Issue 1

CONTENT

Editorial

1. Yung-Hwi Bae:
Insights from the Republic of Korea: Development and Globalization of Construction Management

2.Jose E. Reyes:
Quality Control Inspection Program Counterstone of a High-Performance Project Organization

3. Farhang Mozaffar, Seyedeh Somayeh Mirmoradi:
Effective Use of Nature in Educational Spaces Design

4. Alireza S. Kaboli, David G. Carmichael:
Emission and Cost Configurations in Earthmoving Operations

5. Vivian W. Y. Tam, L. Y. Shen:
Risk Management for Contractors in Marine Projects

6. Krzysztof Zima, Edyta Plebankiewicz:
Analysis of the building shape erected in Krakow and its impact on construction costs

7. Pavel Svoboda, Michal Procházka:
Outdoor earthen plasters

8. Mirsad Kararić, Ivica Završki:
Business Process Reengineering in The Construction Of Precast Timber Frame Buildings

9. Maja-Marija Nahod:
Scope Control Through Managing Changes in Construction Projects

1. Yung-Hwi Bae:
 

Insights from the Republic of Korea: Development and Globalization of Construction Management

Abstract:
This viewpoint gives insights into the development process of construction management in the Republic of Korea. It presents the genesis of the discipline and gives a time perspective of how it all began. Furthermore it gives a list of past construction management events. It is evident that construction management is now fast becoming one of the pillars of the construction industry in the Republic of Korea. The paper stresses that construction management has become a necessity and an essential part of the construction industry in the world.

Keywords:
Korea, construction management, development, insights, conferences

2. Jose E. Reyes:

Quality Control Inspection Program Counterstone of a High-Performance Project Organization

Abstract:
In order to ensure the quality of the works during construction stages, consistent with the overall project objectives, the Project Team shall prepare a document that established the scope and criteria that regulate the actions of professionals and companies involved in the project, following a well known and proven criteria for quality control and quality assurance. These are commonly included in Quality Control Inspection Programs (QCIP).

Keywords:
Project Management, Quality Inspections, Construction, Non Conformance Management

3. Farhang Mozaffar, Seyedeh Somayeh Mirmoradi:

Effective Use of Nature in Educational Spaces Design

Abstract:
One of the most effective spaces on children’s life is Educational spaces, where the children usually spend long period of their life there. According to various important aspects of outdoor and natural spaces in education and children’s nurture skills, design of these spaces is an essential issue among the topics raised in designing educational spaces. Natural spaces at schools should provide three categories of children’s needs, which are denominated to: “educational”, “communal and physical”, and “emotional” needs. For all of these categories, the special spaces and desirable designing have to be concerned to achieve the most efficient educational spaces. Furthermore, outdoor designing and natural spaces will affect on artificial spaces of schools, due to the strong relationship between them. In current study, the effect of those three mentioned categories has been evaluated on the designing of educational spaces. Also, the effect of each aspect has been considered separately to recognize which principles are required to design an idealistic educational space.

Keywords:
children-educational space-naturearchitecture- landscape

4. Alireza S. Kaboli, David G. Carmichael:

Emission and Cost Configurations in Earthmoving Operations

Abstract:
Brief introduction to the problem. The paper examines the influence of varying operation parameters such as equipment heterogeneity, payload, and travel times, on unit emissions and unit costs in earthmoving and like operations. The need to minimise cost and maximise production of earthmoving and like operations has led to such operations being heavily scrutinised. With environmental issues becoming more important, there is now a need to additionally scrutinise and minimise emissions. Cycle times and production were measured in a cut-and-fill case study operation; average fuel burn data are converted to idling and nonidling emission fractions; and queuing theory is used for the theoretical evaluation of production for varying operation parameters. It is demonstrated that the optimum fleet sizes in terms of minimum unit costs and minimum unit emissions coincide in earthmoving operations. The result is independent of any specific operational parameters. The paper concludes that the traditional way of undertaking earthmoving operations, namely configuring to give minimum unit costs, will also result in minimum unit emissions. And that configuring differently to that will lead to unnecessary emissions. The result carries over to quarrying and surface mining operations.

Keywords:
Earthmoving; Optimal cost and emissions; Production; Quarrying; Surface mining

5. Vivian W. Y. Tam, L. Y. Shen:

Risk Management for Contractors in Marine Projects

Abstract:
Brief introduction to the problem Risk management is one of the important management strategies that lead the success of major construction projects. Managing risks has become an important part of the management activities in construction industry. In Hong Kong, marine construction forms a major part of the construction business. In fact, it is appeared that marine construction exposes to serious risks in comparing to other types of construction work, which contributes the potential loss to both clients and contractors. There is a need for systematic risk management approaches that can help contractors for reducing and controlling risks thus to effectively improve project management. This paper focuses on contractor parties who work on marine construction work, and aims to identify critical risks and risk response techniques in managing marine projects. Questionnaire survey and structured interviews are conducted. It is found that “underwater conditions are different from tender assumptions” is the most common risk factor encountered in marine projects, “unavailability of materials, plant and labour” is the most impact to the project if risk is encountered. The most effective risk response technique to tickle risks encountered is“refer to previous experience”. Recommendations for improving risk management are also discussed.

Keywords:
Risk management, contractor, marine project, Hong Kong

6. Krzysztof Zima, Edyta Plebankiewicz:

Analysis of the building shape erected in Krakow and its impact on construction costs

Abstract:
The choice of a particular architectural solution when designing a building considerably influences the costs of its construction. The article presents the methods of evaluating the degree of complexity of the building shape. On the basis of factors specifying building shape complexity an analysis of multi-family buildings in Krakow was conducted. The analysis concerned 40 buildings constructed by developers who received their building permit in the years 2004-2005, and – for comparison – 30 buildings whose building permit was issued in the second half of the year 2010. The study also included the way the grounds were used for the analysed constructions. The result of the research revealed a slow growth in the use of plots for building investments in Krakow.

Keywords:
Cost of building, building shape, multifamily buildings

7. Pavel Svoboda, Michal Procházka:

Outdoor earthen plasters

Abstract:
Construction of ecological buildings has one specific sub-segment - construction with natural materials. These are buildings made of timber, earth, stone, straw bales, reed, hemp, etc. The majority of these materials need protection against external effects. Architectural or structural elements (roofing overlaps etc.) provide passive protection. Outdoor plasters may be used as an active protection element. The practice to-date has mostly applied lime plasters with high demands for treatment during the first two to three months. An alternative choice were unstabilized earthen plasters with high demands for maintenance. The research intention, therefore, was to develop an outdoor plaster based on natural materials resistant to external weather effects. The desired solution was a plaster of unburnt earth with slightly modified properties, mainly in reaction to water. In the first phase of research, extensive literature search, dozens of potential stabilizing agents were shortlisted. The selection criteria were: water resistance plus low diffusion resistance of the resulting material, improved strength characteristics, a zero effect on colour and appearance etc. Many alternative agents were rejected. Positive results were reached with special types of polymer binders applied in small doses into earthen plasters. It must be emphasized that it is the plaster quality that plays a significant role here (the analysis would provide a topic for a separate article). The plaster is also suitable for repairs and reconstructions of historical earthen structures. These plasters are protected by a utility model. Outdoor earthen plasters were first introduced to the Czech market at the end of 2009.

Keywords:
earthen, plasters, outdoor, clay, polymer, stabilize, adobe

8. Mirsad Kararić, Ivica Završki:

Business Process Reengineering in The Construction Of Precast Timber Frame Buildings

Abstract:
This study deals with the issue of optimising the work processes of a company building precast timber frame structures, primarily intended for the long-term stay of people, such as: family houses, kindergartens, hotels etc. The issue is considered within the framework of the business process reengineering of the company. At the end a proposal is given for the optimal organizational structure of the company. The basis of the study is found in the importance of precast building in the contemporary way of life. The increasing demands of energy and ecology, the need to reduce the stress of those involved in the construction process, the pace of building etc., are only some of the reasons which favour the construction of precast, timber frame buildings. In this context, we are referring exclusively to construction using precast elements (panel construction) with the maximum degree of readiness, which at the same time enables quick and good quality construction. However, the high level of readiness of the panels is also linked to an increase in the risks of production (the occurrence of faults and their consequences) which necessarily requires detailed analysis of the organizational system of the company. This study attempts to direct consideration towards the optimal organizational structure of a company dealing with constructing precast timber frame buildings, which on the one hand ensures production of the quality required, and on the other finds an optimal solution to the question of the organization of production, social relationships within the company, worker satisfaction etc. In the end this should result in optimization (increase) of profits.

Keywords:
Precast building, timber frame, production, reengineering, optimization, outsourcing, organizational structure

9. Maja-Marija Nahod:

Scope Control Through Managing Changes in Construction Projects

Abstract:
Projects need to be performed and delivered under certain constraints. Traditionally, these constraints are scope, time and cost. The Scope Control process influences the factors that lead to project scope changes and control the impact of those changes, which a key issue for project success. It ensures that all requested changes and recommended corrective actions are processed and that changes are reduced or eliminated if they result in negative impact on projects. The scope control is considered from the investor’s point of view, as achieving the project goals is of primary importance for the investor. The theoretical basis for the research is Dynamic Planning and Control Methodology (“DPM”). Practical implications and adjustments are obtained, to result in an efficient system for managing changes throughout a project. Research was conducted through questionnaire and interviews. Findings include reasons for and consequences of changes from the point of view of various stakeholders in the project, as well as recommended procedures for objective and practical management of the changes. The study discusses the basic constraints: cost and time. Further research should focus on quantifying and determining the quality impact of changes and impact of the project manager’s competencies on managing changes. The recommended procedures are applicable for any building construction project, but specific goals and constraints have to be incorporated into the calculation. Furthermore, a database of projects and changes could be created to facilitate preliminary assessments of the impact of changes on future projects.

Keywords:
Managing changes, Building Construction Projects, Project Change, Dynamic Planning