The use of financial incentives mechanisms (FIMs) in Australian government large nonresidential building projects is seen as a way to improve project motivation and outcomes and reinforce long-term commitment between participants. Yet very little empirical research has been conducted into how FIMs should be applied in the context of construction projects and what determines their impact on motivation. The primary aim of this research was to identify the motivation drivers impacting on the achievement of FIM goals. This allowed for the formulation of recommendations to improve Australian government building procurement strategies, creating the potential for better project outcomes. The research involved four major case studies of large construction projects. Analysis of motivation drivers on each project was based on interviews with senior project participants, secondary documentation and site visits. Once the motivation drivers were identified, they were ranked by the weighted number of motivation indicators impacted, to give an indication of their relative importance. The results provide Australian government clients with key areas for policy direction. The findings indicate that the following motivation drivers (in order of impact) were more important than FIM design in achieving FIM goals: equitable contract risk allocation and management scope for future project opportunities with the client harmonious project relationships early contractor involvement in design stages value-driven tender selection processes. A consequence of ignoring these key procurement initiatives can be a less than ideal FIM goal performance, despite the nature of FIM design, including the strength of the reward on offer. FIMs have the potential to be a valuable addition to any project procurement strategy. Yet, the main message of this thesis is: If clients rely solely on financial incentives as the driver of motivation it will likely result in failure.

Presently, owners are interested in evaluating the feasibility of investing in the construction of new building projects based on cost and time constraints. They need to therefore have an idea about the project construction costs, the time required to finish construction of a project in its conceptual phase, and about the implementation of feasibility study. Because due to associated risks, construction cost estimates and schedules are vital to any project. The research’s objective is to develop a methodology that can be used to create an integrated computer model that helps owners and designers generate construction cost estimates, and derive the baseline schedule for any proposed building project at its feasibility stage. All the relevant data used within the model is collected from the literature and is stored in comprehensive databases designed for this purpose. The data is based on 2011 RSMeans publications and consist of around 4,000 previously constructed projects. The model is developed in a Microsoft environment using Microsoft Excel 2007 and Microsoft Project 2007. This model uses deterministic and stochastic approaches to execute all necessary calculations for the conceptual cost estimate and baseline schedule. A deterministic approach relies on realistic data while a stochastic one relies on incorporating the uncertainty and risk available in calculating the cost and duration of any construction building project. The model is user friendly, flexible and executes all the necessary calculations quickly. The successful development of the model would help owners and investors identify the cost and baseline schedule of proposed projects at the early stages of the project life, so that they have an idea of the budget required for construction and the time needed to recover their investment.

Presently, owners are interested in evaluating the feasibility of investing in the construction of new building projects based on cost and time constraints. They need to therefore have an idea about the project construction costs, the time required to finish construction of a project in its conceptual phase, and about the implementation of feasibility study. Because due to associated risks, construction cost estimates and schedules are vital to any project. The research’s objective is to develop a methodology that can be used to create an integrated computer model that helps owners and designers generate construction cost estimates, and derive the baseline schedule for any proposed building project at its feasibility stage. All the relevant data used within the model is collected from the literature and is stored in comprehensive databases designed for this purpose. The data is based on 2011 RSMeans publications and consist of around 4,000 previously constructed projects. The model is developed in a Microsoft environment using Microsoft Excel 2007 and Microsoft Project 2007. This model uses deterministic and stochastic approaches to execute all necessary calculations for the conceptual cost estimate and baseline schedule. A deterministic approach relies on realistic data while a stochastic one relies on incorporating the uncertainty and risk available in calculating the cost and duration of any construction building project. The model is user friendly, flexible and executes all the necessary calculations quickly. The successful development of the model would help owners and investors identify the cost and baseline schedule of proposed projects at the early stages of the project life, so that they have an idea of the budget required for construction and the time needed to recover their investment.

Presently, owners are interested in evaluating the feasibility of investing in the construction of new building projects based on cost and time constraints. They need to therefore have an idea about the project construction costs, the time required to finish construction of a project in its conceptual phase, and about the implementation of feasibility study. Because due to associated risks, construction cost estimates and schedules are vital to any project. The research’s objective is to develop a methodology that can be used to create an integrated computer model that helps owners and designers generate construction cost estimates, and derive the baseline schedule for any proposed building project at its feasibility stage. All the relevant data used within the model is collected from the literature and is stored in comprehensive databases designed for this purpose. The data is based on 2011 RSMeans publications and consist of around 4,000 previously constructed projects. The model is developed in a Microsoft environment using Microsoft Excel 2007 and Microsoft Project 2007. This model uses deterministic and stochastic approaches to execute all necessary calculations for the conceptual cost estimate and baseline schedule. A deterministic approach relies on realistic data while a stochastic one relies on incorporating the uncertainty and risk available in calculating the cost and duration of any construction building project. The model is user friendly, flexible and executes all the necessary calculations quickly. The successful development of the model would help owners and investors identify the cost and baseline schedule of proposed projects at the early stages of the project life, so that they have an idea of the budget required for construction and the time needed to recover their investment.

Concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) columns are widely used in building and infrastructure projects throughout the world.Compared with other form of construction CFST columns offer superior structural performance and speed and ease of construction.Design procedures and recommendations provided in most of the design codes are often tedious and complex. There have been attempts to simplify the design procedure by providing a simplified expression to predict the capacity of a CFST under a general loading condition.In this thesis a rigorous analysis procedure was presented for the analysis of CFST beam-columns under general loading conditions.All the analytical results were verified by comparisons with the available test results and current ACI, AISC AND Eurocode 4 design codes. The comparisons demonstrated that the proposed numerical equations are accurate, and slightly conservative. Based on the numerical analysis, a simple and easy to follow calculation procedure was proposed for design of CFST columns under either uniaxial or biaxial bending moment and axial load. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Many research investigations have indicated that projects have a higher chance of success when thorough front end planning is performed. Previous research efforts have sought to determine a statistical link between front end planning and the performance metrics for both building and industrial projects. The author of this thesis intends to supplement prior research with case study analysis that provides situational insight that supports business decision making of business managers and project representatives. The research conducted in this study was performed in conjunction with CII Research Team 213, Support for Pre-Project Planning. The data for this thesis was gathered through a series of questionnaires and interviews with project representatives from 17 projects totaling $1.5 billion. Case studies were written by the author, reviewed by supervising professor and project representatives for accuracy and anonymity. The lessons learned from the case studies were distilled and evaluated to uncover correlations between front end planning issues and project success. A matrix of issues was created, and along with pattern-matching techniques, project data were sorted. The conclusions were drawn using expert knowledge of the author, supervising professor and research team. The case study analyses identified several planning related issues that affect project success, including: defined front end planning process, adequate scope definition, existing conditions definition, correct contracting strategy, alignment, teambuilding, participation of owner and contractors in the front end planning process, leadership, experience, and labor availability and skill. Anecdotal evidence is provided to support the proper implementation of these issues. / text

Actualmente , el sector de la construcción esta creciendo de una forma acelerada en todo el mundo desarrollando construcciones cada vez más complejas, exigiendo el uso de nuevas tecnologías y herramientas que faciliten la ejecución, marcando la diferencia entre proyectos constructivos tradicionales y las nuevas propuestas de mejora, aún más en retadores proyectos. Hoy en día contamos con nuevas herramientas, como “la metodología del Diseño Virtual y Construcción (VDC)” , la cual se viene aplicando como la forma más apropiada para obtener excelentes proyectos que cumplan con los tiempos establecidos, el menor costo del previsto y con una mayor calidad a lo deseado. En Perú observamos un paulatino crecimiento y reactivación en el sector de la construcción, los proyectos de edificaciones en general continúan con el sistema constructivo tradicional sin tener una ingeniería totalmente definida y sin implementar mejoras de tecnologías de gestión. La presente tesis demuestra que, logrando una gestión colaborativa en el proyecto utilizando herramientas como el BIM , involucrando a las subcontratas, especialistas y proyectistas en la etapa contructiva mediante sesiones ICE , se puede lograr una mejor productividad en procesos constructivos , menor desperdicio, optimizando el plazo de proyecto y reduciendo costos. / Currently, the construction sector is growing at an accelerated rate around the world, developing increasingly complex constructions, demanding the use of new technologies and tools that facilitate execution, making the difference between traditional construction projects and new improvement proposals. , even more in challenging projects. Today we have new tools such as the Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) methodology, which for some years has been imposing itself as the most appropriate way to obtain better projects in time and at a lower cost than expected, also with higher quality than expected. expected. (ESAN, 2016). In Peru, we observe a gradual growth and reactivation in the construction sector, building projects in general continue with the traditional construction system without having fully defined engineering and without implementing improvements in management technologies. This thesis shows that, by achieving a collaborative management in the project using tools such as BIM, involving subcontractors, specialists and designers in the construction stage through ICE sessions, it is possible to achieve better productivity in construction processes, less waste, optimizing the project time and reducing costs. / Tesis

The purpose and aim of this study are to examine how quality control and assurance is performed and how it varies in different regions around the world and strive towards international standardization of quality assurance. The foundation to the idea of this study is a Swedish company, called Runway Safe, working with international affairs regarding a safety solution for airport runways. To complete the study, cultural differences and structural differences in organizations comes to consideration.

Six civil engineering and building projects under construction have been observed in order to compare theory and practice, and thus draw conclusions on how clients and their management teams may control construction effectively. It has been reported and the six studies have shown that during construction as problems occur decisions taken to tackle them result in changes to one or more of the independant variables cost, time and performance. It is therefore argued in this thesis that if these variables are to be controlled to the client's benefit: (i) clear responsibilities, duties and authority to make decisions should be given to the members of project management teams; (ii) a project control system should be set up which will help the management team to perform those duties; (iii) both the management team and the system should be organized to suit the particular project and client.

Orientador: Marcus Vinicius Maltempi / Banca: Odete Sidericoudes / Banca: Rosana Giaretta Sguerra Miskulin / Resumo: Nesta pesquisa trabalhamos diversos conceitos matemáticos como, por exemplo, a Geometria, Matemática Financeira, Trigonometria e Álgebra, com o uso das Tecnologias Informáticas por meio da elaboração de projetos de construção civil, englobando a construção de casas e seus orçamentos. Para isso procuramos nos pautar nas teorias do Construcionismo (PAPERT, 1985, 1986) e da Espiral de Aprendizagem (VALENTE, 1993, 2002), buscando a elaboração de um ambiente de ensino e aprendizagem motivador. As cinco dimensões construcionistas - pragmática, semântica, sintônica, sintática e social - foram priorizadas na elaboração desse ambiente e, em decorrência disto, a espiral de aprendizagem, por meio das fases de descrição, execução, reflexão e depuração se manteve em movimento constante, auxiliando na construção de novos conhecimentos matemáticos por parte dos alunos. Na composição desse ambiente de aprendizagem utilizamos o software Arcon para a construção das casas e a planilha eletrônica Excel para a elaboração do orçamento das mesmas. Nesse contexto, objetivamos investigar o potencial pedagógico de projetos de ensino e aprendizagem na exploração e construção de conceitos matemáticos segundo a abordagem construcionista, no contexto da construção e orçamento de casas. Em relação à Metodologia, a pesquisa foi de cunho qualitativo, focando os trabalhos na aprendizagem dos alunos. O desenvolvimento dos Projetos se deu no laboratório de Informática de uma escola Pública da Rede Paulista de ensino, utilizando o software Camtasia para o registro e auxílio na transcrição, apresentação e análise dos dados. / Abstract: In this research we have worked with several Mathematics concepts, such as Geometry, Financial Mathematics, Trigonometry and Algebra, with the use of Technologies of Information through the elaboration of projects of civil building, including the building of houses and their budget. For that, we looked to be suited on theories of Constructionism (PAPERT, 1985, 1986) and the Learning Spiral (VALENTE, 1993, 2002), searching for an elaboration of a motivated environment of teaching and learning. The five constructionist dimensions - pragmatics, semantics, synchronic, syntactic and social - were prioritized during the elaboration of this environment and, according to this, the Learning Spiral, through the stages of description, execution, reflection and depuration was in a constant movement, helping in the building of new Mathematics knowledge of the pupils. In the compositon of this learning environment we used the Arcon software for the building of houses and the electronic plan Excel for the elaboration of their own budget. In this context, we aim to investigate the pedagogical potential of the teaching-learning projects in the exploration and building of the Mathematics concepts according to the constructionist bordage, in the context of building and houses budget. Related to the methodology, the research is a qualitative study, focusing on the works of students' learning. The developing the Projects made in the computer laboratory of a Public School of the paulista teaching system, using the Camtasia software for the register and help on transcription, presentation and data analyses. We believe that this investigation collaborated with the Mathematics Education, in a way to offer an option for the elaboration of a learning environment, in which we can develop teaching and learning projects that privilege the study of Mathematics concepts. / Mestre