查看更多>>摘要：As we are welcoming 2025,I am pleased to write a brief note to provide a couple of updates about our editorial team: 1.I would like to welcome Dr. Anthony Sparkling as an Associate Editor. Dr. Sparkling has served as a Visiting Associate Editor and provided critical assistance during a time of growth for our Journal; and I look forward to working with him in his new role. 2.I also would like to welcome six new Editorial Board members: Dr. Sanjeev Adhikari, Dr. Deniz Besiktepe, Dr. Sagata Bhawani, Dr. Masoud Gheisari, Dr. Sharareh (Sherri) Kermanshachi, and Dr. Baris Salman. With the addition of this group, we are able to cover new expertise areas on the Editorial Board. This group has gone through a vetting process to join the Editorial Board; and we look forward to their contributions. I also would like to take this opportunity to thank those who are rotating off the Editorial Board for their service.
查看更多>>摘要：This research investigates the low use of modular construction despite its recognized cost, time, quality, safety, and sustainability advantages. Using technology diffusion theory, this study seeks to identify and rank the characteristics that impede modular building adoption, such as relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. A survey of industry professionals in the United Kingdom was undertaken, and the results, validated by a one-sample t-test, showed that attitudes toward modular building, rather than technical difficulties, are the key impediments to broad adoption. The degree to which modular construction resonates with prospective adopters' current values, past experiences, and requirements determines its acceptance. Traditional mind-sets, the presence of traditional constructs, resistance to change, prior attitudes, bid prices, hesitation, and skepticism are all associated with non-adoption. Professional positions serve as a bridge between adopters and non-adapters. The research also emphasizes the importance of design-build project delivery systems and early supplier chain participation in accelerating the mainstream adoption of modular construction.
查看更多>>摘要：The significance of the factors influencing bid/no-bid decisions varies significantly depending on the organization's size and geographical region. The present study examined the critical factors influencing the bid/no-bid decisions of small and medium-sized contractors in Sri Lanka. Primary data were collected from 160 small and 118 medium-sized contractors in Sri Lanka through a questionnaire survey. The respondents were requested to rate the relative importance of 43 factors, and consequently, critical factors were identified. In-depth interviews with six industry experts were conducted to obtain a deeper understanding of the critical factors. Small-sized contractors perceived project size, availability of capital, timeliness of client in the payments process, current workload, and general overhead as the five most critical factors in the bid reasoning process. In contrast, medium-sized contractors deemed project size, current workload, type of project, availability of qualified staff, and duration of project vital in their bid/no-bid decision reasoning process. This study's findings bridge the literature gap by prioritizing the factors most relevant to small and medium-sized contractors' bid/no-bid decisions in South Asia. The study further qualitatively assessed the critical factors and added insight into the governing mechanisms behind the critical factors, an area often neglected in the literature.
查看更多>>摘要：The technologies and innovations accompanying the Fourth Industrial Revolution are reshaping industries worldwide; the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry is no different. This study specifically investigates the application of data science in the US commercial construction industry, which has been relatively limited and understudied. This study assessed the current state of data science utilization, identified potential benefits and challenges, and explored future directions. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with representatives from eight general contracting firms listed in the ENR top 100 contractors. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts revealed several prominent themes. The findings indicate that while technical support for data storage and management exists, challenges persist in terms of data consistency and leveraging data for advanced analyses. Encouragingly, top management is recognizing the importance of data science in their daily operations, leading to a growing trend of hiring individuals with specialized data skills in construction companies. The establishment of dedicated data science departments and fostering, mitigating the current challenges of data consistency and interoperability with a mind-set of continuous improvement are viewed as strategic approaches to harness data for a competitive edge in the commercial construction industry.
John AliuDouglas AghimienClinton AigbavboaAyodeji Emmanuel Oke...
74-93页
查看更多>>摘要：This study presents a six-construct employability skills model for built environment graduates in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The model examines the influence of generic skills, discipline-specific skills, work-integrated learning, emotional intelligence, university-industry collaboration and 4IR knowledge on graduate employability. A mixed-method approach was employed, including the Delphi technique for qualitative analysis and a well-structured questionnaire for quantitative analysis. The findings highlight the significant impact of work-integrated learning on improved employability, while also revealing the direct influence of other exogenous variables. Notably, discipline-specific skills showed a weaker influence. This research contributes to the field by presenting a tailored employability skills model for built environment graduates, addressing the sector's unique challenges in the 4IR era. The study also offers practical implications for stakeholders involved in employability skills development. Overall, this study provides a substantive contribution to the research area of engineering education and graduate employability in the context of 4IR. In an ever-evolving job market shaped by technological advancements, this study underscores the importance of equipping built environment graduates with a diverse set of skills and knowledge to thrive in the dynamic landscape of the 4IR.
查看更多>>摘要：The Ethiopian government has implemented Contractor Development Programs (CDPs) to tackle the challenges faced by small and medium contractors (SMCs) to enhance their competency. However, the effectiveness of these programs in improving their competency needs to be assessed, and areas for improvement identified. As part of a broader research, this study aims to assess the effectiveness of the CDPs in imparting knowledge and skills to SMCs, measure the overall satisfaction of CDP participants and identify the challenges and barriers encountered. A questionnaire survey and interviews were utilized to gather participants' views. The findings indicate that the program fell short of its intended goals, as the majority (85.71%) of participants reported only moderate or low satisfaction with the knowledge and skills gained from the CDPs. Furthermore, the program faced challenges, including poorly designed training and technical support schemes; absence of appropriate recording, monitoring, and evaluation systems; and unsatisfactory supply chain management. The effectiveness of the CDP depends on the quality of training provided by the facilitators, the availability of resources, and the level of engagement and participation from the SMCs. Hence, the study highlights priority areas of improvement for policymakers and regulators and can serve as a benchmark for future research.
查看更多>>摘要：An aging workforce and labor shortage are some of the challenges confronting the built environment sector globally. The career choice decision of graduating students studying built environment courses is an integral part of the workforce replacement process that has not been explored by extant studies in Nigeria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the career choice decisions of graduating students studying built environment courses in Nigeria. Survey responses were collected from 55 graduating students along with 4 responses from semi-structured interviews conducted at two Nigerian universities. Findings indicated that the percentage of graduating students who intend to pursue a career in the built environment is higher than that of those who intend to pursue a career outside the built environment. However, career decisions are often influenced by exigent factors. These factors were categorized into three groups: "job characteristics and career opportunities/prospects," "career mentorship," and "family and friends' influence." The most prevalent factors were interest in the construction industry, career/job opportunities, personal interest in a career/job, and job security. The findings of this study will assist policymakers and organizations in enacting and promulgating laws that will improve the construction industry's image and also make it attractive to young people.
NETL
NSTL