Modular and Offsite Construction (MOC) Summit Proceedings
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Measuring and Tracking Externalized Work to Support Industrialized Construction
Get PDFThe same principles that have made other skilled-trade-based industries more efficient are being deployed in construction through Industrialization, which requires understanding skilled trade work and segregating/externalizing the work from the jobsite. The construction industry still relies heavily on skilled trades and their tacit knowledge, while most of the information available at the points of installation is not passed on. A significant increase of work externalization requires a measuring and tracking method that can: 1) tap into this tacit knowledge as the basis for work planning and control; and 2) understand, quantify, and minimize the manipulation effort done onsite for the prefabricated assemblies. As such, this paper presents a planning and control framework for industrialized construction operations that integrates information entropy and the novel concept of work manipulations to monitor and measure the expected performance outcomes, in a more sophisticated approach beyond measuring äóìhoursäó� and äóìquantitiesäó� of the work. The development of the proposed framework is based on the analysis of a set of case studies that illustrate the impact of information predictability manipulation strategies on construction prefabrication decisions
3D Motion-based Ergonomic and Body Posture Analysis in Construction
Get PDFThe construction manufacturing industry in North America has a disproportionately high number of lost-time injuries due to the higher physical demand of labour-intensive tasks. It is thus essential to investigate the physical demands of body movement in the workplace in order to identify worker exposure to ergonomic risk. This paper presents a methodology for converting video-captured body movements in an actual manufacturing plant into 3D virtual animations for ergonomic risk analysis. Through 3D virtual animation, dynamic human body data can be obtained (such as joint angles) for body posture risk assessment analysis using existing risk assessment algorithms. The presented framework enables body motion risk identification by detecting awkward body postures, evaluating handled force/load and frequency that cause ergonomic risk during body movements of workers. The capability of the 3D modelling can be extended to support the re-design of the workplace and optimization of human body movement accordingly in order to mitigate ergonomic risk. The methodology is implemented in a case study in order to analyze operational tasks in manufacturing plants. Modified work recommendations are expected as a result of this systematic 3D ergonomic analysis which will further reduce potential injuries and workersäó» compensation insurance costs in the long term
System Dynamics Model Application for Ergonomic Assessment of Manual Material Handling Tasks
Get PDFDespite increased levels of automation in manufacturing occupations in recent years, many activities are still performed through human intervention and involve Manual Material Handling (MMH), thus exposing workers to stress due to over-exertion and potential Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs). An early ergonomic and physical demand assessment of work activities is critical to reducing exposure to risk and to maintaining desired levels of productivity. Biomechanics consists of applying concepts of static and dynamic equilibrium to different parts of the human musculoskeletal system using free-body diagrams to estimate muscle force and loads generated across the joints and tissues. System dynamics is a powerful tool applied in resolving complex problems with different influencing variables. This technique can help designers and managers to understand, evaluate and simulate the factors causing problems in the system. This paper presents the application of System Dynamics modeling to assess the biomechanical risks associated with manual material handling tasks. The case study presents predicted cumulative biomechanical compressive loads from material handling task and can assist project managers to understand and reduce exposure to ergonomic risks in the workplace
Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction Joining Tech-niques Review
Get PDFPrefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC), also known as volumetric modular construction has recently been adopted for high-rise building construction. However, efficient ways of joining the volumetric units on site have not been well developed. The intended high productivity is thus hindered and costs of the PPVC buildings are considerably higher than traditional construction methods. Additionally, issues such as module alignment and water penetration are often exposed during the assembly of modules. Moreover, local code requirements and geographical varieties often lead to different priorities and concerns in the development of joining techniques. This paper focuses on the generic joining techniques adopted in PPVC systems. Three joining methods are presented based on the different locations where the tightening of bolted connection occurs. The methods are evaluated based on the proposed constructability criteria and structural performance. The information gathered is useful for designers and contractors to understand the priorities and issues when developing new joining techniques
Exploring the Benefits of Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) and the Mechanism for Automated 5D BIM Quantification Process in Offsite Modular Construction
Get PDFThe UK Construction Industry through its Government Construction Strategy has recently been mandated to implement Level 2 Building Information Modelling (BIM) on public sector projects. This move, along with other initiatives is key to driving a requirement for 25% cost reduction (establishing the most cost-effective means) on. Other key deliverables within the strategy include reduction in overall project time, early contractor involvement, improved sustainability and enhanced product quality. Collaboration and integrated project delivery is central to the level 2 implementation strategy yet the key protocols or standards relative to cost within BIM processes is not well defined. As offsite construction becomes more prolific within the UK construction sector, this construction approach coupled with BIM, particularly 5D automated quantification process, and early contractor involvement provides significant opportunities for the sector to meet government targets. Early contractor involvement is supported by both the industry and the successive Governments as a credible means to avoid and manage project risks, encourage innovation and value add, making cost and project time predictable, and improving outcomes. The contractor is seen as an expert in construction and could be counter intuitive to exclude such valuable expertise from the pre-construction phase especially with the BIM intent of äóÖbuild it twiceäó», once virtually and once physically. In particular when offsite construction is used, the contractoräó»s construction expertise should be leveraged for the virtual build in BIM-designed projects to ensure a fully streamlined process. Building in a layer of automated costing through 5D BIM will bring about a more robust method of quantification and can help to deliver the 25% reduction in overall cost of a project.
Using a literature review and a case study, this paper will look into the benefits of Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) and the impact of 5D BIM on the offsite construction process
Modelling the Construction On-Site Technology Adoption Process
Get PDFThe global modern technology market in the construction industry is valued at billions of dollars and the approach to technology diffusion taken by vendors has a major impact on the success or failure of those technologies. While many previous studies have examined the adoption and the diffusion of information technologies, the technology diffusion process for advanced on-site equipment such as tower and mobile cranes, piling rig and concrete pumps has received little attention. Based on interviews with vendors and customers covering regions in Australia and North America, during major construction equipment exhibitions, this paper presents a new equipment technology adoption model which, for the first time, describes the relationship between customers and vendors during the on-site technology adoption process. The implications of the model for fostering new on-site technology diffusion to boost productivity are discussed
Prefabricated Timber Concrete Composite Floors
Get PDFTimber-concrete-composite (TCC) floors are an example of hybrid systems that integrate different materials to achieve superior performance than the individual materials can provide. The structural and non-structural benefits of TCC floors over generic timber floors include increased capacity and stiffness, hallower depth, improved sound protection, and superior fire performance. Rapid erection due to the use of the timber as formwork, more economical gravity systems and foundations due to lighter weight, lower embodied energy, and reduced carbon footprint are advantages when comparing TCC systems to concrete slabs. This paper gives an overview of recent developments including research carried out on three novel solutions: 1) the äóìSwiss-Wood-Concrete-Flooräó�; 2) adhesively bonded TCC; and 3) äóìFT connectorsäó� that are embedded in precast concrete. All three solutions are well suited for modular and off-site
construction and show the potential of using wood products beyond current limitations
Key Factors Affecting Construction Organizations\u27 Acceptance of BIM: A Comparative Study
Get PDFGovernments and clients expect contractors to utilise BIM for construction and maintenance purposes at higher level of details. However, the process of BIM implementation is not as quick as it was expected and looks some contractors have not used BIM at all, or do not use it for some of projects. This justifies an urgent study on the process of BIM adoption to identify drivers and key factors influencing the contractorsäó» decision. Many studies focus on exploring BIM advances, its applications and individual matters of BIM acceptance. However, less effort has been made to investigate the impacts of organizationsäó» intention considering BIM performance value and their support for BIM implementation. Therefore, this study aims to identify factors that affect the BIM adoption process at the organization level regarding perceived needs, organizational support and ease of operation. Quantitative and qualitative information are collected through survey and face-to-face interview in Chinese and Australian construction organizations. Structural equation modelling analysis is used to quantify the relationships between influential factors and organizationäó»s intention towards BIM utilization. Analysis results
indicate that äóÖBIM Awarenessäó», äóÖPerceived Needsäó», äóÖOrganizational Supportäó», and äóÖDown Timeäó» are four critical factors influencing BIM acceptance in Chinese and Australian construction organizations. Moreover, this study provides an insight of BIM adoption challenges in Chinese and Australian construction industries
Factors Affecting Construction Labor Productivity in China: A Case Study of Chongqing
Get PDFLabor productivity is an important indicator of Chinese construction industry development, so it has a positive influence on study the factors affecting construction labor productivity for the sustainable development in construction industry. Since Chongqing became one of Chinese municipality in 1997, construction industry had a rapid development. But the construction labor productivity in Chongqing is still low. Thus, this paper selects construction labor productivity data in Chongqing as the research object, and indicates labor productivity is affected by eight specific factors from economy, technology, capital, labor and management aspects. Based on the data, this paper uses principal component analysis (PCA) method and multiple linear regression (MLR) to analyze the relationship between labor productivity and affecting factors. The result reveals labor productivity in Chongqing is affected by the average
wage in construction industry, GDP and construction and installation engineering investment. Meanwhile, a low labor productivity in Chongqing dues to a lack of technological innovation
Applying the Flow-interception Location Model to Select the Location of Construction Industrial Yard
Get PDFConstruction industrialization is a remarkable innovation and improvement in construction industry. This new construction method can address the drawbacks of conventional one, which has extensive mode of production, lower labour productivity and serious energy consumption and environmental pollution. Recent years, the construction industrial yard emerges as a method to promote the modernization of construction industry in China. However, there has been little to no empirical literature discussed the method to identify the location of construction industrial yard. The location problem is one of key factors to affect whether the yard can be sustainable in economic, social and environmental profits. In order to make the location of construction industrial yard more scientific and meet the special requirements of construction industry, this paper proposes a bi-level model based on the flow-interception location model (FILM). In the location model, the transport network is divided into sub-networks of raw materials and products respectively. The upper-level model is assumed to make the decision about the location and the originäóñdestination (OD) matrices of raw materials and products flow. The lower-level is used to
calculate the flow of each section under given OD flow matrices, and gives feedback to the upper model. An efficient heuristic method is introduced to solve this bi-level model. This bi-level model of construction industrial yard can help planners make a more scientific decision when establishing a new yard and promote the development of construction industrialization