Accident Rate as a Measure of Safety Assessment in Polish Civil Engineering

Civil engineering is characterised by high volatility with respect to working conditions, which are the source of many threats to worker life and health and contribute to high accident rates. The purpose of this paper is to analyse and evaluate the phenomenon of accidents in Polish civil engineering and define the direction of changes that should occur in the safety area. The studies included in this research covered the years 2004–2018. The following indicators were used to assess the accident rates: (1) The total number of persons injured in workplace accidents and this total divided into fatal, severe, and minor accidents; (2) indicators of frequency of accidents in total and this total divided into minor, severe, and fatal accidents; (3) and an indicator of the severity of accidents. From the analysis of statistical data for the years 200–2018, the changes in accident rate parameters demonstrate the continuous improvement of workplace safety in the Polish civil engineering sector. From the analysed data from the 15 years, a clear decrease in the value of the applied indicators is apparent, including both the number of people involved in accidents and the frequency and severity of accidents

Building Information Modelling: an Innovative Way to Manage Risk in Construction Projects

Background. Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been recently one of the most common issues discussed in publications related to innovative changes in the management of construction projects. The concept of BIM integrates all the activities related to the design, construction and operation into the ICT model developed and implemented within a communication platform. From the point of view of the project management theory and construction practice, the area of interest is integrated risk and change management based on BIM. Negative consequences such as delays and financial losses that are detrimental especially to public projects conducted by investors raise a question of whether and how implementation of principles of BIM in project management can improve management activities associated with risk in construction projects. Research aims. This paper aims to gain insight into the current state of knowledge about risk and change management in construction projects in terms of BIM implementation, and to set the direction for further research as well as to determine further research objectives related to this issue.Methodology. The arguments presented in this paper are based on the analysis of reference literature. Key findings: Risk is an issue in the concept of BIM that still needs to be systematized. It is necessary to develop an optimal way to integrate procedures, methods and techniques of risk management with other management actions within BIM. Change is perceived as one of the major risk factors and therefore the inclusion of change management processes into this system also requires the establishment of standards and methodical approach within BIM. Further research in this area should include past experience in the implementation of BIM in construction projects, the presence of risk-related procedures in this process and conditions of effective integration of management actions. From a practical point of view, it is also necessary to explore the willingness of entrepreneurs and investors to implement BIM, understood as a platform for communication, risk and change management as well as an optimal method for a systematized implementation of this process

Inverse Estimation Method of Material Randomness Using Observation

This study proposes a method for inversely estimating the spatial distribution characteristic of a material’s elastic modulus using the measured value of the observation data and the distance between the measurement points. The structural factors in the structural system possess temporal and spatial randomness. One of the representative structural factors, the material’s elastic modulus, possesses temporal and spatial randomness in the stiffness of the plate structure. The structural factors with randomness are typically modeled as having a certain probability distribution (probability density function) and a probability characteristic (mean and standard deviation). However, this method does not consider spatial randomness. Even if considered, the existing method presents limitations because it does not know the randomness of the actual material. To overcome the limitations, we propose a method to numerically define the spatial randomness of the material’s elastic modulus and confirm factors such as response variability and response variance.EC/H2020/841592/EU/Ultra-Lightweight Concrete for 3D printing technologies/Ultra-LightCon-3

Environmental conditions for hydro-technical investment projects and their impact on work scheduling

Podjęty w artykule problem dotyczy wpływu specyficznych uwarunkowań realizacyjnych inwestycji hydrotechnicznych na planowanie robót. Celem artykułu jest omówienie czynników związanych z ochroną środowiska, mających kluczowe znaczenie w planowaniu i organizowaniu robót hydrotechnicznych na wodach śródlądowych. Wykorzystana została metoda studium przypadku wraz z analizą dokumentacji, posłużono się przykładem inwestycji polegającej na odbudowie zabudowy regulacyjnej rzeki Odry na odcinku od miejscowości Ścinawa do ujścia Nysy Łużyckiej, prowadzonej w ramach kompleksowego programu inwestycyjnego pod nazwą Projekt Ochrony Przeciwpowodziowej w Dorzeczu Odry i Wisły.The problem addressed in the article concerns the influence of specific conditions of hydrotechnical investments on the planning of works. The aim of the paper is to discuss the environmental factors of key importance in planning and organising hydrotechnical works on inland waters. A case study method with analysis of documentation was used as an example of an investment project consisting in reconstruction of the Odra river regulation structure on the section from Ścinawa to the mouth of Nysa Łużycka river, carried out within a complex investment programme named Odra – Vistula Flood Management Programme

Building Information Modelling: an Innovative Way to Manage Risk in Construction Projects

Background. Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been recently one of the most common issues discussed in publications related to innovative changes in the management of construction projects. The concept of BIM integrates all the activities related to the design, construction and operation into the ICT model developed and implemented within a communication platform. From the point of view of the project management theory and construction practice, the area of interest is integrated risk and change management based on BIM. Negative consequences such as delays and financial losses that are detrimental especially to public projects conducted by investors raise a question of whether and how implementation of principles of BIM in project management can improve management activities associated with risk in construction projects. Research aims. This paper aims to gain insight into the current state of knowledge about risk and change management in construction projects in terms of BIM implementation, and to set the direction for further research as well as to determine further research objectives related to this issue.Methodology. The arguments presented in this paper are based on the analysis of reference literature. Key findings: Risk is an issue in the concept of BIM that still needs to be systematized. It is necessary to develop an optimal way to integrate procedures, methods and techniques of risk management with other management actions within BIM. Change is perceived as one of the major risk factors and therefore the inclusion of change management processes into this system also requires the establishment of standards and methodical approach within BIM. Further research in this area should include past experience in the implementation of BIM in construction projects, the presence of risk-related procedures in this process and conditions of effective integration of management actions. From a practical point of view, it is also necessary to explore the willingness of entrepreneurs and investors to implement BIM, understood as a platform for communication, risk and change management as well as an optimal method for a systematized implementation of this process

Value Engineering applicability in design of sustainable, energy efficient buildings

Value Engineering is an analytical method used to optimize costs, consisting of negotiations, searching for substitutes and more efficient use of raw materials. It can be an effective support in defining material solutions while designing energy-efficient buildings. The research method adopted in this article is an analysis of the literature on value engineering and on the added value of the construction project and analysis of empirical data concerning an exemplary design solution for external walls in a multi-family building. It has been assumed that the reduction of the projected costs of the construction project (elimination of resources which do not create added value for the client) and at the same time increasing the energy efficiency of the facility are possible under the conditions of applying value engineering. The result of the calculations is the reduction of project costs according to the proposed model of value engineering

Control of construction projects using the Earned Value Method - case study

Planning, controlling, monitoring progress are key management functions for effective implementation of construction projects. Commonly used instruments enabling performance of these functions include schedules and budgets, often in the form of a cost estimate. They are created at the initial planning stage to monitor and control cost and time deviations. Moreover, popular monitoring techniques are, for example, observation of milestones and comparative analysis of actual versus planned costs. This article presents a work progress control tool - the Earned Value Method (EVM) - which, despite its benefits, remains relatively unused in construction projects. The impact of the planning phase on the results obtained during the monitoring and control phase when utilizing EVM is discussed. This case study provides practical examples of using EVM in the implementation of construction projects and with the use of computer software. The novelty of the article results from the introduction of additional sensitivity analysis illustrating the impact of factors, such as an increase in costs or a change in delivery dates to the course of deviation curves. Use of sensitivity analysis in relation to the results of the CPI and SPI calculations affords combining control of costs and time with risk monitoring in the project. The findings reveal significant benefits in using EVM to implement construction projects but also highlight some important limitations