Digital Commons Network^™

Ethical Risks Of Human–Robot Interaction In The Construction Industry: A Systematic Review, Liying Wang, Wenqi Li, Botao Gu, Nan Li, Dongping Fang

CIB Conferences

Robotics is increasingly deployed on construction sites, enhancing efficiency, safety, and quality. However, the form of human–robot interaction (HRI) poses various ethical challenges, and insufficient attention has been paid to the ethical aspects of HRI in the construction industry within the academic community. To bridge this gap, this study aims to identify, analyze, and evaluate ethical risks across various HRI patterns in the construction industry through an agent-relationship-scenario three-tier ethical lens. This lens includes three types of agents: managers, workers, and robots, as well as five interaction patterns: remote monitoring, proximity manipulation, non-collaborative coexistence, non-wearable collaboration, and wearable collaboration. This …

Transition From A Linear Information Model To A Circular Information Model - A Deep Dive Into The "State Of The Art" For Circular Data Models In Public Parts Of The Construction Industry In Norway, Håkon K. Gissinger Mr, Nora Johanne Klungseth

CIB Conferences

Transforming from linear society to circular society is fundamental to solve the climat chrisis. To make construction sector circulare, we first need to develop circular data models for built asset. Circular asset data will need to be updated through the life cycle to become a digital twin. Replacement of physical components serves as “triggers” for updating digital twins. But who are the actors in the updating process, and how do they cooperate? The paper present two Norwegian cases of “level 3 digital twin” (Elyasi et al, 2023), and the roles and actors that contribute to update the twinned data. Research …

Nexus Between Carbon And Waste In A Circular Built Environment: A Bibliometric Analysis, Navodana Rodrigo Dr, A.M.D.S. Atapattu

CIB Conferences

The construction industry, being one of the key contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, generates approximately 39% of global carbon emissions. In line with the ambitions of the Paris Agreement and to accelerate the built environment sector towards a 1.5⁰C pathway, most countries have agreed to nationally determined contributions to achieve net zero targets by 2050. On the other hand, the traditional linear economic model focuses on take-make-dispose while circular economy emphasises the better use of resources by using closed loops of resource flows by recovering and preventing waste as much as possible. Therefore, decarbonising the overall construction industry …

Public Space Is More Than Architecture: A Critique To An Urban Renewal Project In Shenzhen, China, Cheng Li, Zhidi Cheng, Jilin Li

CIB Conferences

Urban regeneration is a multifaceted process that encompasses both the physical change of locations and the social and cultural reimagining of communities. This study analyzes an industrial heritage renewal project in Shenzhen, China, utilizing urban planning theories including Jacobs' Great Streets and Lydon’s Tactical Urbanism. The study emphasizes the disparity between architecture design implementation and the problems and the way of improvement in urban regeneration initiatives. It underscores the significance of public space design and management for sustained success, providing insights into how urban design may enhance community engagement and elevate quality of life. This study seeks to offer pragmatic …

Life Cycle Assessment Of The Decarbonisation Opportunities Of A Brick Manufacturing Facility In Australia, Benjamin Gazeau, Liliane Klemann, Atiq U. Zaman Dr, Alessandro Sanches Pereira

CIB Conferences

This research tackles the urgent challenge of reducing carbon emissions within the construction industry, where building materials—especially bricks—play a significant role in global greenhouse gas emissions. Brick manufacturing, in particular, significantly contributes to the industry’s carbon footprint, underscoring the need for decarbonisation strategies. This study examines potential pathways to achieve this by exploring alternative fuel options and assessing their environmental impact using life cycle assessment (LCA). Focusing on a brick manufacturing plant in Australia, identified as Plant A, the study uses a cradle-to-gate LCA approach to establish baseline emissions and evaluate the benefits of various fuel-switch scenarios. Key results show …

Towards A Participatory Assessment Of Community Flood Resilience, Ezekiel Olatunji, David Proverbs, Chaminda Pathirage, Subashini Suresh Dr, Olutayo Ekundayo

CIB Conferences

Existing Community Flood Resilience (CFR) frameworks often integrate a range of dimensions to measure flood resilience, but social indicators are often overlooked or neglected due to the challenges involved in gathering information and quantifying these aspects. This research presents a novel methodology towards the development of a more comprehensive CFR framework. The methodology presented combines quantitative and qualitative insights through a participatory mixed-methods approach. Initially, the Delphi process is used to co-develop resilience indicators with professional experts drawn from key stakeholders including the Environment Agency, Local Authorities and National Flood Forum, as well as a range of community representatives. This …

Applications, Challenges, And Benefits Of Integrated Project Delivery (Ipd) Method In The Construction Industry, Abu Sadat Mohammad Tayab, Moatassem Abdallah, Caroline Clevenger

CIB Conferences

The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry plays an important role in the global economy. To achieve efficiency in project objectives such as time, cost, and quality the industry increasingly adopts a variety of techniques and technologies, emphasizing the continuous evolution of project delivery methods (PDMs). Currently, the Construction industry is witnessing significant global growth, and the selection of appropriate and widely accepted PDMs is essential to project success. Although, Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) method is not widely used in the construction industry yet, it is emerging as a viable alternative PDM in large-scale construction projects. This research explores the …

Uav-Dl-Based Computer Vision Framework For Construction Worker Pose Estimation, Roy Lan, Ibukun Awolusi

CIB Conferences

Traditional ergonomic assessments in construction are limited by subjectivity, intermittent monitoring, and scalability challenges. To address these issues, this study presents a framework integrating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and deep learning-based computer vision for automated ergonomic risk assessment of construction workers. The framework utilizes UAVs to capture aerial footage of workers, enabling continuous monitoring across large and complex sites. Leveraging MediaPipe for pose estimation, the framework detects key body landmarks and calculates joint angles, providing an objective representation of worker postures. These joint angles are then mapped to the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) scoring system through custom algorithms, which …

Suicide Causal Factors And Mitigation Strategies In The Construction Industry: A Structured Review, Mehdi Torbat Esfahani, Hannah Plesant, Ibukun Awolusi

CIB Conferences

Due to the extreme nature of construction worksite settings, workers are exposed to mental health issues, which results in more injuries and accidents, including unreported mental illnesses, reduced productivity, the stigmas placed on workers by their peers and society itself, and suicide. Although numerous studies have delved into the suicide causal factors, there remains a notable absence of comprehensive research consolidating these findings and offering a holistic understanding of these determinants alongside potential preventive strategies. This study presents a review conducted to synthesize and categorize the factors contributing to suicide and mitigation strategies in the construction industry. To achieve the …

A Case-Study-Based Investigation On The Planning And Development Of Tiny Home Communities In North Carolina, Lin Whipkey, Jianxin Hu

CIB Conferences

Tiny homes have gained popularity over the past two decades. However, tiny homes have encountered obstacles to being considered as primary dwellings because most local zoning ordinances do not fully adopt them as a permanent dwelling type. Only a few counties (5%) and municipalities (6%) in North Carolina adopted tiny homes in their ordinance. A multiple-case study is employed to investigate eight communities in North Carolina. The developers, property owners, municipality officials, and county planners are interviewed. Other methods include studying the communities' general layout and amenities and reviewing zoning ordinances, property records, and site plans. The data are analyzed …

Exploring The Performance Trends In Leed-Certified Schools In Massachusetts: Analyzing Scorecards For Sustainability Insights, Jung Hyun Lee, Bilge Gokhan Celik, Shaghayegh Kurzinski, Amine Ghanem

CIB Conferences

Schools are essential environments for student development, with the quality of these buildings playing a significant role in shaping students’ learning experiences. Several factors, including indoor air quality, thermal comfort, acoustics, and daylight access, can impact both student well-being and academic performance. Therefore, evolving government regulations and updates to sustainable building standards, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications, have prioritized enhancing the quality of school buildings. This study aims to identify the trends within LEED for school certifications between 2019 and 2024 by examining each rating system category to determine whether these trends vary across categories …

Exploring Insurance Options And Innovations For Contractor Risk Management In Ghana's Construction Industry, Samuel Oppong Sarpong, Modupe Cecilia M.C Mewomo Dr, Francis Kwesi Bondinuba, Anthony Nansie, Anthony Bangdome Dery

CIB Conferences

Abstract: Purpose: This study examines various insurance options and innovations for managing contractor risk in Ghana's construction industry.

Design: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify the existing insurance options and innovations used in other countries for contractor risk management. Additionally, interviews were conducted with construction industry experts and insurance professionals to gather insights and perspectives on the applicability of these options in the Ghanaian context.

Value of the Study: This study contributes to the existing literature by providing an in-depth analysis of insurance options and innovations for contractor risk management, particularly within Ghana's construction industry. It highlights significant …

Challenges In Developing Digital Twin Systems: Insights From A Case Study, Orgil Borjigin, Timothy Bernard, Carrie Sturts Dossick, Amos Darko, Bart Treece, Travis Thonstad, Michael Motley

CIB Conferences

The United States faces significant challenges with its aging infrastructure, which is both deteriorating and expensive to maintain and rehabilitate. Bridges, being core components of connecting communities and facilitating trade, receive considerable attention from the public and government agencies. However, the traditional ways of monitoring bridge health conditions, often reliant on visual inspections, are inadequate for ensuring their sustained performance. In recent years, the concept of digital twins offers innovative solutions that have the potential to transform the ways the industry can monitor the structural performance of bridges. This approach pairs physical assets with their digital counterparts, leveraging real-time data …

Ai Tools In Project Practice (Design Process, Platforms, Open Building), Sergey Rybakov, Aleksandra Shibaeva

CIB Conferences

The article provides an overview the application of AI-practices in the architectural and design practice (narrow AI/ANI’s). Various directions of introducing these tools into the process (from generative design to reinforced collaborative systems & AI-actors) are considered. The main emphasis is on two aspects: application of AI to ensure the Open Building Implementation concept (within the framework of open construction). How to open buildings ideas react on these practices. How open systems can be complemented with these tools. How the OB-principles (modularity, “openness” itself, users-inhabitants design decisions making & designing process with multiple participants ets.) may change when applying AI-ideas. …

From Energy To Health: Role Of The Ventilation Systems In Energy-Retrofitted Buildings, Elham Maghsoudi Nia, Atze Boerstra Prof

CIB Conferences

The transition towards zero-energy buildings by 2050 has driven retrofitting initiatives across Europe, focusing on renovating existing buildings through improving insulation, solar panel installations, window replacements, and implementation of heat pump systems. While these retrofitting strategies contribute to energy efficiency, they also introduce new challenges related to indoor air quality and occupant health, particularly in highly insulated, and airtight buildings. This paper aims to investigate the intersection of energy retrofitting of buildings and occupants' health, with a specific focus on mechanical ventilation systems. By reviewing relevant literature on health issues and energy retrofitting in buildings, building-related illness is explored. The …

A Review Of Research On Enhancing The Post-Disaster Recovery Of Interdependent Critical Infrastructure Systems, Jiaxu Huang, Nan Li

CIB Conferences

Due to the increasing frequency of disasters, the ability to quickly recover from disaster-induced damage is crucial for critical infrastructure systems (CISs). The interdependencies among CISs pose a challenge that must be effectively addressed to ensure more efficient recovery measures. To enhance the resilience of interdependent CISs, an increasing number of studies have utilized simulations or real-world data to understand the mechanisms of these interdependencies and proposed possible solutions in the post-disaster phase. This paper examines this area of research and categorizes existing studies into simulation-based and data-driven approaches, summarizing existing strategies for improving interdependent CIS resilience through expedited recovery …

Dwelling Overheating In Cool Climates: Evidence From Monitoring, Mark Mulville, Seamus Harrington, Ciara Ahern, Omprakash Ramalingam Rethnam

CIB Conferences

To date, much of the research on overheating risk in dwellings has been focused on warmer climates, there is however increasing ­concern regarding overheating risk in dwellings including in cool climates, exacerbated by both large scales retrofit and the potential impacts of climate change. Dwelling overheating has been linked to impacts on sleep, health and wellbeing, including increased rates of mortality and morbidity. This paper explores overheating risk in dwellings in cool climates using Ireland as use case. Ten representative vernacular Irish dwellings were identified and monitored over the summer months of 2024 (June-August inclusive). To understand the role and …

Critical Review Of Biodiversity Criteria In Sustainable Real Estate Finance, Maria Holopainen, Inari Virkkala, Antti Kinnunen, Seppo Junnila Professor

CIB Conferences

The speed of global biodiversity loss has highlighted the urgency of directing more capital into nature-positive investments. Subsequently, green real estate finance has an important role to play in filling this finance gap. Against this backdrop, the paper employs a case study methodology to critically review the harmonies and disparities between two alternative approaches to incorporate biodiversity in the building sector: the EU Taxonomy, representing a regulatory “top-down” push for minimum standards, and the “Biodiversity Building” concept which portrays an industry-driven “bottom-up” approach aimed at ecological regenerativity. The analysis reveals some fundamental differences between the scope, content, and applicability of …

Digital Twin Insights From A Green Star-Rated Learning Environment, Ashvin Manga Mr., Theo C. Haupt, Chris James Allen Mr.

CIB Conferences

This study investigates the application of digital twin technology to enhance energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in a Green Star-rated learning environment. Focusing on Nelson Mandela University’s Business School, the research employed a mono-method quantitative approach, gathering real-time data through IoT sensors. The sensors were integrated into a digital twin platform using AWS IoT TwinMaker, enabling multi-sensor collaborative visualisation of building performance data. Findings reveal that CO₂ levels frequently exceeded recommended limits, even at moderate occupancy, indicating ventilation inadequacies. Additionally, the performance gap between design expectations and operational outcomes was highlighted, especially regarding energy efficiency and IEQ, suggesting …

Examining The Prevalence Of Job Stressors Among The South African Construction Workforce, Mohlomi T. Raliile

CIB Conferences

This study examined the prevalence of job stressors among the construction workforce in South Africa. The objectives were to determine the prevalence of organisational, extra-organisational, and personal stressors among the workforce. This exploratory study was conducted on a conveniently sampled population of construction personnel under three categories: construction professionals, construction artisans/tradesmen and construction labourers. A questionnaire survey was distributed to collect quantitative data via Google Forms and email, and some were distributed manually on construction sites to capture the labourers. In this cross-sectional study, and the respondents were individuals employed by civil and building construction companies. Face validity was used, …

Exploring Potential Bim Application Across The Project Life Cycle Of Public Sector Construction Projects: The Case Of Tanzania, Abdullatif Said Abdallah, Hemanta Doloi, Dominik Holzer

CIB Conferences

Despite its proven benefits, Building Information Modeling (BIM) has witnessed limited adoption in developing countries. In response, recently, there has been a significant increase in research works investigating BIM in developing countries. These studies have investigated various aspects of BIM adoption and implementation, including barriers/challenges, drivers/enablers, benefits, implementation strategies, BIM awareness, and adoption rates, among others. However, there has been an absence of studies that have attempted to explore the potential application of various BIM functions across the construction lifecycle of public sector construction projects in the context of a developing country, such as Tanzania. Accordingly, the present study seeks …

Unveiling The Untapped: Extracting Tacit Knowledge From Experienced Construction Workers Through Visual Attention Interfaces, Patrick S.W. Fong

CIB Conferences

This research explores novel methods for extracting tacit knowledge, which is the expertise often unarticulated and difficult to explain. Due to its implicit nature, effectively transferring this knowledge traditionally requires close interaction with experienced construction workers. This paper proposes utilizing visual attention-based human-computer interfaces (HCIs) to understand and potentially capture this valuable knowledge. Building on the link between eye gaze and unconscious thought, the research focuses on developing interfaces that track the visual attention of experts during tasks where their expertise shines. This paper presents two novel HCIs that enhance the capabilities of traditional gaze tracking:

Hybrid Eye Tracking with …

Review On Strength Properties Of Graphene Incorporated Sustainable Concrete By Reducing Cement Quantity, Balkis A, Shashank B. S, Rajesh Goyal, Anil Kashyap

CIB Conferences

Abstract

Graphene, an allotrope of carbon with outstanding mechanical, physical, and thermal properties, is increasingly gaining recognition in scientific research. Its unique nanostructure has revolutionized cement composites by enhancing their mechanical strength, durability, and overall performance. The construction industry is actively exploring new, sustainable materials that improve the mechanical properties of concrete. Graphene-based nanomaterials like Graphene oxide (GO), Graphene Nanoplates, and Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) have gained significant attention due to their superior reinforcement capabilities. This study examines the impact of GO in cement composites incorporating supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as fly ash, silica fume, rice husk ash, and geopolymer …

Air Quality In Smart Cities: Beyond Technology, Katerina Prevelianaki, Fred Sherratt, Christian Henjewele, Nezhapi-Delle Odeleye

CIB Conferences

Being ‘smart’ remains a prominent goal that many cities wish to achieve, not only for the excitement the awarding of ‘smart city status’ can generate, but also because smart cities are seen as the way to overcome current and future urban challenges. The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is globally recognised for their standards, and in 2019 they released their Smart City Indicators standard (ISO 37122) which has since become a leading standardised methodology adopted by city leaders to guide their city smartness efforts. The ISO 37122 also links its smart city indicators to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development …

Reimagining Community Engagement: A Social Network Driven Approach To Flood Resilience, Olutayo Ekundayo, David Proverbs, Subashini Suresh Dr, Chaminda Pathirage, Ezekiel Olatunji

CIB Conferences

Community Engagement (CE) is crucial for building flood resilience and empowering communities to participate actively in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. However, many existing CE approaches neglect key social dimensions, such as inclusivity, social vulnerabilities, and community-driven strategies. This oversight often limits community ownership and reduces effectiveness. This research critically examines the social drivers of community engagement in flood resilience, emphasising the need for a Social Network approach to strengthen social connections, enhance participation, and foster sustained resilience. A review and synthesis of existing literature, spanning disaster risk management, flood resilience, social networks, behavioural science, and community engagement, identifies key …

Circular Renovation Of Urban Infrastructures: A Multi-Project Perspective, Shahab Ashrafi, Hans Wamelink, Ruben Vrijhoef

CIB Conferences

The construction sector is a significant contributor to global waste. With growing concerns about sustainability, adopting circularity in construction projects has become increasingly important. The urban infrastructure sector has characteristics that present valuable opportunities for circularity. This research explores these opportunities by focusing on the renovation of urban infrastructure components through a multi-project perspective. This innovative approach in the field of circular economy reveals new possibilities for material reuse by integrating material flows across multiple projects. By identifying the supply and demand of secondary materials, designers can incorporate them during the redesign phase. Additionally, the synchronization of project phases can …

Exploring The Evolution Of Digital Transformation For Construction Enterprises: An Entropy-Nk Approach, Ruiyang Ma, Geoffrey Qiping Shen, Chao Mao, Jin Xue

CIB Conferences

Digital transformation (DT) has become a key driving force in the development of various industries. The construction industry has also begun to explore and practice DT, with the aim of achieving industry development through technological innovation. However, the existing application of digital technology in the construction industry is mainly limited to certain aspects and functions of project production and enterprise management. This fragmented use is insufficient to meet the construction industry’s needs for holistic business process collaboration and systemic transformation. The lack of an effective method to assess the DT status of construction enterprises from a systemic perspective — helping …

Exploring The Definition Of Capacity In Sustainable Construction: A Knowledge Mapping Approach, Simeng Li, Elrasheid Elkhidir Dr, Suzanne Wilkinson, Monty Sutrisna

CIB Conferences

The global environmental crisis is becoming increasingly severe, and sustainable construction is widely regarded as a key solution for mitigating climate change. Improving sustainable construction capacity is significant and challenging for advancing the development of the sustainable construction industry. Defining "capacity" is the first step in addressing this challenge. However, capacity possesses multidimensional attributes, and current research does not clearly identify its meaning within the sustainable construction domain. This paper aims to provide insights into the definition of capacity in sustainable construction. Specifically, this research aims to identify the core concept, sub-areas, and emerging trends related to capacity within the …

Bim Implementation Challenges In Nzeb Projects: Perspectives From Constructors, Muzibur Rahman, Tamera L. Mccuen

CIB Conferences

The construction industry consumes vast natural resources, which can be mitigated through sustainability initiatives like Net-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs). However, Building Information Modeling (BIM) implementation in NZEB projects faces challenges that hinder its widespread adoption. This study examines these challenges, and the knowledge and skills required to address them. Surveys and interviews with NZEB constructors reveal key barriers such as resistance to change, lack of expertise, and high training costs. Correlation analysis shows that reluctance to adopt BIM is strongly linked to knowledge gaps and financial constraints, highlighting the need for targeted training investments. Additionally, software incompatibility is a major …

Partnership Formation In Ppp Networks: The Impact Of Social Network Factors Across Sectors And Jurisdictions, Jose Guevara, Luis Herrera, Gabriel Castelblanco

CIB Conferences

Partnership formation among equity investors in Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects presents a key challenge, especially in multi-sector, multi-jurisdiction contexts. This research investigates the factors influencing these partnerships across six European countries, focusing on road and social infrastructure sectors. Using Social Network Analysis (SNA) and the Multiple Regression Quadratic Assignment Procedure (MRQAP), data from 988 PPP projects were analyzed. The findings show that strong previous collaborations and the closeness of equity partners within the network are critical in forming partnerships. Sponsors that have a history of working together or are connected through shared partners are …