Digital Commons Network^™

How Innovation Is Impacting Productivity In The Construction Industry: A Review And Case Study Of The Canadian Research Landscape, Brandon Searle, Jeff H. Rankin

CIB Conferences

The construction industry is undergoing a paradigm shift focused on innovation leading to increases in producitivity and sector sustainability. This paper explores opportunities for innovation and collaboration to influence productivity within the construction sector, encompassing project delivery and organizational structures, project management practices, and the development of construction materials and products. Recent innovations include the adoption of modern construction methods like prefabrication and modular construction, which have been proven to increase producitvity, minimize waste and reduce emissions while enhancing worker safety and product quality. Digital technologies play a crucial role in improving management and planning accuracy, coordination, and the optimization …

Building Sustainable Cities And Communities: Contribution Of Digital Twins To A Sustainable Built Environment, Ahmad Al Ayoubi, Ashtarout Ammar, Hisham Abou Ibrahim

CIB Conferences

The widespread adoption of Digital Twins in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operation (AECO) industry is transforming project dynamics across multiple phases. Digital Twins promises to optimize workflows, enhance process control, and elevate overall project quality throughout the project lifecycle. Despite the immediate benefits observed, the enduring correlation between Digital Twins and fostering a sustainable built environment requires more in-depth exploration. This paper investigates the pivotal role of Digital Twins in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 11, which centers on sustainable cities and communities. Drawing on insights extracted from the existing research, a systematic literature review …

Construction Industry's Dysfunctionality - A Case Of Stakeholder Behaviour In South Africa, Patricia N. Mazibuko Chalwa, Musonda Innocent Professor, Trynos Gumbo Professor

CIB Conferences

Abstract

The construction industry in South Africa is a critical driver of economic growth and infrastructure development. However, it faces significant challenges due to stakeholder behaviours including conflicting interests, poor communication, lack of trust and thus hindering its efficiency & effectiveness resulting in project delays, budget overruns, elements of criminality as well as compromised quality, characterizing the industry’s dysfunctionality. This study examines the key stakeholders’ behavior, viz. clients, regulators, consultants & contractors and its contribution to inefficiencies, project delays, and cost overruns impacting the industry.

Through a mixed-methods approach comprising surveys, interviews and case studies, the research identifies the root …

Enabling Rapid And Reusable Visualization Of Construction Operations Using Simulation And Game Engines, Samira Mirhasani, Joseph Louis

CIB Conferences

Meeting the UN's Sustainable Development Goals will require the fast, efficient, and economic development of physical infrastructure systems using innovative construction means and methods. However, the fragmented nature of the construction industry prevents the ready testing and analysis of the impact of such untried methods on the construction site, especially regarding their potential impact on the rest of the construction site system. This can discourage the adoption of innovative methods in the construction industry. This paper presents a solution that enables the rapid testing of novel construction methods in virtual environments by integrating discrete event simulation (DES) and visualization using …

Project, Material, And Investment As Perspectives On Value And Waste In The Life Cycle Of Building, Kathrine Godsvig Laursen, Therese Neel Dirchsen, Haseebullah Wahedi, Kim Haugbølle

CIB Conferences

The aim of this paper is to explore and synthesise different perspectives on value and waste in the built environment to gain a holistic understanding of how value and waste emerge throughout the life cycle of building. The research design employs an integrative literature review of various models used by different stakeholders in different activities in the built environment. The findings suggest that the models represent different perceptions of value and waste in the life cycle of building and conceptualise three different perspectives: Building as Project, Building as Material, and Building as Investment. Each of the perspectives focuses on different …

Towards The Achievement Of Sustainable Built Environment: The Role Of Community-Based Facilities Management Of Urban Public Spaces In Cape Town, Uche Ordor Mr, Kathy Michell Professor

CIB Conferences

Rapid and often unsustainable urban growth is a challenge that cities of the world face. Challenges faced include rapid population growth, urbanisation, which leaves municipalities playing catchup with the provision of infrastructure and services, as well as accessible public spaces. These challenges tend to foster the development of slums, selective access to economic opportunities, social exclusion, and urban poverty. Arguably, the development of informal socio-economic systems occurs at various levels in response to the lack of access to formal socio-economic activities and jobs and ultimately threaten the sustainability of the built environment (BE). The City of Cape Town, South Africa, …

Integration Gaps And Dilemmas In Mobility Platforms: An Empirical Study In Norway, Aashish Adhikari, Alenka Temeljotov-Salaj, Mahgol Afshari, Agnar Johansen

CIB Conferences

Digital Platforms, including web-based and smartphone applications, are essential drivers of digital transition and sustainability for smart city development. The mobility sector is a critical sector where sustainability can be achieved through digital transformation. This study explores the role of digital mobility platforms in driving sustainable transport in smart cities. The study utilized a qualitative approach through an empirical investigation of 27 mobility platforms in Norway. A thematic analysis was done where information from the platform usage and ownerships were extracted from the identified platforms' smartphone applications and web counterparts. Many platforms featured CO2 emission savings, ride-sharing information, integration of …

The Roles Of Architects And Urban Designers In Facility Management, Bintang Noor Prabowo

CIB Conferences

This study explores the distinct roles of architects in building-level Facility Management (FM) and urban designers in Urban-Scale Facility Management (Urban FM) to bridge the gap between design and facility operations. By clarifying these roles, the research aims to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring that FM principles are integrated from the early design stages to improve long-term sustainability, efficiency, and resilience in both buildings and urban environments. A scoping literature review was conducted to examine existing research on FM, Urban FM, and the contributions of architects and urban designers. The study reviewed academic literature to identify best practices, challenges, and knowledge …

The Envisage Methodology Applied To Building Renovation: Its Adoption From A Facility Management Perspective, Beatrice Bartolucci, Francesca Frasca, Chiara Bertolin, Anna Maria Siani

CIB Conferences

In construction sector there is a growing interest in using Life Cycle Assessment to evaluate both embodied and operational carbon emissions during retrofitting interventions. Opting for durable interventions, even in restoration projects, with extended lifespans can result in reduced embodied carbon emissions throughout the building's lifecycle in the near and mid-term future. Preserving historic buildings during restoration poses a significant challenge, necessitating a meticulous selection of materials used for renovation. To this purpose, this paper introduces a novel methodology, named ENVISAGE, that combines Life Cycle Assessment with the concept of nearly Zero Emission Refurbishment. This dual approach aims to align …

Integrating Circularity In The Design Of Future-Proof Retail Spaces, Juan Pablo Garrido, Claudio Martani, Nazly Atta, Cinzia Talamo, Giancarlo Paganin

CIB Conferences

Urban areas are major contributors to CO₂ emissions and waste, with redevelopment activities further intensifying their environmental impact. The current gradual shift from physical retail to e-commerce is expected to exacerbate this trend, potentially leading to significant conversions of vacant retail spaces and increased urban waste and energy use. Adopting a circular economy approach - emphasizing efficiency, waste reduction, and decarbonization - can support sustainable urban development, particularly in the event of such transformations. This requires designing retail spaces with flexibility and modularity, though such approaches may involve higher costs. This study proposes a method to evaluate the economic …

The Relationship Between Tenure Type And Domestic Retrofitting Uptake In The Uk, Nadeeshani Wanigarathna Dr, Ephraim Zulu Dr, Matthew Swingwood Mr, Fred Sherratt

CIB Conferences

The housing stock in the UK is a significant contributor to greenhouse gases. To achieve the UK's net-zero targets, a substantial upgrade to the thermal performance of existing dwellings (referred to as retrofitting) will be required. In addition to carbon emission, inefficient homes also present serious health and well-being issues for the occupants. The extent of retrofitting ahead requires significant monetary investment, and the responsibility for such investment ultimately lies with the housing stock owners. In the UK, housing stock can be owned by the occupiers, a private landlord, a local authority or a non-profit social housing association. Their capacity …

A Conceptual Framework For Intelligent Scaffolding Monitoring System, Xiaowei Wang, Chien-Ho Ko, John A Haug

CIB Conferences

Scaffolding safety is a significant concern in the construction industry. To address this, researchers have proposed various safety monitoring approaches. However, current intelligent monitoring systems fall short of fully integrating real-time data, and predictive capabilities, reducing their overall effectiveness in ensuring scaffolding safety. Therefore, this study aims to develop a conceptual framework to advance the intelligent scaffolding monitoring system based on cyber-physical systems (CPS) and digital twins (DT) integration. The framework focuses on developing a DT-enabled scaffolding risk assessment model (SRAM), a sensor-based real-time data collection system, and an intelligent cyber-physical scaffolding risk alert. This research provides essential insights for …

Automatic Quantity Takeoff For Irregular Areas Of Architectural, Engineering, And Construction Objects From 2d Drawings, Hang Li, Jiansong Zhang

CIB Conferences

Accurate cost estimation of construction projects relies on precise quantity takeoffs (QTOs), which conventionally has been conducted on 2D drawings, and despite the fast development of Building Information Modeling (BIM), remains a predominant practice. This study focuses on the development of a boundary detection algorithm utilizing computer vision techniques for extracting the shapes of infrastructure elements such as buildings and bridges from 2D PDF drawings. The aim is to enhance information extraction capabilities, particularly for QTOs of complex shapes such as the areas of irregular bridge decks. Utilizing computer vision technologies, the algorithm aims to accurately delineate the boundaries of …

A User-Centric Approach In Bim Environments For Energy Efficiency, Indoor Comfort Assessment And Renovation Planning, Andrea Giovanni Mainini, Martina Signorini, Sonia Lupica Spagnolo, Markku Kiviniemi, Kostas Tsatsakis, Bruno Daniotti

CIB Conferences

The Chapter 7 of Agenda 21 calls, among others, for promoting sustainable construction industry activities, human resource development and capacity-building for human settlements development. Tremendous efforts for achieving this target in the construction sector still need to be made and the challenge of European climate-neutrality by 2050 seems like a utopia. The development of new technologies, materials and processes for low environmental impacts interventions are usually addressed to new buildings and infrastructures, but sustainable cities need proper and effective strategies of LCA-based renovations to reduce considerably their carbon footprint. New human-centric approaches can help maximizing awareness and benefits on sustainability …

Examining The Risk-Responsiveness Levels Of The Us Building Codes For Healthier And Safer Future Building Practices, Novi Triadi Iman Bramono, Lingzi Wu, Hyun Woo Lee

CIB Conferences

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly influenced the design and operation of office buildings, prompting a heightened awareness of the need for adaptive building practices to mitigate transmission risks of airborne diseases. Recent studies suggest that improved building codes can promote safer and healthier practices, enhancing occupants' well-being and productivity. However, the current understanding of the status and adaptability of building codes to address such risks remains largely limited. In response, this study aims to comprehensively examine the US building codes concerning factors crucial for mitigating airborne transmission risks, specifically focusing on COVID-19. Utilizing the Delphi method, this …

Project Cancellations In New Zealand's Construction Industry: Assessing The Impact Of Unpredictable Events, Maryam Tagharobi Ms, Mostafa Jelodar, Teo Susnjak

CIB Conferences

Unpredictable disasters such as climate change, natural hazards, and pandemics disrupt the construction industry, a vital driver of economic stability. Despite preventive measures, the industry faces setbacks, including project cancellations, postponements, and suspensions. These issues are particularly pronounced in large-scale projects, exacerbated by shifting regulations and economic crises, causing broader economic repercussions. In response, government priorities and disaster strategies often reallocate resources among residential, commercial, and civil projects, inadvertently exacerbating postponements and cancellations in some cases. This research addresses these challenges by analysing the impacts of external and unpredictable disruptions on project value and volume in New Zealand's construction industry …

Volumetric Criteria And An Automated Assessment Tool Development For Optimizing Building Permeability Design In High-Density Urban Environments, M.K. Leung, Dicken Poon, Yuxiu Zu, Yueyang He, Kai Gao, Tim Huang, Clement Pang, Kenneth Leung, Jenny Zhao, K. S. Wong, Edward Ng, Chak Sang Yue, Yuk-Ching Cheung

CIB Conferences

Better urban ventilation can significantly contribute to achieving UN SDGs through better liveability for sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), better air quality for health and well-being (SDG 3), and more climate-responsive building design for climate action (SDG 13). Aligning with the said goals, a set of guidelines comprising 2-dimensional prescriptive building separation requirements was promulgated by HKSAR's Buildings Department (BD) in 2011 to promote better urban ventilation. However, some practitioners have concerns about applying the guidelines for projects with complex geometries. Projects may adopt alternative assessment methods using wind tunnel or CFD simulations to demonstrate compliance, but the required …

Idenitfying Barriers & Enablers To Improve Whs Outcomes In Australian Small Construction Businesses, Marcus Jefferies A/Prof., Tanvi Newaz Dr, Buddhini Ginigaddara Dr., Temitope Egbelakin Prof., Riza Yosia Sunindijo A/Prof., Liyaning Maggie Tang Dr.

CIB Conferences

Despite its important socio-economic contributions, the Australian construction industry has a poor WHS record. Efforts to improve WHS tend to focus on and be led by, large organisations due to the resources that they have and their ability to capitalise on the economies of scale in their operation. However, it is important to realise that 97% of construction organisations are small businesses, employing fewer than 20 people and their WHS outcomes are worse than the WHS outcomes in large organisations. They are also hard to reach through conventional communication strategies. This indicates that current WHS best practice initiatives are not …

A Data-As-An-Asset Facility Management Framework To Support Hybrid Workplaces And Advance Sustainable Development: Case Studies At Hospitals In China, S. Thomas Ng, Jun Frank Xu, Cheng Zhang, Guanying Huang, Jiajian Zhang

CIB Conferences

Hybrid working that combines home, remote, and in-office working has surged after the COVID-19 pandemic. This working model is disrupting existing facility management practices to (re)shape people-centered hybrid workplaces and advance sustainable development. Collecting, integrating, processing, sharing and analyzing volume and variety of facilities and workspaces data, behavioral and activity data of occupants, environmental data and operational analytics insights remains a major challenge for stakeholders to leverage emerging technologies and digital solutions including digital twin and artificial intelligence to enhance the productivity, operational intelligence, and sustainability of hybrid workplaces. This research proposed a data-as-an-asset facility management framework to support the …

Virtual Reality (Vr)-Based Training In Human-Robot Collaboration: Mediating Role Of Vr Learning Experience, Adetayo Olugbenga Onososen Dr, Musonda Innocent Prof

CIB Conferences

The use of virtual reality for training has been shown to be effective in fostering behaviour change among learners. The widespread evolution in adoption and interest in construction robots has raised the need to train humans to team with robots for safe collaboration on-site. The high cost of construction robots and the need for self-paced, accessible and repetitive learning methods to foster a positive disposition towards human-robot teaming poses a challenge. This study developed a virtual reality-based human-robot collaboration learning framework to promote human-robot teaming in construction applications. The impact of VR learning experience in mediating learners' state of mind, …

Exploring The Roles And Responsibilities Of Stakeholders In Ebe Education 5.0 Through The Quintuple Helix Model Of Innovation, Karen Le Jeune Ms, Krystle Ontong Dr, Alireza Moghayedi

CIB Conferences

The Quintuple Helix Model of Innovation (5HIM) offers an analytical framework with which to interrogate the reciprocal, complex inter-relationships between the eco-systems of the government, civil society, industry, academia and the environment. In the context of the Built Environment (BE), all of these subsystems are represented by the traditional stakeholders and role players. Education 5.0 requires the integration of digital technology into a modernised engineering and the BE curriculum, while prioritising human-centricity, resilience and sustainable development. Future BE Professionals (BEPs) will be required to serve a data-driven society – Society 5.0 – that strives to deliver prosperity of all, through …

Population Mobility Network Characteristics And Its Influencing Factors Under The Influence Of Typhoon Bebinca—— A Case Study Of The Yangtze River Delta Region, Yicheng Huang, Ying Lu, Hongzhe Yue

CIB Conferences

With the increasing frequency of extreme weather events such as typhoons, the stability and resilience of the inter-city population mobility network is facing serious challenges. However, existing studies have failed to comprehensively reveal the dynamics of the overall regional network, especially the changes in network structure and drivers under disaster situations. Therefore, based on the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) framework and the complex network model, this paper constructs an assessment model for the characteristics of the population mobility network in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region under the influence of Typhoon Bebinca, in order to analyze the impact of the typhoon on …

Optimizing Responsive Hospital Operations: A New Process For Simulating Uncertain Treatment Demand, Jiaqi Suo, Claudio Martani, Hazar Dib

CIB Conferences

Hospitals face growing challenges in optimizing resource allocation to meet diverse stakeholder demands under conditions of uncertainty and variability. A pioneering approach to address this issue was recently introduced by Suo et al. (2024b), which, despite its contributions, relied on a limited and predefined set of demand scenarios due to the difficulty of realistically generating a demand model that accurately reflects the highly dynamic nature of real hospital demand. To overcome this challenge, this study presents a novel process that utilizes the Monte Carlo method to model and forecast hospital treatment demand. The process is demonstrated through the simulation of …

A Comprehensive Review Of Plastic Recycling In The Construction Industry: Challenges And Opportunities In The U.S., Sugam Panthi, Fan Zhang

CIB Conferences

Plastic, owing to its strength and versatility, has become one of the most widely used synthetic materials globally. In the construction industry, plastics are essential for applications like pipes, insulation, membranes, and structural components. However, their extensive use poses significant environmental challenges, exacerbated by material contamination, mixed waste streams, economic disincentives, and insufficient regulatory frameworks. This study examines the recyclability of plastics used in the construction industry based on the Resin Identification Code classification system and identifies key barriers and opportunities for plastic recycling. Findings highlight technological advancements such as chemical and biological recycling, which offer potential solutions but remain …

Unraveling Urban-Rural Sustainable Contradictions, Carmel M. Lindkvist, Morten T. Gjerde, Amy A. Mccormack Ms, Ida Nilstad Pettersen, Brita Fladvad Nielsen

CIB Conferences

While Norway has a vast amount of land in relation to its population, the ongoing development of land in rural mountainous and coastal areas is having an impact on nature. Strategies for implementing densification in cities must also consider the impact on rural areas. Within this research we address the contradictory imbalance of the consumption of nature for leisure/urban escapism with that of the conservation of nature in rural areas. Rural areas are often viewed as an escape from the urban chaos and within Norway fall under a right to have access to nature. This right to nature is primarily …

Are Construction Pipeline Information Reliable: The Primacy Of Internally Generated Data In Strategic Decision Making, Taofeeq Durojaye Moshood, Wajiha Shahzad, James O B Rotimi Prof

CIB Conferences

The construction industry in New Zealand is a vital contributor to the nation's economic growth, employment, and business expansion. However, to align with the government's objectives of affordable, secure, and sustainable housing and infrastructure, the industry must adeptly navigate the uncertainties in infrastructure pipelines. Infrastructure pipeline information is crucial in guiding construction stakeholders and government in making strategic decisions about when, where, and how to invest in projects across New Zealand. This study investigates the reliability of construction pipeline information and its impact on strategic decision-making within construction organisations, with a particular focus on the primacy of internally generated data. …

Theoretical Framework For Risk Identification And Assessment In Infrastructure Projects Through Ai-Knowledge Retrieval, Fredrick Ahenkora Boamah, Xiaohua Jin, Sepani Senaratne, Srinath Perera

CIB Conferences

Robust risk identification and assessment strategies are required to reduce the likelihood of failures, delays, and cost overruns in today's complex infrastructure projects. The inability to respond to changing risks and the delay in identifying and assessing risks are both caused by the reliance on static methods commonly used in traditional methods of knowledge retrieval and risk identification and assessment. This study lays out a theoretical framework for better risk identification and assessment through the use of an AI-powered knowledge retrieval. A variety of unstructured data sources, such as contract documents, risk logs, site inspection reports, and emails, are automatically …

In Search For Resonance In Architecture: Observations In Kreuzkölln, Björn A. Lundell Architect

CIB Conferences

This study explores the concept of resonance in architecture by examining public life on Admiralbrücke, a vibrant and multifaceted location in Kreuzkölln, Berlin. The primary objective is to understand how people use, relate to, experience, and interact with their urban environment. It seeks to uncover why certain locations within a city become places that attract, inspire, and encourage activity and vibrancy, creating an atmosphere full of life. This research asserts that the qualities of both place and architecture extend beyond mere functionality and must be carefully analyzed. Through systematic observation of the physical environment and human interactions, the study is …

Using Blockchain And Digital Land Registries To Enhance Land Management And Tenure, Johnny Mahlangu, Godfrey Taunyane, Basiiraa Moosa, Chioma Okoro

CIB Conferences

In many cases, land tenure and rights are not formally recorded, and land administration systems are inaccessible to rural communities. This research study examined the benefits and attendant challenges of using blockchain and digital land registries for land tenure security and management/administration processes. Secondary research using an integrative review was undertaken with materials identified from Google Scholar. Thematic analysis revealed that the benefits include increased transparency and verifiability, automation, increased efficiency, reduced cost and time, simplified processes, reduced conflicts and better access to credit. The challenges include institutional/political factors, market settings, technical and legal requirements, cyber security risks and data …

Benefits And Challenges Of Using Satellite Imagery For Property Valuation Data Collection, Phahla Kondile, Mandla Praisegod Msomi, Basiiraa Moosa, Chioma Okoro

CIB Conferences

In the contemporary landscape of data collection in the property valuation industry, the objective is to enhance valuation sources that maximize both eligibility and accuracy, ultimately leading to superior results in property valuations. This study employs a qualitative approach to explore the benefits and challenges of using satellite imagery as a source of data collection. The analysis draws on secondary data gathered from scholarly articles accessible on Google Scholar and Scopus, supplemented by ancillary data from property market portals, including industry reports and legislative Acts to create a structured understanding of new technologies in a traditional field. The research scrutinizes …