Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 169-176). Also available online via the University of Texas at Austin website (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/etd/).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Project (M. Eng.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1987. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-87). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006.

Lic.-avh. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Kungliga Tekniska högskolan, 2008. / Härtill 3 uppsatser.

No description available.

The reported work lies in the area of automation in the construction industry, and involves multi-disciplinary engineering studies. In particular, sewer renovation methods, computer vision (CV) and robotics are all included. More specifically, the key objective of the research programme was to investigate the characteristics of retrofit components suited to mounting on an industrial / proprietary sewer tractor. The overall aim was the provision of a non-man-entry (NME) sewer renovation robot to undertake reconnection of lateral junctions, following a cured-in-place (CIP) relining process. The programme primarily involved theoretical studies of the requisite sensory and kinematic components, incorporation of a novel computer vision sensing system and production of a chainage measurement system and robotic drill task arm. The theory was supported by laboratory testing using a modified proprietary tractor, with emphasis placed on promoting applications of information technology driven systems (i.e. CV) to construction-industry tasks within hazardous environments involving significant health issues. The use of such techniques in the construction industry is rare. Chapter 1 reviews the context and history of sewer maintenance/dereliction in the UK. NME sewers are the most common type and are, by definition, difficult to maintain. Renovation, typically employing CIP liners, is therefore a cost-effective alternative to replacement. Lateral connections are, inevitably, blocked off during the relining process; it is suggested that application of a robust robotic system to the task of reconnecting them is novel and offers clear potential within such a hazardous environment. Chapters 2 and 3 develop the underlying theoretical models of the CV and kinematic systems respectively. The novel CV work (provided by third party specialists employing the TINA CV research environment) was incorporated by the author to provide detection and classification of lateral junctions, crucially noting the particular properties of direct and reflected illumination. Classification aspects include estimation of lateral/NME intersection angle and closure-to-target distance from the robot. The author proposes a separate procedure for estimating lateral diameter. A chainage measurement system, using a rotary encoder and inclinometer, was developed to determine invert path distance travelled. This allows for the inevitable wander and thereby gives the system robustness. The novel application of GRASP (a robotic modelling and simulation design tool) to NME environments, provided the ability to model arm designs without the need for the production of more than one expensive physical prototype. A mathematical solution for determining the requisite arm kinematics is presented. Chapter 4 details the hardware requirements of the robotic system components, whilst Chapters 5 and 6 present the laboratory evaluation results for the kinematic and CV systems respectively. The abilities of the CV system qualitatively to detect laterals under reflected illumination, and to provide quantitative classification data, are demonstrated. The chainage measurement system is assessed under a variety of initialisation conditions to determine suitability to task, and the ability of the robotic arm to physically simulate lateral reconnection is investigated. Chapter 7 discusses the specification for an industrially-applicable prototype, based on the findings herein. Appropriate comparisons with the pre-prototype system are made, including cost. Finally, Chapter 8 draws conclusions and makes suggestions for further work. Supporting documentation is provided in Chapter 9 and the Appendices.

The study reported herein addresses the research question, "To what extent do excellent performing UK construction contracting organizations demonstrate and employ recognized Learning Organization processes?" It utilized a case-study based approach as that approach was seen as being most useful for exploring the processes that may or may not have been clearly defined by each participating organization. The study sought to move beyond the theories of knowledge created by the accepted seminal works on The Learning Organization model and the largely positivist works on construction contractor performance, which have focussed on ‘output’ measures only. The literature reviewed indicated minimal understanding of excellent contractor performance from the perspective of the customer within the construction industry and even less understanding of the practical application of Learning Organization processes within the industry. It suggested the need for research to address the issue by examining how construction customers viewed excellent contractor performance and what processes excellent performing contractors actually employed. The assumption behind this research is that the organization adapts and responds to its environment and takes action to survive and flourish dependent upon its understating of that environment. This is the same behaviour as a living organism in nature displays, and thus requires the researcher to view the organization as a sentient being. Such a view underscores the epistemological perspective, that is the assumption of what knowledge is and how it may be discovered, adopted in this thesis. The research herein reported therefore follows a post-positivist standpoint. The methodological position for the research sits within a functionalist paradigm, a paradigm that enables consideration of the participating organizations within the construction industry to be viewed as a ‘whole’ and as having interrelated parts. This position was considered to be the most useful for the research. The particular approach chosen was that of multiple case studies carried out on the same subject. Carrying out multiple case studies across different organizations provided case-based themes, which was seen to give the research a greater credibility. By definition, the method was therefore one of a collective case study (Creswell, 2007), where several cases were brought to bear on a single issue. It was intended to draw practical examples of Learning Organizations together so that the commonalities and differences between and among them could be integrated in a reformulated Learning Organization model for the construction industry. During the data collection phase, two elements of the research were abandoned as unnecessary and impractical respectively. The unnecessary element was the questionnaire element of the contractor case studies, which was abandoned due to the breadth and depth of data gathered through the other elements of the research (interviews, focus groups and field observation). The impractical element was the intended comparative study on poor performing contractors. This was abandoned as customers almost without fail noted that poor performing contractors were generally not retained on their programmes and therefore their supply chains tended only to range in performance from adequate to excellent. Secondly, it was realized following discussions with customers that poor performers were likely to be aware of their poor performing status and therefore be unlikely to want to participate in the research. The customer organizations identified a number of clear areas where they identified excellent contractor performance. The clear position was that the standard output performance indicators of project completion to time, cost, quality, and health and safety were no longer indicators of excellent performance in the industry. These indicators were now the minimum performance required to satisfy the customer and there was seen to be a further suite of more behavioural measures which were the indicators of excellent performance. These findings were drawn together in a single model for procurement and performance management. The contracting organizations nominated as excellent performers fell largely into the ‘medium sized’ bracket of the construction industry. Indeed, some of the participating customers noted that the larger contractors were actually poorer performers at behavioural aspects of service delivery. The nominated contractors’ processes were examined against the Learning Organization framework provided in Senge et al (1990, 1994) to establish the extent to which recognized Learning Organization processes were being employed. It was noted in the conclusions that whilst all of the organizations employed some Learning Organization processes, none could be said to be a model Learning Organization possessing all of the processes which Senge et al (1990, 1994) suggested. The fact that each organization possessed some Learning Organization processes was accepted against the critique of Ortenblad (2007) that Senge et al’s (1990, 1994) model is all-encompassing in terms of accepting processes into the Learning Organization model. Implications for industry practice were identified based upon the backdrop of procurement and performance management. It was argued that, based on what is noted as really important to construction customer organizations, the procurement and performance management functions should be better aligned to identify Learning Organization processes and their manifestation as excellent contractor performance from the perspective of the customer. For contractor organizations, there was identified a need to attend to developing Learning Organization processes. There also appeared to be a need for the customer to support the journey of their contractors towards becoming a Learning Organization. Senge et al’s (1990, 1994) model was then adapted for the construction industry to reflect this need for customer involvement if the contractor was to adopt Learning Organization processes. This adaptation was considered necessary due to the construction industry model of the customer being more involved in the design and construction phases of their product, coupled with the fact that a single construction customer can represent a large volume of their contractors’ turnover (up to 20% is not uncommon). Furthermore, the low contractor profit margins driven by a lowest price tendering culture (often 2-3%) leave little money for internal investment. The support of an informed customer which does not use a lowest price tendering process was therefore deemed necessary. A number of recommendations for further research may be seen to emerge from this study. Questions were raised as to the reason why larger organizations do not appear as able to provide behavioural excellent performance as medium sized contractors which was considered to be an area for further exploration. In addition, the concept of ‘family’ atmosphere (raised several times by participants during the contractor case studies) and its impact upon the ability for the organization to learn and provide excellent performance was seen to be worthy of further study. Finally, there was deemed to be the potential to examine the applicability of the extended Learning Organization model developed herein to other industries and/or organizational cultures.

This thesis is concerned with the application of project management techniques and systems implemented in the United Arab Emirates. Areas of current weakness in the application of project management in the Gulf area were identified, examined and analyzed. Three case studies regarding the implementation of project management, in the UAE were used as a basis for detailed examination. The author's extensive field experience, together with research into current practices in project management both in the U.A.E. and internationally, was combined to critically appraise the particular case studies. Findings indicate that the implementation of project management techniques, systems and approaches in the U.A.E. is comparatively new, and is not being effectively implemented, particularly in the areas of:- -Early participation and preparation of the project brief. -The formulation of the feasibility study. -Establishing project strategy. -Monitoring design criteria. -Monitoring and controlling construction activities. -Controlling commissioning, maintenance, handing over and the close-out activities. -Client and cultural impact. Recommendations are made that would facilitate improvements.