Safety factors considered by industrial contractors in Saudi Arabia

This paper presents the results of a questionnaire survey, which was distributed among industrial contractors in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, and formal interviews with the contractors’ officials responsible for construction safety. The intent of the survey was to gather data on those significant factors that influence the safety performance of industrial contractors. The sample survey consists of 28 companies that are involved with large volume of industrial construction activities in the Eastern Province. The paper identifies 20 main factors and 85 sub-factors and determines their level of importance based on the survey results and the analysis.     

Characterization of concrete properties from dielectric properties using ground penetrating radar

This paper presents the experimental results of a study of the relationships between light-weight (LWAC) and normal aggregate concrete (NAC) properties, as well as radar wave properties that are derived by using ground penetrating radar (GPR). The former (LWAC) refers to compressive strength, apparent porosity and saturated density, while the latter (NAC) refers to real part of dielectric permittivity (ε' or real permittivity) and wave energy level (E). Throughout the test period of the newly cast concrete cured for 90 days, the above mentioned material properties gradually changed which can be attributed to the effects of cement hydration, different types of aggregates and initial water to binder ratios. A number of plots describing various properties of concrete such as dielectric, strength and porosity perspectives were established. From these plots, we compare the characteristics of how much and how fast free water was turned to absorbed water in LWAC and NAC. The underlying mechanisms and a mechanistic model are then developed.     

Modeling Hong Kong real estate prices

This paper attempts to estimate real estate prices from a Hong Kong perspective. A hedonic price model is estimated utilizing housing transaction data during a period of relatively stable property price movements. Empirical results suggest that while a residential property of larger size, higher floor level, and better view commands a higher transaction price, a property lying closer to the mass transit railway station also commands a price premium. The nonlinear effect of floor level has also been confirmed to exert an impact upon prices. Furthermore, an apartment located on an “unlucky number” floor is not preferred by homebuyers and is usually transacted at a price discount.     

Stakeholder management in construction: An empirical study to address research gaps in previous studies

This paper concentrates on identifying gaps in the scope of previous studies on stakeholder management, and starting to address those gaps by conducting an empirical study. To complete these research objectives, literature review, interviews, questionnaire survey, and a case study were used in this study. Four gaps regarding critical success factors, stakeholder management process, methods for stakeholder management and stakeholder relationship management were identified. Based on an empirical study, a framework for effective stakeholder management is proposed, and the application of a Social Network Analysis technique, as a means of determining the influence of stakeholders on decision making, is illustrated and validated by a case study. These findings can serve as initial references towards a more systematic approach for stakeholder management. Since the empirical study was conducted only in Hong Kong and Australia, further studies should be conducted in other regions to validate and compare with the finding in this paper.     

The learning organisation: toward a paradigm for mutually beneficial strategic construction alliances

Strategic alliances are becoming an important means of survival for managing construction organisations. Such alliances are a compromise between organisations doing business in isolation and in mutual partnership with another organisation(s). The key to competitive advantage and improving customer satisfaction lies in the ability of organisations to form learning alliances; these being strategic partnerships based on a business environment that encourages mutual (and reflective) learning between partners. Well-designed, successful alliances enhance co-operation and a high level of trust and commitment. A learning framework is presented to foster successful co-operative strategic alliances between construction organisations. A case study is highlighted based on Rameses Associates and Lloyds TSB Insurance of the UK, to illustrate the advantages of the thesis proffered.     

Range estimation of construction costs using neural networks with bootstrap prediction intervals

Modeling of construction costs is a challenging task, as it requires representation of complex relations between factors and project costs with sparse and noisy data. In this paper, neural networks with bootstrap prediction intervals are presented for range estimation of construction costs. In the integrated approach, neural networks are used for modeling the mapping function between the factors and costs, and bootstrap method is used to quantify the level of variability included in the estimated costs. The integrated method is applied to range estimation of building projects. Two techniques; elimination of the input variables, and Bayesian regularization were implemented to improve generalization capabilities of the neural network models. The proposed modeling approach enables identification of parsimonious mapping function between the factors and cost and, provides a tool to quantify the prediction variability of the neural network models. Hence, the integrated approach presents a robust and pragmatic alternative for conceptual estimation of costs.