Construction Management

This is to certify that Yusuf Miko Saad has written this report and its contents are the true account of his training and working experience in partial fulfillment of the requirements for admission into the corporate membership of the council for the regulation of engineering in Nigeria.

Infrastructure project delays remain a persistent issue in developing countries, causing cost overruns, reduced public service performance, and inefficient use of construction resources. This simulated research article applies Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to identify latent factors underlying infrastructure project delays from a risk management and digital transformation perspective. A quantitative survey was simulated using 75 respondents consisting of contractors, supervising consultants, and project owner representatives. Fifteen delay indicators were measured using a five-point Likert scale and analyzed through Principal Component Analysis with Varimax rotation. The simulated output produced a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value of 0.782 and Bartlett's Test significance of 0.000, indicating that the data were appropriate for factor analysis. The analysis extracted three dominant latent factors explaining 69.37% of total variance: Digital Technology Competence, Managerial Human Resource Competence, and Logistics and Contract Stability. The findings suggest that digital transformation, represented by BIM maturity, integrated ERP systems, and drone/IoT supervision, has become an important determinant of project time performance. The study recommends that infrastructure stakeholders prioritize digital capability development, human resource competence, and supply chaincontract integration to minimize delay risks.

Generally, most projects are not completed within time, cost, scope for various reasons, and this is accompanied by the emergence of disputes among the contracting parties. Disputes occurred as a result of failure to define the scope of work accurately by the employer which will be followed by the inaccuracy of the time and the estimated cost of the project, the imbalance of prices submitted by the contractors and the unrealistic data of the project activities schedule and the material supply schedule, the selection of contractors without suitable criteria, non-availability of the required financial allocations within the specified times, lack of integration between technical and legal departments in preparing the draft contract to reach a common opinion, lack of experience of executive or supervisory employees in dealing with disputes that occur during the course of work, which leads to their escalation. Four case studies related to dispute in construction contracts which have been resolved by the court were investigated. Triggers for these disputes were discrepancies in change order evaluation as a result of undefined or an accurate project scope, unsuitable site conditions, double meaning of specifications, design mistakes and excessive contract quantities fluctuation, unavailable financial allocations and the subcontractor's lack of experience on similar projects, as well as the main contractor's lack of expertise and capability are the reasons with importance weighting in these case studies. Therefore, taking proactive steps for the purpose of minimizing these disputes and their negative effects through preparing realistic feasibility studies for projects and allocating sufficient time for these studies, in addition to activate the role of surveying engineers and qualifying them to play their effective role in determining quantities and prices accurately and using specialized engineering programs in addition to modern methods of calculating Project completion rates using Earned Value.

Adopting e-government services presents numerous challenges for governmental sectors in developing countries. These problems can fail some projects involving e-government. Therefore, a solution is required to address these problems. This paper presents a conceptual model and measurement to identify crucial factors that impact cloud computing technology in e-government to address the issues with e-government. According to the recent studies on technology adoption models, a theoretical model is proposed in this study. Extracting items from the literature and adapting them, creates the measurement scales for the proposed model’s structures. Through the use of face validity, pre-testing, and a pilot study, the authors confirm the scales’ content validity and reliability. The data used for this study were collected by the authors from 40 information technology IT professionals for the pilot study in the top 10 government departments in Libya who are responsible for many IT decisions in e...

This study evaluated the selection, placement, and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers in selected buildings in Sumacab Este, Cabanatuan City. It focused on determining compliance with Republic Act No. 9514, also known as the Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008. The researchers used a descriptive-evaluative research design and an observational checklist based on RA 9514. Twenty selected residential, commercial, and institutional buildings were assessed. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, and compliance scoring. The findings showed that the selected buildings were generally Mostly Compliant. Most fire extinguishers were accessible, visible, and physically in good condition. However, some issues were found in proper fire extinguisher selection, signage, inspection records, and maintenance documentation. The study recommends regular inspection, proper signage, updated maintenance records, and correct extinguisher selection based on fire hazards

Cost overruns and financial risks are major challenges in infrastructure project management and frequently affect project performance, investment feasibility, and financial sustainability. This study aims to provide an overview of the major factors contributing to cost overruns and financial risks in infrastructure projects based on previous studies and current industry issues. The study uses a qualitative literature review approach by analyzing relevant literature related to construction management, project finance, and infrastructure development. The findings indicate that inadequate project planning, inaccurate cost estimation, design changes, project delays, cash flow instability, material price fluctuations, and weak financial governance are the dominant factors affecting project cost performance. In addition, the increasing adoption of digital technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) is considered to have significant potential in improving cost control and reducing financial uncertainty. This study highlights the importance of integrating engineering management, financial planning, and risk management strategies to improve infrastructure project performance and sustainability.

Often times, contractors failed to identify, plan, strategize, analyzed, execute, monitor, control and manage the risk involves during construction phase in Malaysia. Consequently, the contractor failed to complete the project on schedule, within client's budget and quality. The idea of introducing formal risk management among Malaysian contractors during construction phase is seem to be a proactive approach to achieve the project objectives. This paper intends to identify the application of formal risk management among the contractors during the construction phase in Malaysia. Questionnaires and interviews were used. It was found that although the risk management process in Malaysian construction industry has been introduced, most of them are not well structured and not being implemented in a formal manner. Therefore, it is suggested that these contractors should try to implement formal risk management and hope that the construction industry in Malaysia can enjoy the benefits and lead our industry effectively into the next stage of building the nation.

In the context of e-commerce, the advantages of so-called DropShipments are
critically assessed. The present paper addresses the introduction of DropShipment business
models against the backdrop of the associated process automation. Process automation plays
a critical role in ensuring fast and efficient process execution at high order volumes. Consequently, the introduction of dropshipping also places extensive demands on the automation
of business processes. While full process automation is technically feasible, it is subject to
practical limitations. To this end, the dropshipping business model is analyzed in this paper
with a focus on the technical implementation of automated business processes. The areas of
action necessary for the implementation of automated dropshipping processes are analyzed.
The analysis is based on a survey that examines the overall importance of the business model,
the contribution of key action areas to developing integration solutions supporting automated
processes, and future IT requirements. In the course of the survey, 19 to 21 dual Bachelor
students in Computer Science and Business Informatics were asked for their assessments.
The majority of respondents have no prior knowledge of DropShipping, so the survey results
primarily reflect their spontaneous assessments after receiving an introduction to the topic.
The study concludes that the DropShipping business model will gain increasing importance
in the future. Furthermore, it became evident that requirements analysis, in particular, represents a significant effort while offering high value in developing integration solutions for
automated process handling. The data analysis shows that the cost-benefit potential of using
artificial intelligence methods to enable automated processes is optimal. Finally, it was found
that creating automated DropShipping processes requires, to a particularly high degree, the
expertise of software developers.

The construction industry suffers from a lack of sophistication in information management practices causing costly delays and changes to occur often. Although there have been many information technology (IT) applications developed for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry, construction information remains fragmented even among members of the same team. One of the possible solutions is to use information technology to control, document and communicate construction information. To fully benefit from any new technologies, a lifecycle approach is required to link the construction information and knowledge among the different parties during the life cycle of the construction project. Managing project information during the construction phase is an important yet difficult task. Construction information management must support many tasks performed by different participants, as well as integrate these tasks by supporting information flow between them. Good informatio...

SH&E PROFESSIONALS KNOW several applications for trailing measures, such as trend analysis, control charts and evaluating the effectiveness of safety initiatives. The problem many organizations encounter is that the measures they use do not provide adequate feedback for continuous improvement of the safety process nor do they contribute to the development of the safety culture. The safety culture is unlikely to be positively affected when trailing indicators are the primary focus or are the sole safety metrics an organization uses to assess performance. Leading indicators measure actions, behaviors and processes, the things people actually do for safety, and not simply the safety-related failures typically tracked by trailing measures. Performance has two aspects: "Performance is a function of both the behavior and accomplishment of a person or a group of people. Performance includes the actions of a person or people and the result of the action or actions" (Stolovitch & Keeps, 2004, p. 8). This distinction is important to understanding activity measures (behaviors) versus results measures (accomplishments).

COVID-19 has drastically changed the way life works in many sectors, especially construction. This research aimed to analyse the awareness and practices of construction practitioners regarding the post-coronavirus situation in developing countries. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to study the effects of this pandemic on a global scale. Qualitative and quantitative methods were employed to create an accurate questionnaire for practitioners. During pilot studies, experts were consulted for their opinions, and pre-tests were done on small samples. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics to classify the results. The findings demonstrated that experience increases awareness of epidemic risks as well as how safety measures, regulations, and standards are often disregarded in developing countries and are affected by the community environment. It is recommended to implement a new science of epidemic risk management.

Çalışmamızda Tanzimat Dönemi'nden itibaren eğitim alanında meydana gelen başlıca gelişmeler, dönemin kaynakları ve araştırma eserlerine dayalı olarak incelenmeye çalışılmıştır. Büyük bir dönüşüm ve gelişim çağı olan bu dönemde, eğitim alanında da çok dikkate değer gelişmeler ve değişimler yaşanmıştır. Yeni okulların açılması, müfredatta değişimler; dönemin ruhuna uygun şekilde eğitim alanının da dönüşümlere uğradığını göstermektedir.

Different procurement methods have been developed and applied in the construction industry for improving performance. At the same time, novel management concepts have been adopted for performance improvement based on new production methodologies. The lean principle is one such methodology being applied in the construction industry. This paper proposes that with the right combination of objectives, principles and techniques, this can form the basis for a new project delivery system. The paper has as its objective the identification of an appropriate procurement method that incorporates lean principles. It reviews extant literature on the lean concept and its application in the construction industry, as well as construction procurement methods, and their individual characteristics. The study finds that partnership arrangements have a higher correlation with lean principles compared to other procurement methods because of the emphasis on collaboration and teamwork through construction partnerships.

The current Special Issue is a digest of 13 published articles that referred to the following scientific and professional areas: construction project management and quality management in construction engineering and supervision; cost discount and the financial control of construction projects; multi-criteria feasibility studies of investment enterprises; the qualitative and quantitative research of engineering buildings by probabilistic and fuzzy sets approach; multidiscipline expertise investigations of buildings that significantly differ in structure and use.

Designing a building is a structured journey that moves from an initial idea to a fully realized space. In South Africa, this process is shaped by local regulations, environmental conditions, and client expectations, requiring a clear and organized approach at every stage. This is where the architecture design process in South Africa becomes essential, guiding how projects are planned, developed, and delivered with both creativity and precision. Understanding the Foundation of the Design Journey Every architectural project begins with a clear understanding of the client's vision, goals, and requirements. This initial stage involves discussions around lifestyle needs, functional expectations, budget, and site conditions. Establishing this foundation ensures that the design direction is aligned with both practical and aesthetic objectives. Site analysis is a critical part of this phase, where factors such as orientation, topography, climate, and surrounding context are carefully evaluated. These elements influence how the building will be positioned and designed, ensuring that it responds effectively to its environment. Concept Development and Design Direction Once the initial groundwork is complete, the design process moves into the concept stage. This is where ideas begin to take shape through sketches, diagrams, and preliminary layouts. The goal is to explore different design possibilities and establish a clear direction for the project. Concept development focuses on spatial organization, circulation, and overall form.

This study investigates the direct effects of
transformational, transactional, and servant leadership on
employee performance within Saudi Arabian National
Guard hospitals undergoing healthcare reform under
Vision 2030. Design/methodology/approach: A
quantitative cross-sectional research design was employed
using survey data collected from 500 healthcare
professionals. PLS-SEM was applied. Findings: All three
leadership styles significantly predicted performance.
Transactional leadership showed the strongest effect (β =
0.362, p < .001). The model explained 55.3% variance in
performance. Practical implications: Structured
accountability leadership mechanisms are particularly
effective in regulated healthcare environments.
Originality/value: Provides one of the first comparative
examinations of leadership styles in Saudi healthcare
reform contexts.

The wide use of machine and machinery in the construction industry can reduce the dependency on foreign workers. The Construction Industry Development Board is formulating a strategic plan to promote the use of machine and machinery in the construction industry. Therefore, this study aims to study the level and status of the usage machine and machinery among the G7 contractors at construction sites. The instrument used in the study consist of questionnaire and interviews. Based on the literature findings, there are 9 types of machine and 9 types machinery used in the construction industry. The percentage use of machine and machinery as well as the level of mechanisation for each phase of construction is at level 1, where the machine and machinery is still driven by the operator and do not involved high technology. The main recommendation in this study is to provide training on the latest information on machine and machinery and CPD (Continue Professional Development) training to pro...

Fashion stylists advise clothing colours according to personal categories that depend on skin, hair and eye colour. These categories are not defined scientifically, and advised colours are inconsistent. Such caveats may explain the lack of formal tests of clothing colour aesthetics. We assessed whether observers preferred clothing colours that are linked to variation in melanin levels among White women. For this, we presented 12 women&#39;s faces: six with fair skin (relatively lower in melanin) and six with tanned skin (relatively higher in melanin). Across two experiments, observers ( N = 96 and 75) selected the colour (hue and saturation or hue and value) of simulated clothing that most suited the skin tone of each face. Observers showed strong preferences for red and blue hues, and in addition favoured ‘cool’ blue hues to match fair skin and ‘warm’ orange/red hues to match tanned skin. This finding suggests that skin tone can determine colour preferences for clothes.

from the University of Pretoria. He has considerable experience in construction management, contract management and project management. He has worked for construction companies as a site agent and contracts manager, for a consulting fi rm as a highway engineer and for the Government of Malawi as a project offi cer. Now he is a project manager at Mtalimanja Holdings Limited.

from the University of Pretoria. He has considerable experience in construction management, contract management and project management. He has worked for construction companies as a site agent and contracts manager, for a consulting fi rm as a highway engineer and for the Government of Malawi as a project offi cer. Now he is a project manager at Mtalimanja Holdings Limited.

The best quality, time and cost are the important aspects of successful construction project which fulfills the main goal of construction industry. The quality management has to provide the environment within which related tools, techniques and procedures can be deployed effectively leading to operational success for a construction project. The role of quality management for a construction company is not an isolated activity, but intertwined with all the operational and managerial processes of the construction project. The quality management system (QMS) in construction industry refers to quality planning, quality assurance and quality control. Quality is one of the aims of standardization. The quality of a product or a complete building or other constructions is the totality of its attributes that enable it to perform a stated task or to fulfill a given need satisfactorily for an acceptable period of time.

Results indicated that WPB can be suitably used as a modifier for asphalt mixes as a part of sustainable management of plastic waste as well as for improved performance of asphalt mix. WPB content of 5.0 % by weight of OBC is recommended as the optimum WPB content for the improvement of performance of asphalt mix. Asphalt mix modified with 5.0 % WPB by OBC weight has higher stability value compared to the conventional asphalt mix. Asphalt mix modified with higher percentages of WPB exhibit lower bulk density, higher flow and higher air voids.

In any industrial environment, controlling hazardous energy is not just a regulatory requirement, it's a critical component of workplace safety. From chemical processing plants to manufacturing units, uncontrolled energy release can lead to severe injuries, equipment damage, and costly downtime. One of the most effective ways to mitigate these risks is through the use of industrial-grade valve lockout devices as part of a robust Lockout Tagout program.

The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry has adopted emerging technologies, particularly Building
Information Modeling (BIM) methodology, which has the potential to enhance project management through the utilization
of comprehensive virtual models. Virtual reality (VR) facilitates enhanced visualization and interaction with these models.
This research focused on evaluating the integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Virtual Reality (VR),
identifying trends, predominant approaches, and current limitations. The methodological development phase entailed a
systematic search of relevant studies on BIM-VR integration in specialized databases, employing specific criteria to
identify relevant research. The findings indicate that both technologies are becoming increasingly integrated, exhibiting
advantages, such as enhanced visual perception, improved communication across diverse domains, and enhanced project
management. However, challenges related to the interoperability and standardization of processes persist. The integration
of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Virtual Reality (VR) holds considerable promise for the future.

As our society continues to better prepare itself to address biological, radiological, chemical, and environmental emergencies, there is a need for better and more readily available emergency planning information for program managers and military/business personnel. An online hazardous materials and emergency planning tool for the Environmental Knowledge and Assessment Tool (EKAT: www.ekat-tool.com) would adequately fill that need. The proposed online Emergency Preparation and Green Engineering (EPGE) tool would provide the user with information regarding links to local emergency response teams and resources, guides for developing emergency plans and reports, Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) training information, case studies to illustrate HAZMAT situations, and the ability to judge the environmental friendliness of chemicals. In this way it will serve as a means of facilitating and educating individuals for best responses in an organized fashion. In order to address their environmental responsibilities, public and private organizations are adopting Environmental Management Systems (EMS). The EPGE tool can be used in conjunction with Environmental Management Systems (EMS) to begin to address sustainability in a more practical setting. Currently the development of a comprehensive tool that identifies environmental, health, and safety concerns along with supplying relevant emergency data would be applicable to any business or organization. This tool will be available as an initial building block for the sustainability of the company. It can be used as a guide to better characterize and solve the environmental issues that could affect any business.

The SAAL supply chain is the result of integrating four sustainable, antifragile, agile and lean chain approaches. Each type of supply chain approach has its requirements, which sometimes conflict with the provisions of other supply chain approaches. This research aims to identify the risks facing the SAAL supply chain in a chaotic environment. Due to the use of quantitative methods and its orientation, the current research is of a proof-of-concept and practical type and its methodology is multiple. The study's statistical population comprises construction industry experts who were selected using the judgemental method for sampling. This research used two fuzzy Delphi and hierarchical fuzzy best-worst methods for data analysis. Initially, 63 risks were identified through background review and interviews with experts and these 63 risks were introduced in the form of 14 main risks. Each of these supply chain approaches has a specific type of risk. These risks were screened with fuzzy Delphi and 18 risks remained. Then, the remaining risks were prioritised using the hierarchical fuzzy best-worst method. The results showed that the risks of exchange rate fluctuations with an average weight of 0.0880 and the purchasing power of the people with an average weight of 0.0852 are among the risks of a sustainable approach in the first and second priority, respectively and financing problems with a weight of 0.0791 from the lean approach in the third place, Economic stability weighs 0.0759 from the sustainable approach in the fourth place, and s the highest priority in each of the components of the SAAL supply chain. Using new marketing methods, diversifying financing tools and team approaches, paying attention to effective techniques in consumer behaviour in the future and examining changes in customer buying behaviour and their causes are the most important suggestions of the research to respond to risk.

Obviously, digital technology offers simplified solutions to solve or mitigate problems in general. In the academic sector in particular, the field training is one of the core courses that students must enroll during the third and fourth academic year, where the students have manually to select a relevant organization or institution based on their specialization. The academic staff and hosting institutions do not supervise the trainees as required due to lack of communication between them, wrong selection of the hosting institutions by students in some cases, limited following-up the trainees, thus leading to uncertainty in the number of training hours and reports required by students. These problems can be addressed or mitigated by proposing an electronic training system improving the communication between supervisors of field training, host institutions, and trainees and thus solving most of the mentioned problems. Based on this e-training system, the training unit at the university could therefore follow-up the trainees and thus improve the communication and cooperation with the training institutions. It will also definitely contribute in improving the training task itself for the students. In this proposed paper, the importance of the proposed system was presented. Other related systems were mentioned and used as references in the analysis stage. In the analytical stage, data was collected using 3 different questionnaires developed for students, supervising staff, and for the training institutions. Consequently, obstacles and problems faced these entities were extracted and mentioned. Finally, a preliminary design was proposed in this paper to develop and implement an electronic training system at Palestine Ahliya University.

In this work, we introduce a solution-processed CdS interlayer for use in inverted bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells, and compare this material to a series of standard organic and inorganic cathode interlayers. Different combinations of solution-processed CdS, ZnO and conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) layers were compared as cathode interlayers on ITO substrates to construct inverted solar cells based on PTB7:PC71BM and a P3HT:PC61BM as photoactive layers. Introduction of a CdS interlayer significantly improved the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of inverted PTB7:PC71BM devices from 2.0% to 4.9%, however, this efficiency was still fairly low compared to benchmark ZnO or CPE interlayers due to a low open circuit voltage (VOC), stemming from the deep conduction band energy of CdS. The VOC was greatly improved by introducing an interfacial dipole (CPE) layer on top of the CdS layer, yielding outstanding diode characteristics and a PCE of 6.8%. The best performing interlayer, however, was a single CPE layer alone, which yielded a VOC of 0.727 V, a FF of 63.2%, and a PCE of 7.89%. Using P3HT:PC61BM as an active layer, similar trends were observed. Solar cells without the cathode interlayer yielded a PCE of 0.46% with a poor VOC of 0.197 V and FF of 34.3%. In contrast, the use of hybrid ZnO/CPE layer as the cathode interlayer considerably improved the VOC of 0.599 V and FF of 53.3%, resulting the PCE of 2.99%. Our results indicate that the CdS layer yields excellent diode characteristics, however, performs slightly worse than benchmark ZnO and CPE layers in solar cell devices due to parasitic absorption below 550 nm. These results suggest that the hybrid inorganic/organic interlayer materials are promising candidates as cathode interlayers for high efficiency inverted solar cells through the modification of interface contacts.

Construction defects in the domestic sector, especially those occurring in the building fabric, are acknowledged to contribute to the mismatch between the energy use as predicted at design stage and as measured in the building operation. Despite the number of quality management procedures put in place in social housing projects, defects affecting the thermal performance of dwellings are still a major issue to be managed. Within this context, this study investigates how Project Quality Plans related to thermal performance of dwellings are defined and implemented in the UK social housing projects. The analysis of evidence collected from five social housing case studies suggests that in the majority of the projects, the deployed quality management procedures focuses on visual quality issues, allowing defects with the potential to impair the thermal performance of the dwellings to remain uncorrected. Despite a range of quality control procedures administered by the projects' stakeholders, they did not systematically appraise such defects neither during preconstruction phase, nor during the construction stage. This study identifies the main challenges posed to the development and implementation of Project Quality Plans with focus on the thermal performance of dwellings. In addition, recommendations focused on offsetting the identified challenges are proposed as means to mitigate the quality issues affecting the thermal performance in social housing projects.

Cities face accelerating climate and urbanization pressures, yet evidence on how green architecture jointly delivers resilience, efficiency, and equity remains fragmented across design, technology, economics, and policy. This study addresses that gap by synthesizing recent practice and research to (i) integrate performance outcomes for energy, water, indoor environmental quality, and carbon; (ii) assess techno-economic feasibility across common measures; and (iii) clarify policy and governance levers, including equity considerations. A transparent methodology underpins the analysis, with explicit case-selection criteria, a coded indicator set, and a comparative synthesis across climatic and typological contexts. The findings show that first-line measures such as highperformance envelopes, LED lighting, and advanced controls provide consistently robust energy gains, while strategies such as green roofs, greywater reuse, and building-integrated photovoltaics are strongly context dependent and policy sensitive. The evidence further indicates that many interventions achieve attractive payback periods when evaluated on a life-cycle basis, especially under supportive tariffs and incentives, and that co-benefits for occupant health and comfort are substantial when indoor environmental quality is explicitly targeted. The paper contributes an evidence-graded, methods-traceable framework that links technical choices to economic outcomes and governance pathways, and it outlines a practical agenda for future primary data collection and longitudinal post-occupancy evaluation. The results position green architecture as a transferable, outcome-oriented pathway for resilient, low-carbon, and equitable urban futures.

Professionalism, ethics and morality: A Standardization challenges for Marketing Educators and Industry Practitioners was the subject of this study as has been widely discussed in marketing literature to be the pivot of marketing performance in the academia and industry. One of the objectives was to determine the adherence to     professional ethics by marketing educators and industry practitioners. Survey design was adopted and five  universities and  five polytechnics and few industries in the eastern states were used; and sample size was 80. Primary and secondary data were used. The results showed unethical practices among the educators and industry practitioners. Recommendations were made including the need to have code of ethics among marketing educators and industry practitioners and to have Association of Marketing Educators for better internalization and enforcement. Key Word: Professionalism, Ethics, Morality, Marketing Educators, Industry Practitioners.

This paper assessed Construction Technology (CT) creativity skills of CT students in Tertiary Institutions (TI) for employment sustainability in Nigeria. 3 research objectives and 3 research questions guided the conduct of this study. The study employed a descriptive survey research design, and was conducted in the north western states of Nigeria. The population for the study is 315 comprising 200 level CT students in TI in NW Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used to sample 173 CT students from the study's population. A 55 item structured questionnaire validated by 3 experts was used to collect data for the study. Cronbach's Alpha reliability was used to determine the reliability coefficient of the instrument which stood at .79. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the data collected from the study with the help of IBM SPSS version 25. Findings from the result of the study revealed that CT students lacked creativity skills. Equally, findings also revealed that CT students require creativity skills elements for employment sustainability in Nigeria. Finding also revealed digital skills acquisition by both lecturers and students, curriculum restructure as well as focus training on acquiring entrepreneurship competence as strategies to be employed in enhancing creativity skills of CT students for employment sustainability in Nigeria. The study concludes by recommending to CT stakeholders to ensure leveraging application of digital technology during the training of students, and also encourage student centred learning approach for developing student's creativity skills.

The thesis «Systematic completion in railway projects: a literature study in systems engineering» investigated how systems engineering could be used to manage complex railway projects and to further develop the current model for systematic completion within the railway sector. The research problem was based on experiences of cost overruns and varying success in the application of systematic completion. The theoretical framework drew on literature on the systems engineering process, emphasising requirements, functional analysis and design, the V-model, different project breakdown structures, and verification and validation. Methodologically, the study was designed as a qualitative literature review based on systematic searches in Google Scholar, followed by a review of reference lists in relevant literature. The findings showed that systematic completion could be understood as a tailored application of systems engineering, but that current practice was characterised by discipline based breakdowns, weak traceability of requirements and functions, and
fragmented testing and verification activities. The thesis concluded that systems engineering could provide a contract aligned hierarchical project breakdown with clear traceability, offering a more robust basis for governance, verification and validation in railway projects.

Intense competition among construction companies urges for continuous improvement and evaluation of performance. Many researches recognized the importance of financial performance (FP) and attempted to develop a reliable model to evaluate the company FP. The main objective of this research is developing an accurate model to evaluate the financial performance of residential construction companies. Financial data of a number of residential construction companies were collected from the Egyptian Authority of Money Market in the form of balance sheets and income statement. The most six ratios affecting company financial performance were identified and calculated. Every financial point (case) defined with six financial ratios. The financial ratios represent the model input while the model output, i.e. performance index, is developed using fuzzy c-mean clustering (FCM). Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is utilized to develop the relation between the input and output variables. Some points were kept for the purpose of testing the validity of the developed model. The validation of the model showed satisfactory results which provide a sufficientdegree of reliability to use the model in evaluating the financial performance of construction companies.

The successful initiation and execution of a virtual team is gaining increasing attention in the design and construction community. From opportunities to integrate international and multidisciplinary teams to the opportunity to leverage the best resources in an organization on a given project, virtual teams can transform the concept of project planning and execution. However, potential barriers exist in several areas to the successful implementation of virtual teams. The need for increased management emphasis, social and cultural understanding, and emphasis on common goals are only a few of the non-technical factors that can turn successful virtual teaming into virtual frustrations. When combined with traditional technical challenges including compatibility of systems, security, and the selection of appropriate technologies, the line between leveraging virtual technologies for enhanced solutions and introducing additional complications into the project process is one that can be easily crossed. This paper presents the findings of research that addresses the opportunities and potential barriers to successful virtual teams in the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) industry. Combining results from current research, industry practices, and early results from non-construction industries, the research findings provide an initial path to successful virtual team implementation.

High-risk infrastructure projects, characterized by their complexity, substantial investment, and extended timelines, necessitate robust quality governance frameworks to mitigate potential failures and ensure successful delivery [1]. Traditional governance models often struggle to integrate the dynamic interplay of risk factors with quality assurance mechanisms across the project lifecycle. This paper introduces a computational model designed for risk-based quality governance assessment in such projects. The model employs a weighted composite scoring approach, systematically evaluating various dimensions of quality governance against identified project-specific risks. It synthesizes quantitative metrics and qualitative indicators, transforming complex risk landscapes into actionable governance scores. The methodology encompasses indicator selection, an algorithm for composite score calculation, and a multi-stage validation process. Application through simulated case studies demonstrates the model's capacity to provide a nuanced, real-time assessment of governance efficacy, identifying vulnerabilities and guiding strategic interventions. This approach supports project stakeholders in making informed decisions, thereby enhancing project resilience and reducing the likelihood of adverse outcomes. The model contributes a structured, quantifiable method for proactively managing quality governance in critical infrastructure developments. To operate this concept, the proposed model integrates governance indicators, risk criticality metrics, and decision-weighting mechanisms within a computational decision-support architecture. Specifically, the model combines expert-derived governance indicators with probabilistic risk assessment to compute a normalized Weighted Composite Score (WCS) representing governance effectiveness under risk exposure. Sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo simulation are incorporated to evaluate the robustness of governance scoring under uncertain project conditions. This computational structure enables systematic benchmarking of governance performance across infrastructure projects with varying risk profiles.

Due to the widespread recognition of climate change, urban communities are increasingly seeking to ensure not only resilience of urban water supplies in the future, but also optimising use of urban water in their community to create hydro-social benefits, which enhance the health of the urban living environment. Over 20 years, many efforts have been put into emerging research, establishing government policies, and application to the practices of transforming from the conventional water management system into the integrative sustainable water management system. However, a hydro-technical resilience system has not been established yet nor is there a common vision for doing so either internationally and locally. As many cities faced ongoing investment in the conventional system, it requires an overhaul of the existing urban water management system to move to the next stage, an adaptation process of the new approach of contextual hydro-technical systems. This paper provides an overview of the emerging research and practice, focused on principles for water sensitive city toward urban resilience especially in the context of the high-density environment, Singapore. The three key components that underpin the principles of water sensitive city are proposed; 1) socio-political system towards water sensitive community; 2) integrated socio-technical system comprising centralized and decentralized models; 3) environmental resilience in built and natural environment. While progressing towards transformation to achieve resilience, the approach of Singapore as a leading water sensitive city will be presented.

Do projects learn across space and time? The Olympics, themselves among the largest publicly funded programmes in the world, offer a unique empirical setting. Theoretically, the Games seem ideal for generating 'positive learning curves', driving down costs from one iteration to the next. In practice, they do not. Drawing on the concept of 'myopia of learning', we argue that spatiotemporality (geographic distance, temporal gaps, and the temporary organizational form of each host committee) combines to block higher-level learning. Our analysis of cost overruns from 1960 to 2024 reveals no sustained improvement over 64 years. Tactical learning abounds, but none aggregates into strategic improvement. We propose four strategies for overcoming the spatiotemporal barrier (incremental, centralizing, decentralizing, and real options), arguing that radical reform is required.

This study examines the effectiveness of an integrated Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) management approach implemented within a large-scale construction project, with a particular focus on the role of data-driven decision-making, behavioural safety, and system-level controls. The research addresses a critical gap in construction safety management, where traditional approaches often rely on reactive measures and limited integration between inspection data, training, and workforce behaviour.

A structured framework was applied, incorporating inspection systems, safety audits, behavioural observations, and competency-based training programs. Inspection data and audit findings were systematically analyzed to identify risk trends, behavioural patterns, and competency gaps, enabling the development of targeted interventions and continuous improvement mechanisms. This proactive approach enhanced workforce competence, strengthened safety culture, and supported the implementation of effective, evidence-based safety practices.

The findings demonstrate that integrating technical safety systems with behavioural and data-driven approaches significantly enhances safety performance. In particular, the study highlights the importance of aligning training programs with real-time site conditions, improving risk perception among workers, and ensuring that corrective actions address root causes rather than superficial issues. The approach also facilitated adaptive safety management, allowing systems to respond effectively to evolving project conditions. The project achieved a significant milestone of 8 million safe man-hours without a Lost Time Injury (LTI), demonstrating the effectiveness of integrated safety management systems supported by leadership commitment and workforce engagement.

This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by presenting a practical and scalable model for construction safety management that bridges the gap between theory and real-world application. It further reinforces the importance of combining leadership, structured systems, and workforce engagement to achieve sustainable safety outcomes. The findings also provide valuable insights for safety professionals and support competency development aligned with recognized frameworks such as BCRSP and NEBOSH. The proposed framework offers a robust foundation for advancing safety management practices in construction and provides a basis for future research into data-driven and behaviour-focused safety systems.

Structural health monitoring has been utilized in numerous ways to investigate the performance and integrity of highway bridges. This paper highlights the use of six structural health monitoring systems, which were deployed to monitor distinct behaviors on six bridges in Kentucky. The structural health monitoring systems are as follows: (1) Over-height truck impact detection and monitoring on the I-64 over US 60 bridge, (2) Barge impact detection and monitoring on northbound US 41 over the Ohio River, (3) effectiveness of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer retrofit evaluation based on prestressed concrete I-girder crack movement on the I-65 elevated expressway in Louisville, (4) effect of thermal loads on bridge substructure evaluation on KY 100 over Trammel Creek, (5) thermal movement of expansion joints evaluation on eastbound I-24 over the Tennessee River, and (6) crack growth monitoring on steel floor beam on I-275 over the Ohio River. The deployment of the different structural hea...

This paper seeks to explain consumers' reasons for purchasing from informal sector suppliers so that policy initiatives can be developed to tackle the off-thebooks consumer culture. The conventional assumption is that those purchasing from the informal economy are marginalised populations seeking a lower price. Here, however this assumption is evaluated critically. Reporting data from a 2019 Eurobarometer survey involving 11,171 face-to-face interviews in 11 East-Central European countries on who purchases home repairs and renovations from informal sector suppliers and why, the finding is that it is not the poorest populations who purchase such services and a lower price is the sole motive in just 20% of cases. Besides being "pulled" into the informal economy by a lower price, consumers are also "pushed" into the informal economy by the failures of formal sector provision and in addition do so for social and redistributive rationales. The policy implication is that there is not only a need to alter the cost-benefit ratio facing consumers so that they purchase formal services, but also initiatives are required to enhance the availability, speed, reliability and quality of formal sector provision and to address purchases made for social and redistributive reasons.

The vast sums of money involved in megaprojects, and the perceived lack of public benefit, create controversy. Flyvberg' s iron law asserts that megaprojects are over budget, over time, under benefits, over and over again (Flyvberg, 2018). More recent research suggests that this focus on cost overruns is based on highly misleading data (Love & Ahiaga-Dagbui, 2017). This research seeks to examine live megaprojects and examine Flyvberg's theories in practice, through an investigation of current megaprojects in the Middle East. The research provides three case studies for two recently completed and one on-going megaproject, to examine these claims further. The research questions whether the right comparisons are made between the initial offerings and final product, through consultation with professionals. Based on the findings, it is suggested that an increase of over 100% of the Contract price, may not constitute an over-budget megaproject. Professional Cost Consultants in the built environment can provide greater insight into the complexity that adds cost in the transitions from initial to final costs for megaprojects, although the validity of this insight may be reduced by a lack of distance from or overview of the megaproject. This paper investigates some of the familiar sources of megaproject cost overrun and considers the findings of Cost Consultants engaged in monitoring megaprojects in the state of Qatar. Time and Cost considerations are just two of the characteristics evident in megaprojects. This research suggests that reporting of time and cost overruns is frequently based on limited, misunderstood or misreported data, and that in order to provide higher fidelity, such 'headline claims' need to be careful considered in the context of the original project scope. This paper recognises that cost is just one element of a megaproject, and that megaprojects warrant more holistic considerations including acknowledgement of other significant characteristics such as their embodiment of large components of risk, political influences, organisational pressures and management complexities.

A number of studies have been released in recent years from prestigious think-tanks, such as the Hudson Institute, and leading consulting firms, such as Wyatt and McKinsey, predicting severe labor market shortages for the U.S. economy in the decades ahead. Some go as far as to suggest that the U.S. economy will experience widespread job vacancies that cannot be filled because of a shortfall of workers. In these arguments, the shortfall is typically blamed on the small size of the &quot;baby bust&quot; cohort, the generation that has followed the baby boomers into the labor market.