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Intelligent Sustainable Technology for Construction, the Civil Sector, and Infrastructure

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Engineering and Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2021) | Viewed by 38300

Special Issue Editors

School of Architectural Engineering, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 44610, Korea
Interests: sustainable construction project management; risk management; safety management; energy use; automation; modeling and simulation; procurement; contracting and legal issues
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
School of Architecture, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Korea
Interests: construction; construction engineering; architecture; building
School of Architecture, Civil, Environmental and Energy Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
Interests: automation in construction; construction robot; construction information technology; optimization; sustainable construction technology; stochastic simulation and quantitative analysis; integrated project delivery system: design/build; construction business automation system; construction simulation & quantitative analysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue aims to encourage the research and practical community to introduce innovative methods, technologies, and techniques to construction, the civil sector, and infrastructure. The SPECIAL ISSUE may contribute to the dissemination of 4.0 industrial revolution technologies to the academic and the practical community involved in construction, the civil sector, and infrastructure, hence assuring sustainability in the profession. The Editorial Board encourages you to submit academic and practical papers. including case studies. Papers may include the application of 4.0 industrial revolution technologies to the construction, civil sector, and infrastructure community enhancing sustainability.

Prof. Dong-Eun Lee
Dr. Son Kiyoung
Dr. Sangyong Kim
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • automation in construction
  • construction robot
  • construction information technology
  • optimization
  • sustainable construction technology
  • stochastic simulation and quantitative analysis

Published Papers (14 papers)

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21 pages, 2100 KiB  
Article
Risk-Based Prioritization of Sewer Pipe Inspection from Infrastructure Asset Management Perspective
by Jeonghun Lee, Chan Young Park, Seungwon Baek, Seung H. Han and Sungmin Yun
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7213; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13137213 - 28 Jun 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2426
Abstract
The escalating number of aging sewer pipes necessitates an infrastructure asset management approach to achieve an efficient budget allocation for maintenance. This study suggests a risk-based prioritization framework for sewer pipe inspection considering the predicted condition of sewer pipes and the criticality of [...] Read more.
The escalating number of aging sewer pipes necessitates an infrastructure asset management approach to achieve an efficient budget allocation for maintenance. This study suggests a risk-based prioritization framework for sewer pipe inspection considering the predicted condition of sewer pipes and the criticality of the economic, social and environmental impacts associated with them. The results from both models can be used to evaluate the risk of sewer pipes by classification into risk groups. A risk matrix is used for the classification, and it divides the sewer pipes into five risk groups. The results of this study show an improvement in the accuracy of finding sewer pipes in a bad condition using this framework. The condition prediction model can successfully find sewer pipes with a bad condition with over 70% precision. High-risk sewer pipes are highlighted using the differences in the environmental features as well as in the physical features associated with other sewer pipes. Additionally, through the combination of both the condition and criticality of sewer pipes, the framework systemically prioritizes needed maintenance for sewer pipes with a very bad condition. This prioritization framework is expected to help the process of deciding which sewer pipes should be prioritized within a constrained budget. Full article
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23 pages, 6668 KiB  
Article
Design, Construction, and Curing Integrated Management of Defects in Finishing Works of Apartment Buildings
by Seogun Yoon, Seunghyun Son and Sunkuk Kim
Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5382; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13105382 - 11 May 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2748
Abstract
The site analysis performed in the last ten years has found that building defects result from inconsistent decision-making and performance in the design, construction, and curing (DCC) processes. Therefore, for sustainable quality control, DCC integrated analysis and the management of causes by type [...] Read more.
The site analysis performed in the last ten years has found that building defects result from inconsistent decision-making and performance in the design, construction, and curing (DCC) processes. Therefore, for sustainable quality control, DCC integrated analysis and the management of causes by type and response measures should be in place. The objective of this study is to propose DCC integrated management of defects in finishing works of apartment buildings. To this end, the study surveyed 69,944 defects from 3299 apartment households and analyzed the defect types and causes by project stage. As a result, in the case of opening work (WT1), opening and closing (DT1) accounted for the highest proportion at 35.7%. In the case of furnishing work (WT2), floor installation (DT1) has the most defects. Moreover, the proposed integrated defect management technique was applied onsite, which resulted in an improvement where the defect frequency decreased by 56.80%. The results of this study will be used as the basic data for high-quality finishing projects, and the proposed management concept can be used as reference data in the establishment of a defect management system. Full article
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14 pages, 1123 KiB  
Article
Relative Importance Analysis of Safety Climate Evaluation Factors Using Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP)
by Hyunjin Lim, Sunkuk Kim, Yonggu Kim and Seunghyun Son
Sustainability 2021, 13(8), 4212; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13084212 - 09 Apr 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1805
Abstract
Various studies have confirmed that the increasing quality of safety climate has a positive influence on reducing the occurrence of accidents. The quality of safety climate is comprehensively affected in three domains: management, site, and enterprise. At the company level, it is challenging [...] Read more.
Various studies have confirmed that the increasing quality of safety climate has a positive influence on reducing the occurrence of accidents. The quality of safety climate is comprehensively affected in three domains: management, site, and enterprise. At the company level, it is challenging to manage all areas at a high level due to limited managerial resources. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a strategy that improves the safety climate step by step. For the efficient execution of the strategy, it is necessary to analyze the relative importance of each evaluation factor of the safety climate and allocate managerial resources accordingly. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the relative importance of safety climate evaluation factors using the analytical hierarchical process (AHP) technique. For this study, AHP questionnaire and analysis are conducted, and the relative priorities of safety climate evaluation factors are derived. As a result, (E) workers’ safety priority and risk non-acceptance is the most important dimension among seven dimensions as the weight is 0.1900. In addition, (E1) compliance with safety regulations, even if the process is tight, is the most important one between items as the weight 0.6663. The results of this study will be used as basic data for institutional improvement and policy making for a high-quality safety climate at construction sites. Full article
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19 pages, 5222 KiB  
Article
A Hazard Identification Approach of Integrating 4D BIM and Accident Case Analysis of Spatial–Temporal Exposure
by Si Van-Tien Tran, Numan Khan, Doyeop Lee and Chansik Park
Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2211; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13042211 - 18 Feb 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4467
Abstract
Construction sites are considered as complicated work environments. Various concurrent activities may overlap apropos to time and workspace, predisposing them to spatial–temporal exposure and repetitive accidents. Detecting the characteristics of repetitive accidents before the construction stage contributes to prevent injuries and fatalities caused [...] Read more.
Construction sites are considered as complicated work environments. Various concurrent activities may overlap apropos to time and workspace, predisposing them to spatial–temporal exposure and repetitive accidents. Detecting the characteristics of repetitive accidents before the construction stage contributes to prevent injuries and fatalities caused by spatial—temporal conditions at construction job sites. To resolve this problem, this study proposes a novel hazard identification approach through spatial–temporal exposure analysis called HISTEA, which integrated scenario analysis of accident cases into 4D building information modeling (BIM). The proposed approach consists of three modules: (1) spatial–temporal hazard investigation (SHI) to analyze the accident cases and develop the hazard database of the spatial–temporal overlap condition of pair-wise activities; (2) spatial–temporal condition identification (SCI) to determine the conflict among different activities, considering the workspace and time overlap from the 4D BIM model; and (3) safety information integration (SII) to deliver safety knowledge to the project team through a web-based application. To illustrate and validate this approach, a HISTEA prototype for foundation work has been developed to be used at the pre-construction stage. The developed prototype is based on the analysis of 496 accident reports extracted from the integrated management information system (IMIS) of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for the SHI module database. The proposed approach is expected to proactively aid project teams in detecting hazards that ultimately reduce repetitive accidents caused by overlapping activities. Full article
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24 pages, 5172 KiB  
Article
Preventive Maintenance Model for National School Buildings in Indonesia Using a Constraint Programming Approach
by Shu-Shun Liu and Muhammad Faizal Ardhiansyah Arifin
Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 1874; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13041874 - 09 Feb 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2393
Abstract
The Indonesian government needs to maintain around 231,000 school buildings in active use. Such a portfolio of buildings given the diversity of locations, limited maintenance budget, and deterioration rates varied by different building conditions presents many challenges to effective maintenance planning. Many of [...] Read more.
The Indonesian government needs to maintain around 231,000 school buildings in active use. Such a portfolio of buildings given the diversity of locations, limited maintenance budget, and deterioration rates varied by different building conditions presents many challenges to effective maintenance planning. Many of those schools had been reported to be aging and in a degenerated condition. However, contemporary practice for the planning method of Indonesia’s building maintenance program applies reactive maintenance strategies with a single linear deterioration rate. Such methodology cannot properly guarantee the sustainability of those school buildings. Therefore, this study attempts to examine a different approach to Indonesia’s building maintenance planning by adopting a preventive maintenance strategy using the deterioration rate model proved by historical data from a previous study. This study develops an optimization model with varied deterioration rates and considers the budget limitation, by utilizing a Constraint Programming (CP) approach. The proposed model achieves the minimum maintenance cost for a real case of 41 school buildings under different deterioration rates to ensure adequate building conditions and maintain expected levels of service. Finally, research analysis also proves that this new preventive maintenance model has potential to deliver superior capability for assisting building maintenance decisions in Indonesia’s government. Full article
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16 pages, 2530 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Inflation Rate on CO2 Emission: A Framework for Malaysian Construction Industry
by Muhammad Ali Musarat, Wesam Salah Alaloul, M. S. Liew, Ahsen Maqsoom and Abdul Hannan Qureshi
Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1562; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13031562 - 02 Feb 2021
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4771
Abstract
Inflation and CO2 emission are the two most deleterious elements in the construction industry. However, so far no linkage between the two has been estimated. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2) emission and the inflation rate [...] Read more.
Inflation and CO2 emission are the two most deleterious elements in the construction industry. However, so far no linkage between the two has been estimated. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2) emission and the inflation rate in the construction industry of Malaysia and proposes a CO2 emission calculator framework. As it is not possible to calculate the effect directly, therefore, an indirect assessment of the correlation coefficient was performed between the inflation rate (independent variable) and construction rates, i.e., building material prices and value of construction work (dependent variables) along with percentage deviation of each variable. The results show that with a decrease in the inflation rate, the prices of the building materials also decrease, whereas the value of the construction work increases. The relationship looks attractive from an end-user perspective, but it creates a major problem of CO2 emission. The effect impacts directly on environmental sustainability as it is not suitable for the greenhouse effect because it triggers CO2 emission. While estimating how much CO2 emission occurs from the value of construction work of Malaysia, it was revealed that there is no such calculator available to perform the estimation. Therefore, a CO2 emission calculator framework is proposed, which will be beneficial after its practical implementation for the construction industry stakeholders and government/policy makers to monitor the emissions and control the adverse effects of massive construction work. Full article
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15 pages, 17845 KiB  
Article
Embodied CO2 Reduction Effects of Composite Precast Concrete Frame for Heavily Loaded Long-Span Logistics Buildings
by Seunghyun Son, Kwangheon Park, Heni Fitriani and Sunkuk Kim
Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1060; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13031060 - 20 Jan 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2041
Abstract
For heavily loaded long-span (HLS) logistics buildings, embodied CO2 (ECO2) of a structural frame accounts for more than 80% of the CO2 emissions of the entire building. To realize a sustainable structure from the CO2 perspective, an innovative [...] Read more.
For heavily loaded long-span (HLS) logistics buildings, embodied CO2 (ECO2) of a structural frame accounts for more than 80% of the CO2 emissions of the entire building. To realize a sustainable structure from the CO2 perspective, an innovative construction method that reduces ECO2 of a structural frame is required. Through studies conducted over several years, we have developed a SMART (Sustainable, Measurable, Attainable, Reliable, and Timely) frame that is a steel connected composite precast concrete (CPC) frame that significantly reduces not only construction time and cost but also ECO2. If a SMART frame is applied to HLS logistics buildings, ECO2 reduction effects are expected to be substantial. To prove this, this study aims to analyze ECO2 reduction effects of the CPC frame for HLS logistics buildings. An HLS logistics building constructed with the existing precast concrete (PC) frame was selected as a case project. Thereafter, the typical PC girder was redesigned using the SMART frame; then, analysis was conducted on the quantity take-off of resources, such as form, rebar, steel, and concrete, as well as on ECO2 and production cost. As a result of the analysis, in the case of a single typical girder of the SMART frame, 730 kg-ECO2, which accounts for 9.52% of the CO2 emissions, was reduced compared to that of the existing PC frame. If only the typical girders of the case project are applied, a relatively larger quantity of 465 ton-ECO2 will be reduced. The results of this study will contribute in securing structural stability, as well as achieving a sustainable structure that leads to an unprecedented reduction of ECO2. Full article
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13 pages, 1575 KiB  
Article
Cost Effective and Sustainable Test Methods to Investigate Vulnerabilities of EMP Attack on Existing Buildings Using Public Frequency Devices
by Chaeyeon Lim, Kyungryeung Min, Kukjoo Kim and Young-Jun Park
Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 570; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13020570 - 09 Jan 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1524
Abstract
High-power electromagnetic pulses are electromagnetic shock waves with strong energy, which can cause the destruction or malfunction of both electrical and electronic systems. The measurement of the electromagnetic wave shielding performance of buildings is effective for determining the level of EMP protection for [...] Read more.
High-power electromagnetic pulses are electromagnetic shock waves with strong energy, which can cause the destruction or malfunction of both electrical and electronic systems. The measurement of the electromagnetic wave shielding performance of buildings is effective for determining the level of EMP protection for each facility. However, it is extremely inefficient to practically measure the electromagnetic wave shielding performance using methods based on various standards for general buildings, in term of testing cost and time. Therefore, cost effective and sustainable test methods to investigate vulnerabilities of electromagnetic pulses attack on existing buildings using public frequency is proposed in this study. The study focuses on a simpler and more reliable method such as the use of broadcast or communication signals. From the results, it was concluded that the shielding performance can be measured approximately −45 dB using broadcast devices, −70 dB using walkie-talkie as simplified measurements of the electromagnetic-wave shielding performance. Therefore, if the test methods which are proposed in this study are allowed for preliminary investigation to find the vulnerabilities of existing buildings, cost and energy in the investigation can be reduced and it is expected to bring out frequency inspection and sustainable EMP protection performance of buildings. Full article
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12 pages, 1437 KiB  
Article
Blockchain-Based Implementation of Building Information Modeling Information Using Hyperledger Composer
by Widya Nita Suliyanti and Riri Fitri Sari
Sustainability 2021, 13(1), 321; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13010321 - 31 Dec 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2850
Abstract
With the advancement of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology, BIM gains more importance and becomes a prerequisite in building projects. BIM is useful throughout a building lifecycle; from building bid, design, construction, completion, operation, and maintenance to building demolition. However, current information exchange [...] Read more.
With the advancement of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology, BIM gains more importance and becomes a prerequisite in building projects. BIM is useful throughout a building lifecycle; from building bid, design, construction, completion, operation, and maintenance to building demolition. However, current information exchange surrounding BIM is still limited and bound to a single participant or organization and is also limited to a particular phase in the building lifecycle. This paper aims to explore BIM information exchange among many parties involved in a secure manner using a blockchain platform throughout the whole building lifecycle. In this research, many parties involved in the building project will be able to recognize one another through deployment of a permissioned blockchain. This information exchange uses Hyperledger Composer, a permissioned blockchain running on a blockchain platform called Hyperledger Fabric. Our experiment shows that BIM information exchange could be further improved. In this study, BIM information exchange can be implemented not only in one building phase but throughout the whole building lifecycle. It also facilitates BIM information exchange among multiple participants in a secure manner via a permissioned blockchain. Full article
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12 pages, 1119 KiB  
Article
Feasibility Study on the Development of a Deployable Tactical EMP Tent for a Sustainable Military Facility
by Kukjoo Kim, Kyung-Ryeung Min and Young-Jun Park
Sustainability 2021, 13(1), 16; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13010016 - 22 Dec 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2084
Abstract
The Korean peninsula is under increasing threat of electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) from neighboring countries; EMP protection facilities are an essential means of ensuring the operational readiness of the military. However, existing EMP protection facilities are manufactured as fixed-weight structures, which limit the mobility [...] Read more.
The Korean peninsula is under increasing threat of electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) from neighboring countries; EMP protection facilities are an essential means of ensuring the operational readiness of the military. However, existing EMP protection facilities are manufactured as fixed-weight structures, which limit the mobility of military operations and lead to the misconception of EMP protection as something only required for higher command. The current military and official EMP protection standards require only a uniform shielding effectiveness of 80 dB. Therefore, this study aims to differentiate the existing uniform level of shielding effectiveness of 80 dB into 80 dB, 60 dB, 40 dB, etc. Further, it seeks to derive the factors to be considered when applying various methods, such as shielding rooms, shielding racks, site redundancy, spare equipment, and portable lightweight protective tents, for recovery of failure, instead of the existing protection facilities that rely on shielded rooms by the Delphi analysis. Then, the applicability of lightweight EMP protection is determined after selecting lightweight materials to build a facility. The electromagnetic shielding performance of 21 types of materials was measured in the 30 MHz–1.5 GHz frequency band using ASTM-D-4935-10. The results showed the possibility of developing a lightweight EMP shielding facility, which would save approximately 316,386 tons of concrete, reducing the CO2 emissions by approximately 9,972,489 tons. Assuming that the Korean carbon transaction price is USD 50/ton CO2, the savings are equivalent to USD 49,862,435. Full article
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13 pages, 2144 KiB  
Article
A Pilot Experiment to Develop a Lightweight Non-Nuclear EMP Shelter Applying Civil-Military Cooperation in a Sustainability Policy
by Kukjoo Kim, Kyung-Ryeung Min and Young-Jun Park
Sustainability 2020, 12(24), 10669; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su122410669 - 21 Dec 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3256
Abstract
The goal of future wars is to incapacitate national core infrastructures through cyberattacks and electronic wars. The use of high-tech arms including high-power electronic weapons, laser weapons, and railguns to achieve a precise strike, minimum cost, and neutralization is gradually increasing. Considering the [...] Read more.
The goal of future wars is to incapacitate national core infrastructures through cyberattacks and electronic wars. The use of high-tech arms including high-power electronic weapons, laser weapons, and railguns to achieve a precise strike, minimum cost, and neutralization is gradually increasing. Considering the nuclear provocation and non-nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NNEMP) threats from North Korea, it has become urgent for Korea to expand its EMP protection systems. Hence, the need for developing a protective technology lighter than the conventional EMP protection technology is continuously being raised. However, no facility has applied such a lightweight protection technology thus far. Thus, this study tests the performance of a lightweight electromagnetic (EM) shielding material and evaluates the possibility of building a lightweight NNEMP shelter by installing the material. Among the commercially available EM shielding materials, only those appropriate for lightweight purpose are selected. Accordingly, the EM shielding performances of nine fabric types, five film types, and four wallpaper types are tested. For testing, a pan-type EM shielding room 2.5 m × 3.0 m × 2.5 m was constructed with a shielding performance of 80 dB at 18 GHz. The measurement method was based on the IEEE-STD-299 standard, and 10 frequencies from 14 kHz to 18 GHz were used. The result showed that the shielding performance was the highest in the 100 MHz band in most cases. In the high-frequency band above 1 GHz, the shielding performance was almost equal to, or slightly lower than, that in the 100 MHz band. This study confirms the feasibility of building lightweight NNEMP shelters in major military and civil facilities. If the NNEMP shelters to be constructed in military and civil facilities are replaced with lightweight shelters, approximately 49,862.4 tons of CO2 emissions due to the concrete saved can be reduced per shelter. Assuming the Korean carbon transaction price to be USD 50/ton-CO2, the saving amounts to US $2,493,120, contributing to the green growth policy of Korea. Full article
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15 pages, 2112 KiB  
Article
Construction Project Change Management in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Status, Causes, and Impacts
by Bauma Frigeant Bitamba and Sung-Hoon An
Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9766; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12229766 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2743
Abstract
Changes in construction projects are very frequent and are expected to occur at any stage of the project. These changes modify the original scope of work and affect the project in various aspects. To minimize these effects, there is a need to implement [...] Read more.
Changes in construction projects are very frequent and are expected to occur at any stage of the project. These changes modify the original scope of work and affect the project in various aspects. To minimize these effects, there is a need to implement a systematic change management system during the construction process. This study aimed to investigate the current situation of change management implementation, identify the main causes of change management, and assess their impacts in the Congolese construction industry. A comprehensive literature review was conducted for a thorough understanding of change management, and a structured survey was conducted. The collected survey data were analyzed using the relative importance index (RII), and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) methods. The results conclude that the change management implementation situation in the Congolese construction industry is significantly high, and the project cost and the project type play a major role in the implementation of change management in the construction projects. The study further revealed that the main causes of changes were the project, contractor, materials, equipment, and other causes. These changes impact the project significantly in terms of organization, owner and contractor, project, materials, and equipment. Full article
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21 pages, 4218 KiB  
Article
Effect of Underground-Type Ammunition Magazine Construction in Respect of Civil and Military Coexistence
by Sangwoo Park and Young-Jun Park
Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 9285; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12219285 - 09 Nov 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2526
Abstract
Recently, rapid urban development and changes in the national defense environment have required civil–military coexistence plans. In particular, this is an urgent issue for ammunition magazines, which have the widest range of military protection zones among military facilities because of the safety distance [...] Read more.
Recently, rapid urban development and changes in the national defense environment have required civil–military coexistence plans. In particular, this is an urgent issue for ammunition magazines, which have the widest range of military protection zones among military facilities because of the safety distance standard and their location at transportation hubs. In this study, fundamental research was conducted on underground-type ammunition magazines for the sake of the sustainable civil and military developments. First, the effects of reducing the safety distance for underground-type ammunition magazines, compared to that for ground-type ammunition magazines, were evaluated. Economic and environmental effects expected by substituting underground-type ammunition magazines for ground-type ammunition magazines were analyzed based on the results. Then, design methods of the underground-type ammunition magazine that effectively reduce the safety distance were suggested by performing numerical simulations. The installation of chambers at different depths and the application of technologies to reduce explosion pressure inside the chambers were discussed. Finally, an endowment and concession project method was analyzed based on the previous researches as the most efficient way of implementing the project of an underground-type ammunition magazine. It was concluded that research to specify design methods for underground-type ammunition magazines was urgently required to vitalize future underground-type ammunition magazine projects. Full article
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13 pages, 2786 KiB  
Technical Note
Selection of Optimized Retaining Wall Technique Using Self-Organizing Maps
by Young-Su Kim, U-Yeol Park, Seoung-Wook Whang, Dong-Joon Ahn and Sangyong Kim
Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1328; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13031328 - 27 Jan 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1508
Abstract
Construction projects in urban areas tend to be associated with high-rise buildings and are of very large-scales; hence, the importance of a project’s underground construction work is significant. In this study, a rational model based on machine learning (ML) was developed. ML algorithms [...] Read more.
Construction projects in urban areas tend to be associated with high-rise buildings and are of very large-scales; hence, the importance of a project’s underground construction work is significant. In this study, a rational model based on machine learning (ML) was developed. ML algorithms are programs that can learn from data and improve from experience without human intervention. In this study, self-organizing maps (SOMs) were utilized. An SOM is an alternative to existing ML methods and involves a subjective decision-making process because a developed model is used for data training to classify and effectively recognize patterns embedded in the input data space. In addition, unlike existing methods, the SOM can easily create a feature map by mapping multidimensional data to simple two-dimensional data. The objective of this study is to develop an SOM model as a decision-making approach for selecting a retaining wall technique. N-fold cross-validation was adopted to validate the accuracy of the SOM model and evaluate its reliability. The findings are useful for decision-making in selecting a retaining wall method, as demonstrated in this study. The maximum accuracy of the SOM was 81.5%, and the average accuracy was 79.8%. Full article
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