Thesis (doctoral)--Tampere University of Technology, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

The author's Habilitationsschrift--Universität Regensburg, 1984, presented under the title: Vorindustrielle Bauwirtschaft vom 16. bis zum 18. Jahrhundert in der Reichsstadt Nürnberg und ihrem Umland. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 280-295) and index.

The construction industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is faced with challenges of incessant delays, cost overruns and poor quality. The premise of the research reported here is that effective adoption and implementation of Building Information modelling (BIM) can contribute to the achievement of the necessary improvement. Against this backdrop, the aim of the research was to produce a strategic framework to underpin such adoption and implementation. It entailed investigation of the awareness of BIM, the extent of its use in KSA and the barriers to its more effective adoption and implementation. A mixed research approach was adopted, using a questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews for collecting data. The questionnaire survey was used to obtain information on the awareness, barriers, drivers and status of BIM usage in the KSA construction industry, while the semi-structured interviews were designed to elicit the opinions of professionals and elucidate their own experiences in relation to the variables in this study. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and thematic content analysis. The study found that the awareness of BIM in the Saudi construction industry is low and faced with inherent barriers that impede its successful application. These barriers were found to be a lack of knowledge of BIM, initial and running costs of implementation, a lack of training of personnel, and a fear of changing from the traditional methods of construction. The study identified strategies that could be used to address these challenges. These include enlightenment on the benefits of BIM application; creating awareness of BIM through workshops, seminars and conferences; training of workers; and the introduction of government intervention to enforce the application of BIM. In addition, this study identified the relevant factors that would enable the application of BIM in the Saudi construction industry to be meeting client's expectations and the requirement to use BIM technology, and using BIM because of the benefits it offers such as cost savings, efficiency, quality and increase in productivity. Regardless of these BIM drivers, however, the most important aim is to bring the stakeholders to commit themselves and invest in the necessary technology, tools and resources in order to improve construction processes. A strategic framework was developed to serve as a roadmap for BIM implementation. The framework also encompassed the key parties in the process and the specific roles to be played by them. The study concludes that the implementation of BIM could improve project performance in Saudi Arabia in terms of time, cost and quality.

Licentiatavhandling (sammanfattning) Luleå : Luleå tekniska universitet, 2005. / Härtill 3 uppsatser + 2 appendix.

Recent years has seen a significant drive away from traditional procurement routes with contractors finding themselves with an increasing responsibility for control of design - a process they have had little experience in managing. They now have to adapt accordingly. The learning curve is steep, not least because many projects must now be delivered fast track while co-ordinating increasingly complex fabric and content of buildings without a platform of accepted good practice to manage the design process. This is a major factor preventing the UK construction industry from delivering projects on time, to budget and to the specified quality. There is a need to educate an increasing number of people in design management techniques to equip them to manage today's fast moving and demanding projects. However, many current design management tools are insufficiently developed for industry application. Therefore, to improve design management in the industry, current techniques must be modified to align them with the needs of the modern design manager. This research has developed and tested a training initiative aimed at improving design management practice within a major UK Design and Construct Contractor. It comprises a Design Management Handbook, Design Management Training, Team Support and Project Monitoring. The Design Management Handbook is the core of the training initiative. It addresses critical aspects of design management practice and provides design management tools. Training provides guidance to project teams on the tools and practices. In Team Support project teams are supported in the implementation of the new practices and tools to help embed new ways of working in company practice. Project Monitoring establishes the impact of the new practices on project performance to demonstrate that they are working and thus reinforce change. To establish the training initiative's effectiveness and key findings, the impact of the initiative on design management performance has been explored. The research has established which practices and tools were used, which were not, as well as an understanding the applicability and performance of each Handbook practice and tool. From this, barriers to implementing new design management tools in industry were identified and strategies developed in order to overcome such barriers.

Syftet med det här examensarbetet är att undersöka om det är möjligt att överföra hallbyggnadsteknik till produktion av småhus för att sänka produktionskostnaderna. Studien visar att hallbyggnadsteknik enkelt går att överföra till en villa. Dessutom blir det billigare att bygga klimatskalet med vårt byggsystem jämfört med ett traditionellt prefabricerat småhus. Genom detta system kan den totala byggkostnaden för villan i jämförelsen sänkas med 3-10 % beroende på vilket fasadmaterial som väljs. / The aim with this diploma work is to see if it is possible to transfer the technology used for industrial buildings to the production of small houses to lower the production costs. In the report, we show that the industrial building technology is possible to transfer to a small house. It also becomes more efficient to build the climate shell with our construction system compared with a traditional prefabricated small house. The total construction cost can with our system be reduced with 3-10 % depending on which facade material that is chosen.

<p>Syftet med det här examensarbetet är att undersöka om det är möjligt att överföra hallbyggnadsteknik till produktion av småhus för att sänka produktionskostnaderna. Studien visar att hallbyggnadsteknik enkelt går att överföra till en villa. Dessutom blir det billigare att bygga klimatskalet med vårt byggsystem jämfört med ett traditionellt prefabricerat småhus. Genom detta system kan den totala byggkostnaden för villan i jämförelsen sänkas med 3-10 % beroende på vilket fasadmaterial som väljs.</p> / <p>The aim with this diploma work is to see if it is possible to transfer the technology used for industrial buildings to the production of small houses to lower the production costs. In the report, we show that the industrial building technology is possible to transfer to a small house. It also becomes more efficient to build the climate shell with our construction system compared with a traditional prefabricated small house. The total construction cost can with our system be reduced with 3-10 % depending on which facade material that is chosen.</p>

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2006. / Advisor: Yassir AbdelRazig, Florida State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 15, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains xiii, 341 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

I have always known that I would leave my hometown. Always been told that it is too boring for a dreamer, that it is a place where all ambition wanes. None of my childhood friends stayed; we all moved towards something bigger, something better- towards opportunities. We all moved, to some degree, south. Depopulation of rural communities is not unique to Norrland but Tankebanan investigates this topic within the context of the northern inlands of Sweden, exploring its industrial history and local conditions. The project aims to create an infrastructure strengthening the social and cultural capital of the inland by generating educational, entrepreneurial and identity building activities in the region. The site of the project stretches along Malmbanan, the railway transporting iron from the industries of the inland to the ports of Narvik and Luleå. The tracks are a physical trace of the industrial history of the region and therefor a suitable location for the project that proposes three fixed nodes along the railway, each targeting one specific aspect of the knowledge network. The nodes are Creation in Abisko, Education in Kiruna and Entrepreneurship in Gällivare.Tankebanan reprograms old carbarns within the towns into hubs of activity and optimism, aiming to challenge the pessimism often connotated with the region, causing people to leave. It aims to turn struggles into challenges and encourage young people to see the potential within themselves and within Norrland. This phase of the project explores the node of Education in Kiruna, which proposes an alternative university for those who wish to obtain a degree without leaving the north. The program consists of a public library and train station, educational facilities, conference rooms and accommodation for long distance commuters. It is hosted within a modular system, relating to the module of the train car and extending the network of the rails into the building.

This doctoral thesis "The effectiveness of marketing activities in the preparatory phase of the life cycle of construction" deals with the possibility of more effective marketing activities in preparation for construction. The main goal of the thesis is, based on the analysis of the current state of the use of marketing activities from the view of a building contractor and building users, to propose a methodological indicators suitable for assessing the effectiveness of marketing activities in the preparatory phase of the life cycle of the building.The theoretical part is an overview of the current state of knowledge in areas related to efficiency, marketing, product life cycle and construction. In the practical part is to find out which marketing activities and effectiveness criteria are used in the preparatory phase of the life cycle of the building. The findings on the relationship to the use of individual elements of marketing activities and effectiveness criteria from the perspective building contractor and building users are summarized. Subsequently it is evaluated achieved financial efficiency of construction companies and assessed its link to relationship marketing activities. For a comprehensive evaluation are also used results of the analysis of selected financial indicators. Based on the findings is designed methodical indicator for assessing the effectiveness of marketing activities in the preparatory phase of the life cycle of the building. In conclusion, barriers and opportunities for application of the methodology of creation and use of indicators in practice are evaluated.