Visualisation Of Execution Schedule To Facilitate Construction Project Planning
V. K. Bansal and Mahesh Pal
Bar charts and Critical Path Method (CPM) schedules used in the construction industry provide answers to 'what' component is to be constructed and 'when'. Most of the commercially available scheduling tools such as Primavera and Microsoft Project used to generate such schedules fail to provide the information about 'where' the component will be constructed, which require spatial aspects of a project. This paper addresses the spatial and temporal characteristics of the project that facilitate the visualization and understanding of the construction schedule. A methodology using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) was developed to represent spatial aspects of the construction progress graphically by synchronizing it with the construction schedule. The spatial aspects corresponding to each activity in the CPM schedule (generated in Microsoft Excel) were depicted by 3D model developed in the AutoCAD. The spatial and scheduling information were linked together in a GIS environment (ArcGIS) to provide the answer to 'what', 'when' and 'where' of the construction planning
Construction Planning, Visualization, GIS, 4D CAD
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Research Articles
Optimization Of Construction Equipment Utility Using Neural Networks
Jyoti. S. Trivedi and Rakesh Kumar
Management of construction resources and time scheduling requires optimization, which focuses on assessment of the best possible utilization of equipments that are needed to achieve a predetermined goal. This study describes the performance optimization of hydraulic excavator equipment considering four variables i.e. class of the material, depth of the cut, cycle time and size of hauling equipment units at port construction for three distinct projects/scenarios. A three layer feed forward Neural Network (NN) model having four input neurons, two output neurons and five hidden neurons was developed in MATLAB (Visual Basic Compiled Programs) environment. The proposed model uses the productivity and operating cost that is subjected to multiple objective optimizations in order to predict output neurons. The learning of NN model was accomplished by back propagation algorithms and validation with remaining 25% of data sets. It was found that Pareto optimal solutions as compared to basic MS Project base scheduling were reduced relatively by 7 %. The explicit solution is a relatively simple means of predicting temporal variation of equipment use in port construction projects and may be further used by the researchers. The proposed formulation can also be used for identification of optimal operational scenarios.
Construction equipment, Productivity, Multiple objective optimizations, Neural network
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Research Articles
Vertical Integration As An SCM Strategy To Ensure Supply Confidence : A Case Of An Indian MNC
Vilas Mahajan
Supply Chain Management is now globally recognized as a concept having potential, not only for cost reduction but substantially for enhanced customer value. It is because of this recognition that in many a corporate there is now more emphasis being given to applications of Supply Chain Management (SCM) strategies. These successful leaders in their domain treat their supply chain as a powerful tool for achieving competitive advantage through effective delivery of customer value. Emphasis throughout Supply Chain Management is on Integration of its various sub functions in a systematic way to ultimately ensure supply confidence, along with cost effectiveness. One of the strategies followed to ensure Supply Confidence relates to Vertical Integration. This concept of Vertical Integration is adopted by many corporate entities all over the world. The Vertical Integration can be in directions, forward and backward and/ or combination of both. The present paper examines the concept and analyses its pros and cons. The concept, its applications and benefits are exemplified by way of a case of an Indian MNC. This organization had an enviable growth and achieved fifth position in the world in its sector, in a very short time span of a decade, that too starting from scratch. The company attributes its success substantially, to adoption of vertical integration strategy.
Sustainable construction can turn built assets into a profitable and competitive industry. This can enhance life quality, offer customer satisfaction, and maximize the efficient use of resources. This paper develops a set of sustainability criteria for the local residential buildings. Questionnaires and structured interviews were conducted. Spectral methods were introduced for analysis of the data collected from the survey. It was found that the "gas boosted solar hot water system", "parking area for cycles", "degree of noise in operation", "quality of interior air" and "emission of greenhouse gas" are the top five sustinability criteria for improving sustainability performance of the local residential environments.
Sustainability Criteria, Sustainable Construction, Residential, Australia
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Research Articles
Efficient Bid Process Management For Project Success
Devanshu Pandit and S.M. Yadav
The projects often get delayed and show time and cost overruns as a consequence. The importance of bidding documents, good bidding process and the selection of contractors are some of the important prerequisites for the successful completion of a project. The aim of the study was to identify factors in the bid process management that may lead to project success. Subsequently, these factors were ranked by experts for their importance and ability to influence the project results. Two brainstorming sessions were organised for identifying factors, one with a government organization which executes a large number of public projects mainly through cost based selection and second with a private developer organization which hires contractors through quality based selection process. Twelve factors were shortlisted through this process and they were given importance ranking by experienced professionals. The mean value and the descriptive statistics were worked out to rank the factors. Top five factors in the bidding process, identified by using this process are specifications, special conditions of contract, overall and similar experience, award criteria and estimates.
Stakeholder's Responsibility In Mitigating Project Cost Escalation
Satish Kumar V., B. S. Shivaprasad and Pradeep Aggarwal
Time and cost overruns in projects are found to influence the successful completion of a project in Indian scenario. Cost escalation accounts for a substantial part of construction cost especially in mega projects where the uncertainty is extended over larger duration. General risk management process involves finding risk factors, allocating risk to the stakeholders and overcoming the same by proper strategies. In this study, around 70 escalation factors are identified based on the literature review. Survey & interviews with construction industry experts resulted in identifying responsibility of stake holder(s) for each escalation factor. The findings resulted in indentifying stake holder's responsibility in mitigating cost escalation in projects.
Lignin : A Promising Partial Replacement Of Phenol For Making Value Added Composite For Building Applications
Amita Kumari and S.P. Agrawal
The paper describes the synthesis of lignin formaldehyde that will help in potential reduction in use of phenol. The physical and chemical properties of lignin phenol formaldehydes resin obtained are studied by using FTIR of lignin extract, lignin phenol and phenol formaldehyde for main groups and reactions taking place during conversion. Physical properties of prepared composite using the lignin formaldehyde resin for density, moisture content, water absorption, tensile strength etc. were determined with the physical properties of lignin formaldehyde for viscosity using Brookfield Apparatus. The wood particle-lignin composite was found to be a good and sustainable economic alternative to the composites produced by using phenol formaldehyde along with industry waste. A composite made by using the lignin formaldehyde with eucalyptus wood particles was found to be better when compared to the composites made by using phenol formaldehyde resin in terms of mechanical properties including density, moisture content, tensile strength, water absorption and swelling in water.
Lignin, Phenol, Formaldehyde, Composite, Alternative Building Materials
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