Assessing State Transportation Agency Constructability Implementation

Although guidance is available for state transportation agencies to establish constructability review processes (CRPs), nationwide implementation has been slow due, in part, to a lack of clarity regarding related costs and benefits and a perception that CRPs are resource intensive. This study funded by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program reveals that while numerous states have attempted implementation in various forms, obstacles have frequently either hindered or halted progress. Four elements appear to be essential for the successful implementation and continuance of a CRP: (1) institutionalization of the CRP Champion, (2) an emphasis on a quality-driven as opposed to a schedule-driven design process, (3) clear yet flexible guidelines for executing constructability reviews across the broad range of project types and sizes, and (4) a vehicle for meaningful expert input from construction contracting professionals. A benefit-cost model, founded on the proposition that CRP implementation provides efficiencies that result in significant cost and schedule reductions, is demonstrated using case studies. A need for more precise identification of costs and quantification of benefits is noted.     

Strategies for Planned Project Acceleration

Departments of transportation in the United States are under increasing pressure to accelerate projects to meet user-defined constraints and reduce the inconvenience to the traveling public. Although there is information about acceleration projects in other industries, there has been little specifically aimed at highway projects. A domestic scan sponsored by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program was tasked with providing information in this area. The objective of this paper is to synthesize the resulting information into fundamentals that support successful planned accelerated highway project delivery. Case studies of how departments of transportation successfully accelerated the construction of four very different projects in California, Florida, and Texas serve as the basis for identifying these fundamentals. The fundamentals include upfront and detailed planning, designs that facilitate accelerated construction, a collaborative environment for project stakeholders, and incentives and disincentives to motivate construction contractors.     

Urban Freeway Bridge Reconstruction Planning: Case of Mockingbird Bridge

Urban freeway bridge reconstruction is a challenging process. Sites are often located in heavily populated areas and are always congested with traffic and construction activities. Lack of adequate planning on such projects can result in tremendous waste in project cost and schedule, traffic flow efficiency, and most importantly, safety to both the traveling public and construction crews. Accordingly, a need exists to develop techniques to help plan and construct urban bridge projects more effectively. This paper documents the process of replanning a bridge project, Mockingbird Bridge. The case describes a research effort that beneficially applied several construction engineering concepts to the project. For the project, the research resulted in sizable savings in cost and duration. For the industry, the case resulted in several lessons for future projects. Among these, the primary lesson is that the integration of bridge reconstruction sequence, constructability, and traffic control plans is crucial to project success.     

Modeling of Functional Construction Requirements for Constructability Analysis

Evaluating construction requirements should be an indispensable part of improving the constructability of a facility project. However, a number of existing function analysis approaches focus mainly on the final functions with respect to the finished facility. The construction industry still lacks methodologies to represent and evaluate the functional construction requirements for constructability analysis. This paper develops the concept of intermediate functions for representing the construction requirements from three perspectives, namely, function user, function provider, and the temporal and spatial relationships between the user and the provider. This is followed by the development of an in-progress product model to abstract the construction lifecycle of a facility product utilizing the concept of component state. Furthermore, the reference relationships among such perspectives as in-progress product, intermediate function, resource, and process are addressed. Based on these reference relationships, the bottleneck states for providing the intermediate functions can be detected. A case study of constructing the deck of a bridge using the balanced cantilever approach is presented to illustrate the utilization of this concept and representation.     

Automated Rebar Constructability Diagnosis

In spite of impressive progress in project modeling and computer-integrated construction, there is little real integration—manual or computerized—between design and construction of building projects. Consequently, constructability problems are experienced during the construction phase. With regard to rebar, constructability problems are discovered either after casting the reinforced concrete element or not at all, resulting in a weaker element. This paper describes a rebar constructability model, which was developed in an object-oriented graphic environment. The model is intended to be used during the design phase to automatically diagnose potential rebar-related constructability problems (the Diagnosis Module), as well as to offer solutions and implement them (the Correction Module). Of these two modules, the Diagnosis Module was implemented in a concept-proving prototype. The proposed model searches for constructability problems through all relevant parts of the building. This search includes the structural design, as well as other building systems (e.g., sanitary, drainage, HVAC). The model also checks for potential collisions between reinforcement bars and temporary inserts (e.g., form ties). Thus, in addition to the resulting increased constructability, the model also has potential as a system coordination tool.     

Organizing Constructability Knowledge for Design

Construction contractors have significant constructability expertise to contribute to the design process of projects. To utilize this expertise most effectively, the right information must be made available to the design team at the proper point in time and at the appropriate level of detail. Current methods for utilizing construction knowledge in design have made significant advances to improving projects. However, they are typically rudimentary: unstructured, not very efficient, and rely heavily on reviews. Organizing constructability information according to its use in the design process will allow project teams to take the best advantage of the construction expertise. This paper introduces a model for organizing constructability information based on timing and levels of detail. The model differs from current approaches because of this focus. How the model was developed is described. It is tested on six case study projects to assess applicability on different projects. An illustrative example is provided using a detailed case study of the Pentagon renovation project to show how the model can be used as a metric to guide constructability input during design.     

New AASHTO Guide Manual for Load and Resistance Factor Rating of Highway Bridges

This paper introduces the American Association of State Highway Officials’ (AASHTO) new Guide Manual for Condition Evaluation and Load and Resistance Factor Rating of Highway Bridges that was completed in March 2000 under a National Cooperative Highway Research Program research project and adopted as a Guide Manual by the AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridges and Structures at the 2002 AASHTO Bridge Conference. The new Manual is a companion document to the AASHTO Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) Bridge Design Specifications in the same manner that the current Manual for Condition Evaluation of Bridges is to the AASHTO Standard Specifications. The new Manual is consistent with the LRFD Specifications in using a reliability based limit states philosophy and extends the provisions of the LRFD Specifications to the areas of inspection, load rating, posting and permit rules, fatigue evaluation, and load testing of existing bridges. This paper presents an overview of the manual; specifically, the new Load and Resistance Factor rating procedures are explained and the basis for their calibration is discussed.     

Selection of Project Delivery Method in Transit: Drivers and Objectives

This paper describes the results of research on alternative project delivery methods in transit projects in the United States. The research, sponsored by the Transit Cooperative Research Program, aimed to identify those factors that drive the decision in the choice of project delivery method. A rigorous case study analysis based on on-site structured interviews with the directors of several transit projects was used to identify decision drivers and the rationale behind the delivery method selection decision in transit agencies. The nine case studies conducted in this research represent a cross section of delivery methods, including design-bid-build/multiprime, construction manager-at-risk, design/build, and design/build-operate-maintain. The interviewees agreed that the use of alternative delivery methods have resulted in savings in schedule and cost for transit agencies. The research also found that achieving aggressive schedule compression is the most influential factor when selecting alternative delivery methods. Also, implementation of a formal risk analysis as part of the project development process appears to improve the project’s chances of meeting budget and schedule objectives.     

Constructability Practices among Construction Contractors in Indonesia

The concept of constructability in the United States or buildability in the United Kingdom emerged in the late 1970s, which evolved from studies into how improvement can be achieved to increase cost efficiency and quality in the construction industry. It is an approach that links the design and construction processes. The studies in the Unites States, United Kingdom, and Australia have demonstrated that improved constructability has lead to significant savings in both cost and time required for completing construction projects. However, in implementing constructability improvement, it is important to consider the uniqueness of the construction industry in a specific country. This paper presents the study performed on the construction contractors in Indonesia with regard to their current constructability practices and its impact on the project performance. The study shows that many contractors in Indonesia have been implementing part of the constructability concept in their projects. The concepts that usually applied during the construction stage as part of the overall construction plan were planning the sequence of field tasks and analyzing layout, access, and temporary facilities     

Incorporating Maintainability in Constructability Review Process

Life cycle cost or total cost analysis of a facility begins with the initial design concept and ends with the decommissioning of the facility. Decisions made during the design and construction phases routinely consider only the construction costs when analyzing the constructability of the project. Often the impacts of such decisions on the maintenance requirements for the facility are not fully appreciated and are therefore not formally addressed. The concept of “maintainability” addresses this concern and is a logical extension of the constructability concept. As such, maintainability may be incorporated as a part of the formal constructability review process (CRP). This article describes a model format for incorporating the best practices for maintainability into the CRP. The added life cycle value of incorporating maintainability into the CRP can only be assessed by analysis of accurate and complete maintenance cost data. Insights from such an analysis may facilitate more accurate estimates of the total costs of facilities.     

Constructability Concepts in West Port Highway in Malaysia

This paper presents a case study of the applications and nonapplications of constructability concepts to illustrate, in a practical way, the impact that these concepts can have on a project’s success. This case study, which conveys an important message with regard to the application of constructability concepts, was purposely chosen from among prestigious projects in peninsular Malaysia. The basic message, as viewed by the interviewees, is that applying these constructability concepts will enhance a project’s constructability, consequently optimizing the schedule, cost, and quality of the project for the benefit of all the parties involved. The interviewees for the case study agreed that the applied constructability concepts were derived from their own experience and not based on any existing formal program. The absence of a systematic technique for transferring construction experience and knowledge to all the participants in all phases of a construction project is the reason behind the lack of constructability in our construction industry today.     

Assessment of Constructability Practices among General Contractors

Modern construction has been characterized as a complex and fragmented process. These characteristics have produced a decrease in the quality and cost efficiency of projects. It has been proven that this problem can be partially overcome by implementing constructability, which is based on the integration of construction knowledge into design (as was done in the past). The implementation of constructability is not easy because it represents a change in the way things have been done in the last century. Prior research has found a lack of constructability efforts among participants in the construction industry, especially general contractors. Because builders can play an important role in implementing constructability, this paper assesses constructability practices among general contractors. The data were obtained from a mailed survey. It was found that contractors applied constructability concepts and participated during the earliest phase of the projects more often than is thought. In addition, the findings showed that constructability practices differed depending on the characteristics of the organization, the type of work performed, and the type of contractual arrangement.     

“Lean” Comparison Using Process Charts of Complex Seismic Retrofit Projects

This paper compares the delivery of two retrofit projects where seismic isolation bearings were installed. The comparison is retrospective. The design teams on these projects did not implement “lean” thinking to develop their approach, nevertheless, observed process differences are characterized using a “lean” process evaluation and optimization tool, and then gauged and rationalized from that perspective. Cross-functional process charts identify functional parties with interrelated material or information handoffs. They help to identify (un)necessary steps or complexity as measured by number of handoffs and interacting parties. Analysis of these charts shows that project value may stem from the owner integrating design development with product procurement and construction method selection. On one project, integration was made possible by structural engineers evaluating the impacts of product procurement on overall project performance, expert consultants providing construction process reviews, and experienced contractors participating in installation sequence development. This paper illustrates the value of developing a symbiotic relationship between designers and suppliers in a niche market. It stresses the need for work structuring early on in the delivery process, integrating process with product development, to improve project delivery.     

Constructability Analysis in the Design Firm

The timely execution of a construction project is very important to the owner, who makes plans and commitments on the basis of the project’s anticipated completion date. Failure of design professionals to consider how a builder will implement the design can result in scheduling problems, delays, and disputes during the construction process. Constructability of design is a subjective scale that depends basically on a number of interdependent project-related factors. Many design firms have a formal (explicit) constructability program that is launched as early as the conceptual planning stage of the project. This research examines design professionals’ efforts to pursue constructability and provides recommendations for performing constructability reviews in an efficient and effective manner.     

Interface Management for China’s Build–Operate–Transfer Projects

Stringent pressure on public finances has made China’s infrastructure development a “bottleneck” in its bid to sustain rapid economic growth. As a result, many modalities have been developed to utilize the resources and skills of the private sector to supply essential infrastructure products and services, as well as to improve the efficiency in government procurement of the same. The build–operate–transfer (BOT) approach is an important example of these innovative modalities. The BOT approach in China is still in its infancy; many pitfalls await the unwary and obstacles impede more extensive application of this modality. The pitfalls are attributable to the complexities in the BOT approach, particularly when attempted in China’s transition economy emerging from decades of central planning to become one that is more market driven and globally integrated. This paper proposes two systems concepts to help manage this complexity: (1) a process modeling approach that maps key functions, parameters and interfaces in the project delivery process, and (2) the use of interface management involving specific measures that have contributed towards project success in Chinese BOT projects. The process modeling approach has led to the development of China’s BOT generic process model (CBGPM). Expert opinion was elicited on the criticality of the interfaces identified in CBGPM as well as the effectiveness of selected interface management measures. Finally, an interface management framework consisting of five key steps is suggested for China’s BOT projects.     

Strategies for designing a research utilization project with labor and delivery nurses

The background and development of the second National AWHONN Research Utilization Project on Second Stage Labor Management that was conducted in multiple sites within the United States and Canada are presented. On the basis of the results of the project, recommendations for designing other research utilization projects are discussed.     

Coordinating Building Systems: Process and Knowledge

The coordination of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems to detail their configuration is a major challenge for complex buildings and industrial projects. Specialized consultants and contractors design and construct these systems. Computer tools can assist with this activity, but fragmented responsibility for these systems and the knowledge required for their design, installation, and operation make this difficult. This paper reports initial results from a research project to develop a computer tool to assist in coordinating MEP systems. It describes current practice, a revised work process using a computer tool, required knowledge, and development of a prototype system. These results confirm the feasibility of capturing the distributed knowledge required and of developing a computer tool to assist with MEP coordination, along with the potential to implement the tool and significantly improve this important project process.