93887 research outputs found
Sort by
Construction Industry Capacity Evaluation: Using Business Intelligence for Data-Driven Insights
Get PDFAccess 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. The findings confirm the prevalence of boom-bust cycles and reliance on external contractors during peak periods. Despite limitations in data standardisation, this study demonstrates the potential of business intelligence tools to improve capacity planning and resource allocation
The True Environmental Cost of Data Centers: An Insight into the Construction Phase of the Era of Artificial Intelligence
Get PDFIn recent years, there has been a significant adoption of commercial applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI). These applications have created a demand for infrastructure that support data storage, mining, and throughput compute power services, commonly known as data centers. This demand, which is projected to substantially increase over the next decade, places data centers to be a major contributor to the construction industry\u27s global carbon emissions. However, with research mostly focusing on minimizing carbon emissions during the operation phase of most buildings, environmental impacts incurred during their construction phase are still deserving a deeper study. To address this gap, this work empirically evaluates the true cost to the environment of the construction of a data center by collecting and analyzing real-world project data on carbon emissions of material utilization and operation sequences. Findings of the presented analyses expose how on average carbon emissions are higher by 414% in the case of foundation systems (A - Substructure) for all data centers when compared to residential projects, and how the expected 25% increase of data center construction can pose an additional 1,832.51M kgCO2e in 2025, translating to 0.0054% of the world’s total carbon emissions coming from the U.S. market alone. This work aims to address sustainable development goals through understanding the extent of the environmental impact of building such critical infrastructure, which is vital in supporting the connectivity of people, fostering innovation, and accelerating industrialization
Site Selection of Low Carbon Data Center
No full textThe site selection of a data center is one of the most challenging tasks with which decision maker for operation must face.
The purpose of this paper is to present a research result which was to construct a generic framework for selecting a low-carbon data center site. To achieve the purpose, the modified Delphi method was used to inquire domain experts for providing critical parameters to select the site of low carbon data center.
Thirty-one experts who had the authority of making decision on selecting the site of the data center were inquired. The questionnaire used Likert Scale. Based on the average value of weight ratios, the major indicators were determined: A, natural geographical resources (23%); B, Infrastructure (28 %); C, neighboring risk (16%); D, cost factor (20%); E, local policy and human resources (13%).
The constructed generic framework resulted from this research could be based for further exploration. It would facilitate the findings of major indicators, sub-criterions and their weighting ratios for a specific geographical location. Meanwhile, its methodology could be used to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and operational risks with balanced cost effectiveness
Practical Challenges in Assessing Embodied Carbon and Cost Trade-offs in the Design Phase: Insights from a Residential Building Project
No full textEnvironmental sustainability has become a core value for many companies in the construction industry. However, while methodologies and tools for carbon accounting are available, design decisions are still primarily driven by cost rather than carbon considerations. One reason for this lies in the timing and availability of data. Cost estimates are collected early and refined throughout the design phase, which supports decision-making. In contrast, carbon data is often unavailable or difficult to gather, rarely updated, and collected late when most design decisions have already been finalized. This misalignment poses practical challenges to effectively integrating carbon and cost assessments into the decision-making process throughout the entire design phase.
This study investigates the root causes of delays and challenges in assessing a building\u27s embodied carbon during the design development and detailed design phases and the difficulties in linking embodied carbon results to costs to support decisions. Using a residential multi-family building project as a case study, we identify key obstacles in 1) collecting Quantity Take Offs (QTO) and carbon impact factors for each building element and 2) linking carbon assessment results with corresponding cost estimates.
We found that only 11% of the building’s final carbon impact came from elements with quantities extracted from the Building Information Model (BIM), while 89% relied on 2D drawings or scattered data sources. Additionally, only 20% of the building’s carbon footprint was calculated using product-specific Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), with 80% relying on industry-average EPDs. The embodied carbon assessment was completed only during the detailed design phase, whereas cost estimates were updated in each phase. A further challenge was the misalignment between the carbon breakdown and quotes for many building elements, making it difficult to link carbon impacts with costs for effective decision-making. In addition, the final carbon assessment covered only 55% of the building’s total estimated cost, highlighting an imbalance between the possibility to estimate embodied carbon and cost.
To address these challenges, this study recommends: 1) consolidating the number data sources and standardizing quantity estimation procedures, 2) selecting building products early in the design process to use product-specific EPDs, and 3) involving general contractors and subcontractors before the design development phase to estimate quantities and align quotes with carbon breakdown. By identifying practical challenges and providing recommendations, this research takes a step toward integrating carbon considerations into design decisions to increase the chance of achieving sustainability goals
A Comparison of 1D and 2D Hygrothermal Simulation Results for the Evaluation of the Moisture Performance of Wood Frame Wall Assemblies
No full textThe moisture behavior of wood-frame wall assemblies is typically assessed using hygrothermal simulations, which can be conducted in either 1D or 2D models, each, respectively, incorporating varying levels of detail regarding the simulated subjects. The 2D simulation offers a more detailed representation of real-world scenarios. Consequently, discrepancies often exist between the results of 1D and 2D simulations in many scenarios. Meanwhile, the 2D simulation demands significantly more computing resources, which may impact the feasibility of certain analyses. For instance, investigating the effects of climate change on building envelope moisture performance includes considering numerous variables such as climate scenarios, wall assembly types, configuration variations, climate data uncertainties, material property uncertainties, among others. Previous attempts have shown that using 2D simulations for such analyses can be extremely time-consuming. Therefore, in this study, the discrepancies between the 1D and 2D simulations regarding the moisture performance output for two types of wood frame wall assemblies will be investigated. The comparison will be conducted for the simulation using climate data from the same time period and from different time periods (historical and future). The results have shown that with specific design considerations in the 1D simulation, the moisture performance obtained from the 1D simulation can match those obtained from the 2D simulation
Robotic Teleoperation of Construction Machinery: Technologies, Applications, and Future Directions
Get PDFRobotic 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 of teleoperation systems across various construction machinery and tasks. It further explores the fundamental technologies behind robotic teleoperation systems proposed in previous literature, regarding reality capture, communication networks, and feedback and control interfaces. Following that, this study investigates a range of human-machine interaction mechanism, from manual control to the supervision of automated operations. By providing an in-depth analysis of current capabilities and applications of teleoperation systems, this paper aims to mapping the research landscape, identify the challenges, highlight the transformative potential of robotic teleoperation systems, and suggest directions for future research
Volumetric Criteria and An Automated Assessment Tool Development for Optimizing Building Permeability Design in High-Density Urban Environments
No full textBetter 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\u27s 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 time and cost are also a concern.
Given the concerns and stakeholders’ collective experience using the guidelines, BD commissioned a study in January 2024 to establish an alternative automated assessment tool for cost-effective evaluation of building permeability design using building information modelling (BIM) technologies. A new geometric parametrisation method - Least Cost Path (LCP) was proposed. The method evaluates Friction Cost (FC) and Turning Cost (TC), measuring a building design\u27s airflow resistance and path complexity. These metrics are applied within a 3D assessment grid system for a building project\u27s low, middle and high zones. Normalised CFD and LCP performances were reviewed, showing a strong correlation (R² ~ 0.8). The study also identified a cost threshold under the LCP method that differentiates “good” from “poor” ventilation designs. An automated BIM-integrated assessment tool using the LCP method will be further developed in Phase B of the Study
Project, Material, and Investment as Perspectives on Value and Waste in the Life Cycle of Building
Get PDFThe 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 units of analysis (workflow, material flow and cashflow) with distinctly different perceptions of value (positive effects and benefits from project outcomes, protection of the environment by reduced impacts, and high returns of investment) and waste (overuse of project resources, overconsumption of materials, and inefficient use and loss of capital). The paper concludes that the three perspectives are interconnected phenomena that together constitute a field for understanding how initiatives towards reducing waste or improving value driven by one perspective may ironically dislocate effects towards other parts of the value chain. The contribution to the 17 UN SDGs primarily addresses sustainable construction (SDG9) as matters of value and waste generation during the life cycle of building and secondly responsible consumption and production (SDG12) in the built environment
Circular Economy in Disaster Recovery: Life Cycle Approaches to Debris
Get PDFThis study explores how circular economy principles and life cycle thinking can enhance environmental sustainability in disaster recovery and debris management. Conventional linear disaster management practices primarily rely on landfilling debris, which imposes significant environmental burdens. To address this challenge, this research investigates the environmental impacts of two circular strategies, involving recycling and reuse, as sustainable alternatives to linear practices. A bottom-up, archetype-based, cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment model is developed to quantify the environmental impacts of debris management strategies, particularly in terms of landfill dependency, material conservation, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The model is tested using the case study of the tornado disaster in Sullivan, Indiana. The results show that the tornado generated approximately 7 kilotons of construction and demolition debris, likely leading to about 12 kilotons of CO₂-equivalent embodied GHG emissions under conventional linear practices. However, nearly 46% of this debris could be recycled or reused, reducing reliance on landfills and the demand for new construction materials. These circular strategies could also cut GHG emissions by about 28% compared to the linear approach. The findings underscore the effectiveness of circular strategies in enhancing environmental sustainability in disaster management, emphasizing the importance of treating debris as an inventory of materials and resources for construction. Future research should address challenges related to data availability, debris separation, economic feasibility, supply chain, and logistics to support the adoption of circular strategies in disaster management. This study provides valuable insights for stakeholders and policymakers to advance sustainable disaster recovery through circular economy principles
Impacts of Natural Disasters on the Construction Industry: Contractors’ Perspectives
No full textContractors are at the core of the construction industry and the forefront of disaster response and reconstruction programs. The resilience capacity and the wellbeing of the contracting industry are crucial. This study investigates the impacts of natural hazard disasters on construction contractors. Semi-structured interviews with twelve senior executives from leading construction firms were conducted, and the data was thematically analysed. The research revealed four prominent themes: opportunities arising from disaster events, workforce and materials challenges, incurred damages and losses, and weather-related disruptions. The increased project demands resulting from damages by disasters constitute growth opportunities for the contractors, and the urgent nature of the response and reconstruction works usually entail lower levels of pre-construction bureaucracies. However, the sudden hike in demand introduces significant challenges for the sector. Workforce shortages due to labour migration to affected areas, material shortages, and financial losses from uncompensated overheads and damages were experienced. One study finding was that contractors employ various strategies to manage these impacts, including workforce redistribution, multi-skilling training initiatives, and technological solutions such as GPS tracking systems for resource management. Additional impacts revealed included weather-related disruptions in project delivery and performance due to climate change and the changing weather pattern in New Zealand. While the construction sector demonstrates adaptability in disaster response, there is a critical need for more robust disaster preparedness strategies, including formal resource-sharing agreements, regional resource pools, and climate-adjusted planning and scheduling models