A threshold approach for peaks-over-threshold modeling using maximum product of spacings

We propose a threshold model extending the generalized Pareto distribution for exceedances over a threshold. The threshold is solely determined within the model and is shown to be super-consistent under the maximum product of spacings estimation method. We apply the model to some insurance data and demonstrate the merit of having a full parametric model for the entire data set.published_or_final_versio

Enhancing public engagement in a fast-paced project environment

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Equipping construction and related engineering students for the market needs in mainland China

Electronic Proceedings - http://www.iiis.org/CDs2010/CD2010SCI/EEET_2010/index.aspThanks to a strong internal demand, the economy of mainland China has been increasing sharply during the last decade. It is generally expected that the economic growth in China will persist in the foreseeable future. The economic development of China has given rise to an immense demand for infrastructure and construction facilities. While a number of these projects are complex and large in scale, construction and related engineering professionals who have experience on projects of these kinds should have a good opportunity to provide their services in China. To help promote exporting the services of construction and related engineering professionals, the tertiary education sector and professional institutions have a crucial role to play to equip their students. However, many construction and related engineering programs are tailored for the local markets. Broadening the international exposure of students should become the future direction of construction and related engineering programs. In this paper, the results of a survey conducted with students and professionals in Hong Kong are highlighted. The teaching and learning activities having been built into the construction and related engineering programs are identified. Finally, recommendations for improving the construction and related engineering program structure conclude the paper.published_or_final_versionThe 2nd International Symposium on Engineering Education and Educational Technologies (EEET 2010), Orlando, FL., 29 June-2 July 2010. In Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Engineering Education and Educational Technologies, 2010, p. 1-

Company failure in the construction industry: a critical review and a future research agenda

TS 1M – Project and Organisation Management I: Paper no. 4360Company failure is not only extremely disruptive to an industry but may also cause significant rippling effects in an economy. Construction companies are vulnerable to bankruptcy due to the fragmented nature of the industry, high competition, the high uncertainty and risk involved, and considerable fluctuations in construction volume. It is important to recognize any potential company failures at the earliest opportunity. While bankruptcy prediction has long been regarded as a critical topic in the accounting and finance sectors, this research topic is still under-explored in the context of the construction industry. This paper aims to provide a synthesis of the previous business failure prediction models for construction companies and put forward a future agenda in this research area. Common causes of construction company failures are also reviewed. Using the results from the proposed research, it is anticipated that construction companies will be better able to prevent business failure and this should be relevant to the current needs of the construction industry and significant to the society.postprintThe 24th FIG International Congress: Facing the Challenges – Building the Capacity, Sydney, Australia, 11-16 April 2010

Reducing embodied carbon of construction facilities through product-based carbon labelling scheme

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Rethinking public participation in infrastructure projects

The mission of any public infrastructure and construction (PIC) projects is to improve the well-being of the society. In spite of this, as some of these projects might impact on the environment and affect the habitat of local residents, it is not unusual to attract criticism or even opposition from various stakeholder groups. Consequently, there is an increasing concern about the effectiveness of public participation for PIC projects. The authors strive to examine the salient elements of public participation by considering the questions of 'who', 'what' and 'how' in the process. The paper begins by reviewing the international public participation practices and the models proposed by various researchers. The key aspects to be considered during the public participation process are then highlighted. The paper concludes by proposing a comprehensive participatory framework for PIC projects, especially those of a highly sensitive nature. The results show that the standpoints of various stakeholders can be rather diverse and it is necessary to ensure a consensus is reached at different project stages through a well-planned, whole-cycle participatory exercise in order to maximise the chance of project success. More importantly, better acceptance towards other views and more education on the importance of public participation are needed to ensure that society benefits from economic and social development without sacrificing the rights and best interests of the minority groups.published_or_final_versio

Rethinking public participation in infrastructure projects

The mission of any public infrastructure and construction (PIC) projects is to improve the well-being of the society. In spite of this, as some of these projects might impact on the environment and affect the habitat of local residents, it is not unusual to attract criticism or even opposition from various stakeholder groups. Consequently, there is an increasing concern about the effectiveness of public participation for PIC projects. The authors strive to examine the salient elements of public participation by considering the questions of 'who', 'what' and 'how' in the process. The paper begins by reviewing the international public participation practices and the models proposed by various researchers. The key aspects to be considered during the public participation process are then highlighted. The paper concludes by proposing a comprehensive participatory framework for PIC projects, especially those of a highly sensitive nature. The results show that the standpoints of various stakeholders can be rather diverse and it is necessary to ensure a consensus is reached at different project stages through a well-planned, whole-cycle participatory exercise in order to maximise the chance of project success. More importantly, better acceptance towards other views and more education on the importance of public participation are needed to ensure that society benefits from economic and social development without sacrificing the rights and best interests of the minority groups.published_or_final_versio

Challenges facing carbon dioxide labelling of construction materials

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Carbon dioxide reduction in the building life cycle: a critical review

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Application of Relationally Integrated Value Networks in the Implementation of BIM for Better Life Cycle Considerations of Buildings

Track: TG80Emerging as an innovative tool with rapidly increasing usage in the construction industry, Building Information Modeling (BIM) can provide a platform to enable two dimensions of information exchange, namely i) information sharing among relevant participants within a certain project phase; and ii) information exchange between two or more project phases. The latter is of vital importance to help achieve potential life cycle benefits of BIM. However, a significant gap exists in information flows in current BIM implementation in Hong Kong, between 'Design & Construction' (D&C) and ‘Operation & Management' (O&M). This paper discusses the potential application of a relational management framework named 'Relationally Integrated Value Networks' (RIVANS) to guide the process of information exchange between ‘D&C’ and ‘O&M’ in a BIM system. Possible causes of the above information flow gap are explored and proposals are developed based on RIVANS principles to bridge this gap. Findings and recommendations presented in this paper should pave the way for enhancing information flow in BIM across various phases of a construction project, thereby enabling integrated efforts for improving building life cycle performance.published_or_final_versio