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Agile Project Management for Sustainable Construction: A Systematic and Thematic Literature Review
No full textThis study aims to explore the implementation of Agile Project Management (APM) in Sustainable Construction Projects (SCPs) to identify thematic trends, challenges, and enablers shaping agile adoption in the construction industry. The objective of this review is to determine how agile principles improve collaboration, adaptability, and sustainability outcomes. A systematic review of 104 scholarly articles published between 2006 and 2025 was performed using the PRISMA protocol to ensure rigour and transparency. Thematic analysis was conducted with NVivo and ATLAS.ti to code, visualise, and validate evolving patterns across the literature. The analysis revealed five major themes: iterative planning, responsiveness to change, stakeholder collaboration, digital facilitation, and sustainability integration. These results reveal that agile principles significantly contribute to sustainable construction by improving adaptability, decision-making, and communication processes, in spite of barriers such as organisational resistance and policy constraints. The integrative use of NVivo and ATLAS.ti improved depth and methodological reliability through cross-validation of themes. The novelty of this review lies in its dual-software thematic framework and its demonstration of how agile practices can transform sustainability-orientated construction management. It provides methodological and practical insights for researchers and practitioners aiming to embed agility in sustainable development goals
Insights Into the Load-Carrying Mechanism and Interactive Effects of Dissimilar Piles in Cushioned Piled Rafts
No full textDisconnecting pile heads from the raft has gained wide application because the gravel and geogrid layers filling the space between them create a more even pressure distribution and reduce differential settlement. However, due to the complexity of modelling the multiple interfaces in the superstructure-foundation-subsoil system, previous findings on load-transfer mechanisms, interaction effects, and group optimization remain incomplete. Moreover, the common analytical approach employed for understanding the load transfer mechanism is the “unit cell’ concept, which cannot fully capture dissimilarity in the group. To address these limitations, this study aims to develop an analytical framework for predicting the load-settlement response of cushioned piled rafts with dissimilar piles. The proposed method simplifies the cushion-pile-soil interaction using a Winkler-type Spring model, while a hyperbolic load-transfer function captures the nonlinear pile-soil behavior. The model was verified against existing experimental and showed close agreement. It successfully captured the load-sharing mechanism, confirming that stiffer, longer, or larger-diameter piles attract a disproportionately higher share of the load. The novelty of this work lies in the establishment of an analytical model based on the principles of dissimilar pile groups but extended to include cushion force transmission, a critical integration that provides a realistic tool for practice
BIM Utilization to Eliminate Claims, Risks, and Improve Productivity in Construction Projects
No full textDelays, cost overruns, and disputes have traditionally plagued the construction industry. These issues arise from poor management and the complexities of construction projects. Given this situation, this research sought to identify and quantitatively prioritize the factors leading to claims/disputes, risks, and the construction activity productivity. At the same time, it aimed to measure the extent to which the BIM approach mitigates such factors. A mixed methodological approach was utilized, which included a structured questionnaire survey and two case studies. For quantitative data analysis, advanced techniques and tools of IBM SPSS and AMOS were used, which included mean analysis, Standard Deviation (SD), Relative Importance Index (RII), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The findings confirmed the hypothesis of this research, showing BIM implementation directly and substantially improves productivity, as evidenced by the 28% reductions in disputes, 31% in communication efficiency, and 24% in overall productivity. Moreover, SEM results confirmed the existence of positive causal relationships regarding BIM adoption and cost control, schedule compliance, and safe work performance. This study conclusively demonstrates that BIM is a dynamic management approach to enhancing stakeholder coordination, minimizing disputes, and ultimately ensuring project viability
The Effect of Additional Baffle Plates on Double-Stage Gravitational Water Vortex Turbine
No full textA Gravitational Vortex Water Turbine (GWVT) is an appropriate device to harness the kinetic energy of water to convert it into rotational mechanical energy in low-head. The water flow is directed into a circular basin, which can produce a vortex and can rotate the turbine blades. Turbine performance is influenced by the shape of the blade, so an optimal blade shape is required. Turbine performance is influenced by the shape of the blades, which can rotate optimally. This study aims to determine the effect of adding baffle plates in the blade on the performance of two-stage GWVT using experimental methods. The variation used is the proportion of baffle plate on the runner in the first stage with variations without baffle plate, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. The data taken in the test is the torque and rotation at each additional blade plate. Torque measurement uses a rope brake system, and rotation measurement uses a tachometer. The results of the study showed that the addition of a 50% baffle plate in the first stage can capture the energy of the water vortex more optimally. A baffle plate can increase efficiency by up to 23.15% compared to the blade without the addition of a baffle plate. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2025-011-02-011 Full Text: PD
Real-Time Monitoring and Development of a Localized OTTV Equation for Building Energy Performance
No full textGlobal warming negatively impacts indoor environments, affecting human comfort. Despite global efforts, energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. As sustainable building designs become more critical, enhancing energy efficiency through real-time data analytics is essential. The Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV) is a key metric for assessing a building's energy usage, considering factors like orientation, location, and climate. However, limited research has examined real-time data's impact on OTTV coefficients. Therefore, this research aims at developing and validating new OTTV coefficients using real-time data with the EQUEST simulation engine. The coefficients of OTTV (Equivalent Temperature Difference TDeq, Temperature Difference ∆T, and Solar Factor SF) were monitored in real-time using HOBO Temperature Data loggers and Delta Ohm Photometer for Solar Radiations. Focusing on UTM Eco-Home building, the study calculates heat gain components, including transmission through walls, windows, and radiation heat gain. The findings of the study suggest that the modified OTTV equation accurately determines a building's OTTV, enhancing energy efficiency evaluations. The novelty of the study lies in the development of a new OTTV equation for the specific climate of Johor, Malaysia, and the real-time monitoring of OTTV that helps the energy managers analyze the Thermal Transmittance of Building envelopes in real-time. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2025-011-02-09 Full Text: PD
Comprehensive Assessment for Liquefaction Vulnerability in Indonesia: Empirical and Element Simulation Approaches
No full textHistorical liquefaction events have occurred at many locations, such as Yogyakarta and Lombok; the most significant flow side is in Palu. The standard Indonesian liquefaction assessment is based on a simplified empirical analysis. However, these methods only occasionally yield appropriate results. Contrastingly, the limited data from the cyclic test ensured that the liquefaction ratio could only partially support the liquefaction vulnerability. This research aims to re-examine the empirical approach that combines the constitutive model using LIQCA with a cyclic triaxial test (CXT) and cyclic simple shear (CSS). The empirical method was arranged using deterministic and probabilistic approaches, and the recommendation of the peak ground acceleration (PGA) threshold was validated. The results show a strong relationship between all calculation methods and the SPT value, which differs in the liquefaction strength ratio. This output offers the PGA recommendation results, reaching a 48% overestimation from the empirical method without considering the cyclic test. This research presents the development of a combination of the empirical method with the element simulation from CXT and CSS. This offers a comprehensive overview of the Indonesian requirement standard assessment for liquefaction vulnerability analysis. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2025-011-01-019 Full Text: PD
Flexural Behaviour of Precast Lightweight Concrete Sandwich Slabs With Demountable Bolted Steel Shear Connectors
No full textA concrete slab is a fundamental element and contributes the highest weight in structural buildings. In this paper, a new type of sandwich slab consisting of two layers of lightweight concrete and demountable steel connectors is proposed in a new attempt to reduce the weight of the floors within the structure and apply a simpler and faster approach to connecting the layers of sandwich panels. The structural effects of the proposed connectors on Precast Lightweight Concrete Sandwich Slab (PLCSS) are evaluated experimentally and theoretically in terms of strength, stiffness, degree of composite action, and usability for floor construction. The behaviors of six PLCSS specimens subjected to four-point loads were investigated, studying the effects of varied parameters such as different numbers, arrangements, and shapes of demountable steel connectors (I, V, and X connector shapes) fastened with steel bolts, in addition to one solid concrete slab as a reference specimen. The panels' performance in this structural system was evaluated by measuring the degree of composite action using load, displacement, stress, and neutral axis methods. Based on the experimental results, the slab panels exhibited composite panel behavior until the point of failure. Under flexural loads, the panel behaved similarly to that of a solid one-way slab; crack patterns appeared in one direction. The specimens with IC, VC, and XC showed different load capacity values, ranging from 22.74 kN to 50.55 kN; these values depend on the types of shear connectors and their numbers in the sandwich panels. Using V and X connectors enhances the composite action between layers, increasing the shear demand and making the shear failure more likely. It can be concluded that demountable shear connectors can transfer shear between the two concrete wythes, resulting in a composite panel with structural integrity, a lighter weight, and satisfying ACI specifications for floor applications. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2025-011-02-06 Full Text: PD
The Influence of Precursor to Activator Ratio and Curing Temperature on Geopolymer Paste with One-Part Method
No full textGeopolymer is an eco-friendly material that serves as a sustainable alternative to Portland cement in construction. This binder reduces carbon dioxide emissions from cement production. However, its manufacturing process remains complex and requires professional expertise. This study explores an environmentally friendly cement produced through the “One-Part Method” (or the “just add water” method), which simplifies geopolymer application, making it as user-friendly as Portland cement. However, research on the performance of one-part geopolymers with varying activator contents and curing temperatures remains limited. In this study, Class F fly ash was used as a precursor, combined with a dry activator made from geothermal sludge and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Two compositions were tested with precursor-to-dry activator ratios of 5:1 (OPG-F5F) and 7:1 (OPG-F7F). The compressive strength was significantly influenced by the Si/Al, Na/Si, Na/Al, and water/solid ratios derived from the precursor and activator. Mechanical properties were analyzed at three curing temperatures: ambient, 40°C, and 60°C. Results showed that OPG-F7F achieved the highest strength at 60°C, reaching 76.1 MPa at 28 days. Mineral analysis before and after steam curing revealed no changes in composition, while morphological analysis indicated that higher temperatures produced a denser geopolymer matrix. These findings demonstrate the strong potential of geopolymer cement as a viable Portland cement replacement using the One-Part Method
Alternative Method for Determining Manning's Roughness Coefficient Using Two-Point Velocity in Equilibrium and Nonequilibrium Sediment Transport
No full textUnderstanding flow resistance equations, such as Manning’s roughness equation, is essential for river design and improvement. Estimating Manning’s roughness coefficient becomes more complicated when sediment transport is involved. This study takes an alternative approach by using velocity profiles to examine how sediment transport affects Manning’s roughness coefficient. To achieve this goal, 1200 velocity profiles with sediment-feeding (SF) and non-sediment-feeding (NSF) flows are evaluated to determine the (composite) Manning’s roughness coefficient. Sediment-feeding flows describe sediment flow under equilibrium conditions, whereas non-sediment-feeding flows represent sediment flow under nonequilibrium conditions. A Sontek 16-MHz Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter is used to measure the velocity (and turbulence) profiles. In addition to the present data, 225 secondary velocity profile data sets are analyzed in this study. The research findings indicate that the composite Manning’s roughness coefficient nco can be determined from Manning’s roughness coefficient nz/B at z/B in the transversal direction, using two points of the velocity profile at y/H = 0.2 and 0.4 in the vertical direction. The differences in the velocity profile shape (u/U) due to sediment feeding, particularly in inner regions (y/H ≤ 0.2), affect the value of nz/B. nco for sediment-feeding flows are generally higher than the cross-section Manning roughness coefficient n. As nco (based on nz/B) is based on the velocity profile, the nco values change with sediment transport. Meanwhile, the n values remain unchanged because the equation variables cannot detect the presence of sediment transport. For non-sediment-feeding flow, the differences in nco with n are 14.80% for a fixed bed (FB) and 18.17% for a movable bed (MB). The differences are even more pronounced for sediment-feeding flow at 33.01% for a fixed bed and 36.52% for a movable bed. The point where nz/B/nco = 1 occurs at z/B = 0.2 from the channel sidewall. This suggests that nz/B, measured at z/B = 0.2 from the channel sidewall, provides a good representation of nco for the section
Treatment of Industrial Wastewater of Variable Quality Using Ultrasound Irradiation
No full textThis paper investigated the use of ultrasound irradiation to treat real mixed industrial wastewater under various conditions, including single and dual frequencies, variable wastewater strengths, and different operating conditions, including flow rates/residence times. This work is important to evaluate the organics' removal efficiency and to identify operational control bottlenecks under actual wastewater conditions. The highest removal efficiencies were 69.5% and 31.9% for COD and TOC, respectively, for the high-strength wastewater, which were found to occur at 16 kHz frequencies and 500 ml/min flow rate. The removal efficiencies were slightly less in the case of medium-strength wastewater (66.7 and 25.3% for COD and TOC, respectively). They were found to occur at dual frequencies of 16/20 kHz and 1500 and 1000 ml/min, respectively. For the low-strength wastewater, the efficiencies reached 78.6 and 9.1% for COD and TOC, respectively, at the same frequency and flow rates as the medium-strength wastewater. These findings demonstrated the effectiveness of dual frequency in medium- to low-strength wastewater. Among the organics monitored, chloroform (CHCl3), tetrachloroethene (C2Cl4), 1,4 dichlorobenzene (C6H4Cl2), and dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) exhibited variable removal, and in some cases, the removal was found to be negative, indicating intermediary products as a result of incomplete oxidation of organics. Besides the frequency and flow rate, it was found that the concentration of metals and organics are mostly positive influencers on organics removal. At the same time, TDS and pH have mixed effects, but they positively influence organics' removal at higher flows in a few instances. Additionally, as the residence time decreased, the concentration of organics and the pH negatively influenced organics removal. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2025-011-04-013 Full Text: PD