Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-165). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2005. / Supervisor: G. Edward Gibson, Jr. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Building Construction Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2007. / Lauir Koskela, Committee Member ; Godfried Augenbroe, Committee Co-Chair ; Linda Thomas-Mobley, Committee Chair ; Thomas L. Galloway, Committee Member ; Brian Bowen, Committee Member.

Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

published_or_final_version / Real Estate and Construction / Master / Master of Science in Construction Project Management

The construction industry has a reputation for low productivity, waste, low use of new technologies, and poor quality (Egan, 1998; Wakefield & Damrienant, 1999). It is estimated that up to 30% of construction is rework, and recognised that site teams spend too much time and effort making designs work in practice (Egan, 1998). The aim of the research project was to develop a visualisation and communication environment that would assist design teams in communicating design details that may be problematic for construction teams. The investigation was based on the need for a tool that facilitates detail design information communication. The VISCON (computer visualisation support for buildability) environment provides support for general information sharing in the context of a collaborative building project. This prototype is Web based and can be accessed from any location. This will allow for construction information to be readily communicated and shared between head offices and construction sites and any other locations to provide better visualisation of design details. Three scenarios were developed as case studies for demonstration purposes based on real projects. These case studies used a paper factory, a bay barrage building and a swimming pool recently constructed at Loughborough University. In the development of the case studies, 3D models were produced using components from the selected prototype buildings that may inherently be difficult to assemble. The VISCON prototype demonstrates the various functionalities of the system in creating intricate design details that can be animated or interacted with in real time. The main achievements of the research are: The review of buildability problems and their causes during the construction stage of a facility; The development of an architecture for a computer visualisation tool for buildability (VISCON); Implementation and validation of the proposed system (VISCON) through the use of a number of case studies. The system was found to be useful and demonstrated that computer visualisation tools provide considerable potential in improving clarity of information and also a new way of visualising and solving design problems that arise during the construction stage of a project. It also demonstrated the ease of use of the proposed system, and its efficiency and application to the construction industry. The research concludes that the use of computer visualisation can improve the construction project delivery process by providing guidance on how components are assembled together and how buildability problems can be solved during the construction stage. Furthermore, the use of effective communication tools will improve collaboration between construction and design practitioners.

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If the UK is to avoid the catastrophic impacts of climate change a low-carbon transition (LCT) must be achieved, whereby our energy infrastructure and economy dramatically reduce carbon-dioxide emissions. The thesis argues that the UK construction sector is key to the success of the LCT and proposes some longer-term skills forecasts to assess whether future supply will meet demand. The thesis uses secondary data to examine features of the UK construction sector which make it essential to achieving the LCT by building and installing the low-carbon infrastructure. Existing construction skills forecasting methodologies are reviewed to determine the required properties for the long-term projection. A novel model where underlying activity, technical change and institutional change co-evolve is developed to frame forecasts of the demand and supply of skills necessary for the LCT and identify if any potential skills shortages could disrupt it. To predict long-term UK growth patterns a new approach - Multi-channel Singular Spectral Analysis - is employed, using educational and demographic forecasts and incorporating business cycles. Technical change is explored using four Government produced 2050 pathways, each proposing a differing bundle of technologies to deliver the LCT. The skills demand for each pathway is then forecast and evaluated. Additional forecasts cover other potential demands and the impact of institutions. In particular, the additional impacts of adaptation measures and the possibility of building more dwellings to meet growing demand are evaluated. The results suggest that given appropriate policies and if the impacts of recessions are minimalised, and the number of new construction workers continues to grow, shortages can be avoided. UK skills policy and training, currently based on an employer-led philosophy, is evaluated to determine if it can provide a timely response to the increased demand for construction skills or whether a more proactive approach is required. The thesis argues that, if a more proactive engagement by the construction skills institutions and policy makers is adopted, the supply of skills could be sufficient to achieve the LCT. However, the higher levels of adaptation measures combined with building sufficient dwelling to meet demand could produce destabilising addition demand on the construction sector leading to problems with the LCT.