Building damage assessment for deep excavations in Singapore and the influence of building stiffness

One of the biggest issues for underground construction in a densely built-up urban environment is the potentially adverse impact on buildings adjacent to deep excavations. In Singapore, a building damage assessment is usually carried out using a three-staged approach to assess the risk of damage caused by major underground construction projects. However, the tensile strains used for assessing the risk of building damage are often derived using deflection ratios and horizontal strains under 'greenfield' conditions. This ignores the effects of building stiffness and in many cases may be conservative. This paper presents some findings from a study on the response of buildings to deep excavations. Firstly, the paper discusses the settlement response of an actual building - the Singapore Art Museum - adjacent to a deep excavation. By comparing the monitored building settlement with the adjacent ground settlement markers, the influence of building stiffness in modifying the response to excavation-induced settlements is observed. Using the finite element method, a numerical study on the building response to movements induced by deep excavations found a consistent relationship between the building modification factor and a newly defined relative bending stiffness of the building. This relationship can be used as a design guidance to estimate the deflection ratio in a building from the greenfield condition. By comparing the case study results with the design guidance developed from finite element analysis, this paper presents some important characteristics of the influence of building stiffness on building damages for deep excavations.

After the Party the Hangover?: An Analysis of ‘Post-Celtic Tiger’ Ireland in the Light of the February 2011 elections’

The election of February 2011 was dominated by the International Monetary Fund/European Central Bank bailout of November 2010, the state of the public finances, the ongoing Irish banking crisis, and the disastrous state of the economy with rising unemployment, emigration and collapsing international competiveness. After years of phenomenal economic growth (at least as measured by orthodox economic measurements such as gross domestic product (GDP) and foreign direct investment), known as the 'Celtic Tiger‘, during which a bloated construction industry accounted for a quarter of GDP and Irish banks sank nearly a third of their lending in construction projects, Ireland has entered a 'post-Celtic Tiger‘ era. This article offers a critical analysis outlining some political, economic and cultural issues of this election as heralding a decisive stage in the 'post-Celtic Tiger' development of the Republic of Ireland, and suggests that what is required at this present historical moment is that a different development model be articulated by the Irish state and wider society.

Non-parametric bill of quantities estimation of concrete road bridges' superstructure: an artificial neural networks approach

Bridge construction responds to the need for environmentally friendly design of motorways and facilitates the passage through sensitive natural areas and the bypassing of urban areas. However, according to numerous research studies, bridge construction presents substantial budget overruns. Therefore, it is necessary early in the planning process for the decision makers to have reliable estimates of the final cost based on previously constructed projects. At the same time, the current European financial crisis reduces the available capital for investments and financial institutions are even less willing to finance transportation infrastructure. Consequently, it is even more necessary today to estimate the budget of high-cost construction projects -such as road bridges- with reasonable accuracy, in order for the state funds to be invested with lower risk and the projects to be designed with the highest possible efficiency. In this paper, a Bill-of-Quantities (BoQ) estimation tool for road bridges is developed in order to support the decisions made at the preliminary planning and design stages of highways. Specifically, a Feed-Forward Artificial Neural Network (ANN) with a hidden layer of 10 neurons is trained to predict the superstructure material quantities (concrete, pre-stressed steel and reinforcing steel) using the width of the deck, the adjusted length of span or cantilever and the type of the bridge as input variables. The training dataset includes actual data from 68 recently constructed concrete motorway bridges in Greece. According to the relevant metrics, the developed model captures very well the complex interrelations in the dataset and demonstrates strong generalisation capability. Furthermore, it outperforms the linear regression models developed for the same dataset. Therefore, the proposed cost estimation model stands as a useful and reliable tool for the construction industry as it enables planners to reach informed decisions for technical and economic planning of concrete bridge projects from their early implementation stages.

Project Management within an Urban Site Context: Issues considering External Stakeholders

Large construction projects create numerous hazards, making it one of the most dangerous industries in which to work. This element of risk increases in urban areas and can have a negative impact on the external stakeholders associated with the project, along with their surrounding environments. The aim of this paper is to identify and document, in an urban context, the numerous issues encountered by on-site project managers from external stakeholders and how they affect a construction project. In addressing this aim, the core objective is to identify what issues are involved in the management of these stakeholders. In order to meet this requirement, a qualitative methodology encompassing an informative literature review followed by five individual case study interviews. The data gathered is assessed qualitatively using mind mapping software. A number of issues are identified which have an impact on the external stakeholders involved, and also how they affected proceedings on site. Collectively the most commonly occurring issues are environmental, legal, health and safety and communication issues. These ranged from road closures and traffic disruption to noise, dust and vibrations from site works. It is anticipated that the results of this study will assist and aid project managers in identifying issues considering external stakeholders, particularly on urban construction projects. A wide range of issues can develop depending on the complexity and nature of each project, but this research will illustrate and reinforce to project managers, that identifying issues early, effective communication and appropriate liaising can be used to manage the issues considering external stakeholders.

Relatório de estágio em marketing corporativo na empresa Insite IT GmbH

Relatório de estágio apresentado à Escola Superior de Comunicação Social como parte dos requisitos para obtenção de grau de mestre em Publicidade e Marketing.

Análise da interoperabilidade aplicada ao projeto BIM de Estruturas Metálicas

O BIM – Building Information Modeling – é um conceito de controlo e gestão de informação desenvolvida, entre diferentes especialidades e intervenientes envolventes, durante o ciclo de vida das construções. A utilização das tecnologias BIM, no ramo da Engenharia Mecânica e Civil, tem sido uma aposta constante, e cada vez mais concisa, nos projetos de construção. A justificação para a adoção destas metodologias mais eficientes, em substituição dos processos convencionais, prende-se com o facto desses processos convencionais, ainda hoje, apresentarem muitas dificuldades e problemas associados, por exemplo, à falta de comunicação entre os intervenientes e ao ineficiente controlo na gestão de projetos. O objetivo desta dissertação centra-se na análise da interoperabilidade de softwares BIM, ou seja, na verificação da viabilidade de exportação de dados dos modelos produzidos, entre as ferramentas BIM. Para este campo de ação contribuirá a análise da passagem de informação, relativa ao modelo de uma Nave Industrial modelada, em alguns dos softwares BIM, correntemente mais utilizados. O conhecimento adquirido com a modelação do caso de estudo do presente trabalho irá permitir identificar algumas lacunas existentes ao nível da falta de recomendações práticas que sirvam de orientação na modelação recorrendo a ferramentas informáticas BIM-compatíveis. Assim, a base deste trabalho consiste na criação de uma série de recomendações ou de um roteiro de modelação em específico para a disciplina de estruturas enquanto área de aplicação concreta do estudo efetuado. Nesse sentido, a proposta deste trabalho é de apresentar alguns critérios de modelação onde são definidos os elementos a modelar em cada fase do projeto.

Projets des logements à la suite des désastres : analyse du système organisationnel et évaluation de la satisfaction des usagers dans un projet de reconstruction dans la région du Maghreb

Plusieurs études ont révélé des problèmes récurrents au niveau de la performance et de la gestion des projets de reconstruction à la suite des catastrophes dans les pays en voie de développement (PEVD). Ces projets doivent faire face à des conditions de vulnérabilité des habitants, engendrées par des facteurs politiques, économiques, sociaux et culturels. Les divers participants - contraints par un accès limité à l’information - sont confrontés à travailler dans un contexte hostile ayant un niveau d’incertitude élevé. Ce niveau d’incertitude augmente les risques du projet de reconstruction, particulièrement le risque d’insatisfaction des usagers. Ce travail vise à mettre en parallèle l’analyse du système organisationnel adopté pour la conduite d’un projet de reconstruction et celle du niveau de satisfaction des usagers. Il émet l’hypothèse suivante: deux facteurs organisationnels influencent largement le niveau de satisfaction de la part des bénéficiaires d’un projet de reconstruction de logements à la suite d’un désastre en PEVD: (i) le niveau de centralisation de la prise de décisions (jumelée au manque d’information) au sein de la Multi-Organisation Temporaire (MOT); et (ii) la capacité de la structure organisationnelle de la MOT d’impliquer la participation active des usagers au niveau de la planification, de la gestion, du financement et du design du projet. Afin d’atteindre cet objectif, une recherche empirique fut menée pour analyser le cas des inondations ayant eu lieu en 2003 dans une ville dans la région du Maghreb. Le niveau de satisfaction des usagers a été déterminé grâce à des indicateurs de transfert de technologie qui se basent sur l’analyse du « Cadre Logique » - une méthode d’évaluation largement utilisée dans le domaine du développement international. Les résultats de la recherche ne visent pas à identifier une relation de cause à effet entre les deux variables étudiées (la structure organisationnelle et la satisfaction des usagers). Cependant, ils mettent en évidence certains principes du montage et de la gestion des projets qui peuvent être mis en place pour l’amélioration des pratiques de reconstruction.

La protection du territoire agricole de la région métropolitaine de recensement (RMR) de Montréal dans un contexte d’étalement urbain

L’étalement urbain constitue un enjeu de société qui préoccupe tous les acteurs de l’aménagement du territoire. Le développement de superficies urbanisées à la périphérie des villes à des fins résidentielle, industrielle, commerciale et d’infrastructures se caractérise par une faible densité des structures bâties et par une perte de terres agricoles. Les conséquences sont importantes notamment parce que ces pertes sont irréversibles. Ce projet de recherche analyse les tendances actuelles de l’étalement urbain dans la RMR de Montréal et au-delà de celle-ci ainsi que ses impacts sur les territoires agricoles. Il comporte trois objectifs secondaires. Le premier objectif vise à analyser l’importance de la multifonctionnalité de l’agriculture et sa prise en compte dans les stratégies d’aménagement et de revitalisation agricole dans les MRC. Le deuxième objectif vise à établir les liens entre ces stratégies et les pressions urbaines dans la région métropolitaine de Montréal. Les pressions urbaines des 88 municipalités sont analysées en fonction de l’augmentation de la population et des ménages, par le nombre de mises en chantier ainsi que par les demandes de modification de la zone agricole déposées par les municipalités auprès de la CPTAQ entre 2000 et 2009. Le dernier objectif vise à identifier les MRC qui ont développé ces stratégies dans leur schéma d’aménagement et de développement (SAD), pour ensuite comparer les intentions et les actions des MRC par rapport à l’étalement urbain qui se développe concrètement sur leur territoire depuis l’an 2000. Pour ce faire, deux critères ont été retenus : une typologie des stratégies d’aménagement et de revitalisation agricole des SAD et les positions adoptées par les acteurs impliqués dans les demandes de modification. En conclusion, les cinq MRC analysées en détail ont demandé entre 2,1 % et 2,6 % de leur propre zone agricole au cours des dix dernières années, peu importe l’élaboration de leur SAD et les pressions urbaines qu’elles subissent.

Histoires d'appropriation de l'espace urbain à Saint-Pétersbourg

La présente thèse porte sur des mobilisations citoyennes qui ont court depuis quelques années à Saint-Pétersbourg, en Russie, contre la densification urbaine. La transformation de l’espace urbain en commodité a entraîné une augmentation fulgurante des constructions et ce, tant dans les périphéries qu’au centre-ville. La redéfinition de l’espace urbain, conséquence de la chute du régime communiste, a provoqué l’érosion d’espaces considérés comme publics et de nombreux espaces verts. De nombreuses voix se sont élevées pour dénoncer ce qui est souvent qualifié de catastrophe pouvant mener à la « disparition » de Saint-Pétersbourg. Je me suis intéressée à trois aspects de la mobilisation citoyenne contre la densification urbaine : 1) l’opposition de résidents à des projets de constructions qui menacent directement leur environnement immédiat; 2) les efforts de certaines organisations citoyennes pour sauver des espaces verts menacés et; 3) la mobilisation provoquée par la démolition du patrimoine historique. J’ai tenté de comprendre pourquoi la lutte contre la densification urbaine constitue la principale cause de mobilisation à Saint-Pétersbourg en ce début de 21e siècle. Je me suis questionnée sur le sens de cette mobilisation et sur les raisons qui poussent des citoyens à se transformer momentanément en activistes. J’ai examiné l’histoire singulière de cette ville et son passé de résistance qui ont contribué à donner naissance à une identité particulière qui a perduré au fil des siècles, malgré les guerres et les bouleversements politiques. L’analyse des récits et des actions des résidents a révélé que la densification urbaine met en lumière plusieurs enjeux qui touchent la société russe contemporaine, comme le fossé grandissant entre les riches et les pauvres et la perte de confiance aux autorités. La densification urbaine représente, pour ses opposants, une perte de qualité de vie. Mais les Pétersbourgeois qui s’unissent pour préserver leur ville craignent aussi que la densification urbaine mène à la disparition de la mémoire et de la culture incarnées par tous ces lieux menacés. En exprimant leur désaccord contre les divers projets qui envahissent la ville, les résidents souhaitent aussi faire entendre leur voix et participer de manière active à l’élaboration d’une vision qui prendrait en compte les intérêts non seulement de la classe dirigeante, mais de l’ensemble de la population. En ce sens, les mobilisations contre la densification urbaine constituent une tentative de (ré)appropriation de la ville, tant sur le plan matériel que symbolique.

Le projet organisant : vers une ontologie du projet d'aménagement

Codirection: Dr. Gonzalo Lizarralde

Política exterior de Canadá en el ártico: entre la seguridad nacional y la prosperidad económica (2006-2011)

En el año 2010 el gobierno de Canadá pública su estrategia de política exterior hacia el Ártico, en la cual manifiesta que esta región es una de las principales prioridades del Gobierno de Stephen Harper en materia de política exterior. Así las cosas, a partir de la perspectiva teórica del realismo neoclásico la investigación se enfoca en analizar por qué la seguridad nacional y la prosperidad económica son los principales intereses de este Gobierno en la zona.

Análisis de la relación entre la accidentalidad y el incremento de trabajo en un proyecto de la construcción en Colombia durante los años 2012 y 2013

La construcción es una de las industrias que mayores accidentes laborales genera, en esta investigación se realizó un análisis retrospectivo para determinar si existe alguna relación entre la ocurrencia de accidentes y la fecha de entrega de una meta, debido al incremento en la cantidad de trabajo expresado por la cantidad de días y horas extras trabajados, se cuenta con información de la accidentalidad de cinco empresas constructoras de un gran proyecto vial en Colombia en los años de 2012 y 2013. Se analizó la información correspondiente a la nómina de las mismas empresas, con el valor de la nómina mensual, el valor de las incapacidades mensuales y la cantidad de trabajadores por cada empresa en cada periodo. El manejo de los datos se hizo con EXCEL y el análisis estadístico con STATA 11.1, se usó la correlación de Spearman para encontrar la relación entre la cantidad de accidentes acumulados y: la cantidad acumulada de días trabajados en cada mes, la cantidad acumulada de horas extras trabajadas mensualmente y el costo acumulado en porcentaje de la nómina mensual, encontrándose en todos los casos una relación lineal. Por otra parte, se realizó una prueba binomial para establecer la relación de la fecha de entrega de la meta con la accidentalidad 30 días antes y después, encontrando que la accidentalidad aumenta en la proximidad previa a la entrega de la meta

General systems perspective on achieving continuous synergy in a project organisation

Studies of construction labour productivity have revealed that limited predictability and multi-agent social complexity make long-range planning of construction projects extremely inaccurate. Fire-fighting, a cultural feature of construction project management, social and structural diversity of involved permanent organizations, and structural temporality all contribute towards relational failures and frequent changes. The main purpose of this paper is therefore to demonstrate that appropriate construction planning may have a profound synergistic effect on structural integration of a project organization. Using the general systems theory perspective it is further a specific objective to investigate and evaluate organizational effects of changes in planning and potentials for achieving continuous project-organizational synergy. The newly developed methodology recognises that planning should also represent a continuous, improvement-leading driving force throughout a project. The synergistic effect of the process planning membership duality fostered project-wide integration, eliminated internal boundaries, and created a pool of constantly upgrading knowledge. It maintained a creative environment that resulted in a number of process-related improvements from all parts of the organization. As a result labour productivity has seen increases of more than 30%, profits have risen from an average of 12% to more than 18%, and project durations have been reduced by several days.

Model for calculating the sustainable building index (SBI) in the kingdom of Bahrain

We have developed a model that allows players in the building and construction sector and the energy policy makers on energy strategies to be able to perceive the interest of investors in the kingdom of Bahrain in conducting Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) or Building integrated wind turbines (BIWT) projects, i.e. a partial sustainable or green buildings. The model allows the calculation of the Sustainable building index (SBI), which ranges from 0.1 (lowest) to 1.0 (highest); the higher figure the more chance for launching BIPV or BIWT. This model was tested in Bahrain and the calculated SBI was found 0.47. This means that an extensive effort must be made through policies on renewable energy, renewable energy education, and incentives to BIPV and BIWT projects, environmental awareness and promotion to clean and sustainable energy for building and construction projects. Our model can be used internationally to create a "Global SBI" database. The Sustainable building and construction initiative (SBCI), United Nation, can take the task for establishing such task using this model.

The business case development process in the delivery of NHS infrastructure

There is a lack of knowledge base in relation to experiences gained and lessons learnt from previously executed National Health Service (NHS) infrastructure projects in the UK. This is in part a feature of one-off construction projects, which typify healthcare infrastructure, and in part due to the absence of a suitable method for conveying such information. The complexity of infrastructure delivery process in the NHS makes the construction of healthcare buildings a formidable task. This is particularly the case for the NHS trusts who have little or no experience of construction projects. To facilitate understanding a most important aspect of the delivery process, which is the preparation of a capital investment proposal; steps taken in developing the business case for an NHS healthcare facility are examined. The context for such examination is provided by the planning process of a healthcare project, studied retrospectively. The process is analysed using a social science based method called ‘building stories’, developed at the University of California-Berkeley. By applying this method, stories or narratives are constructed around the data captured on the case study. The findings indicate that the business case process may be used to justify, rather than identify, trusts’ requirements. The study is useful for UK public sector clients as well as consultants and professionals who aim to participate in the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects in the UK.