Digital Commons Network^™

Sustainable Healthy Communities: The Contested Role Of ‘Region’ In The Housing Development Sector, Graeme D. Larsen Dr, Ange Lee, Megi Zala

CIB Conferences

The English housing development sector is frequently described as being in a state of crisis, presenting challenges for a range of stakeholders. The research is tensioned against structural shifts in the housing development sector, with an agglomeration of a handful of large housing developers shaping the narrative, set against the decline of regional SMEs developers. The aim is to unpack the prevailing discourse and the common reductionist metric of ‘units’ built, in order to reintroduce notions of regionalism, place and sustainable healthy community into the debate. Central to this is unpacking what is meant by ‘region’ or ‘regional’. Contemporary perspectives …

Decentralising Flow Conversations: Improving Productivity Through Collaboration With Site Operatives, Emmanuel Manu, Ani Raiden, Emamode Eyituoyo Akwerigbe

CIB Conferences

Low productivity remains a persistent challenge in the construction industry, often stemming from fragmented workflows, poor integration, and collaboration across the supply chain. This study aimed to investigate how site operatives can be actively engaged in identifying and resolving constraints to site workflow through a structured collaborative practice using the eight-flow model as a framework. The study adopts an Ethnographic Action Research (EAR) methodology, encompassing three iterative stages—observation, action, and reflection. EAR was applied through 3 rounds of workshops with 30 site operatives on a live construction site in the UK focusing on collaborative risk management using a flow activity. …

Social Life Cycle Assessment In Construction: A Bibliometric Analysis, Belal Neazi, Sara Torabi Moghadam, Patrizia Lombardi

CIB Conferences

Urbanisation leads to the expansion of urban areas, which needs vigorous support from the construction sector for infrastructure development. While this sector is a contributor to job creation and economic development, it is also a major consumer of energy and greenhouse gas emissions, which emphasises its need for sustainable development. Achieving complete sustainable development involves an integration of social dimensions as well, which is often neglected in conventional Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Despite the recent development of S-LCA guidelines, research output remains limited compared to traditional LCA. This study aims to analyse research trends, patterns, and impacts of the Social …

Developing Sustainability-Focused Competencies In Civil Engineering Technology Students, Amanda Bao, Yewande S. Abraham, Satyanarayana Raju Penmatsa

CIB Conferences

As the world tackles climate change impacts, studies have shown a growing gap in green skills and green talent, emphasizing the need for higher education curricula to be aligned with sustainability goals to prepare students to address and mitigate these impacts. Consequently, there is a critical need to enhance sustainability education to equip the future engineering workforce with the knowledge and skills necessary to tackle these challenges and combat the adverse effects of climate change. By enhancing sustainability education, we can better prepare future engineers to lead the charge in creating a more sustainable and resilient world, especially considering the …

Smart Building Retrofitting Acceptance Model (Sbram): A New Angle Of Optimizing Smart Retrofitting Of Aged Residential Buildings, Fan Zhang, Yixin Tong, Yibo Qiang, Tiantian Gu, Hao Wu, Linyan Chen, Albert P.C. Chan

CIB Conferences

As society and techniques develop rapidly, people raise higher requirements for urban buildings where they live and work. Urban buildings should not only provide suitable space for kinds of activities, but also ensure occupants’ security and health, respond to the changing environments, and provide a better living environment for occupants. In order to improve age residential buildings, smart building retrofitting solutions are widely adopted, such as automatic control of indoor environment, activity detection, health monitoring, smart energy optimization, and other solutions based on IoT, digital twin, computer vision, and other techniques. Even lots of smart building retrofitting solutions have been …

A Case Study On The Revitalization Of A Hospital Building : Toward Open Building Of Existing Buildings, Leo Tanishige, Shigeru Aoki

CIB Conferences

Japan's rapidly aging and shrinking population has resulted in an increasing number of hospital facilities that do not meet today's demands. In order to cope with the rapidly changing healthcare environment in Japan, it is adequate to utilize and renovate existing hospital buildings. This study focuses on the “Refining Architecture” method, abbreviated as “RA” in this paper, which is a drastic renovation of existing buildings through seismic retrofitting, legalization, interior and exterior renovation, and plan and design changes. The process and method of investigation and renovation of existing buildings in RA are clarified using the Hospital project W, which was …

Robotic Teleoperation Of Construction Machinery: Technologies, Applications, And Future Directions, Songbo Hu, Yihai Fang, Yingbin Feng, Tanghan Jiang

CIB Conferences

Robotic teleoperation of construction machinery effectively separates operators from hazardous environments, greatly enhancing safety for tasks in challenging working conditions such as earthmoving. Furthermore, by utilising advanced technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), automated hazard recognition, Mixed Reality (MR), and robotics, it facilitates a more thorough capture of reality, immersive and augmented visualisations, and refined control precision. Consequently, robotic teleoperation is swiftly gaining prominence in the construction industry, and the considerable development of teleoperation systems over recent decades, featured by a growing diversity of incoporated technologies, necessities a comprehensive review. Thus, this review paper delves into the deployment …

Strategic Development For The Introduction Of A Holistic Sustainable Building Design Course In Construction Engineering Curricula, Geoff Graff

CIB Conferences

Training the future construction engineering workforce would benefit from an increased familiarity with sustainable building design. Given limits on total credits and accreditation requirements, engineering curricula often emphasize specialized content at the cost of essential context and connection between the range of systems and professional roles involved in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. Here, we explore how development of a building technology and design course addresses the unmet need. The subject class leverages the benefits of guiding students through an iterative design process to confront the challenges of, and synergies between, the multiple building systems present in contemporary …

A Review Of Passive Building Research: Energy Performance Influencing Factors, Research Trends And Future Directions, Patrick X.W. Zou, Hui Tian, Ji Bian, Xiaoxiao Xu, Linna Geng

CIB Conferences

The building sector accounts for one-third of the global energy consumption, making it a critical focus for energy efficiency initiatives. To reduce building energy consumption, various technologies have been developed and implemented, and among them, passive building technology has been viewed as effective. However, the development and application of passive building technology faces challenges due to different climate zones, different geographical locations and different social-cultural-technological contexts. Systematically reviewing existing research and analyzing its adaptability and challenges under varying climatic conditions, locations and contexts is important for advancing passive building technology. This study provides a comprehensive review of research progress, over …

Geospatial Analysis Of China’S Overseas Development Finance (Codf) Projects With Protected Areas In Africa, Suyash Padhye, Jenan Almullaali, Makarand Hastak

CIB Conferences

Global infrastructure development is booming given the rise in various bilateral and multilateral infrastructure investment initiatives, like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII). These investments have covered various sectors such as transportation (road, rail, airports, ports) and energy (fossil fuels, renewables) that are expected to facilitate trade and connectivity between countries. The sub-Saharan Africa constitutes the majority of these development finance-based infrastructure projects (44 out of 149 participating BRI countries are in the sub-Saharan Africa). However, no previous study has explicitly focused on investigating the extent of the overlap between these …

Concept Development Of Framework For Workplace Violence Prevention Through Building Components Modifications In Hospitals, Ali Mahmoudi, Gabriel Castelblanco

CIB Conferences

Workplace Violence (WPV) is a pervasive issue in healthcare systems worldwide, which significantly impacts the wellbeing of healthcare personnel and the efficiency of care delivery systems. This study aims to review the relationship between the influence of the physical environment attributes and the WPV risk mitigation within general service hospitals and academic medical centers to develop a preventive concept. The review focuses on the physical attributes of hospitals that contribute to creating safe and resilient environments for staff and patients. The conducted review included 22 out of 116 studies after full-text review. The synthesized findings were used to cluster the …

Energy: From Efficiency To Sufficiency, Laura Almeida Dr

CIB Conferences

Energy sufficiency emerges as the next step in driving sustainable developments to carbon neutrality. Energy is an existential component of modern societies subjected to geopolitical influences, resource availability, and type. The paradigm shift to fully electric societies and rapid urbanization calls for rethinking the roadmap to Net Zero. This paper explores energy sufficiency as complementary to efficiency and its integration within Net Zero. It intends to answer questions such as whether efficiency is enough to face the increasing demand for energy, renewable resources and reliable storage systems. Moreover, the paper briefly addresses the human impact on energy and questions how …

Estimation Of Cost Impact Of Risk Of Injury From Construction Accidents Using Long Short-Term Memory Neural Network Architecture, Based On Parts Of The Body Affected, Nuru Gambo, Musonda Innocent, Hamza Hussain

CIB Conferences

Recurrent neural networks (RNNs) are increasingly being used to analyse occupational accidents related to construction projects to inform project stakeholders about the effects of accidents on project costs. Thus, this study used Long, Short-Term Neural Network Architecture (LSTM) to develop a model for predicting the cost of construction-related occupational accidents based on the body parts affected. Pycharm Community 2020.1.2 (using Python 3.9.6) was used for the experiment and analysis, in this experimental study. The findings effectively showed that the suggested LSTM model's prediction performance, with a training and testing ratio of 90:10, was determined to have a mean square error …

Investigating Heart Rate Responses To Different Speaking Behaviours Under Different Thermal Sensations, Xuange Zhang, Minhyun Lee, Nyme Mohammad Uddin, Junjiang Luo

CIB Conferences

This study examines the effects of different speaking behaviors—Silent, Speech, and Conversation—on heart rate (HR) under varying thermal sensation (TS) levels. The research investigates how HR responds to the interaction of behaviors and thermal conditions, using statistical analyses and polynomial regression to identify trends and patterns. The results show distinct HR responses across the three behaviors, with Silent exhibiting the most stable and consistent patterns, Speech showing the highest variability, and Conversation displaying intermediate responses. These findings highlight the dynamic interplay between speaking behaviors and thermal environments, demonstrating that behaviors like Speech and Conversation can influence physiological responses differently depending …

Critical Assets And Value Networks In Resilient Innovation Ecosystems In The Eu Outermost Regions, Oliver Schwabe, Eduardo Leite, Juan Diego Lopez, Khalid Addi, Nuno Almeida

CIB Conferences

The authors share key insights gained regarding the effective management of critical assets in Resilient Innovation Ecosystems (RIEs) in the EU Outermost Regions (OR) through a program to “Discover, Incubate, and Accelerate Start-ups and SMEs” (DIAS) applied to 22 Start-Ups and SMEs in the Azores, Canaries, La Réunion and Madeira in the EU funded project “Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education in Europe’s Outermost Regions” (INCORE) project.

DIAS is an experimental inductive case-study based research approach using Qualitative Comparative Analysis for assessment based on Diffusion of Innovation, Value Network Analysis and Knowledge Diffusion concepts. It is used to determine when …

Integrating Circular Economy Principles In Construction: Comparing Product Data Templates, Material Passports, And Other Digital Tools, Elham Bayazidi, Mostafa Jelodar, Wajiha Shahzad, Vishal Kumar, Salman Shooshtarian Dr

CIB Conferences

The construction industry is increasingly adopting Circular Economy (CE) principles to transition from traditional linear processes to sustainable practices such as recycling, reusing, and remanufacturing. Digital tools like Building Information Modeling (BIM), digital twins (DTs), and material passports (MPs) have emerged as key enablers, offering innovative solutions for lifecycle management and resource optimization. This paper presents a systematic review of 21 studies to explore how these technologies integrate with CE principles in construction workflows. Using a structured methodology involving keyword-based searches and thematic analysis, nine initial themes were refined into four overarching categories: product data management in BIM, CE strategies, …

Developing A Circular Economy Checklist For Designing Modular Buildings: A Case Study In Sri Lanka, Kaveesha G. Dewagoda, Mohan Kumaraswamy, Ji Chen, S. Thomas Ng, Thilak Jayathunga

CIB Conferences

Climatic change and its impact on humankind is increasingly evident. Being the species that brought about this devastation, our interventions are now needed to proactively and paradigmatically change production and consumption patterns. Circular Economy (CE) is one such sustainability-friendly goal that is gaining traction in the Building Construction Industry (BCI). Given the massive negative impact that BCI has on the environment in terms of resource consumption, carbon emissions and waste generation, design practices must be shifted from object-centric thinking to a systemic & systematic endeavour. Even though Off-Site Construction (OSC) and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) have circular potential …

Assessing The Impact Of Reflective Building Envelopes On School Indoor Thermal Autonomy And Energy Efficiency In Montreal: Historical And Future Climate Perspectives, Bahador Ziaeemehr, Hua Ge, Michael A. Lacasse

CIB Conferences

This study investigates the impact of high-performance polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (P(VDF-HFP)HP), a reflective material, on the energy performance and Indoor Thermal Autonomy (ITA) of a primary school building in Montreal under historical and future climate scenarios. Energy simulations, conducted using Rhino-Grasshopper, analyze heating and cooling demands for an ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 school prototype designed according to the 8th edition of the National Building Code of Canada (NBC), reflecting construction practices the 1980’s. The results reveal that reflective materials slightly increase heating demand due to reduced passive solar heat gains during winter but significantly lower cooling demand by minimizing solar heat absorption. …

Measuring Innovation In New Zealand Construction Organisations: Developing A Measurement Tool For New Zealand’S Medium And Large Companies, Hossein Sadeghzadeh Fasaghandis, Suzanne Wilkinson, Mostafa Jelodar

CIB Conferences

New Zealand’s construction industry is the cornerstone of economic development and the labour force but is slow in innovation when compared to other sectors. To minimise this problem, this research developed a comprehensive, multidimensional tool which measures and improves innovation inside medium and large construction companies of New Zealand. The developed tool measures innovation through two main dimensions: Innovation Potential - consisting of categories such as Workforce Skills, Organisational Structure, Business Strategy, Technology, and External Influences - and Business Innovation Score, which measures the actual innovation outputs of the company. A mixed-methods research approach was used for the development, testing, …

A Comprehensive Approach To Strategic Research & Innovation Development: The Case Of The European Construction And Built Environment Sector, Sylvain Kubicki, Alain Zarli, Clémentine Coujard

CIB Conferences

The built environment and construction industry has an essential role to play in the socio-economic transition towards a sustainable and climate-neutral economy and society. The way we design and build our buildings and infrastructures impacts the way we live, as individuals and communities. It also impacts the climate, resources, and biodiversity on the planet. On both dimensions, industry must undergo some deep transformation to deliver a more sustainable, resilient, inclusive built environment. The role of research and innovation is instrumental in such transition, and this is why a sectoral Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) has been developed recently in …

Menstrual Cycle Health Effects On Productivity In Male-Dominated Fields: A Narrative Review, Mariam Akinlolu, Nenpin Dimka

CIB Conferences

While there is increasing awareness around gender diversity in construction health and safety, there is limited research examining the influence of different menstrual cycle phases on workplace productivity. Understanding the impact of the menstrual cycle on women’s health, safety, and

productivity is necessary to formulate appropriate occupational policies and support systems in

physically demanding work, such as construction. This narrative review synthesises existing literature examining the relationship between menstrual cycle phases and workplace productivity and discusses implications for the construction industry. The review analysed 40 peer-reviewed publications from 2008-2024, identified through systematic database searches. Findings reveal that menstrual cycle phases …

A Discussion On Sustainability In Terms Of Building Production And Use For Smart Urbanization, Salih Demirkaya, Harun Tanrivermis, Deniz Besiktepe, Yesim Tanrivermis

CIB Conferences

Technological developments and population growth have caused many effects in the construction sector and triggered developments in the construction of cities. Effects such as energy use, construction conditions, building economy draw attention as a war of technology and naturalness within the framework of the concept of sustainability. Constraints such as the need for building production and capacity increase needed by the population, labor and resource use are effective in decision-making. While technology enables the building sector to produce rapidly, it causes negative effects on the balance of nature. Production factors should be evaluated with a holistic approach and systems that …

Driving Gender Diversity In Construction: Mapping Exisiting Policies Through The Behavioral Change Wheel Framework, Ruwini Edirisinghe, Bimali Rathnayake

CIB Conferences

Achieving gender diversity in the construction industry remains a critical challenge despite global efforts to reduce workplace inequality. Women remain significantly underrepresented in technical, trade, and leadership roles, with the majority occupying clerical or administrative positions. This study systematically categorises existing gender diversity policies in the construction sector using the Behavioural Change Wheel (BCW) framework to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement. A systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA methodology, analysing peer-reviewed studies and reports published over the last 30 years. The identified policies were mapped to the BCW’s seven categories: communication/marketing, guidelines, legislation, regulation, fiscal measures, environmental/social …

A Life Cycle Approach To Circular Economy In Construction: Strategies For Sustainable Transformation, Bimali Rathnayake, Ruwini Edirisinghe, Tayyab Maqsood, Mayuri Wijayasundara

CIB Conferences

The construction industry’s reliance on linear economic models has resulted in significant environmental challenges, including resource depletion and excessive waste generation. While circular economy principles offer a sustainable alternative, existing research lacks a comprehensive understanding of how these strategies apply across the entire construction life cycle. Many studies focus on isolated stages, such as material procurement or waste management, without considering the interdependencies between life cycle phases. Additionally, there is a gap in structured frameworks that guide construction companies in implementing circular practices effectively. To address these gaps, this study conducts a thematic literature review of 70 peer-reviewed studies to …

Sustainability In The Age Of Innovation: Negative Impacts Of Jobsite Construction Technologies, Niveditha Kuppula, Sagata Bhawani Dr.

CIB Conferences

The construction industry is undergoing transformation driven by the rapid advancement and adoption of emerging technologies to reshape the traditional design and construction processes. Building information modelling (BIM), internet of things (IoTs), robotics and process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML), 3D-printing or additive manufacturing (AM), Exoskeletons and Wearable devices, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) promise increased visualization, productivity, efficiency, safety, and accuracy; they also introduces sustainability challenges. This study used the PRISMA method to conduct a systematic review guided by two questions. First: What are the prevalent technologies currently being used on construction jobsites, and how …

Impact Of Covid-19 On The Construction Industry And Investigation Of Post-Pandemic Progress, Kasim Korkmaz

CIB Conferences

The construction industry was adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in several problems, including a lack of materials and workers, decreased production rates, shipping delays, concerns with the labor market, cash flow issues, and the requirement for new health and safety regulations. Research has shown that all these factors lead to increased risks, legal problems, and disputes within the industry. This paper aims to determine the procedures for using force majeure clauses in construction contracts as well as the rights of parties affected by such events. Based on a review of the literature, the authors investigate how construction …

Construction Industry Capacity Evaluation: Using Business Intelligence For Data-Driven Insights, Azam Zavvari, Mostafa Babaeian Jelodar, Suzanne Wilkinson, Monty Sutrisna

CIB Conferences

Access to reliable capacity insights is critical for stakeholders in the construction industry, yet planning often suffers from uncertainties and inconsistent data. The goal of this research is to leverage data-driven business intelligence tools to evaluate and optimise the interplay of supply and demand in the construction industry, addressing capacity challenges while providing actionable insights for informed decision-making and strategic planning. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining bibliometric analysis, a literature review, and a case study of Auckland, New Zealand. Using business intelligence tools, the research examines seasonal trends in project initiations and completions, resource inefficiencies, and contractor dependencies. …

Unpacking Impediments To Digital Transitioning In The Built Environment: An Institutional Analysis Approach, Adetayo Olugbenga Onososen Dr, Musonda Innocent Prof

CIB Conferences

In the rapidly evolving landscape of global development, the digital transition within the built environment holds significant promise for enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and innovation. However, this transition presents unique challenges, particularly in the context of developing countries. This study undertakes a comprehensive examination of the impediments to digital transitioning in the built environment of developing nations, employing an institutional analysis approach to uncover underlying factors shaping these challenges. These barriers can range from regulatory frameworks and governance structures to cultural norms and economic constraints. Understanding these complexities is crucial for designing tailored strategies that address the specific needs and contexts …

Developing A Conceptual Model To Predict Disputes In Construction Projects Using Artificial Intelligence Technologies, Mathusha Francis, Srinath Perera, Wei Zhou, Samudaya Nanayakkara

CIB Conferences

The construction industry is a complex and competitive environment and disputes become more prevalent. The construction disputes negatively effect the cost, time and quality of the project. Further, disputes could result in the abandonment of projects and even the financial collapse of construction companies. Many researchers have attempted to mitigate disputes by addressing the causes of disputes, dispute avoidance techniques, and resolution methods from different perspectives. However, recent literature has evidenced that disputes remain a persistent threat in construction projects. The construction industry is attempting to transform into a technology-driven industry through the adoption of innovative concepts and technologies. In …

Effects Of Shocks On The New Zealand Building Construction Sector: Evidence From Time Series Datasets, Diocel Harold M. Aquino, Mostafa Jelodar, Niluka Domingo Dr

CIB Conferences

The construction industry serves as a vital driver of economic growth and societal development, responding to both demographic pressures and evolving infrastructure needs. However, it is also highly sensitive to external shocks, including financial crises, natural disasters, and regulatory changes, all of which influence construction trends over time. By analyzing historical data, this study identifies key patterns of growth, contraction, and recovery across the past three decades. This paper examines the trends and dynamics of building construction activity in New Zealand from 1990 to the present, with a focus on the total construction value and a detailed breakdown of residential …