► A game technology-based safety training platform is developed and tested. ► The possible contribution of the platform to safety training is identified. ► The platform can improve the process and ...performance of the safety training. ► The platform can assist in accident prevention during operating construction plant.
Many accidents occur world-wide in the use of construction plant and equipment, and safety training is considered by many to be one of the best approaches to their prevention. However, current safety training methods/tools are unable to provide trainees with the hands-on practice needed. Game technology-based safety training platforms have the potential to overcome this problem in a virtual environment.
One such platform is described in this paper – its characteristics are analysed and its possible contribution to safety training identified. This is developed and tested by means of a case study involving three major pieces of construction plant, which successfully demonstrates that the platform can improve the process and performance of the safety training involved in their operation. This research not only presents a new and useful solution to the safety training of construction operations, but illustrates the potential use of advanced technologies in solving construction industry problems in general.
A facile and cost-effective approach assisted by ball milling (BM) of commercial titanium dioxide (TiOsub.2), has been utilized to develop cheaper and efficient construction materials. At least three ...of the commercial and cheaper TiOsub.2 samples (BA01-01, BA01-01+ and R996, designated as A1, A4 and R1, respectively) were selected and subjected to BM treatment to enhance their photocatalytic efficiencies, if possible. It was noted, that the samples A1, A4 and R1 were typical composites of TiOsub.2 and calcium carbonate (CaCOsub.3) and contained varying proportions of anatase, and rutile phases of TiOsub.2 and CaCOsub.3. Two of the highly efficient commercial TiOsub.2 samples, Degussa P25 (simply designated as P25) and ST01 (Ishihara Ind.) were selected for making benchmark comparisons of photocatalytic efficiencies. The BM treated TiOsub.2 samples (designated as TiOsub.2-BM with respect to A1, A4 and R1) were evaluated for photocatalytic efficiencies both in both aqueous (methylene blue (MB)) and gaseous (NOsub.x) photodegradation reactions. Based on detailed comparative investigations, it was observed that A1-BM photocatalyst exhibited superior photocatalytic performances over A4-BM and R1-BM, towards both MB and NOsub.x photodegradation reactions. The difference of NOsub.x photodegradation efficiency between the mortar mixed with A1-BM and that mixed with ST01, and P-25 at 15% were 16.6%, and 32.4%, respectively. Even though the mortar mixed with A1-BM at 15% composition exhibited a slightly lower NOsub.x photodegradation efficiency as compared to mortar mixed with the expensive ST01 and P-25 photocatalysts, the present work promises an economic application in the eco-friendly construction materials for air purification considering the far lower cost of A1. The reasons for the superior performance of A1-BM were deduced through characterization of optical properties, surface characteristics, phase composition, morphology, microstructure and particle size distribution between pristine and BM treated A1 using characterization techniques such as diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy and particle size analysis.
The quality of the constructed social infrastructure project has been considered a necessary measure for the sustainability of projects. Studies on factors affecting project quality have used various ...techniques and methods to explain the relationships between particular variables. Unexpectedly, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) has acquired very little concern in factors affecting project quality studies. To address this limitation in the body of knowledge, the objective of this study was to apply the SEM approach and build a model that explained and identified the critical factors affecting quality in social infrastructure projects. The authors developed a quantitative approach using smart-PLS version 3.2.7. This study shed light on the views of different experts based on their experience in public construction projects in Pakistan. Particularly, the authors aimed to find out the relationships between construction, stakeholders, materials, design, and external factors, and how these relate to project quality. The findings of this study revealed that the R2 value of the model was scored at 0.749, which meant that the five exogenous latent constructs collectively explained 74.9% of the variance in project quality. The Goodness-of-Fit of the model was 0.458. The construction related factor was the most important out of the five constructs. This study determined that better planning and monitoring and evaluation should be developed to better address and control the quality defects by decision-makers, project managers as well as contractors. These findings might support practitioners and decision makers to focus on quality related problems that might occur in their current or future projects.
Die Baubranche stieht sich mit tiefgreifenden Veränderungen konfrontiert. Neben der Umsetzung der wohl wichtigsten Anforderung – einer nachhaltigeren Baukultur – müssen u. a. der zunehmende ...Fachkräftemangel und der steigende Bedarf an Infrastrukturbaumaßnahmen bewältigt werden. Die Lösung dieser Herausforderungen wird der Branche mit den bisher über Jahrzehnte praktizierten Verfahren und Prozessen nicht gelingen. Umso wichtiger ist es, den Weg für die Einführung von Bauen 4.0 zu ebnen. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird erläutert, was sich hinter dem Begriff Bauen 4.0 verbirgt und welche Rahmenbedingungen die Umsetzung aktuell erschweren. Darauf aufbauend werden mit dem Schwerpunkt der für ausführende Bauunternehmen wichtigen Produktions‐ und Bauphase von Infrastrukturprojekten Empfehlungen, Maßnahmen und erste Ansätze zur Umsetzung präsentiert.
The construction industry is faced with numerous challenges including low productivity, lack of research and development, and poor technology advancements. Advances in digital technologies such as ...digital twin (DT) has seen enormous utilisations in digitally advanced industries including the manufacturing and automotive industries. It presents an opportunity for the integration of the physical world to the digital world. DT technology has the potential to transform the construction industry and provide responses to some of its challenges. As a result, the concept of DT has attracted much attention and is developing at a rapid pace. The overarching aim of this study was to analyse the current state of DT applications in the construction industry. This study comprehensively reviews and analyses DT concept, technologies, and application in the construction industry using a systematic review methodology while incorporating the science mapping method. After a complete search of several databases and careful selection in line with the proposed criteria, 22 academic publications about DT application in the construction industry were identified and classified accordingly. The research analysed in detail the status, evolution of the concept, key technologies, and six areas of application in the lifecycle phases of a project: building information modeling, structural system integrity, facilities management, monitoring, logistics processes, and energy simulation. This research shows that there is a high potential for DT to enable solutions to the numerous challenges in the construction industry. Thus, this study raises the level of awareness and need for the application of DT in the construction industry.
•Digital twin (DT) presents opportunities to proactively address challenges before they occur.•DT application in the construction industry mainly focusses on a single lifecycle phase.•Application of DT at the design and engineering phase of a construction project has mainly been based on BIM.•Little impact of DT has been seen in the construction industry.
The activity of small innovative enterprises in the construction industry of universities and scientific institutions was analyzed. The main two problems of low growth of these companies are ...identified. Various mechanisms for raising funds in the implementation of innovative projects of a small enterprise have been identified and considered. After analyzing the functioning of a small innovative business, it can be said that most enterprises cannot compete with other market participants, and their technologies become unclaimed. To make a big leap in innovation development, the government needs to force business structures to invest in innovation.
Prefabricated construction has attracted worldwide concern and promotion due to its environmental friendliness, high quality, and high efficiency. In China, the application of prefabricated ...construction still lags due to its high cost. To improve prefabricated construction development, the Chinese government and provinces have launched subsidy policies for different objects that offer subsidies to the assembler, the manufacturer, or consumers. Subsidy policies for different subsidy objects have different impacts on the manufacturer wholesale price and assembler retail price and assembly rate and make their decisions more complicated. Therefore, this study uses game theory and builds three models to analyze the effects of government subsidies on manufacturer pricing, assembler pricing, assembly rate decisions, and profit. We find that government subsidy policies can bring more profit to prefabricated construction enterprises, reduce their costs, and benefit the promotion of prefabricated construction. Through comparison and numerical analysis, we also find that when the government subsidizes enterprises more, it is better to subsidize the assembler, because it is good for all three parties. First, consumers can obtain a lower retail price. Second, enterprises can obtain more profits. Finally, for the government, this approach can increase the demand for prefabricated construction and increase the assembly rate, which is conducive to the promotion of prefabricated construction. When the government subsidizes customers more, it is better for the assembler and the manufacturer to subsidize customers, because they can obtain more profits. It is better for the government and customers to subsidize the assembler or the manufacture, because consumers can get the lower retail price. Although the assembly rate and enterprises' profits are not optimal, they have also been improved. In addition, when the government directly subsidizes enterprises, the enterprises will actively cooperate with the subsidy policy and are more willing to adopt prefabricated construction. This approach will benefit the promotion of prefabricated construction.
PDF
