Thesis (MTech (Construction Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2015. / Urbanisation and globalisation are the foremost trends propelling the growth and development of cities and towns in the world today. The Cape Town central business district is an example of an urban centre that is required to deal with rapid urbanisation. The increasing number of inner-city developments evoked the congested construction sites and are rapidly becoming the norm within the industry. Innovative building production management is crucial in driving productivity which includes reducing cost at all stages, from planning to completion. However, from several literatures, construction firms are not significantly proactive towards innovative technology that could enhance the efficient delivery of building production. The improved building production management is advancing at a slow pace both in South Africa and internationally. Hence, this research analyse the strategies that could significantly enhance current building production processes and establish the effective management systems that could enhance efficient building production in the urban centres. Innovative methods of stimulating building production processes are needed to ensure that building projects are completed within timeframes and budgets. The research method is both quantitative and qualitative using surveys for data collection. This type of research aims to record an accurate and adequate description of the problem statement and the sub-question. Data for the study are collected through observations, semi-structured and unstructured qualitative interviews and quantitative close-ended questionnaires administered to construction stakeholders working in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. This research focuses on the City of Cape Town to gain an understanding of the dynamics of innovation in building production processes within the building industry. The population of this research include building project managers, registered contractors as well as consultants. Quantitative data obtained from the structured questionnaire design was analysed with descriptive statistics, Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software 21 and content analysis are used to analyse the qualitative data obtained through interviewees.

This dissertation describes a geometrical optics model to predict propagation in buildings for personal communication system (PCS) design. Background on the growth of wireless communications is given, and the importance of accurate propagation models is discussed. The peculiarities of propagation in mobile and portable radio environments, particularly multipath propagation and its effects on transmitted signals, are described. Current in-building propagation models are presented and the progression from statistical in the presence of scattering bodies are merged with a site-specific description of the propagation environment to improve upon the accuracy of existing propagation models. A geometrical optics ray tracing model for predicting propagation based on a building blueprint representation is developed for a transmitter and receiver located on the same floor inside a building. The measured and predicted propagation data are presented as power delay profiles that contain the amplitude and arrival time of individual multipath components. Measured and predicted power delay profiles are compared on a location-by-location basis to provide both a qualitative and a quantitative measure of the model accuracy. The concept of effective building material properties is developed.and the effective building material properties are derived for two dissimilar buildings based upon comparing measured and predicted power delay profiles. Time delay comparison shows that the amplitudes of many significant multipath components are accurately predicted by this model. Path loss between a transmitter and receiver is predicted-with a standard deviation of less than 5 dB. Ideas for improving the accuracy and expanding the applicability of the models applied here to wireless in-building propagation prediction are suggested. / Ph. D.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1964. / MIT Institute Archives copy bound with three title pages at the beginning of text block; MIT Rotch Library copy has title pages bound with appropriate theses. -- Rotch Library copy missing 16 leaves of plates. / Title from half-title page. Three individual thesis titles bound together with a collective title and an introduction. Compiled, with an introduction, by Prof. Eduardo F. Catalano. / Includes bibliographical references. / Preface: "The three individual theses are presented with a common introductory discussion on systems in general, the use of systems in architecture, and the overall goals and requirements for a building system. It is hoped that a better understanding of systems is attained as well as a more extensive background for the individual thesis material." / Hershdorfer, Selma Abigadol. The development of a building unit which is structurally and mechanically integrated and which allows maximum flexibility in internal rearrangement and lateral growth. (1964) -- Hook, Charles Burton. A research and development building for science and technology suitable for both academic and non-academic use. (1964) -- Hoover, George Norman. An academic/research and development building for science and technology. (1964). / M.Arch.

O trabalho propõe uma metodologia para a condução de pesquisas de desenvolvimento de métodos, processos e sistemas construtivos voltadas para a criação de inovações tecnológicas que possam efetivamente contribuir para a evolução da atividade de construção de edifícios. São analisados os principais conceitos que identificam-se com o desenvolvimento tecnológico dos meios de produção de edifícios e estabelecidas definições para os mesmos. São também analisados os condicionantes que delimitam o contexto deste desenvolvimento no país. A metodologia proposta, entendida como um conjunto de preceitos destinados a orientar a condução de uma investigação e que se fundamenta na busca da máxima racionalização construtiva, é apresentada em dois níveis, o da doutrina e o da estratégia. A metodologia foi aplicada no desenvolvimento de um inovador processo construtivo de alvenaria estrutural de blocos cerâmicos. Este processo é apresentado e descreve-se como se deu o seu desenvolvimento, dos estudos iniciais à construção de edifícios protótipos. Conclue-se pela importância que a adoção de uma metodologia específica representa para a busca de soluções válidas para o conjunto da sociedade e como pode contribuir para a mudança da caótica situação atual por que passa a construção civil. / This thesis proposes a methodology to carry on the development research on building methods, processes and systems aiming at technological innovations which may effectivelly contribute for buildings construction activities evolution. The main concepts related to the technological development of the ways for the production process are analysed and their definitions established. It is also analysed the facts that restrain such development in Brazil. The proposed methodology is defined as a set of principles which objective is to point out the guidance for a scientific investigation and supported by the maximum building rationalization. This methodology is presented in two distinctive levels: the doctrine and the strategy. The methodology is applied specifically in the development of an innovative structural masonry process with ceramic blocks. The process is described, as well as the development performed stages: from the first studies to the prototype buildings construction. It is concluded that by adopting a specific methodology important solutions for the society as a whole are obtained and it gives essential support to change the disordered situation currently faced by the civil construction.

Until recent developments, labor productivity had been analyzed manually requiring time-consuming work and the possibility of human error. Past research has shown the multitude of benefits obtained from implementing radio frequency identification technology within various construction sites including asset tracking, inventory management, and on-site security upgrades. Additional construction improvements can be identified in terms of productivity analysis of work crews, material transport, and the overall approach to a project to determine whether the construction process is operating at maximum efficiency or can be adjusted to improve its effectiveness. This paper presents the results of implementing radio-frequency identification technology and provides a study of labor productivity analysis for a window replacement project on a high-rise construction site. This extensive study tracks the efficiency of a buck hoist worker and material lift system for transportation and illustrates the applicability of the technology despite the presence of numerous signal impeding obstacles located throughout the site. These issues are resolved with an effective automated location and time tracking system that work in both an indoor and outdoor environment simultaneously with a data recording software and database. The in-house development of the database allows for timely information retrieval of various items of interest in this study and requires less The experimental results show that RFID technology has the capacity to work and produce useful data for labor productivity purposes in an ever-changing construction environment. The research further recognizes relevant information regarding system optimization and worker feedback for future use.

O trabalho propõe uma metodologia para a condução de pesquisas de desenvolvimento de métodos, processos e sistemas construtivos voltadas para a criação de inovações tecnológicas que possam efetivamente contribuir para a evolução da atividade de construção de edifícios. São analisados os principais conceitos que identificam-se com o desenvolvimento tecnológico dos meios de produção de edifícios e estabelecidas definições para os mesmos. São também analisados os condicionantes que delimitam o contexto deste desenvolvimento no país. A metodologia proposta, entendida como um conjunto de preceitos destinados a orientar a condução de uma investigação e que se fundamenta na busca da máxima racionalização construtiva, é apresentada em dois níveis, o da doutrina e o da estratégia. A metodologia foi aplicada no desenvolvimento de um inovador processo construtivo de alvenaria estrutural de blocos cerâmicos. Este processo é apresentado e descreve-se como se deu o seu desenvolvimento, dos estudos iniciais à construção de edifícios protótipos. Conclue-se pela importância que a adoção de uma metodologia específica representa para a busca de soluções válidas para o conjunto da sociedade e como pode contribuir para a mudança da caótica situação atual por que passa a construção civil. / This thesis proposes a methodology to carry on the development research on building methods, processes and systems aiming at technological innovations which may effectivelly contribute for buildings construction activities evolution. The main concepts related to the technological development of the ways for the production process are analysed and their definitions established. It is also analysed the facts that restrain such development in Brazil. The proposed methodology is defined as a set of principles which objective is to point out the guidance for a scientific investigation and supported by the maximum building rationalization. This methodology is presented in two distinctive levels: the doctrine and the strategy. The methodology is applied specifically in the development of an innovative structural masonry process with ceramic blocks. The process is described, as well as the development performed stages: from the first studies to the prototype buildings construction. It is concluded that by adopting a specific methodology important solutions for the society as a whole are obtained and it gives essential support to change the disordered situation currently faced by the civil construction.