Knowledge integration challenges and critical success factors within construction traditional procurement system

The purpose of this study is to explore and identify the challenges and Critical Success Factors (CSFs) of Knowledge Integration (KI) in terms of capturing, sharing and transferring knowledge within construction projects based on the Traditional Procurement System (TPS). On the basis of available studies on KI and TPS within the industry investigated, multiple case studies were developed to reach the aforementioned objective, involving two case studies to reflect the building sector within construction industry. Furthermore, an Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) approach was used to summarize and identify the relationships between the identified challenges. ‘Culture of Organization, ‘Contractual Boundaries’ and ‘Knowledge Management System’ (policies and strategies of organization) are identified as the main challenges. Having an ‘open environment’ and ‘clear liability of project members for sharing knowledge at different phases of project’ are two of identified CSFs, which will assist project managers to enhance the KI process within construction projects undertaken through the TPS

Knowledge management challenges within traditional procurement system

In the construction industry, project knowledge mostly resides in the minds of project members and is, often, not managed properly so it can be used in future projects. As construction projects are temporary and unique, project members leave a project for another one once a project is completed. Therefore, poor management of knowledge across construction projects will lead to a considerable amount of knowledge loss; the ignoring of which would be detrimental to project performance. This issue is more prominent in projects undertaken through the traditional procurement system, as this system encourages fragmentation rather than integration. Thus disputes exist between the design and construction phases based on the poor management of knowledge between those two phases. This paper aims to highlight the challenges of the knowledge management that exists within construction projects undertaken through the traditional procurement system. Expert interviews were conducted and challenges were identified and analysed by the Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) approach in order to summarise the relationships among them. Two identified key challenges are the Culture of an Organisation and Knowledge Management Policies. A knowledge of the challenges and their relationships will help project manager and stakeholders to have a better understanding of the importance of knowledge management

Vulnerability Assessment for Climate-Induced Disasters in Malaysia.

Climate induced disasters can be considered as an outcome of a triggering agents (often known as the hazard) and vulnerability factors. Within the context of climate-induced disasters, humans do not have the control over the triggering agents. Even though it is difficult to control the triggering agent, the level of its exposure to a vulnerable community or system would determine the severity of its impact. Within this context, by reducing the vulnerability the impact of climate-induced disasters can be minimized. Accordingly, this study evaluates the disaster vulnerability factors in Malaysia with particular reference to the climate-induced disaster- floods. A workshop has been carried out with the involvement of practitioners and professionals who are linked with the disaster management activities to identify the key vulnerable factors from the context of Malaysia. The findings identified Social Vulnerability as the main vulnerability factor that affect the Malaysian community followed by Operational/Managerial, Technological, Economic and Political. The findings of the study revealed the need of addressing vulnerability factors at different levels such as at the community, institutional and policy levels and how the vulnerability factors are interconnected with one another

Modelling of autogenous healing for regular concrete via a discrete model

In this paper a numerical model for autogenous healing of normal strength concrete is presented in detail, along with preliminary results of its validation, which is planned to be achieved by comparing the results of numerical analyses with those of a dedicated experimental campaign. Recently the SMM (Solidification-Microprestress-Microplane model M4) model for concrete, which makes use of a modified microplane model M4 and the solidification-microprestress theory, has been extended to incorporate the autogenous healing effects. The moisture and heat fields, as well as the hydration degree, are obtained from the solution of a hygro-thermo-chemical problem, which is coupled with the SMM model. The updated model can also simulate the effects of cracking on the permeability and the restoring effect of the self-healing on the mechanical constitutive laws, i.e. the microplane model. In this work, the same approach is introduced into a discrete model, namely the Lattice Discrete Particle Model (LDPM). A numerical example is presented to validate the proposed computational model employing experimental data from a recent test series undertaken at Politecnico di Milano