• Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2015

This paper presents optimized artificial neural networks (ANNs) claims prediction and decision awareness framework that guides owner organizations in their pre-bid construction project decisions to minimize claims. The framework is composed of two genetic optimization ANNs models: a Claims Impact Prediction Model (CIPM), and a Decision Awareness Model (DAM). The CIPM is composed of three separate ANNs that predict the cost and time impacts of the possible claims that may arise in a project. The models also predict the expected types of relationship between the owner and the contractor based on their behavioral and technical decisions during the bidding phase of the project. The framework is implemented using actual data from international projects in the Middle East and Egypt (projects owned by either public or private local organizations who hired international prime contractors to deliver the projects). Literature review, interviews with pertinent experts in the Middle East, and lessons learned from several international construction projects in Egypt determined the input decision variables of the CIPM. The ANNs training, which has been implemented in a spreadsheet environment, was optimized using genetic algorithm (GA). Different weights were assigned as variables to the different layers of each ANN and the total square error was used as the objective function to be minimized. Data was collected from thirty-two international construction projects in order to train and test the ANNs of the CIPM, which predicted cost overruns, schedule delays, and relationships between contracting parties. A genetic optimization backward analysis technique was then applied to develop the Decision Awareness Model (DAM). The DAM combined the three artificial neural networks of the CIPM to assist project owners in setting optimum values for their behavioral and technical decision variables. It implements an intelligent user-friendly input interface which helps project owners in visualizing the impact of their decisions on the project's total cost, original duration, and expected owner-contractor relationship. The framework presents a unique and transparent hybrid genetic algorithm-ANNs training and testing method. It has been implemented in a spreadsheet environment using MS Excel$^{(R)}$ and EVOLVERTM V.5.5. It provides projects' owners of a decision-support tool that raises their awareness regarding their pre-bid decisions for a construction project.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.34-44
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to suggest ways to improve the transparency of occupational safety and health management cost (OSHMC) in order to create a safe working environment that can guarantee the health of construction workers. It was performed in the following procedures and methods. (1) collecting and analyzing resources related to the OSHMC in construction, (2) gathering stakeholder opinions for interviewing actual conditions, (3) deriving the improvement plans based on survey results and (4) suggesting direction for improvement of related laws based on the results of the research. As a result of this study, the following ways were found to be effective for enhancing transparency of the OSHMC in construction. (1) disclosure of usage details in sites, (2) Expansion of the standard for the OSHMC in construction, (3) Increase in fines for false use, (4) Establishment of the plan to improve the OSHMC ratio of small-scale construction sites, (5) Strengthen the role of supervisory and support organizations such as the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency. The result of this study is expected to be used as a basic data for future improvement of the occupational safety and health acts in Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.407-419
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• 2007

This study investigated the predicted and abserved outflow of groundwater which occurred during tunnel constructions. Among the 586 road construction projects from 1986 to 2006, 4 route 25 tunnel construction areas and 26 waste water treatment facilities under construction were studied. Most of the tunnel outflow prediction in EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) process have been classified into the 17 types of units depending on the assessor's options, which have not conformed to the request of the residents and non government organizations. The investigation results showed that the outflow of underground water in tunnel construction areas averaged about $0.133m^3/km{\cdot}min$ with the maximum $0.386m^3/km{\cdot}min$, and that the outflow mostly occurred in the early stage of tunnel excavation and diminished gradually. The prediction of outflow of underground water in the EIA process showed excessive results compared to observed outflow, the even 51.7 times. Consequently for more realistic prediction, current EIA method for prediction of outflow of underground water in tunnel construction areas has to adopt numerical methods coupled with hydraulics and geologic informations from unit methods of present time.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute Of Construction Engineering and Management
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.556-560
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• 2004

The recent increase of the construction business. reflects tile rapid increase of the amounts of construction wastes caused by new buildings and demolitions. This trend brings about a problem of insufficient aggregate in the construction arena because construction wastes from new buildings are usually reclaimed in the land and it causes environmental pollution and a restriction of exploiting a natural aggregate, brought up by environmental organizations as well. Accordingly, researchers suggest recycled aggregate as a countermeasure of the two problems, however, it's not actually been used in the construction fields. By this study, it'll be feasible to expect to solve the problem of insufficient aggregate and to reduce environmental pollution from waste-reclamation.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2013.01a
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• pp.80-86
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• 2013

Knotworking represents a distributed collaborative expertise in pursuit of a task that is organized among designers from different design disciplines. Construction processes involve phases and tasks that cannot be solved in one organization only, as integration of expert knowledge from various sources is needed. Through knotworking, groups of people, tasks and tools are set to work intensively for a short period of time to solve a problem or accomplish a task. Knotworking requires intensive collaboration across organizational boundaries and hierarchies. The practice of knotworking has been developed and applied in the development of healthcare organizations, libraries and school-university relationships, but it has not previously been applied in the construction industry. In this paper, we describe the concept of knotworking and the findings of a case study that we completed in the Finnish construction industry. We will also compare the similarities and differences of the Big Room and knotworking in terms of participants, duration, target, space/infrastructure, benefits and challenges. Finally, we present some suggestions for further research and experimentation on knotworking in construction projects.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.93-106
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• 2024

As the complexity and uncertainty of international construction projects increase, the importance of risk management capabilities in the construction industry has become more pronounced. Accordingly, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) has become a widely adopted approach among organizations as a new way for more effective risk management. Despite its growing application, research related to ERM is still in its infancy, and most of the existing studies have been limited to financial industries. Therefore, this study aims to empirically examine the influence of ERM's core elements on project risk management (PRM) and project performance within construction firms. Our findings indicate that the key ERM components-organization, policy, and culture-significantly enhance PRM processes, underscoring their critical role and importance. Additionally, effective PRM positively affects project outcomes, highlighting its significance for construction companies engaged in international projects. While ERM does not directly impact project performance, it indirectly improves outcomes through enhanced PRM capabilities. It suggests that ERM will contribute to the firm's performance by improving the firm's PRM capability through policies and a risk-focused culture corresponding to the adopted ERM organization and system..

• Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.37-44
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• 2015

Many people criticized how the Chinese government responded to the Wenchuan Earthquake. They focused on how it failed to address the psychological needs of the survivors. The study presented here approached this issue from a human resources perspective. It was determined that the Chinese government approached the situation in a bureaucratic way that limited the government's capacity and barred non-profit organizations and community groups from participating. It was also found that survivors could not contact these organizations for psychological support. This study concludes that the situation called for a more flexible and improvised institution that would respond to the emerging needs of survivors.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.291-299
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• 2017

Recently, many business and government organizations have benefitted by executing projects using TOC-CCPM(Theory of Constraints-Critical Chain Project Management). In parallel, Earned Value Management(EVM) metrics have also become popular. Many organizations like US government requires that all large projects measure and report project progress status using EVM. Thus, project management in business fields such as plant construction, IT development, ship building need to integrate TOC-CCPM and EVM in oder to keep and reduce the delivery date of projects for improvement of customer satisfaction and enlargement of business opportunity. This paper proposes the scheme and case of developing the Synchro-EVM system which TOC-CCPM and EVM are connected.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.2 no.4 s.8
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• pp.62-68
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to Identification the Risk of construction method to protect and reduce of construction period. Risk management is one of the key project management process. Numerous tools are available to support the various phases of the risk management process. We present the results of a study designed to identify the tools that are most widely used and those that are associated with successful project management in general, and with effective project risk management in particular. The study is based on a questionnaire administered to a sample of project managers from construction enterprises. The response data was analyzed in order to find which tools are more likely to be used in the those organizations that report better project management performance and in those that value the contribution of risk management processes.

• Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2018

US transportation agencies are dealing with shrinking budgets, limited work forces, and deteriorating infrastructure. In order to cope with funding uncertainty, state highway agencies are now looking into their own organizations and identifying programs, practices, and processes that have potential for cost saving. A quality assurance (QA) program is an integral part of highway construction and ensures a project's contracted level of quality. The cost of quality (conforming and nonconforming) can constitute a sizable part of total construction cost. As the quality assurance programs evolved, various practices and processes were developed over time and later adopted by state highway agencies. These practices and processes include different QA standards and specifications, varying testing methods, central testing lab vs. on site testing, performance based vs. prescribed quality assurance practices, implementation of innovative quality assurance practices, etc. Therefore, there is an opportunity to assess different QA strategies and recommend those practices that are effective and cost efficient. A national survey was conducted by the authors, which provided a detailed mapping of various QA practices and processes used as part of QA programs and identified areas where agencies can focus on for cost savings. The survey found that QA sampling and testing plans, optimization of sampling plans, optimization of QA standards and specifications, and implementation of innovative test methods and processes are the main areas the agencies should focus to lean the current QA programs.