Use of Warranties on Highway Projects: A Real Option Perspective

Since the introduction of warranty provisions in federal highway jobs, more and more state departments of transportation (DOTs) have considered the use of such provisions to protect their initial investment. This paper describes the pros and cons of warranty contracting in highway construction based on a survey of warranty practices in the United States. In particular, the need for state DOTs to buy a warranty for a well-built project is questioned. As an alternative, this paper introduces the warranty option, which gives the DOT the right to buy a warranty only if it becomes necessary at the end of construction. This option is exercised if the performance on site warrants it. This paper describes the mechanics of the warranty option and its advantages over the conventional warranty. A bid evaluation model is also developed for the warranty option approach.     

Identifying a Design Management Package to Support Concurrent Design in Building Wafer Fabrication Facilities

Concurrent design is commonly used in building a semiconductor wafer fabrication facilities to shorten projects. Current practice in managing a design schedule involves preset milestones that represent percentages of completion. Such a simple control scheme does not provide sufficient information to support concurrent design. This study presents an analytical model that applies a cluster identification algorithm to separate the work of designing a multisystem project into management packages that support concurrent design. Tasks within a package have strong informational dependency relationships on each other, and are not suited for concurrent design. Tasks of different packages have weak dependency relationships on each other, and are suited for concurrent design. Tendering design work based on these packages may reduce the number of design interfaces between participating design firms. Possible application of the model includes the management of design schedule, design contract tendering, and design information flow.     

综合布线系统的设计、施工及测试

针对综合布线系统工程设计与施工中存在的问题作一简单的归纳，并提出相应的解决办法。其中解决的办法包括几点重要的内容：设计时注意用户的需求和系统的可扩展性，施工时严格按照规范施工，工程结束后要做出详细的测试方案。接地问题和线缆敷设管路的弯曲问题是在施工时很重要的。测试时应测试的内容有：远端串扰、近端串扰、综合近端串扰、结构回波损耗等。     

Quality, Environmental, and Health and Safety Management Systems for Construction Engineering

The philosophy behind quality, environmental, and safety (QES) management systems is a concept that has been accepted by various contractors. Furthermore, a process has been developed insuring that the output produced conforms to customer satisfaction without violating any environmental, health, and safety rules and regulations. An effective QES program not only assures a quality product but also reduces costs, and enhances productivity. It is a top down process, i.e., top management together with line management and other employees develop the program and motivate all personnel to accept the process. Important functions to take under consideration are (1) explain and clarify the quality, environmental, and safety performance expected; (2) involve employees in decision-making and problem solving; (3) describe the consequences of poor quality and unsafe/unhealthy work conditions; (4) establish QES goals and provide feedback on performance; (5) provide a self-monitoring system; and (6) recognize and reinforce good performance and develop a reward system. This paper presents a discussion of the development of a portion of a QES management system which has been employed by a medium to large size construction company. In particular, Items 1–4, listed above, are described in detail.     

Credibility and applicability of virtual reality models in design and construction

In this paper, we present the findings from an extensive study of the use of virtual reality (VR) models in large construction projects. The study includes two parts: The first part presents a quantitative questionnaire designed to investigate how VR models are experienced and assessed by the workforce at a building site. The second part includes a qualitative field survey of how VR models can be applied and accepted by professionals in the design and planning process of a large pelletizing plant. Through mainly studying persons who had little or no experience with advanced information technology (IT), we hoped to reveal the attitudes of the average person working at a construction site rather than of an IT expert. In summary, the study shows that the VR models in both projects have been very useful and well accepted by the users. Today’s information flow is, from a general point of view, considered to be insufficient and the hypothesis is that using VR models in the construction process have the potential to minimize waste of resources and improve the final result.     

构建科学的企业文化体系

提出在企业文化建设中注意防止两种倾向;明确构建科学企业文化体系的内涵,物质文化、精神文化、制度文化和行为文化。     

Virtual Teams: Guide to Successful Implementation

The successful initiation and execution of a virtual team is gaining increasing attention in the design and construction community. From opportunities to integrate international and multidisciplinary teams to the opportunity to leverage the best resources in an organization on a given project, virtual teams can transform the concept of project planning and execution. However, potential barriers exist in several areas to the successful implementation of virtual teams. The needs of increased management emphasis, social and cultural understanding, and emphasis on common goals are only a few of the nontechnical factors that can turn successful virtual teaming into virtual frustration. When combined with traditional technical challenges including compatibility of systems, security, and the selection of appropriate technologies, the line between leveraging virtual technologies for enhanced solutions and introducing additional complications into the project process is one that can be easily crossed. This paper presents the findings of research that addresses the opportunities and potential barriers to successful virtual teams in the engineering, procurement, and construction industry. Combining results from current research, industry practices, and early results from nonconstruction industries, the research findings provide an initial path to successful virtual team implementation.     

一个通用代理计费系统开发框架的设计与实现

用户在不同的网络环境中选择不同的代理软件实现上网和用户管理，这些代理软件既有共性又各具特色，为减少开发不同代理计费软件的工作量，提高开发效率，加快开发周期，提出利用软件重用的思想，将代理软件的差异集中到少数几个类的实现上，设计并实现一个通用代理计费系统开发框架，基于此框架利用相对简单的步骤开发了基于SQUID的代理计费系统，验证了框架的实用性和可行性，达到了设计目标。     

基于XML的试题库模型与实现

由于试题的多样性的类型及半结构性的内容，实现试题规范的数据结构较为困难，造成现有的试题库系统的试题类型较少和内容格式单一。使用XML元数据表示试题的内容，可有效解决上述问题，论文提出一种基于XML的试题库模型，建立具有较高查询效率的试题库组织结构，在系统原型实现上，利用关系数据库的查询性能和XML技术的表现能力，较好地解决了试题库系统对试题类型多样性和查询效率的支持。