Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

ANDERSEN, TOM; GAARSLEV, AXEL

1996 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/eb021019

Based on the expectation of artificial intelligence Al the authors established in 1988 an umbrella for research in this area in the construction industry, named the Expert Systems Lab. This paper describes 14 research projects produced since then. For each project a short description is given and the stage and value rating given by industry is reported. It will be seen that the projects generally have been rated very attractive by industry. On the other hand, it is also reported that none of the systems have been implemented in real life. This depressing observation is the main motivation for the paper and possible reasons for the lack of implementation are examined. It is concluded that standalone systems as normally produced are out of harmony with industry, and main emphasis for Al should on the contrary be focused on problems concerning integration, knowledge and information management.

DAY, ALAN

1996 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/eb021020

The introduction and use of computeraided design CAD systems in a number of settings in the UK building industry is discussed with particular reference to the relationship between organizational design and computer implementation. A series of case studies are presented which illustrate that computers are currently having a limited impact on project communications and, in most instances, are supporting existing patterns of fragmentation within the industry. The paper concludes with a speculation about how the industry might be organized to make more appropriate use of new technology.

MOORE, DAVID

1996 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/eb021021

The cause of construction problems is suggested as being the lack of industry cohesion. This can only be addressed successfully by design professionals and construction professionals working more closely together, i.e. considering buildability. Buildability is a problem of managing the transfer of appropriate knowledge about the construction process to the design process worker. It is not solely about the technicalities of the construction process. It is suggested that no buildability strategy which seeks to impose predetermined construction solutions will be readily accepted by design professionals. The development of a design buildability strategy which transfers construction process knowledge in such a manner as to be seen as an adviser on simplification, would not be seen by design professionals as a convergent approach to buildability. Such a strategy would represent just one of a range of strategies to achieving overall project buildability.

ALSHAWI, MUSTAFA; UNDERWOOD, JASON

1996 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/eb021022

This study aims at improving the constructability of design solutions by inte grating site construction problems, which are related to the design, with the design's main functions. A full process analysis was carried out on the design functions of concrete framed office buildings whereby site problems were traced back to the relevant design stages. Design processes that significantly contribute to these problems were highlighted, along with their data flows. An objectoriented analysis OOA method was then applied to model those processes. Proceedings through the five major activities of Coad & Yourdon's OOA method, a complete OOA model was developed. This technique has proved to be very effective in producing a well structured data model with the consequence of being easily mapped into an objectoriented development environment. An integrated objectoriented system was also developed, which attempts to use essential design information, at an early stage of the design process, to improve the constructability of the design.

LI, HENG

1996 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/eb021023

Cost estimation is an important decisionmaking process where many factors are interrelated in a complex manner, thus making it difficult to analyse and model using conventional mathematical methods. Artificial neural networks ANNs offer an alternative approach to modelling cost estimation. ANNs are simple mathematical models that selforganize information from training data. This paper explores the use of ANNs in cost estimation. Research issues investigated are twofold. First, this paper compares the performance of ANNs to a regressionbased method which leads to a better understanding of the applicability of ANNs. Second, this paper identifies the effect of different configurations of neural networks on estimating accuracy. Experimental results demonstrate the many advantages and disadvantages of using neural networks in modelling cost estimation.

UHER, THOMAS E.

1996 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/eb021024

The aim of the paper is to examine attitudes of general contractors operating in the Sydney region to the potential use of probability estimating and databases in cost estimating. A sample of 10 large general contractors with a turnover over 100m was selected for the study, which took place in 1993. Responses of the contractors to a standard questionnaire were obtained using face to face interviews. The research described in this paper confirmed the popularity of traditional single value estimating and highlighted the lack of use of probability cost estimating by the general contractors surveyed. The limited availability of clientprepared bills of quantities for tendering has neither diminished their popularity among bidding contractors nor increased the use of elemental cost planning. Although databases are generally available, subjective judgements of estimators are of greater value in cost estimating. The research has concluded that a change in the estimating paradigm towards probability cost estimating, and the use of databases, are unlikely to occur in the near future.

HOLT, GARY D.; OLOMOLAIYE, PAUL O.; HARRIS, FRANK C.

1996 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/eb021025

The procedural and administrative aspects of UK tendering have remained largely unaltered for decades but this may soon change in light of the recent review of the construction sector, headed by Sir Michael Latham. This paper presents findings of a nationwide survey of UK construction contractors assessing their opinion of the Latham procurement recommendations, along with their opinion of the authors' proposals for alternative selection procedure. Contractor usageopinion of current tendering methods, tendering documentation and contractual arrangements are also identified. Analysis techniques primarily involve the derivation of contractor preference, agreement and importance indices Pri, Agi and Imi respectively. Results show that clients are attempting to cut costs by increased use of open tendering coupled with plan and specification tender documentation, but that savings are offset by clients ultimately paying for contractors' costs associated with their achieving contract award for only 1 in 5 bids. Generally, contractors are in tune with the ideals of the Latham review and characteristics pertaining to the HOLT Highlight Optimum Legitimate Tender selection technique.

MATTHEWS, JASON; TYLER, ALAN; THORPE, ANTONY

1996 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/eb021026

The use of subcontracting within the modern construction industry has become commonplace with many main contractors only undertaking the management and coordination activities. The reliance on subcontractors has put much stress on the subcontractor main contractor relationship. As main contractors have realized that the greatest potential for cost saving lies with subcontractors, the prevalence of unfair contract conditions, dutch auctioning and other onerous practices has increased. This paper describes a procurement approach, utilizing limited competition, developed by a top UK main contractors MC in order to improve its relationships with subcontractors. The approach, termed semiproject partnering, was implemented on a commercial development. The approach was supported by research which identified what MC's employees want from subcontractors what subcontractors want from main contractors and a study to benchmark MC's performance with that of other main contractors. It was concluded that this approach offers a number of benefits for the client, main contractor, partnering subcontractors and professional consultants. These included an improved team approach an improved understanding of the project more compliant subcontractor bids bettercloser relationships more reliable programming less confrontation and lower tendering costs. It was also identified through debriefing subcontractors that subcontractors were quoting a10 lower than normal due to this approach.

KAKA, AMMAR P.; KHOSROWSHAHI, FARZAD

1996 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/eb021027

This paper addresses the effect of different procurement methods traditional, design and build and management contracting on project cash flow. Historical data relating to the periodic cost of 150 construction projects were collected. Four criteria were identified to classify the projects type of project, size, company and type of procurement. The effect of these criteria on the Scurves was then examined using ANOVA. Results confirmed that differently procured projects with different sizes produce different patterns. The company and type of project did not significantly affect the shape of the Scurve. Standard Scurves were then modelled for the three aforementioned procurement routes. These curves were used to calculate the relevant cash flows using a computer based cash flow forecasting model. A series of simulation tests were conducted to evaluate the extent of variation in cash flow, given different contract conditions. Results revealed that, in some cases, the variation in procurement routes has a significant effect on contract cash flows.

NAOUM, SHAMIL; HACKMAN, JON

1996 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/eb021028

This paper is based on a review of the literature on construction productivity and findings from a survey investigating, first, whether there are significant differences in opinions between head office personnel and site managers on factors that influence construction productivity and, second, to determine groups of factors that mostly influence site productivity. A critical discussion is structured under three general headings 1 management factors 2 employee motivation and 3 experience and training. Twentynine factors were extracted from the above headings and were assessed by 19 head office personnel and 17 site managers. The survey indicated that both samples regard ineffective project planning and constraints on a worker's performance as the most crucial factors influencing productivity. Other highly ranked factors by both samples are difficulties with material procurement, lack of integration of project information, disruption of site programme, lack of experience and training and exclusion of site management from contract meetings. Ultimately, when the factor analysis technique was applied on the 29 factors, the result shows that Resource Management Effectiveness appeared to be the most dominant group of factors influencing construction productivity.