Abdulaziz A. Bubshait

King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals | KFUPM · Department of Construction Engineering & Management

Practitioners in construction management primarily focus on two key indicators of project success: total cost and completion time. Heavy equipment and machinery play pivotal role in determining these measures, representing significant cost elements in various heavy construction projects such as road construction. Consequently, there is a pressing n...

Recent advancements in machine learning (ML) applications have set the stage for the development of autonomous construction project scheduling systems. This study presents a blueprint to demonstrate how construction project schedules can be generated automatically by employing machine learning (ML) and building information modeling (BIM). The propo...

The fast-paced evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), large language model (LLM) applications, and generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) have set the stage for improved and autonomous project scheduling models. This study demonstrates how project scheduling can be enhanced by employin...

This paper introduces a newly developed decision support model for allocating a budget for bridge maintenance. The model is built based on capturing the experts’ knowledge for the prioritization of criteria for selecting a bridge maintenance plan. A literature review and interviews with a group of nine local experts were carried out to identify the...

This paper addresses the challenges of embracing Construction 4.0 and proposes a framework for its implementation. The paper provides a brief background on Construction 4.0, as well as outlines the benefits and challenges of embracing it. Based on the literature review and deductive analysis, the paper proposes a framework that could help the const...

Combating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has become an obligation for countries that ratified the Paris Agreement. Saudi Arabia, as a member of the Paris Agreement, pledged to achieve net zero emissions (NZE) by 2060. This endeavor is challenging for all countries. This paper provides an analysis and assessment of the Sau...

Construction projects are large investments that require attention and protection. One of the critical risks is the loss of investment and project failure due to poor safety performance. Accordingly, the objective of this study is to identify and assess factors affecting construction safety performance among the parties involved in construction pro...

The circular economy (CE) has emerged as an upcoming promising solution to global sustainability. Some policymakers have issued legislations to encourage the adoption of CE, and academics have published studies addressing CE from different approaches. However, adopting CE entails a disruptive shift from a linear economy to a closed-loop economy, wh...

The circular economy (CE) has emerged as an upcoming promising solution to global sustainability. Some policymakers have issued legislations to encourage the adoption of CE, and academics have published studies addressing CE from different approaches. However, adopting CE entails a disruptive shift from a linear economy to a closed-loop economy, wh...

Recently, research on innovative approaches to and practices for plastic waste management in a circular economy has gained momentum. Plastic waste pollution poses a serious environmental concern. At the same time, the cement industry is among the biggest sources of CO2 emissions, which poses another environmental challenge. This makes plastic sand...

Abstract: Recently, research on innovative approaches to and practices for plastic waste management in a circular economy has gained momentum. Plastic waste pollution poses a serious environmental concern. At the same time, the cement industry is among the biggest sources of CO2 emissions, which poses another environmental challenge. This makes pla...

The construction industry in Saudi Arabia represented around 5.5% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019 and employed around 26.4% of the total workforce in the Saudi private sector; however, only 12.5% of the construction workers are locals. In 2020, unemployment has reached 15.4% among Saudi nationals. Concurrently, approximately 6.7 million...

This paper aims to clarify the importance of applying the ReliabilityReliabilityCentered Maintenance (RCM)Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) methodology on critical systems. The RCMReliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) is a well-established methodology in determining and optimizing preventive maintenance strategiesMaintenance strategy. The cha...

There exist two basic categories of a construction building procurement methods; those that combine project design with construction under one contract termed design-build (DB) and those that separate the design and construction functions into more than one contract or design-bid-build (DBB). This research compares the performance of DB and DBB in...

It would be rare for a commercial, industrial, or public works construction contract not to contain a defined performance period. Without a known start and completion date the project owner/employer would not know when the facility would be ready for use, and the contractor would not be able to forecast resource allocation. This uncertainty represe...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the empirical relationship between mechanical, electrical, and piping (MEP) project procurement systems and project performance in the context of the Saudi Arabian construction industry. The study plans to expand the understanding of the relationship of design-bid-build (DBB) and design-build (DB...

Purpose This paper aims to develop a quality plan to detect aesthetic defects in extruded aluminum profiles before the fabrication stage based on the Six Sigma improvement methodology in an aluminum facility. These defects are hard to be detected at the fabrication stage. It is also hard to be fixed in the site. Design/methodology/approach The res...

International construction contractors are practitioners operating in a complex environment of uncertainty. To be successful, they must learn to effectively execute projects in multiple regions and societies with multinational/multiethnic teams. This paper compares the performance of international and local construction contractors in the context o...

there are mainly two types of valves used in oil fields: isolation and control valves. Choke valve is an example of control valves. A choke valve is used mainly to adjust the production rates for every individual oil or water well. There are 240 choke valves at the Field under study. Several failures have been reported for these choke valves includ...

Planning and scheduling is an important function in maintenance to improve the productivity of manpower, reduce cost, and improve equipment availability and reliability. Planning and scheduling focus on organizing, coordinating, and scheduling maintenance in advance to run the work execution phase effectively and without delays. The paper presents...

Abdulaziz A. Bubshait1, Mohsin K. Siddiqui2 and Abdul Munem A. Al-Buali3 1 Professor, Construction Engineering and Management, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, KFUPM Box 960, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia, bushait@kfupm.edu.sa **Corresponding Author 2 Assistant Professor, Construction Engineering and Management, King Fahd University o...

Communication and coordination are key issues for successful project management. Coordination is specifically a challenging task for industrial projects where a number of interdependent role players are needed to achieve the desired project outcomes. In this context, a two-stage case study of construction phase delay control for an oil and gas indu...

Inspection is one of the major activities that assure the quality of products and services. In the last few years, inspection jobs became highly demanded in the energy construction industry. However, finding qualified people to cover this demand is considered a difficult task. Assuring quality in the procurement phase in large construction project...

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Silica fume is used as an admixture to concrete to improve the engineering properties. Additions of silica fume improve the bond between concrete and steel reinforcing bars. The authors describe a laboratory study which explores the ultimate pullout load of steel reinforcing bars from concrete enhanced with silica fume. Les fumées de silice utilisé...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the main factors that affect the construction cost of affordable housing in Saudi Arabia. Design/methodology/approach A survey of 14 consultants, 16 contractors and five real estate investors was performed. The survey included 34 different factors affecting the construction cost of affordable houses...

The article discusses the importance of the Internet in the construction industry. It then explains the concept of project specific web sites (PSWS). In order to get a closer look at the use of project webs in construction firms, a survey of 100 typical project webs was conducted. The data was then statistically analyzed. The results were studied t...

Interaction between the University and both the Industry and Business is of paramount importance in enhancing learning, research, and the mutual relationship with the society. This interaction needs to occur across the broad spectrum of industries and businesses and should not be restricted to major industry sectors. Venues of interaction and coope...

The presence of concurrent delay in construction project delay claims adds to the complexity of analysis. Concurrent delays are two or more delays occurring at the same time; these have always been difficult to resolve. With a critical path network, it is possible to determine compensation in time, and to some degree in cost, for the delays arising...

Project delays and cost overruns are becoming major problems in many projects, especially industrial projects. The present economic situation has forced owners to establish time and cost reduction programs to control expenditure. The main objectives of this study are to study the perceptions of owners and contractors about incentive/disincentive (I...

This article discusses the main factors that affect construction costs in Saudi Arabia. Forty-two factors affecting construction costs and their degree of importance were evaluated. The severity of those factors is measured by their the level of importance and ranked according to the severity index for contractors, consultants/engineers, owners, an...

The road network in Saudi Arabia has experienced remarkable development both in length and standards to become one of the longest and most modern highway networks in the Middle East. Quality of performance of some roads, however, was below a satisfactory level. Various parameters directly and indirectly contribute to the pavement quality performanc...

This paper investigates the overhead cost practices of construction companies in Saudi Arabia. Although overhead costs are extremely important in construction estimation, they can be easily overlooked. Neglecting overhead has forced some contractors out of business, because these costs constitute a significant portion of the total construction cost...

Lowering cost and gaining a competitive advantage are prerequisite in the changing business environment. Partnering is one approach to reduce cost and minimize conflict in the construction industry. It is an increasingly popular management tool aimed at reversing the negative effects of adversarial relationships in construction. In this article the...

This paper discusses the appropriateness of contractual methods towards dispute avoidance and resolution (DAR) for industrial projects in Saudi Arabia. It focuses on the private industrial sector in the Eastern Province. A survey was conducted using the principles of quota sampling where 93 questionnaires were distributed to 11 owners, 59 contracto...

There is risk involved in any construction project. A contractor's quality assur- ance system is essential in preventing problems and the reoccurrence of problems. This system ensures consistent quality for the contractor's clients. An evaluation of the quality systems of 15 construction contractors in Saudi Arabia is discussed here. The evaluation...

Design organizations play a major role in the construction industry: they are the media that transfer the requirements of the client to the contractor and ensure that they are met. Thus they need to provide a high quality of service to ensure that their client's project achieves the best possible standards of cost, time and quality. Seventy quality...

Premature rutting has occurred on a number of highways recently built in Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of Communications, in an effort to solve the problem, has initiated a number of studies and started to replace affected pavements. The aim of this study is to identify possible factors which may relate to rutting and to recommend maintenance and repa...

Project managers have traditionally focused on three criteria: cost, time, and quality. What many project managers fail to realize is that people are just as important. Personnel management is vital to a successful project, but team building is not an easy task, especially in a multicultural environment. This article presents the principles and imp...

The authors conducted a survey that investigated project overhead cost practices in Saudi Arabia. Contractors should carefully examine contract conditions to make sure that project overhead costs are properly covered. The survey results show that project overhead costs vary from project to project and that they are increasingly important, since the...

Construction project delays may result from many circumstances. Negotiating a fair and timely damage settlement is beneficial to all parties. Network-based scheduling is an excellent way for negotiating settlement of changes, disputes, and delays throughout the project. In the construction industry, however, there is no single standard and no "acce...

During a construction project, delays may result from many circumstances. Delays may be caused by the owner, the contractor, by acts of God, or a third party. They may occur early or late in the job, alone or with other delays. Negotiating a fair and timely damage settlement is beneficial to all parties. Network-based scheduling is an excellent veh...

Silica fume is an admixture for concrete and it leads to improved engineering properties. However, silica fume in concrete adversely affects the workability of the mix. It also reduces or eliminates bleeding, due to an increase in fineness, thereby resulting in premature drying of the concrete surface, which could lead to plastic shrinkage cracks....

The relationship between the design quality and the design fee is directly dependent upon how the fee is determined, compared to the level of services to be provided. Design deficiency is an error or omission in the drawings and/or the specifications, which results in a facility that will not adequately perform its intended mission. This study is a...

This paper discusses the role and practices of insurance in the construction sector of Saudi Arabia. Clauses related to local housing construction contracts and insurance regulations have been analyzed, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. Other countries' regulations have been highlighted. Data has been collected through personal interviews...

Newly cpnstructed asphalt pavements of several of Saudi Arabian highways have been experiencing premature rutting. Various parameters are thought to be contributing to the problem, from which are, asphalt mix and environment.The aim of this paper is to present the findings of a research plan carried out to identify the factors which contribute to r...

Silica fume is used as an admixture to concrete to improve the engineering properties, Additions of silica fume improve the bond between concrete and steel reinforcing bars. The authors describe a laboratory study which explores the ultimate pullout load of steel reinforcing bars from concrete enhanced with silica fume.

This paper presents a case study of repair and strengthening work carried out on a defective reinforced concrete pier. The pier manifested severe cracking and spalling at the joint between its walls and platform. The distress was due to twisting of the platform as a result of torsional stress, which had also caused diagonal shear cracks to appear o...

In this case study the authors demonstrate the importance of recording and studying the details of concrete repair work to enable future projects to be carried out more efficiently with less slippage in the time schedule and therefore less financial damage over the time plants, such as kilns, are shutdown. In this case study, the distress in the co...

Quality in the design phase is a primary consideration in the construction industry. The inability to define quality as it relates to all functions within engineering consulting offices has resulted in the unsuccessful implementation of quality improvement programs. The assessment of quality management practices is important for the implementation...

The process of investigating and qualifying contractors is important to ensure the success of construction projects. Prequalification has been established as a standard practice by public and semipublic organizations. Its objective is to ensure that the contractor s characteristics and capabilities match the requirements of the project under consid...

The advantages of using microsilica can be considerable as it reduces thermal cracking caused by the heat of cement hydration and can improve durability to attack by sulphate and acidic waters. The advantages and applications are reviewed and a number of test core illustrations are included. Les avantages offerts par l'utilisation de microsilice pe...

The advantages of using microsilica can be considerable as it reduces thermal cracking caused by the heat of cement hydration and can improve durability to attack by sulphate and acidic waters. The advantages and applications are reviewed and a number of test core illustrations are included.

International construction contractors are often faced with the situation of working in an unfamiliar construction environment. One potential source of risk is the contractual requirements embodied in the general conditions of contracts. The paper presents a simple quantitative method for evaluating the general conditions of a construction contract...

The paper discusses the relationship between owner involvement in public construction projects and the level of project quality. North American experiences are summarized first, and then a case study from Saudi Arabia is presented. Owner involvement was measured by asking the government agencies concerned about their level of involvement in several...

The addition of Portland cement and emulsions had little effect on increasing compressive strengths and further investigation indicated that this was due to the montmorillonite mineral present in the clay which controls soil/mix behaviour. The mix with palm tree fibre attained the highest strength.

I n Arabic

In the construction industry, the owner’s objective is to obtain a high-quality facility through quality planning, quality design, and quality construction. There are three mutually exclusive common goals for owners of projects. These are: high quality, low cost, and rapid construction. It is the owner’s responsibility to clarify and communicate th...

State-of-the-Art on Pavement Overlay Design procedures," vol.1, A report prepared for Washington State Department of Transportation, WA-RD 65.1. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/http://depts.washington.edu/trac/bulkdisk/pdf/065.1.pdf

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1985. Bibliography: leaves [169]-184. Microfiche. s