The Economics and Productivity of US Cow-Calf Production

We explore US beef cow-calf production in 2018 and estimate net returns, returns to scale, and technical efficiency associated with backgrounding versus nonbackgrounding by size and production system. We determine the relative profitability of cow-calf operations by type, region, and size. Results, using both stochastic production frontier analysis and data envelopment analysis, indicate that larger operations tend to be more scale and technically efficient than smaller operations. While larger operations may be more scale and technically efficient and have lower variable costs per cow, off-farm income helps smaller operations become competitive. The availability of detailed cost of production information in the 2018 Agricultural Resource Management Survey of cattle and calves survey also facilitates identifying competitiveness by region and size as well as important efficiency drivers

Skills for Success as a Frontline Supervisor: Focus Group Results

Frontline supervisors (FLS), commonly referred to as foreman/person, play a critical role in the construction industry; they direct craft laborers and oversee production at the workface. They are generally responsible for ensuring that specific construction scopes are completed on time, safely, and with appropriate quality. For the purposes of this paper, a FLS is defined as, “a person that is competent in their trade and leads a team of craft personnel and directs them in their day-to-day activities.” This paper elucidates the key skills and experience required for success in this position based on a thematic analysis of 15 job postings provided by a focus group of five people who understood this definition. Analysis indicates that more than 60% of the postings required job-specific experience and construction knowledge, while about half of the postings required the soft skills of leadership and communication. These insights contribute to the workforce development and construction management bodies of knowledge by explicitly documenting the skills and experience required for success in this rarely discussed role. Based on these findings, construction organizations can self-assess whether they are seeking appropriate skills when advertising FLS positions. Educators can also use these findings to ensure their offerings yield marketability as an FLS

A Case-Study-Based Investigation on the Planning and Development of Tiny Home Communities in North Carolina

Tiny homes have gained popularity over the past two decades. However, tiny homes have encountered obstacles to being considered as primary dwellings because most local zoning ordinances do not fully adopt them as a permanent dwelling type. Only a few counties (5%) and municipalities (6%) in North Carolina adopted tiny homes in their ordinance. A multiple-case study is employed to investigate eight communities in North Carolina. The developers, property owners, municipality officials, and county planners are interviewed. Other methods include studying the communities\u27 general layout and amenities and reviewing zoning ordinances, property records, and site plans. The data are analyzed using thematic analysis. Three tiny home development models are recommended: Cluster Development, Pocket Neighbourhood, and Tiny Home Park. The development guidelines of the three models are recommended

Building a Better Future: The Australian Journey Towards Achieving Sustainable Development Through Social Procurement Policies

Social procurement is a recent policy development in public administration that has blurred the traditional boundaries of governance by collaborating with the private sector for societal transformation and wicked issues resolution. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasise the significance of inclusive growth and development, prompting governments worldwide to employ social procurement policy initiatives within the infrastructure sector as a practical vehicle for achieving the transformative vision. This has given rise to a vast array of social procurement policies within Australian governments. However, the creation of these policies has also generated significant confusion, especially regarding the effective implementation and evaluation of these policies. Thus, the current study aims to assess the social procurement policy landscape affecting the Australian infrastructure sector in achieving the SDGs. By employing a qualitative research approach and a jurisdictional scan, the study identified 73 policies through the analysis of 71 documents, with Victoria and New South Wales emerging as the most proactive Australian states in social procurement policy formulation. The study has observed that state governments generally have a more comprehensive scope in their social procurement policies than territorial governments in achieving the SDGs

Critical Review of Multidimensional Organizational Performance Measurement Models in Construction

Organizational performance is a critical metric for evaluating business success, yet measuring it in construction organizations poses significant challenges due to the industry\u27s inherent complexities, such as its fragmented, project-based structure. Researchers have developed various performance measurement models to address these challenges, including Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), the Balanced Scorecard (BSC), and the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) framework. Despite the widespread use of these models, their application (in what contexts) and integrative use (how they are used together) remain underexplored in construction studies. This study addresses this gap by examining how KPIs, BSC, and EFQM have been applied in construction research and proposing better ways to utilize them. To achieve this, this study critically reviews the literature on the empirical studies on KPIs, BSC, and EFQM within the construction context, focusing on each model’s characteristics, their practical applications, and opportunities for integrated use. The findings indicate that KPIs, being flexible and quantifiable, are well-suited for targeting specific organizational traits, while the EFQM model, with its formalized structure, is more appropriate for benchmarking across companies. Positioned between these two, the BSC offers a balance of flexibility and structure, contributing to its broader adoption compared to EFQM. KPIs, explicitly or implicitly used in all reviewed studies, are often tailored to firms’ unique needs, ensuring relevance. Previous studies lack strategic management insights and actionable improvement criteria, highlighting the need for future research to provide concrete strategies aligned with performance goals to offer practical guidance for improving performance in construction

The ENVISAGE methodology applied to building renovation: its adoption from a Facility Management perspective

In construction sector there is a growing interest in using Life Cycle Assessment to evaluate both embodied and operational carbon emissions during retrofitting interventions. Opting for durable interventions, even in restoration projects, with extended lifespans can result in reduced embodied carbon emissions throughout the building\u27s lifecycle in the near and mid-term future. Preserving historic buildings during restoration poses a significant challenge, necessitating a meticulous selection of materials used for renovation. To this purpose, this paper introduces a novel methodology, named ENVISAGE, that combines Life Cycle Assessment with the concept of nearly Zero Emission Refurbishment. This dual approach aims to align sustainability and preservation goals when selecting materials for retrofitting historic buildings. Furthermore, it seeks to assess the environmental impacts of the entire retrofitting process from the implementation of the intervention to its future maintenance, taking into account the expected 100-year lifespan of a valuable building. By adopting this approach, it is feasible to determine whether this aligns with the principles of the Facility Management in the construction sector. This is one of the main objectives of the paper, namely to find a continuity between Life Cycle Assessment, Sustainability, and Conservation, deciphered in the Facility Management framework. In this perspective, the ENVISAGE method is presented at the light of the Facility Management principles, especially focusing on the principles of operation and Maintenance and Repair and Renovation . Finally, ENVISAGE alignes with Sustainable Development Goals 7, 11, 12, and 13, as it prioritizes reducing water usage, waste generation, and greenhouses emission by promoting renewable energy sources implementation. Emphasizing awareness practices since the stage of the restoration planning, ENVISAGE aims to contirbute to greener and sustainable interventions for existing and historic buildings

Collaborative design technologies and methods for sustainable built environment

In the present design process, designers still operate relatively alone, each in their own swimming lane . Coordination between different design trades typically takes place in BIM coordination meetings organized by consultants. The process is reactive, and the feedback loops are long and error prone. Reaching successfully multi-criteria design solutions can be very difficult. This is eminently a burning issue with sustainability which is imposing new criteria and requirements for design solutions. Collaboration is widely understood as a necessity to successfully manage the ever-increasing complexity and demands of construction. Advanced collaboration consists of frequent reliable information sharing and constant working together. Naturally this requires specific technologies, and when these technologies are implemented, fundamental changes are likely to happen concerning design processes and roles of key professionals. This paper shall first open the BIM based collaborative solutions and practices as a possibility for reaching design solutions for sustainable built environment. Second, certain technologies for collaboration are presented for explain the possibilities further. Third, workshops-based research data and relating analyses are introduces for explaining the dimensions of targeted design collaboration. The obtained results are pointing out the need for more dynamic design processes and solutions supporting this movement. The current design business conventions and mindsets of designers are seen as challenges for changes towards dynamic collaboration practices

Framework for Assessing the Sustainability of Innovative Building Technology

The construction industry faces the dual challenge of providing affordable housing while addressing the pressing issue of climate change. In South Africa, many residents are forced to live in informal settlements due to a lack of affordable housing. This study aims to develop a sustainability assessment framework that evaluates the interconnectedness of affordability, social sustainability and environmental impact. The framework emphasizes the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It incorporates energy consumption and socio-economic impact criteria aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The findings suggest that while sustainable building practices may incur higher initial costs, they offer long-term benefits, including reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions. The proposed framework will serve as a tool for evaluating the sustainability of innovative building technologies, contributing to the discourse on sustainable construction practices. The study recommends an enhanced stakeholder engagement and a regulatory landscape conducive to adopting IBTs. Further empirical research is recommended to refine the framework and broaden its applicability across different contexts

BIM and Safety Integration for Steel Erection using Intermeshed Steel Connections

The construction industry faces persistent challenges in the aspect of worker safety and health, particularly with the frequently occurring injuries, illnesses, and fatalities caused by falls, struck-by, and ergonomic hazards, among others. The use of steel as a construction material has increased the scale and complexity of projects by introducing more intricate design, production, fabrication, and especially the erection processes which impact the safety and health performance of steelworkers. Studies have shown that steel connection systems, specifically innovative systems such as the intermeshed steel connection (ISC) can play critical roles in moderating the types of hazards steelworkers are exposed to. Using a 2-storey steel frame structure, the study assessed the integration of a safety checklist into Building Information Modeling (BIM) for improved safety planning for an innovative intermeshed steel connection system. The study developed a robust safety library compliant with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation incorporated into the BIM environment. The case study research developed a four-step framework which includes BIM model creation, safety checklist development, checklist integration in the BIM model, as well as safety simulation and analysis. The study also adopted a methodology that utilized the BIM virtual environment to classify and simulate hazard scenarios linking specific corrective actions with OSHA references to prevent accidents and injuries in steel erection works. The findings of the study indicated that the BIM-enabled checklist could provide workers, safety managers, and other stakeholders with information on effective safety measures to be taken in steel erection operations with intermeshed steel connections prior to construction to avoid injuries, illnesses, or fatalities