify the factors affecting the risk appetite of megaproject selection in the construction sector. The study adds to the knowledge of risk appetite in mega construction project selection and qualitatively examines the factors affecting risk appetite. Exploratory research design is used to identify these factors. The factors are identified using semi-structured interviews of 30 practitioners from the top and middle management working on mega construction projects. Thematic analysis was performed using NVIVO academic software. The most highlighted factors are financial attributes, board of directors’ agility, political factors, project location and demographics. The proposed conceptual framework identifies the factors affecting the risk appetite of mega construction project selection. These factors may be utilized as a starting point by construction project organizations to evaluate the risk appetite of a mega construction project. Risk appetite-based project selection will decrease chances of failures, delays, and cost overruns in mega-projects. These factors can be used by researchers as a rationale for developing predictive or descriptive models of project selection based on risk appetite.

A hybrid Grounded Theory, fuzzy DEMATEL and ISM method for Assessment of sustainability criteria for project portfolio selection problems

In this paper, a set of sustainability criteria is introduced and a hybrid Multi Criteria decision Making (MCDM) method is performed in order to identify and classify a set of criteria for selecting a project portfolio. Proposed criteria based on fuzzy DEMATEL technique in an uncertain environment are assessed to determine the relation among all of the criteria. Moreover, ISM method is used to level the proposed criteria which are effective in the process of selecting the project or not. The results obtained from the proposed method demonstrates that profit, cost, soil, atmosphere, energy, waste and risk criteria are the most effective ones in selecting project portfolio, especially in construction project selection. Furthermore, environmental issues play an important role in the selection of project portfolio while social issues are not as much significant as others. Technical requirement, water, security and public utility are less effective criteria in selecting project portfolio. Also, Biodiversity, social integration and responsibility criteia are the most effected criteria in selecting project portfolio.

A New Multicriteria Decision-Making Method for the Selection of Sponge City Schemes with Shapley–Choquet Aggregation Operators

The construction of sponge cities is of great strategic significance to solving the urban water resource problem in the future. According to the policy guidance of sponge city construction, the evaluation index system of sponge city construction projects is constructed. In order to overcome the interference caused by the interaction between indexes, a nonadditive measure and Shapley function are combined to determine the weights of attribute indexes, and the generalized Shapley interval-valued intuitionistic uncertain linguistic Choquet averaging (GS-IVIULCA) operator is used to calculate the comprehensive evaluation value of the schemes. On this basis, a new evaluation method of sponge city construction project selection under an uncertain information environment is presented and empirically evaluated. The results show that the index weight of rainwater collection and utilization is the largest, indicating that decision makers pay more attention to the ecological and environmental benefits of this item in the sponge city construction process.

Evaluation and selection of construction projects based on risk analysis

The project selection problem has attracted significant attention among construction project participants. Typically, a contractor can execute one or more projects from available projects. This study introduces a new strategy to help contractors in evaluating and selecting suitable construction projects. The new strategy is based on identifying multiple criteria that affect construction projects as well as developing and using a model that supports decision based on the analytic hierarchy process. Furthermore, a fuzzy risk analysis model is proposed to analyze and quantify some of the identified criteria to help contractors select minimally risky projects. Market conditions, financial resources, project conditions, time delays, and cost overruns are five identified criteria that control the selection. Through identifying 70 subsidiary factors, the effects and importance of the first three criteria were determined through a field survey, while time delay and cost overrun criteria were analyzed and quantified through the risk analysis model. The new strategy was applied on a real case study comprising two HVAC system projects in the construction industry (project 1 in Egypt and project 2 in Saudi Arabia). Criteria and causes that yield different effects on the new strategy to support contractor decision and selection control are discussed in detail. Risk factors were ranked according to their importance, and their effects on both time and cost were clarified. The results obtained from the investigated case study showed 55.5% support for project 2, and only 44.5% support for project 1. This strategy is applicable to other case studies in different countries with different projects, criteria, and execution activities.

Introducing a multi-criteria evaluation method using Pythagorean fuzzy sets

Purpose Project selection is a critical decision for any organization seeking to commission a large-scale construction project. Project selection is a complex multi-criteria decision-making problem with significant uncertainty and high risks. Fuzzy set theory has been used to address various aspects of project uncertainty, but with key practical limitations. This study aims to develop and apply a novel Pythagorean fuzzy sets (PFSs) approach that overcomes these key limitations. Design/methodology/approach The study is particular to complex project selection in the context of increasing interest in resilience as a key project selection criterion. Project resilience is proposed and considered in the specific situation of a large-scale construction project selection case study. The case study develops and applies a PFS approach to manage project uncertainty. The case study is presented to demonstrate how PFS is applied to a practical problem of realistic complexity. Working through the case study highlights some of the key benefits of the PFS approach for practicing project managers and decision-makers in general. Findings The PFSs approach proposed in this study is shown to be scalable, efficient, generalizable and practical. The results confirm that the inclusion of last aggregation and last defuzzification avoids the potentially critical information loss and relative lack of transparency. Most especially, the developed PFS is able to accommodate and manage domain expert expressions of uncertainty that are realistic and practical. Originality/value The main novelty of this study is to address project resilience in the form of multi-criteria evaluation and decision-making under PFS uncertainty. The approach is defined mathematically and presented as a six-step approach to decision-making. The PFS approach is given to allow multiple domain experts to focus more clearly on accurate expressions of their agreement and disagreement. PFS is shown to be an important new direction in practical multi-criteria decision-making methods for the project management practitioner.

A FUZZY DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT SELECTION: AN INTEGRATED FPP-FIS MODEL

Sustainability has become a key concern for project selection in construction industries. Determining the best sustainable project based on various sustainability attributes is a very complicated decision. Accordingly, developing a suitable decision support framework can be very helpful for decision makers to attain planned business goals and complete projects at the right time with good quality. This research develops a decision support model which helps managers to understand the concept of sustainability in construction project selection and choose the best project using a new integrated Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approach under uncertainty by integrating Fuzzy Preference Programming (FPP) as a modification of Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP), with Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) as a fuzzy rulebased expert system. In the first phase of the research, fifteen sustainability attributes were selected. In the second phase, the final weight of each attribute was computed by using FPP. In the last phase, the most appropriate project was selected by running the weighted FIS. The results showed that Project 3 (P3) is the best project. Finally, two different evaluative tests were also applied to verify the validity and robustness of the developed model.

Research on the Evaluation of Ecological Assets Loss in Railway Construction Project Route Selection

At present, the route selection of railway construction projects from the perspective of environmental protection fails to objectively and comprehensively reflecting environmental protection requirements. Therefore, incorporating ecological asset assessment into the route selection of railway construction projects is conducive to promoting environmental protection to participate in railway route selection and improve railway route selection. This article summarizes the current status of railway route selection, identifies the existing problems in railway environmental route selection, and combines the research progress of ecological asset assessment, and proposes the assessment content and evaluation index system of ecological asset assessment in railway environmental route selection, and points out the future research prospects.

Analysis of Construction Contract Project Comparison with PNPM Based Projects in Construction Projects (PPIP Project Implementation Study In Tuban District)

The implementation of construction projects generally carried out in construction contracts results in community apathy because they are not actively involved in the planning, implementation and maintenance operations of construction projects. The government launched the National Community Empowerment Program (PNPM). One of the PNPM programs initiated was the Rural Infrastructure Development Program (PPIP). Election Implementation of a construction project using a construction contract or community empowerment by considering several criteria and sub criteria so that the implementation of construction projects can be carried out effectively and efficiently. The measures discussed in implementing construction projects are time, cost, quality, community participation, administration, and independence. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is used to analyze the results of the questionnaire so that the criteria and sub criteria weighted as a consideration for the selection of construction projects. Based on the results of the analysis, we obtained the weights of the construction project implementation criteria, namely: time with a load of 0.198, costs with a capacity of 0.203, quality with an amount of 0.178, community participation with an amount of 0.118, administration with a weight of 0.139 and independence with a weight of 0.139. Then it is known that the construction contract weight is 1.045 and the influence of community empowerment is 0.955.Furthermore, the calculation of alternative weights carried out so that the criteria obtained: time, quality and administration took into account in the construction contract. Considerations: costs, community participation, and independence are taken into consideration by the project in community empowerment. Based on the results of the analysis shows that the implementation of construction projects is better done using a construction contract because it explicitly incorporated in its accountability. The cost criteria are the most significant factor and sub-criteria the accuracy of the start schedule of implementation occupies the highest score in the selection of the application of the construction contract.

SOLVING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT SELECTION PROBLEM BY A NEW UNCERTAIN WEIGHTING AND RANKING BASED ON COMPROMISE SOLUTION WITH LINEAR ASSIGNMENT APPROACH

Selecting a suitable construction project is a significant issue for contractors to decrease their costs. In real cases, the imprecise and uncertain information lead to decisions made based on vagueness. Fuzzy sets theory could help decision makers (DMs) to address incomplete information. However, this article develops a new integrated multi-criteria group decision-making model based on compromise solution and linear assignment approaches with interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFSs). IVIFSs by presenting a membership and non-membership degree for each candidate based on appraisement criteria could decrease the vagueness of selection decisions. The proposed algorithm involves a new decision process under uncertain conditions to determine the importance of criteria and DMs, separately. In this regard, no subjective or additional information is needed for this process; only the input information required is an alternative assessment matric. In this approach, weights of criteria and DMs are specified based on novel indexes to increase the reliability of obtained results. In this respect, the criteria’ weights are computed regarding entropy concepts. The basis for calculating the weight of each DM is the distance between each DM and an average of the DMs’ community. Furthermore, the linear assignment model is extended to rank the candidates. A case study about the construction project selection problem (CPSP) is illustrated to indicate the application of proposed model.

A FRAMEWORK FOR THE EVALUATION OF HOTEL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

The main goal of the manuscript is to propose the framework that would facilitate the selection of hotel construction projects for an investment based on the application of the WS PLP method. The key reason why the WS PLP method is used is reflected in its ability to more accurately express decision-makers’ stand regarding the desired preference ratings of criteria by incorporating ppr values into the decision-making process. Also, the WS PLP method implies the introduction of the compensation coefficient, which provides a possibility of the decision-maker’s selection between an alternative that has the best matching with the preferred performance ratings expressed through ppr values and the one that has the best overall performance ratings. The applicability and effectiveness of the proposed framework are demonstrated through a real case study on the five types of the hotels that should be constructed on Kopaonik Mountain in Serbia.

An empirical examination of moral hazards and adverse selection on PPP projects

Purpose Failures of public–private partnership (PPP) projects are often ascribed to the agency problem, which arise under conditions of inadequate and asymmetric information when a principal (the client) hires an agent (the contractor). This paper aims to identify the causes and effects of moral hazard and adverse selection on PPP construction projects using a synthesis of extant literature (to determine key variables) and analysis of survey questionnaire data collected. Design/methodology/approach Mean score ranking was used to rank the causes and effects of moral hazard and adverse selection problems in PPP construction projects. One sample t-test was conducted to establish the relative significance of these variables. Findings Effort dimensions (which are not verifiable), low transfer of risk, lack of accurate information about project conditions, wrong party chosen to execute project and renegotiation of contracts were the most significant causes of moral hazard and adverse selection problems in PPP construction projects. In addition, reduction of competition, high transaction costs, consequences on profitability of project, siphoning of funds and negative implications on enforceability of contract were the most significant effects of moral hazard and adverse selection problems in PPP construction projects. Practical implications Application of these findings will help mitigating moral hazard and adverse selection problems occurring when undertaking PPP construction projects. Originality/value Research findings provide guidance to construction stakeholders in the PPP sector on the different causes and effects of adverse selection and moral hazard. This pioneering study is the first to conduct an empirical assessment of the causes and effects of moral hazard and adverse selection of PPP construction projects in a developing country.

Causal relationships of moral hazard and adverse selection of Ghanaian Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) construction projects

PurposeThe purpose of this paper was to assess the causal relationship(s) between moral hazard and adverse selection of public–private partnership (PPP) construction projects. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to explore the cause and effect relationship between moral hazard and adverse selection problems in PPP construction projects in Ghana. The study produced a framework to predict, estimate and depict the complex causal relationships (i.e. the directionality) between moral hazard and adverse selection.Design/methodology/approachTo test the proposed framework, a quantitative methodology was used, in which, data were collected using research questionnaires that targeted a sample of 280 PPP stakeholders in Ghana. In total, 210 useable questionnaires were retrieved, representing a response rate of 75 per cent.FindingsThe interrelationships between the eight causes and the nine effects of moral hazard and adverse selection were established using the model. The tested framework showed the degree of association and isolation of the unobserved variables on the indicator factors. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to evaluate the fit of items to latent constructs. Because the fit of each model was good and the item loadings were adequate, it was assumed that the indicators of the different variables factors were fitting. Furthermore, a diagnostic fit analysis was conducted using the robust maximum likelihood method to test the statistical significance of the parameter estimates.Practical implicationsThis novel research is one of the few studies investigating the causal relationships between moral hazard and adverse selection of PPP construction projects. The research concluded with future studies that seek to validate the model developed in other countries and/or other industries.Originality/valueThe research findings will serve as a guide for construction stakeholders in the PPP sector on the causes and effects of adverse selection and moral hazard and how to mitigate these.

Construction Projects Bid or Not Bid Approach Using the Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity FTOPSIS Method

AbstractThis paper discusses selection of construction projects based on multiple criteria using a quantitative fuzzy-set method, which considers multiple attributes in a decision-making process involving a group of decision makers. This approach implements a modified fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) to help decision makers rank projects based on various attributes. A triangular fuzzy set models linguistic terms used to provide subjective judgment related to decision makers’ experience level, attribute weight assessment, and attribute rating. The fuzzy TOPSIS method is extended in this research to capture various levels of experience for decision makers involved in a decision to select a construction project. An illustrative example of project selection using the proposed method is provided to demonstrate its effectiveness. The computational results of this research provide project stakeholders with a computer model that could be implemented to assist in the co...

Applying Analytic Network Process to the Selection of Construction Projects

Selecting a construction project is relatively complex as it involves multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM). To solve this problem, this study used the fuzzy Delphi method to identify six key factors of influence on selection outcomes and established evaluation criteria based on these factors. After employing analytic network process (ANP) to identify relationships between the objective, the evaluation criteria and the candidate projects, this study developed a decision-making model to resolve the difficulty of selecting an optimum construction project and conducted weighted analysis of the candidate projects using the quantitative procedures of ANP. Lastly, an empirical case study was used to verify the proposed method. The results of this study show that ANP can be used to build an effective decision-making model capable of analyzing candidate construction projects and selecting the optimal one.

Evaluating Construction Projects by a New Group Decision-Making Model Based on Intuitionistic Fuzzy Logic Concepts

Select an appropriate project is a main key for contractors to increase their profits. In practice, in this area the uncertainty and imprecise of the involved parameters is so high. Therefore, considering fuzzy sets theory to deal with uncertainly is more appreciate. The aim of this paper is present a multi-criteria group decision-making model under an intuitionistic fuzzy set environment. Hence, the weight of each decision maker and each criterion are considered different. Indeed, decision makers' weights are determined based on a novel intuitionistic fuzzy index, and criteria’ weights are specified by proposed method according to the concept of closer to ideal solution and farther from negative ideal solution. Then, the potential projects are ranked based on new intuitionistic fuzzy relative closeness coefficient. Thus, the proposed intuitionistic fuzzy group decision-making model is applied in an illustrative example about construction project selection from the recent literature. Finally, the ranking results are compared with a fuzzy TOPSIS method to indicate the applicability and efficiency of the proposed model.

Procurement Selection Model: Development of a Conceptual Model Based on Transaction Costs

Procurement is a major improvement area and a crucial element contributing to project success, and the selection of an optimal procurement system is an important and difficult step in project execution. The criteria for choosing suitable procurement methods are based on client’s objectives and priorities, and influenced by project constraints. The procurement path determination chart has largely dominated research in procurement selection process in construction. Eight factors need to be considered by the client when developing procurement selection criteria. At the procurement strategy the focus should be on factors such as cost, quality, and time, while at the procurement route the consideration should focus on complexity, certainty, risk, responsibility, and degree of control by the client. However, including certain criteria and ignoring the magnitude of transaction costs (TCs) associated with uncertainties in the transaction environment simplifies this process. This study addresses this shortcoming by combining evaluation criteria with TCs incurred because of external and internal environmental uncertainties in a theoretical model on procurement selection. This is achieved by developing a conceptual framework model based on TCs. Uncertainties in the transaction environment have a positive or negative impact on the magnitude of TCs such as information, procurement, administration, and enforcement. The model represents an analytical form of a suitable combination of factors influencing procurement systems, which guide procurement decisions. The model will increase understanding of how efficient procurement selection of construction projects can be achieved through appropriate procurement procedures, which could positively impact project performance.Keywords: Construction, Procurement systems, Transaction costs

Planning of road construction projects with a view to stimulating economic growth and development

This paper provides an outline of how the economic evaluation and selection of road construction projects can be complemented by social evaluation with a view to achieving a more equitable welfare distribution within a developing country. The article commences by elaborating on the general economic benefits that can arise from investment in economically justified road infrastructure. The different classes of non-road-user beneficiaries are idenified and discussed. The operational characteristics of road transport that are conducive to the stimulation of economic activity are identified and described. The present inequality of income distribution in South Africa is dealt with briefly, followed by a discussion and analysis on the use of equity weights in project evaluation to help bring about a more equitable welfare distribution

Models for multiple attribute decision making based on the Einstein correlated aggregation operators with interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy information

In this paper, we investigate the multiple attribute decision making MADM problems for selecting the construction project in which attribute values take the form of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy information. Firstly, some operational laws of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers and score function and accuracy function of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers are introduced. Then, we utilize Einstein operations to develop the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy Einstein correlated averaging IVIFECA operator. The prominent characteristic of this operator is that they can not only consider the importance of the elements or their ordered positions, but also reflect the interactions phenomena among the decision making attributes or their ordered positions. We have applied the IVIFECA operator to multiple attribute decision making problems for selecting the construction project with interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy information. Finally an illustrative example for involving a construction project selection has been given to show the developed method.

The Analysis and Application of AHP in a Construction Project Evaluation

Construction project is a large investment, high-profit industry, with great risks. In this paper, we using combination of theory and engineering method, according to the principle of AHP (The Analytic Hierarchy Process), by constructing a judgment matrix, sort calculation, consistency test and other processes to analysis and evaluation the risks. In many alternative engineering solutions to choose the best solution for construction, and then provide a reference on method of construction project selection and risk assessment and risk control in the applications, ultimately achieve the purpose of reducing losses on risks.