An Investigation into Irish Clients understanding of the Capabilities of Building Information Modelling and their Role within a Construction Project

With an Irish BIM mandate on the horizon there appears to be a growing frustration within the Irish construction industry around the implementation, adoption and use of BIM in construction projects. With many industry professionals highlighting the clients lack of understanding in the capabilities of BIM and their role within a BIM enabled project as the cause to this frustration. This paper aims to investigate these claims by analyzing the findings of recent publications against data gather through interviews held with various Irish construction clients. The results of this paper question the claims of the industry professionals and goes on to highlight other issues which may be leading to this frustration within the Irish construction Industry

Main Contractor Selection on Construction Projects When Adapting an Integrated Project Delivery Procurement Strategy Within an Irish Context.

The Irish construction industry has experienced turbulent years over the last decade from an economic viewpoint. The industry has tended to be conservative in nature and slow to embrace change. However international influences have exposed Irish construction professionals to new more efficient systems and technologies, which although slow to take hold have started to gain traction within certain sectors of the industry. This study has focussed on the innovative procurement route known as Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), and its facilitator; Building Information Modelling (BIM). The overall aim of this study was to investigate whether Integrated Project Delivery was a viable procurement route for construction work within the Irish construction industry. The chosen research strategy for conducting this research was qualitative in nature utilising a phenomenological approach. Semi structured interviews were deemed to be the most suitable platform for data collection, and this data was organised into solid themes for further analysis. .The participants to the study comprised of eight expert commentators from the Irish construction industry who occupied senior positions in their respective companies. An extensive literature was completed on both Irish and international literature dealing with this area. The research question was answered based on the data gathered during the research process, supplemented by findings in the literature review. The overall conclusion based on the data gathered during this research was that IPD was a viable procurement route for construction work within the Irish construction industry, on condition that the Irish government would make policy decisions conducive to creating a collaborative environment of trust. This policy changes must deal with procurement regulations, contractual arrangements and promotion of IPD within the industry itself Keywords; Integrated Project Delivery, Building Information Modelling, Procuremen

Construct Ireland - Partial Fill Cavity Walls

An examination of whether it still deserves its best practice status in the Irish Construction Industry in light of higher U-Values, construction practices, recent research and cultural pressures

Management of Change in the Irish Construction Industry

Ireland is changing and this change is nowhere more apparent than in the rapidly growing construction industry. The industry is being forced to change at an unprecedented pace. This thesis sets out to develop a framework on which construction organisations can approach and manage change. It examines the issues that will cause change, reviews the available literature to find how change can be managed and controlled, and develops a model for guiding change programmes in the construction industry. The model is tested against three case studies, the first two of which are concerned with finding increases in efficiency and demonstrating how the changes necessary to bring about these efficiencies would be implemented. Data, gathered both by observation and by interviewing staff in three companies, was used to establish the means by which the current systems and processes worked. It also allowed the author to build up a clear picture of the working relationships of all of those in each system. In turn, this showed both where changes would be necessary and the effect such changes would have on the working relationships. A plan for change was then proposed in each case. In the third case study the initial data, gathered by interview and surveys, again identified the original systems and the working relationships. A consultation process was set up to establish the extent of the changes necessary, the potential effects of the change were assessed and a plan of action was devised to ensure acceptance of the change. The change programme was then implemented and monitored through its first year of operation. Change is difficult to achieve in the Irish construction industry as it is restricted by the structure of construction organisations (being project-driven rather than enterprise-driven) and by the proliferation of construction-related activities among governmental departments. However, the model for change proposed by this work was particularly effective in these circumstances, as it forced the author to fully analyse and constantly re-assess each interface with change. In the course of the compilation of this thesis, it was found that the means by which change programmes are implemented are crucial to success. It is essential that the interfaces between tasks, processes and systems are fully analysed to determine the means by which the individual can become a supporter, rather than a potential opponent, of the change

Against the Grain: Why is Timber Underutilised in the Irish Construction Industry Given Its Environmental Properties?

This study explores why timber is underutilised in the Irish construction industry, given its environmental properties. Defined literature discourse (framed by two timber exemplar case study buildings and themed into procurement, policy and academic sections) is analysed in pursuit of factors that meet the research question. The literature data collected is used to formulate action-based research in the form of a “Wood First” motion, subsequently passed into policy by South Dublin County Council in July 2017. The literature is also refined into questions for a two-stage, fourth-generation evaluation interview process. This process further examines the discourse of industry experts and stakeholders in the Irish construction industry. The findings reveal a complex matrix of relationships, knowledge/communication vacuums and resistance. However, the matrix also identifies positive outcomes which can assist the development of timber in the Republic of Ireland

Payment Arrangements in the Irish Construction Industry - An Overview

The payment arrangements adopted on a contract directly affect the level of risk borne by the client and the contractor. This study has examined various approaches used to pay for building construction work and explains the circumstances in which they used. Most substantial building contracts in Ireland are entered into by way of lump sum arrangements based on either detailed works requirements, bills of quantities or contractor’s proposals; the contractor quotes a price ‘up front’ under these arrangements. Occasionally, measurement approaches may be used where the extent of the works are established in-situ and valued in accordance with tendered rates. On rare occasions, the contract may be arranged on a cost reimbursement basis whereby the client pays the contractor’s production costs plus a fee to manage the construction process. The degree to which the design has been completed will influence the choice of payment arrangements. The arrangements employed, in turn, directly motivate the contractor’s efforts to carry out the work in an efficient and economic manner. This ultimately has a significant impact on the final price paid by the client

The influence of the leading firms on the exploitation of IT in the Irish construction industry

The problem of how construction industries around the world can exploit the potential of Information Technology (IT) for the benefit of participants has been the focus of attention for various individuals, enterprises, institutions and governments in recent years. Consideration of how the Irish construction industry should approach this problem has been limited to date. Although it is recognised that there are a number of existing and potential influences, this paper considers the role that the current leading firms in the Irish construction industry can and should play in order that the industry as a whole exploits IT over the next five years. It is proposed that if the Irish construction industry is to progress quickly in relation to exploiting IT, these leading firms need to develop their own appropriate IT strategies. They should subsequently use their considerable influence on the many firms that they do business with to develop complementary IT strategies. The rate at which the current leading firms can exploit IT and persuade others to do so is considered. Reference is also made to the results of a 1998 survey of the leading architectural, consulting engineering, quantity surveying and contracting firms in the Irish construction industry

From Roadmap to Implementation: Lessons for Ireland’s Digital Construction Programme

As part of their Future of Construction initiative in 2018 the World Economic Forum published an action plan to accelerate Building Information Modelling adoption. The WEF report highlighted actions that companies, industry organisations and governments are advised to implement to accelerate BIM adoption and better capitalise on delivering better project outcomes. According the authors of the report BIM is seen as the centrepiece of the construction industry’s digital transformation, however they acknowledged that BIM adoption globally remain slow. Anecdotal experience would suggest that BIM usage in Ireland is also very low and that a similar initiative or an adaptation of the WEF BIM Adoption Circle would be applicable to driving the digital transition programme in the Irish construction industry. This paper highlights the actions that companies, industry organisations and governments are advised to implement in order to contribute to the acceleration of BIM adoption. The authors document the results of a consultative survey of representative stakeholders in Ireland in mid 2019. This survey was designed to investigate the relevance of some twenty seven specific actions identified by the WEF to drive digital transition in the Irish construction industry

A Framework for Sustainable Procurement Practice in the Irish Construction Industry

The Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector has been called upon to develop innovative strategies to drive sustainability. Despite the efforts and commitments made, their performance is still observed to be low, this has been linked to the low level of understanding of practitioners. Also noted was the lack of interest by firms due to the uncertainty of the benefits of committing to long term investments. Nevertheless, academic literature and reports have stated that firms nowadays utilise their procurement mechanism to drive their sustainability practice. However, there is a gap in understanding how construction firms adopt and embed sustainability in their procurement process. Data was collected through the mixed-methods approach, and the single embedded case study strategy was used to understand an organisation\u27s sustainable procurement practice from the organisational and project level. Different statistical methods were used in analysing the data obtained. The findings revealed that construction-contracting firms have developed various policies and strategies aimed at promoting their sustainable procurement practice. These strategies were found to include investment in their core capabilities, development of long-term relationships and close collaboration with their supply chains. The adoption and utilisation of digital technology tools and resources were also found to have added value to the firm operations. However, it was noted that the level of collaboration within the firm in terms of sharing of information was quite challenging. Therefore, firms will have to develop strategies that will enable them to provide real-time data to disclose their sustainability performance. The study contributed to knowledge by unveiling the internal organisational strategies of large firms in driving sustainable procurement. Also, the study developed and validated a framework that will aid construction firms in disclosing and implementing their sustainable procurement strategy. Disclosing sustainability performance of construction firms enable their clients and the public to be aware of their contribution towards the sustainable development objectives

A Proposal for Re-engineering the Procurement of Building Materials by Effective use of ICT

This paper seeks to establish the case for re-engineering the procurement of materials in the Irish construction industry. The authors make their observations from witnessing, first-hand, the operation of a purchasing function in a large contracting organisation in the Republic of Ireland. The authors identify the core problems that exist in the current mainly paper-based process and present a strong case for the re-engineering of the process by the adoption of a fully integrated Information Communications Technology (ICT) solutio