Thesis (MBus) -- Auckland University of Technology, 2005. / Also held in print (128 leaves, ill., some col., 30 cm.) in Wellesley Theses Collection. (T 338.47624 WAR)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2004. / Tables. Printout. Abstract in Spanish and English. Includes bibliographical references.

While wastage of materials has become a serious problem requiring urgent attention in the Nigerian Construction Industry, cost overrun is a problem, which affects 90 percent of the completed projects in the world; the argument on how to reduce/eliminate cost overrun has been on-going for the past 70 years; as the on-site wastage of materials leads to increases in the final project cost. Studies from different parts of the world have shown that construction-material waste represents a relatively large percentage of the production costs. Consequently, as a result of low levels of awareness, the Nigerian construction industry pays little attention to the effects of generated material waste on cost overruns. Thus, this research aimed to investigate the relationship between material waste and cost overrun in the Nigerian construction industry. A comprehensive review of the related literature revealed that all material waste causes are related to cost overrun causes at both pre-contract and post-contract stages of a project; but not vice versa. The mixed method (quantitative and qualitative) approach that is rooted in the positivist paradigm was adopted for this study. Abuja, the federal capital territory of Nigeria was the selected geographical scope of this research, out of which thirty-one (31) construction projects were purposeful selected (projects to the value of 100 million Rand/1.6 billion Naira and above).The research instrument was an interview guide used in conjunction with a tick box. Other sources of data included field investigation (measurement of onsite material waste) and the collection of archival records from bills of quantities, project records, and specifications. Analyses of the findings lead to the conclusion that a relationship exists between material waste and cost overrun; at the pre-contract and at the post-contract stages of a project. The implication is that an increase in material wastage on-site leads to a corresponding increase in the amount of cost overrun, regardless of the percentage allowance for material waste in the process of bill preparation. The study also concluded that the average percentage contribution of material waste to project-cost overruns is four (4) percent. Material-waste sources, causes, and control measures were found to have significant effects (very high, high, medium, low, and very low), in causing or minimising cost overruns at both pre-contract and post-contract stages of projects. The research has developed a conceptual model for the management of material waste and cost overruns in the construction industry based on the results and informed by the theoretical framework. The research has also developed a mathematical model for quantifying the amount of material waste to be generated by a project; as well as a mathematical equation for the effective management of material waste and cost overrun for projects. The study has achieved its aim of establishing an understanding of the issues leading to the relationship between material waste and cost overruns, as well as their management in the Nigerian construction industry. The study recommends that the management of material waste and cost overrun should be revised, based on the findings of this research and included as part of the procurement process. The mathematical models for quantification of onsite material waste, and the mathematical equation for managing material waste and cost overruns developed in the study, could be usefully adopted to improve management of material waste and cost overrun in the Nigerian construction industry.

A research report submited to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in part all fulfillment of the requirements for the MSc. (Building) in Construction Project Management. / Construction waste minimisation and avoidance at the design stage of a construction project is the most favourable solution in the existing waste management hierarchy triangle. However, there are currently only a limited number of exploratory and context-specific studies that state effective construction waste minimisation factors which can be implemented during the design stage. This can be regarded as a relatively new concept and new research topic, especially as no studies have been done in a South African or a Gauteng region context. This research report aims to address this local knowledge gap. The research method included an initial conceptual framework of factors (identified from surveying both global and local literature) as a launch pad in order to quantitatively survey design consultants in Gauteng with regards to both the significance and ease of implementation of the identified factors. The research target population consisted of; architects, architectural technologists, architectural draughtsman, structural engineers, structural technologists, structural draughtsman and finally sustainability consultants. The target population was further narrowed by only including designers who have both attempted to minimise construction on greenfield projects in Gauteng and who have received Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) accreditation on the same project. This report presents a hierarchical list of twenty-six critical factors that can be implemented during the design stage in order to minimise or avoid construction waste in the context of Gauteng, South Africa. The report further indicates which of these factors will be easier to implement than others. These factors are aimed mainly at clients of construction projects, as they are in essence the stakeholders who will contractually enforce designers to implement these construction waste minimisation factors in order to lower project costs. Furthermore; these factors will also serve as valuable references for the Gauteng Provincial Government as the factors can be utilized in order to drive provincial construction waste regulations and eventually national reform.

Construction is a big role player in every economy, and the Site Management Process (SMP) occupies a strategic position in the construction process. Despite existence of appreciable research, technology diffusion in the construction industry is slow. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) implementation processes and products have not adequately and beneficially exploited ICT for improvement of the SMP. This is especially true in developing countries. Without increase in utilisation of ICT, potential benefits for the SMP remain untapped. The aim of the thesis was to ascertain the levels of utilisation of recent ICT developments for the SMP, and thereby gauge the benefits or lack thereof. The theoretical concept of the research is based on the technology transfer sub-concept of adaptation. A fundamentally positivistic view, with principles of objectivist approach was used for the enquiry. The approach included an extensive literature review, and a multi-stage investigation strategy, set in South Africa. Theory reviewed was in the main disciplines of construction science and technology, computer science and technology, and management science. Investigations involved case studies of construction sites, a global ICT survey, a national practitioner survey, and analysis of ICT products. Findings from literature assert the appreciable potential utility in recent ICT, thereby substantiating the adaptability of recent ICT. In addition ICT adoption in the SMP is inadequate and inexpedient, falling short of potential benefits for construction, both generally and in the local context. Furthermore there are challenges to ICT adoption, which could vary according to context. Field research results also point to underutilisation of innovations located in recent ICT. The main challenges in this regard include inadequate knowledge of potential utility of recent ICT, and lack of relevant support and effective approaches to technology integration, in the SMP. Moreover exploitation of the adaptability of recent ICT in the local SMP does not go beyond basic adoption. As such most diffusion occurs only for items requiring an adaptation of usage context or area of application. The results strongly indicate minimal innovativeness in this regard. Frameworks for possible adaptations of existing technologies were also derived, while propositions are made for approaches to improve the utility of recent ICT in the SMP. Through a customised approach, the thesis establishes foundational understanding towards a generic framework for adapting potential utility in ICT to uses in construction, especially in the SMP. Thus the research contributes strategic information to the fledgling CICT body of knowledge, especially in the local context.

The idea of tilt-up construction started in America in the early I900’s. In the beginning, this technique was mainly used on structures such as industrial warehouses and factories. However, recent developments and improvements in tilt-up construction technique and accessories have enabled this building method to be applied to many architecturally appealing offices and residential structures. There are many details the design-build team must consider to ensure the success of a tilt-up project. The floor slab must be designed for panel casting and to withstand the loading of the mobile crane which will be used to lift the panel. The crane capacity affects the panel size and weight. Proper curing and bondbreaker application are very important to reduce bonding and to ensure clear cleavage between concrete surfaces. Changing rigging configuration consumes expensive crane time and must be reduced to minimum possible. The availability of ground-release quick connect/disconnect tilt—up hardware improves workers safety and speeds up the erection process substantially. Although the stress analysis of simple wall panels during erection can be done by hand, panels with more complicated geometry or with openings, are more efficiently analysed with a computer. Many manufacturers have technical services to help in the design of insert layout so that the concrete will not be over stressed when the panel is tilted into position. After the panel is plumbed, it is braced temporarily before the final connection is made. For in-place loading there are now design aids available which ease the design process. When properly designed and built, tilt—up has proved to be a fast, efficient, and economical building construction technique. / Master of Science

Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Science (Building) in Construction Project Management to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Construction Economics and Management at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017 / There is a problem of construction waste on construction sites. However, there are various strategies that can be employed; not only on construction sites, but generally on construction projects from the inception of the project to manage construction waste more effectively. Construction waste management can loosely be defined as a function of controlling waste on construction projects to limit its generation and disposal but enhance reduce and recycling. Construction waste mainly arises from design changes, poor choice of construction materials, improper material specifications, inappropriate strategies employed or wrong strategies implemented; leading to poor management of waste on construction projects. Construction waste can be ‘physical’ or ‘non-physical’. Physical construction waste refers to tangible solid waste of materials emanating from construction activities. Non-physical waste pertains to waste of time and project funds in the form of unnecessary expenditure. The aim of this study is to identify waste management strategies utilized on construction sites in Gauteng. Pertinent literature provided a basis of the study. A cross-sectional survey using three construction sites in Gauteng: an office building project, a road project and a civil works project was adopted. The most common strategies were found to be –proper selection of construction materials, proper planning and logical sequencing of construction work activities on a project. There is a variety of branded materials hence the need for proper selection of materials. Further, there are a lot of factors that influence the flow of work activities hence the requirement to keep track and plan activities accordingly to counter distortions. It is acknowledged that strategies found to be common in Gauteng are basic techniques in controlling construction waste generation and the results tied back to the literature. It was established that technological tools like Building Information Modeling are not yet common in Gauteng. Improvements on usage of prefabricated components and offsite manufacturing of components is recommended to stakeholders of the construction industry. It is also logical to conclude that waste management strategies employed on construction sites in Gauteng are anchored on factors of economic viability and government policies. In their quest to make projects profitable and in their efforts to make construction projects compliant to regulations, as a result, construction contractors achieve reductions in waste generation on construction projects. Therefore what the study found out are mainly practices that could, in addition to achieving primary aim, contribute to waste reduction. These strategies identified are implemented primarily to achieve time, cost and quality objectives and thus indirectly waste reduction. / MT2018

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The construction industry is a competitive market and contractors need to keep up-to-date with new construction methods and technologies. Project teams in South Africa are required to make decisions during the early stages of construction projects. These decisions often need to be made in a short time period, and include the decision between various construction methods, such as the decision between in-situ concrete construction and hybrid concrete construction. Hybrid concrete construction is a combination of pre-fabricated concrete and cast in-situ concrete to obtain the supreme benefits of their different construction qualities. This method of construction is ultimately used to achieve faster, and occasionally, more cost effective construction. Hybrid concrete construction, today, is a well-known term in the construction industry and is widely used in the UK and other developed countries. However, the use thereof is limited in South Africa, and in-situ concrete construction remains the conventional method of construction. Possible reasons for the limited use of hybrid concrete construction are investigated in this study. With the intent of improving the construction industry of South Africa, guidelines are provided to assist project teams in a decision between in-situ concrete construction and hybrid concrete construction. The decision between construction methods is based on many factors, such as project time, cost, quality, safety, environmental performance, socio-economic aspects (labour) and client satisfaction. Project time and cost are, however, the most important of these factors. It is stated that the structure of a building represents typically only 10 % of the construction cost, however, the choice of construction method and material can have significant effects on the cost of other elements throughout the life cycle of construction projects. It is therefore important to measure the whole life cycle cost when deciding between construction methods, such as in-situ concrete construction and hybrid concrete construction. The aim of this study is to identify and investigate the factors that influence project time and cost, throughout the life cycle of construction projects, and to provide a framework that can assist project teams in their decision between in-situ concrete construction and hybrid concrete construction in South Africa. The decision between these two construction methods is influenced by a vast number of variables that may be difficult to quantify. The framework therefore consists of qualitative information that can assist project teams in their decision. The framework provided in this study includes the factors that have an influence on the time and cost for a decision between in-situ concrete construction and hybrid concrete construction. These factors are identified for the three primary phases in the life cycle of construction projects. These phases are the design phase, the construction phase and the maintenance phase. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die konstruksiebedryf is 'n kompiterende mark en kontrakteurs moet op datum bly met nuwe konstruksie metodes en tegnologieë. In Suid-Afrika word daar van projek spanne vereis om vinnige besluite gedurende vroeë stadiums van 'n projek te neem. Hierdie besluite moet dikwels in 'n kort tydperk geneem word, en sluit die besluit tussen verskillende konstruksie metodes in, byvoorbeeld die besluit tussen in-situ en hibriede beton konstruksie. Hibriede beton konstruksie (HBK) is 'n kombinasie van in-situ en voorafvervaardigde beton elemente. HBK word in die algemeen gebruik om te baat uit 'n vinniger konstruksie tydperk, en kan soms ook ‘n meer koste-effektiewe metode van konstruksie wees. HBK word gesien as 'n bekende term in die konstruksiebedryf en word veral toegepas in ontwikkelde lande soos die VSA, Japan en Engeland. Die toepassing daarvan in Suid-Afrika is egter beperk. In Suid-Afrika word in-situ beton konstruksie nog steeds die meeste gebruik en staan dus bekend as die mees algemene metode van konstruksie. Hierdie studie ondersoek moontlike redes vir die beperkte gebruik van HBK in Suid-Afrika. Met die oog op 'n verbeterde konstruksiebedryf in Suid-Afrika, word rigylyne voorsien, wat projek spanne kan gebruik vir 'n besluit tussen in-situ en hibriede beton konstruksie. Daar is verskeie faktore wat 'n rol speel in die besluit tussen twee konstruksie metodes. Hierdie faktore sluit in, die tyd, koste, kwaliteit, veilighed, omgewings impak, sosio-ekonomiese aspekte (soos arbeid) en kliënt tevredenheid, van 'n projek. Tyd en koste is egter die belangrikste van hierdie faktore. Die metode waarvolgens 'n struktuur gebou word kan 'n beduidende uitwerking op die koste van ander elemente in die lewensiklus van 'n konstruksie projek hê. Dit is gevolglik belangrik om die hele lewensiklus koste in ag te neem wanneer daar besluit moet word tussen verskeie konstruksie metodes, soos in-situ en hibriede beton konstruksie. Die doel van hierdie studie is gevolglik om die faktore wat 'n invloed het op die tyd en lewensiklus koste van konstruksie projekte te identifiesieer. Hierdie faktore word dan gebruik om 'n raamwerk voor te stel. Projek spanne kan hierdie raamwerk gebruik as 'n riglyn om te besluit tussen in-situ en hibriede beton konstruksie. Die besluit tussen hierdie twee konstruksie metodes is afhanklik van 'n groot aantal veranderlikes, wat moeilik is om te kwantifiseer. Die raamwerk bestaan dus uit kwalitatiewe inligting wat projek spanne kan gebruik om 'n ingeligte besluit te neem oor in-situ en hibriede beton konstruksie. Die raamwerk wat in hierdie studie voorgestel word sluit dus die faktore in wat 'n invloed het op die tyd en koste vir 'n besluit tussen in-situ en hibriede beton konstruksie. Hierdie faktore is geïdentifiseer vir die drie primêre fases in die lewensiklus van 'n konstruksie projek. Hierdie fases is die ontwerp fase, die konstruksie fase en die onderhoud fase.