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Advancing Building Construction: A Novel Conceptual Framework Integrating Circularity with Modified Lean Project Delivery Systems
... Though countermeasures are in place to tackle the problem of solid waste produced from the construction industry, such waste that is hidden from sight such as manpower loss, non-strategic methods, improper material handling or ineffective machinery utilization still plague the industry [26,27]. Researchers agreed that with the reduction of wastage from the construction industry not only will the manufacturers save capital and time but also contributing to saving the environment, to be in the correct path towards supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) [2,[28][29][30]. ...
... Promoting urban interventions that extend the life cycle of buildings and facilitate sustainable rehabilitation is essential. It is critical to incorporate considerations of active ageing from the design phase of projects [6]. The expected lifespan of a building significantly influences its functional utility, which is directly related to the initial investment of resources assigned to its construction. ...
The construction sector plays a pivotal role in urban development, providing a critical opportunity to foster a cultural shift towards the regeneration of housing stock. This shift focuses on sustainable and resilient urban interventions to extend the lifespan of buildings, starting from the design phase. In this context, the European Union’s Level(s) framework, which establishes sustainability indicators, is particularly relevant to this research, as it promotes circular economy principles and building resilience. The framework provides a comprehensive set of indicators that guide resilient housing rehabilitation methodologies. Indicator 2.3 supports the design and renovation of obsolete housing, emphasizing the maximization of resilience against climatic, functional, and socio-economic impacts. Meanwhile, Indicator 4.2 evaluates the thermal comfort of building occupants concerning indoor conditions throughout the year. The primary aim of this study is to develop a resilient housing rehabilitation methodology based on Level(s), which includes (i) assessing the current resilience of a pilot case, (ii) designing new resilient housing configurations, (iii) evaluating thermal comfort duration for older adults, and (iv) analyzing cost amortization. The research findings indicate that the proposed rehabilitation approach significantly improves occupants’ resilience to climate-related stressors and thermal comfort, particularly vulnerable populations such as older adults. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of adapting thermal comfort standards for these populations and demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of resilience strategies. The outcomes contribute to a flexible and accessible refurbishment model that meets diverse tenant needs, offering a scalable solution for sustainable urban interventions.
... Gatell and Avella [77] identified lean leadership competencies such as customer orientation, continuous improvement, and problem-solving as vital for fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability. Additionally, Saradara et al. [78] proposed a framework that integrates Lean Project Delivery Systems (LPDS) with CE principles, enhancing resource efficiency and minimizing waste throughout a product's lifecycle. ...
Industrial Engineering (IE) has continually evolved to optimize systems and processes, addressing the demands of an ever-changing industrial landscape. From its historical roots in work organization to its current role in Industry 4.0 and the emerging Industry 5.0 paradigm, IE has remained central to fostering innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. Industry 4.0 has revolutionized industrial systems through the integration of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and advanced data analytics, enabling real-time decision-making and resource optimization. Building on this foundation, Industry 5.0 shifts the focus to human-centric, ethical, and sustainable practices, leveraging advanced technologies such as cognitive digital twins, collaborative robots, and resilient systems to enhance human-machine collaboration and environmental responsibility. This study explores the evolution of IE, its foundational principles, and its critical role in addressing modern industrial challenges. It highlights strategies for advancing the IE profession and academic programs, ensuring their relevance in the digital era. Additionally, it identifies six future research directions, including Human-AI collaboration, Adaptive and resilient systems design, advanced sustainability models, ethical and inclusive systems design, digital twin integration, and quantum computing, as key enablers for driving innovation and achieving global sustainability goals. By bridging the technological advancements of Industry 4.0 with the human-centric and sustainable objectives of Industry 5.0, IE is positioned to lead the transformation of industrial systems, fostering a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future.
... Adopting CE in any organization can enhance the circularity of their product or services and improve resource utilization. Despite the numerous benefits of CE adoption, the C&D sector still faces challenges in fully understanding, integrating, and adopting this approach (Swarnakar and Khalfan, 2024;Saradara et al., 2024a). The objective of the present study is to provide comprehensive knowledge of various CE aspects within the C&D sector and propose a structured conceptual framework for an effective construction and demolition waste management (CDWM) program. ...
Purpose
Circular economy (CE) is a structured model of production and consumption involving sharing, leasing, reusing, recycling, repairing and refurbishing existing products or materials sustainably. Despite the numerous benefits of CE adoption, the construction and demolition (C&D) sector still struggles to comprehensively understand, integrate and adopt this approach. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of CE within the C&D sector and proposes a structured conceptual framework for an effective construction and demolition waste management (CDWM) program.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted using the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses” (PRISMA) framework to search for articles across three databases: Scopus, Web of Science and EBSCO. EndNote software and Excel spreadsheets were used to analyze and synthesize the articles up to 2024. A total of 102 articles were included in the study. Various key facets of the CE in CDWM, including barriers and mitigation actions, enablers, tools and techniques, benefits, strategies and frameworks, have been thoroughly reviewed and analyzed for the C&D sector to understand their nature and effectively adopt the CE approach in CDWM operations.
Findings
The findings provide a comprehensive analysis of different facets of CE in CDWM and a structured conceptual framework for the effective adoption of CE. This will contribute to improving the management of CDWM in the C&D sector. The outcomes offer a comprehensive knowledge base of CE in CDWM to managers, planners, decision-makers, stakeholders and researchers, enabling effective deployment.
Practical implications
This study offers a substantial knowledge base to researchers by examining various key facets of CE in CDWM, aiding further exploration of research in the same domain. Additionally, it assists C&D managers, planners, stakeholders and decision-makers by furnishing a structured conceptual framework of CE, thereby enhancing effective implementation. Furthermore, this study supports society by providing a pathway to improve C&D waste circularity through the execution of CE.
Originality/value
This study is the first to comprehensively review the various facets of CE from a CDWM perspective and to propose a structured conceptual framework for the effective adoption of CE in the C&D sector. Additionally, it not only advances theoretical knowledge of CE adoption in the CDWM field but also provides practical guidance to stakeholders on how to implement a comprehensive CE approach to enhance C&D waste circularity.
... The currently available CE frameworks are fragmented along the lines of these many facets of the construction and building industry. It is important to mention, however, that alternative approaches are trying to consider the lifecycle management of assets from design to end-of-life, such as prefabrication, design for change, design for deconstruction, reverse logistics, waste management, and closed-loop systems [4][5][6][7]. Research results have identified that the construction and building sector has a strong focus on the linkage of CE to sustainable development; however, the CE's social and future dimensions are somewhat sidelined [8-10]. There has been a significant increase in interest in the applicability of CE on the level of operations, business models, and policy guidance recently; however, the academic community has expressed concern regarding the lack of attention to and research on the related human needs and social impacts [11][12][13][14]. ...
The current study seeks to explore the underexamined or potentially under-researched social dimensions of circular economy (CE) in the context of buildings. Utilising a meta-synthesis approach, this paper builds on the two primary theoretical frameworks in the well-being literature: the eudaimonic and hedonic perspectives. The analysis of the selected articles reveals that these frameworks foster distinct modes of interaction and perception concerning one’s environment. A consensus is evident among the studies reviewed, advocating for integrating both eudaimonic and hedonic elements to achieve optimal well-being and happiness. Moreover, some scholars argue that for the attainment of sustainability goals and, by extension, CE objectives, the eudaimonic approach to well-being should be emphasised over the currently predominant hedonic inclinations. The research also attempts to open a discourse between the sometimes rather comprehensive, holistic, and hard-to-quantify dimensions of human well-being and the more logical, measurable, and tangible results-oriented approach towards the built environment. This investigation illustrates how well-designed building elements, aligned with CE principles, can play a pivotal role in fostering both environmental sustainability and human flourishing in the built environment.
The increasing emphasis on integrating technological advancements with human-centered and sustainable practices highlights the paradigm shift toward Construction 5.0 (C5.0) in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sector. Despite its potential, investigations about C5.0’s key pillars, practical implications, and adoption challenges remain limited, with much existing research focusing on conceptual frameworks or literature reviews. This study addresses these gaps through an empirical investigation, incorporating insights from a focus group of 17 industry practitioners to explore C5.0’s key pillars, core features, technological enablers, and implications. The findings highlight three core features of C5.0: human-centricity, sustainability-driven practices, and collaborative intelligence. Seventeen emerging digital technologies were identified as critical enablers of C5.0, with artificial intelligence/machine learning, digital twins, and collaborative robots ranked as the most impactful technologies. These technologies support 31 application domains and enable AEC organizations to achieve enhanced productivity, innovation, sustainability, worker safety and well-being, and competitive advantage. Under the enhanced sustainability category, improved compliance with environmental regulations and increased capacity to meet client demands for sustainable practices were emphasized as key outcomes. This study contributes both theoretically and practically to the understanding of C5.0. Theoretically, it defines the key pillars, core features, and technological enablers of C5.0, bridging gaps in the existing literature and advancing the academic discourse on the evolution to C5.0. Practically, it offers a roadmap for integrating critical technologies with human-centered and sustainability goals, enabling AEC practitioners to prioritize investments effectively. Future research should expand empirical studies to conduct a cost-benefit evaluation of C5.0 technologies and explore C5.0’s impact on project management methodologies, stakeholder collaboration, and organizational strategy development.
This study was planned to investigate an approach to involve sustainability in the engineering education process. An approach based on experiments on a group of students has been performed to assess the effect of including a project-based learning (PBL) strategy in a former theoretical engineering course titled “Material Science”. The study focuses on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations (UN): Quality Education, gender equality, reasonable consumption, and production. A survey was carried out to evaluate the process in
three sorts (Pre-, Mid, and After-course assessments) for 10 working diverse groups with a capacity of two to four students each. The comparison of three survey results showed that the PBL method and Circular economy (CE) concept is successful in
engineering education. The diverse composition of student groups, the range of selected products, and the systematic approaches to assessment and feedback collectively enhance the richness and inclusivity of the learning experience. These
elements foster a deeper comprehension of circular economy principles among students and support the SDGs' overarching goals by encouraging collaboration, inclusivity, and responsible practices. Moving forward, efforts should focus on pinpointing critical strategies for embedding circular economic concepts into
foundational educational frameworks
The Last Planner® System (LPS)3 was initially designed as a system for planning and controlling production on projects, that is, to do what is necessary to achieve set targets (Ballard 2000). It was understood to differ from project controls, which sets targets (objectives and constraints on their delivery) and monitors progress toward them. Initially, LPS consisted only of lookahead planning (Ballard 1997), weekly work planning, and learning from breakdowns. In the early 2000s, planning and scheduling project phases (which provide inputs to lookahead planning) were added to its scope, as described in the 2016 Benchmark (Ballard and Tommelein 2016). This 2020 Current Process Benchmark further extends LPS in principle to both production4 (i.e., striving for targets) and project planning and control (i.e., setting targets). That does not mean there is no longer a role for technical specialists such as schedulers, estimators, inspectors, etc. It means that a single system is needed rather than two systems; a system for the project chain of command to both manage the project and continuously improve the project’s planning and control system. Technical specialists are still needed to collect and analyze information that managers at different levels need in order to make good decisions.
Purpose
This study aims to present state-of-the-art research on circular economy (CE) implementation in construction and demolition waste management (CDWM) within the construction sector.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed-method (scientometric and critical analysis) review strategy was adopted, involving scientometric and critical analysis to uncover the evolutionary progress within the research area, investigate key research themes in the field, and explore ten issues of CE in CDWM. Moreover, avenues for future research are provided for researchers, practitioners, decision-makers, and planners to bring innovative and new knowledge to this field.
Findings
A total of 212 articles were analyzed, and scientometric analysis was performed. The critical analysis findings reveal extensive use of surveys, interviews, case studies, or mixed-method approaches as study methodologies. Furthermore, there is limited focus on the application of modern technologies, modeling approaches, decision support systems, and monitoring and traceability tools of CE in the CDWM field. Additionally, no structured framework to implement CE in CDWM areas has been found, as existing frameworks are based on traditional linear models. Moreover, none of the studies discuss readiness factors, knowledge management systems, performance measurement systems, and life cycle assessment indicators.
Practical implications
The outcomes of this study can be utilized by construction and demolition sector managers, researchers, practitioners, decision-makers, and policymakers to comprehend the state-of-the-art, explore current research topics, and gain detailed insights into future research areas. Additionally, the study offers suggestions on addressing these areas effectively.
Originality/value
This study employs a universal approach to provide the current research progress and holistic knowledge about various important issues of CE in CDWM, offering opportunities for future research directions in the area.
The construction sector is considered a major consumer of virgin materials and a contributor to waste generation. Therefore, it is essential to rethink current waste management practices, for example, by applying circular economy principles to building demolition, such as deconstruction. Deconstruction involves dismantling a building with the aim of maintaining the highest possible value for its materials and maximising their recovery potential. This study aims to guide the construction sector towards deconstruction to support its efforts to transform itself toward a more sustainable industry. It focuses on a regional case study in the province of Québec (Canada), presenting five buildings to be deconstructed. First, this study presents the outcomes of our analysis of the current situation. Second, it identifies the issues and obstacles encountered and proposes avenues to improve the current process based on solutions identified in the literature and the recommendations of the manager, the contractor involved in the deconstruction project, as well as experts in the construction industry. Finally, it proposes an improved deconstruction process. Our research approach is inspired from Lean thinking and follows the Action Research methodology.
The construction sector in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expanding substantially due to many variables, including strong economic growth, a swiftly growing population, and continuous modernization endeavors. As a result, the development of the construction industry is leading to adverse impacts on energy consumption and environmental conditions. The UAE government and policymakers have implemented significant initiatives to advance sustainable infrastructure, promote clean energy utilization, effectively manage construction and demolition waste (CDW), and foster green building development. These measures follow the nation’s dedication to the Paris Agreement, which aims to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The article comprehensively examines the policies and practices implemented in this industrialized nation concerning sustainable construction. Moreover, the primary objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of the UAE in comparison to other countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) concerning their accomplishments in sustainability. Additionally, the study seeks to integrate insights from the global community regarding sustainability policies, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the effective management of CDW, and the implementation of green regulations that govern environmentally conscious construction practices. A comprehensive analysis of information sources from official websites, particularly those of the ministry and key government agencies, is conducted to better understand the current sustainability policies and treatment methods related to the management of CDW and green building regulations.
Lean manufacturing principles are being increasingly employed in off-site construction (OSC) with the primary objective of reducing waste and improving production efficiency. This is performed using several tools and technologies largely influenced by the concept of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) that sets fundamental design principles for technological development. However, the recent introduction of the concept of Industry 5.0 (I5.0) extends the I4.0 focus toward wider economic, social, and environmental implications. This study aims to evaluate extant literature employing lean tools and concepts in OSC toward the realization of I4.0 and I5.0 design principles, identifying key research themes and gaps and suggesting future directions. A mixed-method review was employed to first identify highly relevant literature using a bibliometric search. The identified references were then analyzed using qualitative content analysis through the lens of I4.0 and I5.0. Results highlight several interactions between identified lean-OSC tools and concepts and I4.0 and I5.0 design principles, signifying the power of these tools/concepts in meeting multiple industry objectives. The review also identifies a significant overlap between the resilience principle in I5.0 and many of the I4.0 principles, emphasizing resilience as an integrative concept of technological principles. Finally, several research gaps relating to the social and environmental aspects of lean-OSC research were identified, including research on mental health, assistive technologies, and design for end-of-life.
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the benefits and challenges of implementing circular economy (CE), as well as shed light on the influence of procurement strategy in CE implementation in construction projects.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative research approach with abductive reasoning was adopted. The empirical data were collected from the construction industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Findings
The results reveal that clients, consultants and contractors have limited awareness, knowledge and motivation to implement CE in construction projects. The absence of incentives to design projects following CE principles, lack of involvement of contractors and suppliers, non-use of materials that use CE principles and current procurement strategies are the main challenges for the implementation of CE in the UAE.
Originality/value
Previous research offers limited knowledge on CE and its implementation in construction projects particularly from a procurement strategy perspective. The findings of the study provide new knowledge of the benefits, challenges and role of procurement strategy for implementing CE. It is suggested that collaborative and partnering-based procurement methods are needed to facilitate the effective implementation of CE.
Full text is available as open access at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CI-12-2022-0327/full/html
The construction industry substantially impacts a country’s economic growth and ecological progress. Due to the competitive nature of the construction business and intense rivalry between construction companies, the industry’s focus is progressively becoming customer-centric. Efforts are being taken to ensure high-quality buildings are built at reasonable rates and on time. Companies are trying to ensure on-time building projects are completed within allocated budgets. This can be accomplished by ensuring minimal waste generation from various activities during the construction process. Implementing lean tools and techniques can improve work efficiency and reduce waste in the building process. This research study offers a basic understanding of lean tools and emphasizes their contribution in terms of time, effort, and sustainability. The primary purpose of this study is to present the effectiveness of the lean process for construction waste management. Through a case study, this research shows the deployment of lean tools and principles for efficient construction waste management and optimal use of building resources. The improvement in reduced waste generation and enhanced organizational resource productivity is closely monitored. The study results indicated that the lean framework could reduce waste by 25 to 50%. It is demonstrated that lean construction significantly improves construction sustainability and productivity. If it is implemented along with automation tools and circular economy concepts, more than 50% of waste reduction can be achieved. These viable initiatives are necessary to improve the performance of the Indian construction industry to achieve circularity in waste management which indirectly helps in the sustainability goals of the construction sector.
To close the loop for the circular economy (CE) transition in the construction industry, forward logistics (FL) and reverse logistics (RL), as enabling operations for CE, are important topics to be addressed. However, current research mainly focuses on either FL or RL, with a lack of synthesis that presents an overview of the bi-directional logistics system integrating FL and RL and related mechanisms to close the loop. This review, therefore, explores the current cases of FL and RL in the construction arena through a systematic literature review (SLR) process. A review framework to synthesize and compare both FL and RL operations in various phases of the construction project life cycle (CPLC) has been established for this purpose. The phases include - in FL: design, manufacturing, construction, and operations; and in RL: deconstruction, product reuse, waste distribution, and material reprocessing. The review concludes that while similar methods and CE strategies are used in FL and RL, RL operations require more integration between supply chain actors to close the loop for CE in construction. The findings also indicate that more lateral integration between FL and RL phases beyond the life cycle and industrial boundaries is necessary for CE-driven construction projects, instead of only direct vertical integration with up- and down-stream partners. This review proposes a new conceptual framework of circular logistics integration (CLI) that consists of channel creation, network integration, and inventory management to guide and inspire future research in tackling the systematic barriers that hinder materials and resource flow from RL to FL in construction life cycles.
Circular Economy requires a closed-loop material cycle and seeks ways to apply circular principles. However, existing lifecycle approaches not only omit the early stages to observe such principles but fail to reflect the evolving nature of the building lifecycle. This study develops the first Circular Building Lifecycle Framework, namely Inception to Circulation, by (i) clarifying the R principles, (ii) differentiating lifecycle approaches, (iii) unifying fragmented building lifecycle stages, and (iv) integrating R principles with building lifecycle stages. The study found that most studies focused on three lifecycle stages (design, construction, operation), and no study covered all seven lifecycle stages as opposed to the proposed framework. The linear nature of the current building lifecycle is proven as most studies considered none of the R principles, in which 22 R principles were clarified into 14 R principles. Addressing such issues, a novel framework of seven stages (Inception, Feasibility & Planning, Design, Construction, Handover, Operation, and Circulation) is developed with R principles. The framework establishes a platform to facilitate industry stakeholder collaboration and guidance on applying R practices to the building lifecycle. The study made contributions by developing circular building lifecycle stages, exemplified R principle implementation, and a path for policymakers and industry professionals toward a circular transformation. The framework has the potential to be utilized by future studies to assess the circularity of building investments. Additionally, its multidirectional structure enables modifying different performance dimensions or metrics in line with stakeholder interest contributing to the collaborative platform needed for a circular economy.
The built environment sector is under increasing pressure to reduce costs while improving environmental quality. This paper examines Kuwait’s current construction and demolition waste (CDW) management policy, highlights the obstacles faced by recycling processes and suggests solutions to enhance waste management practices. Kuwait has only one landfill dedicated exclusively to CDW, operating since 2009. Even though Kuwait has facilities dedicated to handling and recycling CDW, recycling faces several obstacles that hinder its efficacy. This study aims to identify the impediments to efficient management practices through an extensive review of the literature followed by a questionnaire that was sent to 42 relevant stakeholders and interviews conducted with five stakeholders from the 1) Municipality of Kuwait, 2) the Ministry of Public Works, 3) the Environmental Public Authority, 4) the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, and 5) the Environment Preservation Industrial Company. This study concluded that present waste management procedures are inappropriate for achieving the circular construction concept and the 4 R framework (reduce, reuse, recycle and recover). Furthermore, it was found that raising the awareness of construction stakeholders and the public about waste management and recycling benefits is essential. This can be successfully implemented by emphasising recyclable products' economic and financial benefits. There is also a need to enforce Kuwait’s existing environmental legislation and regulations to achieve a better CDW control framework. The outcomes of this study will assist decision-makers in establishing strategies to address the barriers to circular waste management practices in Kuwait and beyond.
As a sustainable alternative to conventional cast-in-situ construction, modular construction (MC) offers several promising benefits concerning energy and waste reduction, shorter construction times, as well as increased quality. In addition, given its high degree of prefabrication, MC offers ideal conditions to solve the industry’s long-lasting productivity problem by implementing manufacturing concepts such as lean production and automation. However, in practice, the share of automation and robotics in the production process is still relatively low, which is why the potential of this construction method is currently far from being fully exploited. An overview of the particular barriers to implementing automation in the context of MC is still lacking. Therefore, a qualitative study was conducted including eight MC manufacturers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Following a comprehensive literature review, expert interviews were conducted based on an academically proven framework. Thereby, seven barrier dimensions with 21 sub-categories could be identified. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of current barriers to implementing automation in prefabrication and how they can be overcome most effectively. Additionally, recommendations for future research are proposed within a research agenda.
The shortage of constructive philosophies, principles, techniques, and tools in construction project delivery and sustainability before the 1990s, together with the abundance of them after 2000, creates two different eras which are of prime importance. The former one's considerable advantage was a common understanding and set of practices (e.g., the critical path method for scheduling), which seems to be a goal to achieve in the later one. In this regard, the combination and integration of best practices, tools, and techniques in construction project delivery can be considerably helpful for benefiting from their advantages and covering their limitations. Thus, this study aims to develop a conceptual framework for lean and sustainable project delivery in building construction projects. To do so, a systematic literature review was carried out, through which 230 studies were located and analyzed via thematic analysis to realize the purpose of this study. The findings present a conceptual framework for project delivery which combines and integrates sustainability, lean construction, and building information modeling in terms of principles, practices, tools, and techniques. Practically, this study's results inform practitioners in the construction industry on the lean and sustainable delivery of building construction projects.
This study provides the first approach to integrating circularity in the early stages of a construction project by the project manager. The circular ambition of the Dutch government stimulates a different approach in project management compared to a traditionally applied approach in construction projects. Design science research (DSR) was used to develop a framework for project managers to integrate circularity in the initial phases of construction projects, and we divided this research into three steps: (1) investigate the problem, (2) design a solution and (3) validate the design. The performed design cycle and formulated design propositions resulted in a framework consisting of two A3 format pages. The framework explains a successful three-step approach: knowledge of circular economy in the construction sector is needed, circularity has to be integrated into the project preparation, and circularity has to be integrated into project management. Furthermore, the framework incorporates extra background information and a checklist with 27 identified success factors. The framework was validated by expert opinions as effective, is ready to be implemented and is described as useful for the current challenges, demands and questions of the market.
Although the construction sector is one of the least digitized sectors, the last decade has been a period that some qualify as the 4th industrial revolution, notably with the adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM). However, the construction industry is still one of the most resource-intensive sectors, generating Megatons of waste every year. To decrease the impact of the construction on the environment, authorities are getting interested in adopting a circular economy (CE) approach, including servitization. Although there is an emulsion around the circular economy approach, organisational tools to help construction practitioners to move to a CE approach are dramatically lacking. The purpose of the paper is to develop a BIM-based trans-scalar theoretical frame work to support practitioners in their understanding and the implementation of the CE approach. The trans-scalar theoretical framework is established with data extracted from a research portfolio fuelled by three main databases, Scopus, RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Plan of Work and BIM standards. First, the RIBA framework and the information delivery cycle were adjusted to incorporate the sustainable end-of-life, as a phase in the CE context. Based on theoretical foundations, the main contribution of this paper is the trans-scalar theoretical framework developing and clarifying what are the main asset lifecycle phases (including the end-of-life), their related stakeholders, and the interplays between them, in the UK context. The paper also organizes holistically two scales, the asset lifecycle phases and the material flow, whether new or recovered, in the context of BIM and CE. Some future areas of research are presented, including how the BIM-based trans-scalar theoretical framework could be improved with inputs from construction experts.
The building industry consumes the most energy globally, making it a priority in energy efficiency initiatives. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems create the heart of buildings. Stable air handling unit (AHU) functioning is vital to ensuring high efficiency and extending the life of HVAC systems. This research proposes a Digital Twin predictive maintenance framework of AHU to overcome the limitations of facility maintenance management (FMM) systems now in use in buildings. Digital Twin technology, which is still at an initial stage in the facility management industry, use Building Information Modeling (BIM), Internet of things (IoT) and semantic technologies to create a better maintenance strategy for building facilities. Three modules are implemented to perform a predictive maintenance framework: operating fault detection in AHU based on the APAR (Air Handling Unit Performance Assessment Rules) method, condition prediction using machine learning techniques, and maintenance planning. Furthermore, the proposed framework was tested in a real-world case study with data between August 2019 and October 2021 for an educational building in Norway to validate that the method was feasible. Inspection information and previous maintenance records are also obtained through the FM system. The results demonstrate that the continually updated data combined with APAR and machine learning algorithms can detect faults and predict the future state of Air Handling Unit (AHU) components, which may assist in maintenance scheduling. Removing the detected operating faults resulted in annual energy savings of several thousand dollars due to eliminating the identified operating faults.
Despite widespread promotion of green construction technology, its adoption continues to face obstacles. The purpose of this research is to investigate and better understand the risks involved with the construction of sustainable projects, as well as to identify the most important barriers to the adoption of green building. A thorough literature analysis was undertaken, and questionnaires were distributed to 129 building experts. 48 risk variables were considered and categorized into six categories. The ranking analysis identified 29 risk variables as essential. The top five most important risk variables are as follows: Inadequate green construction codes and regulations, a lack of information and understanding about new techniques, difficulties gaining skills and expertise, and a lack of funding due to a lack of interest in the local market all contribute to a lack of investment. According to the study, the most severe obstacles are located in Qatar and a few other nations, including the UAE, Singapore, Ghana, the United States, Turkey, and Oman. This indicates that similar risk factors impacting green adoption exist not just in the Qatari construction sector, but also in the building industries of many other nations. Furthermore, limited investment due to a lack of demand remains one of the top five recognized challenges to green adoption, particularly in the Gulf regions. This study investigates the relationship between categories and the correlation between risk factors, established a solid foundation for future research for developing a model for the adoption of green construction projects in the construction industry, and it can aid in risk management decision-making for companies interested in working in Qatar or other similar countries.
A circular economy (CE) represents the key alternative to the linear ‘take-make-consume-dispose’ economic model, that still predominates in the construction sector. This study investigates how policies support CE-focused businesses in the construction sector in the Nordics. A literature review, the creation of a database, a review of Nordic actors with a CE focus, and targeted interviews with actors across the value chain of the construction sector in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden enabled us to benchmark the CE policy landscape and assess how CE policies at different levels support CE business models in the construction sector. The results show that the construction sector is well represented in the CE policy frameworks and that many business opportunities are created when national and local policies are put into practice. The implementation of policies is mainly done via three key concepts, i.e., planning, requirements for sustainable constructions, and requirements for public procurement. It can be concluded that policies are drivers for the implementation of a CE and support CE business models in the Nordics.
There is enormous potential for the construction industry in adopting a circular economy (CE) approach, but the decision-making tools to support its adoption are lacking. This research aims to identify the factors impacting CE adoption and understand their dynamics, intending to develop decision-making tools to facilitate CE adoption in construction. A mixed-method approach is adopted comprising a literature review, a pre-interview questionnaire, and semi-structured interviews with twenty European experts in the field. A total of 64 factors impacting CE adoption were identified and placed into three interconnected categories: organisational, political and procedural, and technical factors. Also, the connections between the stakeholders' backgrounds and the 64 factors were explored and illustrated by a Sankey diagram. Lastly, a deeper analysis was performed, exploring the relationships between the 64 factors and five entities, including stakeholders, asset lifecycle, material circularity, regulations, and facilitating technologies. As a result, this research further clarifies the impacts of the CE approach on five entities and organises the factors and their dynamics in an entity-relationship diagram (ERD), being the main contribution to the theoretical foundations. By expatiating how CE can be possibly achieved in the construction industry, the ERD is a stepping stone and can inform operable guidance to boost the adoption of CE in the construction industry.
Question: Is there a possibility of applying the Last Planner System® in the UAE construction environment? Purpose: Investigating the success and failure factors of implementing the Last Planner System® (LPS®) in UAE construction projects. Research Methodology: The research was conducted through exploratory interviews with construction professionals and an explanatory case study in the UAE. Findings: LPS® implementation is applicable within the UAE construction market. The challenges on the level of operation can be addressed by using the concept of gradual change operations. Limitations: limited interview sample; use of a single case study; the implementation is newer in UAE. Implications: The procedure used within the case study will conform to the LPS® as a tool until it becomes an accepted concept. Value for authors: Enriches the efforts of studying the implementation of the LPS® within the Gulf area and the Middle East in general due to minimal research covering the LPS®. In addition, the approach used for implementing the LPS® is unique to the context studied. Keywords: Lean, Construction, Lean Construction, Last Planner®, Last Planner System® Planning, Project Management Paper type: Case Study
Question: Why is Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) a relatively underutilized procurement method in construction? Purpose: Expose and explain a few market failures that owners/developers might be ignoring by choosing traditional methods over IPD. Research Method: Game theoretic modeling and application of microeconomic principles. Informed by interviews with IPD participants, we model the important strategic and social advantages of IPD that complement more well-known efficiency advantages. Findings: Our primary insight is that traditional design-bid-build projects encounter pervasive moral hazard problems and externalities that reduce the efficiency of construction and create conflict between participants. At a basic human behavior level, IPD eliminates or mitigates these issues. Limitations: The interviews we conducted provide insight, not empirical inference. Therefore, this paper stands on its theoretical contribution and makes no boast of providing representative data or causal analysis. Implications: Owners/developers would do well to embrace IPD given its social and strategic contributions to Lean Construction. Additional efficiencies we highlight complement the more well-known advantages, possibly tipping the scales toward IPD for a greater number of construction projects. Value for practitioners: This paper will explain how non-integrated methods such as designbid-build create greater cost and conflict than previously realized. It suggests a path forward through (scalable) IPD that mitigates these costs. Keywords: Integrated Project Delivery, Procurement Methods, Moral Hazard, Cooperative Methods, Circular Economy, Construction Efficiency, Lean Procurement Paper type: Full paper
The emergence of the circular economy concept is a transformative strategy aimed at tackling the urgent issues of resource depletion, environmental degradation, and unsustainable consumer behaviors. The present chapter, entitled “Circular Economy Principles: Shifting Towards Sustainable Prosperity,” delves into the fundamental principles of the circular economy and its capacity to facilitate a shift towards a future characterized by sustainability and prosperity. The chapter commences with a reevaluation of the concept of value creation, placing emphasis on the significance of developing products with attributes such as durability, reparability, and remanufacturability. The subsequent analysis explores the fundamental tenets of resource efficiency and material circularity, emphasizing recycling, upcycling, and waste minimization tactics. The examination of the transition from ownership to access, which is aided by the sharing economy and the concept of “Product-as-a-Service,” is also considered a crucial element of the circular economy. This chapter delves into the need to achieve a closed-loop system for materials by means of recycling and reusing, along with an examination of the policy framework known as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This paper examines the significance of digitalization and technology in facilitating the implementation of circular economy practices, focusing on the transformative capabilities of the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain technology, and data analytics. Achieving sustainable prosperity necessitates the adoption of a comprehensive approach that considers the economic, social, and environmental aspects. This chapter provides an analysis of the economic advantages associated with the circular economy, as well as its social implications and inclusiveness. Additionally, it explores the significance of regulatory frameworks and international collaboration in this context.
All over the globe, we face environmental challenges. As animal extinction accelerates and the weather becomes more volatile with record-breaking heat waves across the United States and Europe, for example, sustainable practices have become central to economic development. With investors moving capital into environmental, social, and governance (ESG) oriented investment funds at a sky-rocketing pace, businesses are adapting to the changing dynamic in many ways, including implementing solutions developed by financial technology (fintech) companies. Among other things, fintech companies play a central role in developing the circular economy. To reduce inputs and improve recyclability, circular business models require greater transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain to ensure efficiency. Platforms based on the digitalization of services or blockchain are examples of solutions for reducing information asymmetry in today’s business environment. In this chapter, we first present the importance of the circular economy in tackling today’s environmental challenges and explore industries in which circular business models are most likely to be successful. Next, we expand on the types of solutions fintech can provide to improve efficiencies in the supply chain of businesses. Finally, we present concrete examples of companies implementing these solutions and their impact on society.
Purpose
Circular construction offers sustainable solutions and opportunities to disentangle a project’s life cycle, including demolition, deconstruction and repurposing of architectural, civil engineering and infrastructure projects from the extraction of natural resources and their wasteful usage. However, it introduces additional layers of novel risks and uncertainties in the delivery of projects. The purpose of this study is to review the relevant literature to discover, classify and theorize the critical risk factors for circular construction projects.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper conducted a systematic literature review to investigate the risks of circular construction projects. It deployed a multistage approach, including literature search and assessment, metadata extraction, citation frequency analysis, Pareto analysis and total interpretive structural modeling.
Findings
Sixty-eight critical risk factors were identified and categorized into nine broad taxonomies: material risks, organizational risks, supply chain risks, technological risks, financial risks, design risks, health and safety risks, regulatory risks and stakeholder risks. Using the Pareto analysis, a conceptual map of 47 key critical risk factors was generated for circular construction projects. A hierarchical model was further developed to hypothesize the multiple possible connections and interdependencies of the taxonomies, leading to chain reactions and push effects of the key risks impacting circular construction projects.
Originality/value
This study constitutes the first systematic review of the literature, consolidating and theorizing the chain reactions of the critical risk factors for circular construction projects. Thus, it provides a better understanding of risks in circular construction projects.
Purpose
Compared to low-rise and mid-rise buildings, commercial high-rise buildings have severe maintenance management deficiencies due to the complex nature of the structure and building services incorporated. Previous studies have shown that implementing lean in maintenance is a recognised prominent strategy to enhance maintenance performance. Thus, this study aims to investigate how lean maintenance can be applied to improve maintenance management in commercial high-rise buildings in Sri Lanka.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a case study method. Three commercial high-rise buildings were selected to conduct the empirical study. An expert survey is also conducted to validate the findings.
Findings
The findings of the study revealed that out of the eight cardinal types of lean maintenance waste, six are rooted in the selected cases: (i) excessive preventive maintenance, (ii) waiting (maintenance resources, tools, procuring of additional supplies and documentation and permits), (iii) transportation due to centralised maintenance, (iv) poor inventory management, (v) poor information handling and (vi) poor utilisation of labour. Then the study revealed strategies to eradicate identified lean maintenance wastes.
Practical implications
The findings of this study can be used to guide maintenance practitioners in implementing lean maintenance in Sri Lankan commercial high-rise buildings. Furthermore, the proposed strategies can be directly applied to mitigate identified maintenance wastes.
Originality/value
This paper provides information on how high-rise commercial buildings in Sri Lanka can enhance their maintenance management by mitigating lean maintenance wastes.
To achieve zero waste and cumber the acute environmental effect of the building construction industry (BCI), circular economy (CE) implementation is pertinent. Such implementation requires the incorporation of certain actionable factors that are critical to its success. However, investigating these factors considering the individualistic variations of developed and developing economies is rarely conducted in the literature. Therefore, this study evaluated the critical success factors (CSFs) for attaining systemic circularity in the BCI of both developed and developing economies. The methodological framework adopted comprises a literature review and a questionnaire survey of 140 CE experts across 39 developed and developing economies. The data collected was analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), rank agreement analysis (RAA), and fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) techniques. The EFA analysis revealed four principal success factors (PSFs): data-driven digital tools and circularity plan, capacity building and pre-demolition auditing, systemic circularity guidelines and commitment, and circular metric and secondary market development. The RAA results showed that consensus and non-consensus exist between the two groups (developed and developing economies) on the PSFs. The FSE method revealed that all the PSFs are paramount in achieving a successful CE implementation in the two economies. However, the top two in developed economies are systemic circularity guidelines and commitment, and circular metric and secondary market development, while data-driven digital tools and circularity plans, and capacity building and demolition monitoring are the top two in developing economies. The RAA findings underscore the need to be context conscious while adopting the CSFs for CE implementation in the BCI. The FSE findings and the PSF models developed would guide the government and management teams in resource allocation during CE implementation. This study contributes to existing knowledge by providing essential insights into the CSFs that would promote systemic circularity attainment in the BCI of developed and developing economies.
The construction sector is one of the most responsible worldly for resource consumption, waste generation, and greenhouse gas emissions. The transition to a circular production and consumption system is crucial to reducing the impacts of the sector. However, the lack of clarity and understanding of the principles of circular economy (CE) and the complexity of the construction value chain makes it difficult to implement circular principles in the sector. Through a systematic literature review, this study analyzes the barriers, drivers, and stakeholders that influence the implementation of CE in the sector. The barriers and drivers were classified into five categories (economic, informational, institutional, political, and technological) and the main stakeholders were identified. From the results, the political and technological barriers categories were the most representative, highlighting the need for a governance policy based on regulatory and tax actions, and an integrated waste and information management system. The study's categorical analysis revealed that the lack of CE awareness and communication is the central interrelated agent to promoting circular principles in the sector. The sector needs joint action between government and construction stakeholders to the establishment of public-private partnerships and effective and segmented communication aimed at the circular transition in the sector.
Blockchain and smart contracts are measures to speed up the diffusion of circular economy into construction processes. Nevertheless, integrated solutions that cover all the aspects of circular supply chain including network structure, business processes, and the products are still missing. This paper is an attempt to bridge this gap, through offering a workable solution to address the disconnected nature of blockchain adoption across construction procedures. Informed by the overall approach of design science research (DSR), the solution is created following the five-staged procedure of DSR: (1) problem identification, (2) treatment suggestion, (3) treatment design, (4) evaluation and (5) conclusion. Findings establish that the proposed solution is novel in several ways; it: (1) enables construction practitioners to share their building components information on a safe and immutable medium; (2) enables government authorities (i.e., city council) to track the treatment and delivery of hazardous products/materials; (3) supports the upstream circular economy design through fostering collaboration among ‘designers to designers’ and ‘designers to asset owners’ in a blockchain network; and (4) supports developing ‘a bank of reusable BIM families’, encouraging designers to use these items in their designs. Apart from these contributions, this study provides some fertile ground for future research. Chief among all: future studies can provide fully automated systems through integrating the solution presented here with the Internet of Things (IoT); and researchers that validate the workability of the proposed solution across various contexts and real-life projects in exposure to various settings and peculiarities.
Circular economy, as a concept of societal change towards a more balanced view of achieving the tripartite objectives of profit–people–planet, is a useful reference point for companies which are solely limited to a shareholder view. This goes hand in hand with the long overdue transformation from shareholder-capitalism to a stakeholder- and planetary-driven sustainable economy. However, circular economy per se does not guarantee the achievement of sustainability, as in most cases it is still economically driven. Only paired with responsibility and purpose (on the owner’s side), means of circular economy result in sustainable circular business models, which we consider as the basis of a future economic system for the benefit of planet and society. Using five examples from the apparel and footwear industry, we develop a framework and three design propositions to illustrate archetypes and pathways how companies can transform their business models from purely economic-driven into sustainable circular business models (Remark: Parts of this chapter have been presented at The ISPIM Innovation Conference – Innovating Our Common Future, Berlin, Germany on 20–23 June 2021.).
Modular integrated construction (MiC) is evoking interest as a sustainable construction method leading towards industry 4.0. However, its complex supply chain and fragile logistic operations impede project performance. This paper, therefore, explores the critical influencing factors of MiC supply chain operations and studies their interrelationships. A systematic review is conducted across multiple supply chain research domains to identify relevant factors. These factors are evaluated using eigenvector and MICMAC analysis. Four themes of critical factors are determined using factor’s interrelationships: dominating, symbiotic, external, and potential influencing factors. These themes demonstrate the influencing nature and mechanism of factors. As a result, most of the assembling-related factors are found to dominate and dynamically control the MiC supply chain performance. This paper also highlights potential factors that need further research attention, studies prevalent factors affecting the MiC supply chain and offers future research directions.
Growing population and urbanisation have led to a significant increase in construction and demolition (C&D) waste generation. There are urgent calls for government and industry to develop better methods for C&D waste management. The creation and stimulation of a market for recycled construction and demolition waste have emerged as a targeted intervention to divert waste from landfill sites and create a second life for waste material. This study evaluates key factors affecting the creation and stimulation of the market for C&D recycled waste products in Australia. Through an extensive review of the literature and several semi-structured interviews involving 27 stakeholders from across the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, this study establishes four groups of enablers (i.e., encouragement factors, education, enforcement and engagement) and barriers (i.e., operations, market, governance and logistics) to creating and stimulating a market for C&D waste. Furthermore, the institutional theory was applied to findings to demonstrate how normative, coercive and mimetic drivers influence AEC’s stakeholders’ decisions and justify their C&D waste management practices. The study proposes a Framework for Waste Market Development (FfWMD) to provide practical solutions to overcome the current barriers identified in this study. The study findings guide government decision-makers and AEC industry practitioners to facilitate end markets for C&D waste and contribute to achieving a circular economy (CE). Further empirical studies on the elements of the FfWMD can be developed to test the complex interactions between stakeholders and processes.
Waste generated by building construction and demolition (BCD) activities contributes to the major proportion of urban solid waste. A large amount of the waste is still sent to the landfill or downcycled globally. The adoption of circular economy (CE) in the building construction industry (BCI) could leverage significant gain in managing the waste from BCD activities. While studies have been conducted on CE in the BCI, a comprehensive review of the barriers to CE adoption in building construction and demolition waste (BCDW) management is thus far limited. Hence, to bridge this research gap and provide an improved understanding, the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guideline was adopted to systematically explore related literature towards the development of a web of barriers, integrated framework, and implementation strategies for CE adoption in BCDW management. The barriers to CE adoption in BCDW management were gleaned from 23-countries and consolidated as institutional and regulatory barriers, technological and information barriers, and organizational barriers, among others. A blended conceptual framework indicating the causality and interrelationship among the groups of barriers was determined using the interpretive structural modeling (ISM) approach. Ultimately, integrated implementation strategies were put forward to combat the identified barriers. Theoretically, this study has created a distinct character of the barriers to and strategies for the comprehensive promotion, implementation, and diffusion of CE in BCDW management. It has made a useful contribution to the existing literature through the mapping of a comprehensive co-existence and relationship among the barriers. This study has triggered a variety of empirically based research studies on the barriers, and success factors to promote CE in BCDW from a developed and developing economies' perspective in the future.
In the context of shifting the built environment to a circular economy, this paper first provides a meta-synthesis of the literature that clarifies the strategies related to the asset lifecycle in the circular economy (CE) context. The definitions of forty-two approaches, classified into seven categories (A to G) were analysed to identify their differences and similarities using a text mining method.
Based on the definitions, approaches’, their needs and requirements, and their benefits and impacts have been listed. Four variables have been identified: the asset phases (V1), the sustainable approaches (V2), the benefits and impacts (V3) and the needs and requirements (V4). As the main contribution to knowledge, two diagrams have been drawn to picture the relationships between, first, V1, V2 and V3 and secondly V1, V2 and V4. An additional contribution is semantic information captured and drawn in a Force Directed Graph (FDG) to clarify the diversity of existing approaches and their relationships. More than a hundred approaches/concepts are staged in a diagram and their links are identified. Particularly the importance of the design phase and its related approaches are developed. The FDG illustrates the complexity of the building projects involving multiple stakeholders.
The paper also provides the limitations of the variety of approaches that should be overcome to achieve CE. In particular, the limitations of reuse (components cannot be reused indefinitely) and limitations of design-only approaches (like prefabrication where deconstruction is not prepared). Further research is recommended about the Product Service Systems associated with Extended Producer Responsibility that appears to be key enablers for the CE. Work is also needed to define the circularity of buildings and the associated circularity assessment tools. The outputs could be used to rationalise policies to foster those approaches to enable the construction sector to develop strategies to overcome the current obstacles to the transition to a circular economy.
The circular economy (CE) paradigm has piqued public interests worldwide as a significant innovative attempt to conserve finite resources, reduce waste, and shift away from the linear economy. An emerging shift to a CE model is unavoidable for resource conservation and efficient use of materials. Although CE is still at its early stage of managing building construction and demolition waste (BCDW), the scientific contribution of the CE agenda is significantly growing and augmenting in the construction industry. Therefore, this study aims to present the state-of-the-art research on CE adoption in BCDW management using a mixed review approach (quantitative and qualitative analysis). In addition to the existing trends and considerations, the main research themes and CE strategies adopted in BCDW management, are presented and discussed. Furthermore, CE indicators for BCDW and effective management operations for BCDW in a CE environment are put forward. Future research directions, including lifecycle assessment indicators for BCDW minimisation in a CE, application of advanced technologies for CE, and intelligent decision support tools for CE adoption in the BCDW management, are highlighted. It is believed that the analysed critical issues for CE adoption in BCDW management and identified future research directions would further help the development of CE research and help stakeholders and policymakers in advancing and adopting CE in the construction industry at large.
Purpose
The construction industry is facing massive challenges due to the huge construction development, and stakeholder management (SM) practices, especially on megaprojects. The purpose of this paper is to investigate critical success factors (CSFs) encountered by key construction stakeholders to enhance SM practices on mega construction projects (MCPs).
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire survey is carried out among the most important construction companies in Qatar. Three steps are used to finalize and evaluate the questionnaire before proceeding with the full survey, validity, pretesting and pilot study. Quantitative data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Science software.
Findings
This paper identifies the key factors contributing to improving SM performance in MCPs; none of these is uncommon, but here they come together in a more integrative way.
Research limitations/implications
The limitations related to this research are briefly outlined as follows: the research was carried out in the State of Qatar. So, the findings are limited to the Qatari construction industry. The construction industry in Qatar is different from other countries where public projects have the priority to develop the infrastructure of the country prior to the world cup competition. The scope of this research is limited to MCPs. The impact of low awareness and knowledge of SM is not considered. However, the study is still reasonable and fortunately suitable to evaluate SM in MCPs.
Practical implications
Identifying these factors is expected to assist project participants in MCPs in improving projects’ performance and completing construction within the predefined time and cost.
Originality/value
This study makes a significant contribution through identifying the CSFs that lead to develop efficient SM in MCPs. Moreover, the research findings are important for project stakeholders, organizations, contractors, engineers and local authorities who implement SM in MCPs. Moreover, it will enhance the application of SM practices in construction megaprojects and allow project key stakeholders to place emphasis on tackling the crucial challenges identified in this research.
Resource conservation, sustainability, quality, and cost control have been considered significant issues for the construction sector worldwide. Green Lean Six Sigma not only improves quality, process flow, resource conservation, and environmental performance but also minimizes cost, waste, and lead time. The construction sector in Pakistan is struggling to adopt sustainable and quality-oriented practices. In this context, this paper aims to identify Green Lean Six Sigma enablers from the perspective of Pakistan's construction industry. Interpretive Structural Modelling consolidated with the Fuzzy Matrice d'Impacts Croises-Multipication Applique a classement technique, was employed to establish an ISM model and measure fuzzy indirect interactions, strengths, effectiveness and categorization of enablers. The findings signify that the most significant driving enablers are government support and incentives, availability of financial resources, top-management determination to enhance sustainability, and organizational capability and quality maturity level for GLS operations. These results could facilitate practitioners, policymakers, and government by providing insights to promote GLS methods for the sustainable growth of the construction sector. This study will assist practitioners and policymakers in developing appropriate strategies considering the intricate relationships and intensity of influence among Green, Lean and Six Sigma enablers during GLS adoption. Researchers can identify and analyze the elements related to their industries and country. Society will benefit in terms of health and the environmentally friendly built environment.
The construction sector has suffered from low productivity and considerable wastes due to the fragmentation of its value chain, the large number of diverse stakeholders and the complex nature of the projects. A promising way to reduce construction wastes and encourage value chain integration is to implement circular economy (CE) strategies. Many recent studies in the fields of construction management and sustainability have advanced CE from multiple perspectives. There remains room to refine such knowledge by clearly identifying all the possible strategies and drivers to be carried out in practice that help stakeholders slow, narrow, and close resource loops. This study aims to conduct a systematic review to examine the relevant literature on construction circularity to address the knowledge gap. A total of 61 relevant publications in the past ten years were rigorously selected and reviewed in-depth based on an iterative coding procedure. The phase-specific circular economy strategies were classified into five categories: 1) Design phase (including design with LCA, design with reused materials, design with recycled materials, and design for disassembly); 2) Manufacturing phase (including industrial symbiosis); 3) Construction phase (including lean construction methods); 4) Operation and maintenance phase (including service life planning); and 5) End-of-Life phase (including diversion of wastes). Internal drivers were identified to consist of BIM-based design and evaluation, IoT (Internet of Things)-based material tracking, predictive data analytics, and logistics network optimization. External drivers included material certifications and legislation, financial incentives, market maturity and material flow balance, and social engagement. The review revealed that the BIM-based and LCA-based methods have been widely used; however, logistics network optimization to allow industrial symbiosis was not adequately addressed in the existing literature. The strategies and drivers were also composed into a framework that aims to guide the future implementation of circular construction projects. The framework could help construction researchers and project participants clearly understand circular resource flows across various construction supply chain stages and thus help them to keep up with the global action of “Net Zero Emission” by 2050.
An Analytical Network Process (ANP) was created to test the Lean and BIM concepts with data collected from U.S. companies to find the success factors of the Lean/BIM framework. After an extensive
literature review, a total of 17 sub-categories for Lean/BIM are classified into three clusters, namely
Communication, Production, and Visualization. An ANP network is then established to station the links
between the attributes of the framework while computing their importance weights. Eight experienced civil engineers took part in the questionnaire study to assess the relations between the attributes. The main purpose of this study is to reveal the synergy between Lean and BIM with different
components reflecting this synergy and present the Lean and BIM synergy on a comprehensive model.
The results indicate that Production is the prominent cluster and Production Control, Standardization
and Information accuracy are the most important factors in the Lean/BIM synergy. To validate the
model, five construction projects were selected to test and observe the results accordingly. The study
is expected to help construction industry leaders set their priorities, benefit more from the interaction
between Lean and BIM, and revise their strategies accordingly. This study identifies Lean/BIM categories and subcategories as a roadmap for research and implementation. In this context, the study
reveals the relationship between the categories/subcategories along with the weights and most and
less important categories for Lean/BIM implementation and research.
Managers play an integral part in the effective transition to circular supply chain (CSC) because of their ability to influence the environmental sustainability in their supply chain. However, limited studies focus on the varied roles and actions of supply chain managers in the transition to CSC. Drawing on the resource orchestration perspective (ROP), the study develops a framework to give insights on how managers in construction and demolition (C&D) can orchestrate resources for strategic CE implementation. Findings from this study identified specific roles and related actions of managers that should be prioritized for transition to CSC in the Ghanaian C&D industry. The study explicitly emphasizes the need to characterize and prioritize the resource orchestration process for effective strategic implementation in the entire supply chain. Many of the identified significant roles and related actions by managers are related to mobilization. The study may be the first to focus on the varied roles and related actions of managers in CE implementation from ROP.
Circular construction practices and business models are considered essential to reduce the profound impact of the construction sector to the widening global circularity gap. However, practitioners and clients in Hong Kong have encountered profound challenges in integrating circular economy principles into modular construction projects. Therefore, this paper investigates the critical success factors for implementing circular modular construction projects. The research process comprised a focused literature review, consultation with subject matter experts, questionnaire survey of industry practitioners, mean score ranking, factor analysis, and fuzzy synthetic evaluation. The analyses revealed twenty-one significant success factors for integrating circular economy principles into modular construction projects in Hong Kong. The top five significant success factors include early design completion and freezing, early understanding and commitment of the client, effective leadership and support of a specialist contractor, adequate knowledge and experience of the project team, and collaborative working and information sharing among project teams. These underscored the significance of the planning and design stages for implementing circular modular construction projects successfully. Further analysis derived three clusters of the significant success factors: effective supply chain management, competence and early commitment, and collaboration and information management, explaining 61.461% of the total variance. A fuzzy synthetic evaluation showed that these three clusters significantly influence the success of circular modular construction projects. The paper provided practical and technical guidance on how to implement circular modular construction projects effectively. Therefore, this paper provides some important insights into the critical success factors for integrating circular economy objectives into circular modular construction projects.
The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is undergoing a substantial change, and the technological advancements are shaping the future of this industry. Over years, numerous tools have been developed based on building information modeling (BIM) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to manage a variety of tasks and activities within different construction and operational phases in the AEC industry. Recently, with the advent of novel internet-enabled technologies in providing the ability of real-time connectivity, researchers have started to develop virtual design and construction (VDC) and digital twin approaches to remotely monitor, control, and optimize different work progresses and activities in real-time at any work level in the AEC industry. This paper presents a reference model to illustrates the main advantages and applications of VDC and digital twin, and to demonstrate their trends and anticipated cost savings in the AEC industry at a global level. These technological advancements along with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) can offer the unique benefit of real-time monitoring of the current status as well as predicting the future of any physical structure at any level of work. The global demand and usage of these technological advancements will lead to great cost savings in the AEC industry which would be US400 million in operation and maintenance phases in the non-residential AEC industry in 2025. This paper also discusses the future challenges of VDC and digital twin in the industry. As a main line of future research, these technologies can simultaneously be utilized with artificial intelligence to enable human-centered decision making to automate and optimize work progresses. Such integrations of VDC, digital twin, artificial intelligence, and human-centered approaches will shape the future of the AEC industry and provide numerous research opportunities in this domain.
The circular economy (CE) aims to reduce resource input and systematically avoid or reduce waste. In addition, the CE is an essential framework for achieving sustainable development. Understanding the barriers to construction and demolition waste (C&DW) recycling development under the CE model can promote sustainable C&DW management. This study used social network analysis (SNA) to explore the potential barriers, extent and key stage of the transition to CE for C&DW recycling in Guangzhou, China. The results show the following: 1) The network was loose and did not show a clear trend towards a certain point, indicating that the development of current C&DW recycling shows a lack of effective management mechanisms to control and constrain the barrier factors. 2) The key barriers to the network include inadequate incentives from the government sector, inadequate supportive policies, insufficient publicity and education on the recycling of C&DW, and an inadequate legal framework for the management of C&DW. The key stage of the “control power” and “adjustment ability” is the promotion and application of recycled products. 3) The network had three core cluster positions. The authors proposed corresponding suggestions for the results, which will provide theoretical guidance for policy-making for the transition of recycling C&DW move to CE, enabling timely advancement of CE initiatives in the construction industry.
Construction consumes more than 3 billion tons of raw materials globally each year. Adopting circular economy principles can help reduce waste and save more than $100 billion per year by improving construction productivity. This study's overarching objective was to investigate the state of adoption of circular economy principles in the construction sector. A multiple case study approach was used, and adoption opportunities were investigated in a global scan of 81 companies implementing circular economy principles in the construction industry. A knowledge framework with 33 attributes was developed to classify the companies, and their initiatives were analyzed in terms of overall focus, lifecycle operations, and business operations. These companies were categorized into seven identified business types, and their adoption of nine major circular business models was evaluated. Opportunity gaps and areas for improvement were identified, and steps for accelerating the shift towards a circular economy in construction were suggested. Furthermore, specific opportunities and prospects were discussed for implementing a circular economy in the United States, Canada, and the European construction industries. Notably, this study fills a gap in the literature by providing empirical evidence of the state of adoption of circular economy principles in the construction sector. Presented findings can help both academics and industry practitioners understand the current state of adoption of circular economy principles by construction companies and accelerate steps towards circularity in construction. Furthermore, the present study highlights the current differences between circular economy in theory and practice.
Several aspects hinder the application sustainability in construction industry. The most prominent problems are related to the conservation of natural resources and the generation of construction and demolition wastes. Previous studies indicated that these problems are due to lack of information available to construction projects stakeholders on the proper handling of building materials in their different lifecycle stages. This paper presents Material Passport (MP) tool that provides information on how to handle building materials at the construction stage and how to benefit from them at their end-of-life stage through different recovery opportunities. This tool provides three quantitative indicators that assess building's sustainability: 1) deconstructability score; 2) recovery score; and 3) environmental score. These indicators help stakeholders to choose more sustainable solutions to building elements in the initial stages of the project. The paper introduces a framework that incorporate MP within Building Information Modeling (BIM). Such incorporation automates sustainability assessment as well as facilitating the documentation and sharing of building's information for future needs. A case study of a traditional residential building is presented to illustrate the concept of the material passport. Also, new alternatives of modular building concept are presented to validate the sustainability indicators, allowing a comparison with traditional building to reach more sustainable solutions. The results reveal that modular buildings are preferred as expected, demonstrating the effectiveness of the presented tools in evaluating alternatives. The results also show the influence of the parameters used in calculating the presented indicators, such as the connection type and the material used. The research provides a methodology that solves the problem of the of insufficient information in order to achieve sustainability for buildings by including quantitative and qualitative information. The provided information covers all lifecycle stages of the building, making it more comprehensive compared to other tools.